Cambridge, July 21, 1775.

Last Saturday, July 15th, the several Regiments quartered in this Town being assembled upon the parade, the Reverend Doctor Langdon, President of the College, read to them “A Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies of North America, now met in General Congress at Philadelphia, setting forth the causes and necessity of their taking up arms.” It was received with great applause, and the approbation of the Army, with that of a great number of other people, was immediately announced by three huzzas. His Excellency the General, with several other General Officers, &c., were present on the occasion.

Last Tuesday morning, July 18th, according to orders issued the day before by Major-General Putnam, all the Continental Troops under his immediate command assembled at Prospect Hill, when the Declaration of the Continental Congress was read; after which an animated and pathetick address to the Army was made by the Rev. Mr. Leonard, Chaplain to General Putnam’s Regiment, and succeeded by a pertinent prayer, when General Putnam gave the signal, and the whole Army shouted their loud amen by three cheers, immediately upon which a cannon was fired from the fort, and the standard lately sent to General Putnam was exhibited flourishing in the air, bearing on one side this motto. “An appeal to Heaven”, and on the other side, “Qui transtulit sustinet.” The whole was conducted with the utmost decency, good order, and regularity, and the universal acceptance of all present; and the Philistines on Bunker’s Hill “heard the shout of the Israelites, and, being very fearful, paraded themselves in battle array.”

INSTRUCTIONS OF GEN. GAGE TO CAPT. CAMPBELL.

By his Excellency the Honourable THOMAS GAGE, General and Commander-in-Chief of all His Majesty’s Forces in NORTH AMERICA, &c., &c., &c.

To Captain DUNCAN CAMPBELL and Lieutenant SYMES:

You are hereby directed to embark on board the Rebecca and Frances, transport, George Hastings, master, and proceed as fast as possible to New-York, where you are to receive on board your ship such men as may be inclined to serve His Majesty; and you are particularly to attend to the arrival of ships expected from Scotland, and to procure as many men out of them as you possibly can; and you are to do your endeavour not to suffer any of those emigrants to join the rebels on shore, and to give every encouragement to all the Scotch and other nations that Will join you. Captain Vandeput, of His Majesty’s Ship Asia, wilt give you all the assistance in his power, and with whom you will confer when there may be occasion; you will continue at New-York as long as the service you are upon may require, when you are to return to this place with all expedition, bringing as many volunteers with you as you can procure.

Given under my hand at Head-Quarters at Boston, this eighteenth day of July, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five.

THOMAS GAGE.

By his Excellency’s command:

SAMUEL KEMBLE.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A GENTLEMAN IN FREDERICKTOWN, MARYLAND, TO HIS FRIEND IN BALTIMORE, DATED JULY 19, 1775.

On Monday last Captain Morgan, from Virginia, with his company of riflemen, (all chosen,) marched through this place, on their way to Boston. Their appearance was truly martial; their spirits amazingly elated, breathing nothing but a desire to join the American Army, and to engage the enemies of American liberty. They were met about a mile out of Town by three companies, viz: Captain Price’s company of riflemen, Captain Grosh’s and Captain Beatty’s companies of militia, and escorted a few miles out of Town, amidst the acclamations of all the inhabitants who attended them; and yesterday Captain Price, with his company, also marched, And surely never were two finer companies raised in any Country, more determined to conquer or die, than those two companies are. Capt. Cresap also, with his brave company, have marched. I need not say any thing of Captain Cresap’s undaunted courage; not an American but knows him to be an intrepid warriour, and of course he knows his men, and has culled them from the many. We are also in hourly expectation of Captain Stinson, with his brave company, in this Town, on his way to Boston. God grant them a speedy and happy arrival there. So many offered to join the above companies, that not one of them but might have had one hundred men at least.

PISCATAWAY AND BLADENSBURGH (MARYLAND) COMMITTEE.

Prince George’s County, July 19, 1775.

The Committee of Inspection for Piscataway and Bladensburgh having had information that Goods had been sold and landed by some persons belonging to ships lying in the Eastern Branch of Potomack River, met this day at Kerbey’s Landing, and chose Colonel Joshua Beall, Chairman:

When Robert Miller, Master of the Ship Diana, was called before the Committee, and being asked if he had not sold or delivered to Mr. Henry Bradford a barrel of Porter, who, after some evasive answer, acknowledged he had made Mr. Bradford a present of a barrel of Porter, in consideration of sundry services he had doue him last voyage, and others he expected this present voyage.

Mr. Bradford being then examined, acknowledged, that at the repeated and pressing requests of Captain Miller, he had accepted of a barrel, which he believed was Porter, though he had not tasted it since he received it from him; that at that time he did not think he wag doing wrong, as he did not purchase it, and was sorry to find he had erred in accepting it, and was ready and willing to deliver it up to the Committee in the order he had received it.

Captain Benjamin King being examined by said Committee, declared he heard Captain Miller say, on the Exchange of London, before he came out this voyage, that he would bring to America any Goods he pleased.

The Committee then examined James McKinsey, carpenter, and Samuel Pool, boatswain of the Ship Eolus, Captain Rankins. They acknowledged they had sold seven pair of Shoes to different persons, and also part of a piece of Linen to the Skipper of a Schooner down the river, his name unknown to them; they declared they did not know they were breaking the rules of the Continental Congress, and agreed to give up the money they had sold the Shoes for to the Bladensburgh Committee, to be disposed of by them as they should think proper.

Luke Jefferson, Robert St. Clair, and Baptist Kirbey, being examined, acknowledged they had bought Shoes of the above-named persons, viz: Luke Jefferson three pair, Robert St. Clair three pair, and Baptist, Kirbey two pair; which they agreed to give up to the Bladensburgh Committee.

Captain Rankins being examined, declared he did not know that his people brought any thing for sale, and that he had, before they sailed, told them not, as he had received orders from his owners not to suffer any Goods to come out in the ship; that as soon as he had information that his people had been selling Shoes, he made a search in the ship, and could not find any thing his people had but what was necessary for the voyage.

Resolved by the Committee aforesaid, That the Porter and Shoes be destroyed in a publick manner, and the money for which the Shoes were sold to be applied to the relief of the poor of Boston; and it is the opinion of this Committee, that the several persons concerned in importing, vending, purchasing, and receiving the said Goods, have been guilty of violating the Association of the Continental Congress.

Bladensburgh, July 22, 1775.

Then Mr. Henry Bradford produced the cask of Porter to the Committee of this Town, the head of which was staved in, and the liquor thrown out on the ground, the staves and heading burnt, with six pair of the Shoes, two pair of those purchased by Robert St. Clair not being produced to the Committee according to promise; the eight dollars, for which the Shoes were sold, were this day paid into the hands of the Chairman.