should the whole force of your enemies be bent on that, or any other Colony, you must not think a march thither too far. Believe us, when we tell you, that in your arms, under Divine assistance, rests your security. We entreat, you, therefore, by that regard you have for the safety of your persons; for your liberties, civil and religious; for every thing which can render your being on earth happy; by what is of more weighty consideration, that tender regard you have for the happiness of your posterity, for endless ages to come; under sanction of that confidence you repose in us: that you, without delay, apply to your arms as speedily as possible; put them in the best condition; make yourselves acquainted with military discipline, and stand in readiness for actual service, upon the shortest warning; put down every animosity from amongst yourselves; pay obedience to officers properly appointed; let no discontents, on account of their advancement, prevent your attention to them, for now your movements must harmonize. The time is arrived at which no private consideration should interfere with the safety of the State; observe the old maxim, “United we stand, divided we fall.”

We entreat you, with like earnestness, to preserve what ammunition you have by you; do not expend it on any occasion whatever, except under the greatest necessity, for you may depend that more will be wanted for your defence than can shortly be procured. Pay attention to these our entreaties, and fear not.

Your American brethren are firm; you have many friends in Great Britain and Ireland; and, in the justness of your cause, you may, with confidence, look up to Heaven for assistance; in Supplication of whose interposition to avert the approaching scene of blood and destruction, we recommend that you, universally, in compliance with the appointment of the Grand Continental Congress, devote Thursday, the twentieth day of July, to humiliation, fasting, and prayer.

GEORGE CARRINGTON, Chairman.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM ONE OF THE VIRGINIA DELEGATES TO HIS FRIEND IN WILLIAMSBURGH, DATED PHILADELPHIA, JUNE 30, 1775.

You will see that our enemies had little to boast of for being able to force our Troops from Bunker’s Hill. It is no wonder they did so, with superiour numbers, ships-of-war, floating batteries, and field artillery. Their loss has certainly been very great, and now they dare not go from under protection of their ships’ cannon. Our Army now before Boston amounts to about fifteen thousand effective men, commanded by Generals Washington, Ward, Lee, Putnam, Gates of Berkely, with several Brigadiers. In New-York, we have now about four thousand; and they are to be increased to five thousand, under the immediate command of General Schuyler. The Canadians absolutely refuse to join Carleton, and the Indians assure us they will observe a strict neutrality. Thus, we seem to be well secured in the north against ministerial madness. A faithful observance of the Association with us will surely rouse the sleeping lion ere long, and bring exemplary punishment on the most abandoned Ministry that ever abused mankind, and disgraced human nature. Sir William Meredith has cheated the Liverpool men, and they are sending out goods as usual; but all their ships, yet arrived, have been sent back. It will be necessary, however, to keep a good look out to prevent their slipping in through other doors less attentively watched than this place, and Charlestown, in South-Carolina.

We are here confined to a constant and painful attendance on business, from nine in the morning to four and five, and sometimes six o’clock in the afternoon; and, what is more, have not the most distant prospect of rising yet.

We have sent to Virginia and Maryland for two companies of riflemen from each Province, and six from this, to join the Army before Boston. Two millions of dollars are ordered to be struck upon the faith of the twelve United Colonies, for the payment of the Continental Army.

NEW-YORK DELEGATES TO PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.

Philadelphia, June 30, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: We have received your letter of the 23d instant, and are sorry to be informed of your being retarded by any difficulties in completing your levies. It would be extremely imprudent to suggest the least hint of your objections to the Congress. Be assured that the Northern and some other Colonies are ready to raise men on almost any terms, and would be happy of an opportunity of furnishing Troops without any allowance for bounty or clothes.

Permit us earnestly to recommend to you to proceed in this business with alacrity and despatch. The honour as well as the interest of the Province is much concerned in the success of this measure. Your neighbours of Connecticut boast of their baying raised their men in ten days’ time; endeavour not to be behind hand with them.

We have the pleasure to acquaint you that a Continental currency is forming, and when completed, you will be immediately supplied with a sum adequate to your exigences.

If forces cannot be raised without bounties, we beg leave to submit it to your consideration, whether it would not be better to do it at the expense of the Province, or by advancing it on the credit of their pay, than lose this opportunity of signalizing your attachment to the cause, and provide for a great number of your poor.

From the intelligence we have received of the state of ammunition in your City and Province, we are apprehensive that you are so destitute of powder as to be exposed to very imminent danger in case o an attack, against which we think it extremely necessary that provision be speedily made.

We fear there are too many in New-York who flatter themselves with safety and security from the removal of the Troops. For our parts we consider it as a mere temporary suspension of danger, and that this opportunity of putting the Country in a posture of defence, is very fortunate, and by all means to be improved.

We are, gentlemen, with the greatest respect, your most obedient and humble servants,

To Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq.

P. S. Since writing the above, the Congress have requested the Committee of Philadelphia immediately to send forward fifty quarter-casks of powder; it set out this day consigned to the Committee at Elizabethtown, who will send it to Dobb’s Ferry. You are requested to provide for its being immediately taken from thence and carried to Albany, for the use of the Troops at Ticonderoga and Crown Point, &c.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

[Read July 1, 1775.]

New-York, June 30.1775.

SIR: I do myself the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th instant, which I received late last night, enclosing the Resolutions of Congress of the preceding day, and copy of a letter from the Committee of Albany, bearing date 20th June, 1775.

In obedience to the Resolutions of Congress, I shall without delay repair to Ticonderoga. It will, however, be necessary, previous to my departure from hence, that I should take order to have the variety of articles, necessary to carry into execution the views of the Congress, sent after me with all expedition: this will probably detain me until Monday.

The success of the intended operation will evidently depend so much on despatch, that. I am sorry I do not think myself at liberty to move the Troops now here to Albany without the immediate consent of Congress. At this place I do not apprehend they can be wanted. At Albany they would greatly facilitate and expedite the service, as well as save expense by their assistance in the transportation of stores and provisions, and by their aid in building boats, carriages, &c., &c.; and as they must ultimately go on this service, the forces at Ticonderoga being vastly inadequate to the enterprise, I wish for the sense of the Congress with all possible despatch, and therefore I send this by express. On a service of this kind, in which success will be attended with such a variety of important and salutary consequences,