Congress, when he considers the passage in Horace from whence the motto is taken,

Rex eris, aiunt,

Si recte facies.

To which also Ausonius alludes:

Qui recte faciet, non qui dominatur, erit Rex.

Not the King’s Parliament, who act wrong, but the people’s Congress, if it acts right, shall govern America.

JOHN HANCOCK TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Philadelphia, September 20, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: As Gen. Schuyler is engaged in an expedition of immense consequence to the United Colonies, and it being of the last importance that he be properly supported, in order to ensure success, or at least to prevent a repulse, I am directed by the Congress to write to you, and direct you immediately to send forward the whole of the Troops ordered to be raised in your Colony, properly equipped, in order to join General Schuyler as soon as possible.

I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To the Gentlemen of the Provincial Congress, or Committee of Safety, New-York.

JOHN HANCOCK TO GENERAL WOOSTER.

Philadelphia, September 20, 1775.

SIR: The necessity of supporting General Schuyler in the important enterprise he is now engaged in has induced the Congress to direct you immediately, on receipt of this, to march with the Troops under your command to Albany, there to await the orders of General Schuyler, in case he should want your assistance; and you will please, without loss of time, to proceed.

By order of the Congress:

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To David Wooster, Esq., Brigadier-General in the Army of the United Colonies, and Commander of the Connecticut Forces at Harlem.

JOHN HANCOCK TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Philadelphia, September 20, 1775.

SIR: Your letter of the 8th instant was received yesterday, and laid before the Congress. I am directed to express their approbation of your conduct, as stated in your letter. Your taking possession of the Isle-aux-Noix, and the proposed measures for preventing the enemy’s vessels from entering the lake, appear to them highly expedient and necessary. The Congress have such a sense of the importance of that post, as to wish it may not be abandoned without the most mature consideration, or the most pressing necessity. They view the expedition intrusted to your care as of the greatest consequence to the general cause; and as they clearly foresee that its influence, whether successful or otherwise, will be great and extensive, they are desirous that nothing necessary to give it a fortunate issue may be omitted. They have ordered all the forces raised in New-York immediately to join you; and those under General Wooster to march immediately to Albany; from whence, if you should think such re-enforcement necessary, you will be pleased to order them. Should you stand in need of further re-enforcement, the Congress desire you will apply to General Washington.

The Congress repose the highest confidence in the abilities, the zeal, and the alacrity of the officers and forces employed on this expedition. They are determined to spare neither men nor money; and should the Canadians remain neuter, flatter themselves that the enterprise will be crowned with success, notwithstanding the great and various difficulties to which it has been and still is exposed.

It is with great concern that the Congress hear of your indisposition. They desire me to assure you of their warmest wishes for your recovery, and to request that, in discharging the duties of your station, you will not omit the attention due to the re-establishment of your health.

I am, &c. By order of the Congress:

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To General Schuyler,

NEW-YORK DELEGATES TO COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Philadelphia, September 20, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: We have the honour of your favour of the 9th instant, which we instantly communicated to the Congress. Deputy Adjutant Fleming’s commission, with the rank of Colonel, and a number of blanks, which you request, have already been forwarded; and you may be assured that we shall be attentive to your want of powder, and embrace every opportunity to supply it.

The article of tea gives us real anxiety. We sincerely wish to relieve our suffering fellow-citizens, by enabling them to dispose of what, so much to their misfortune, lies useless and perishing upon their hands. You cannot be insensible of the delicacy of this subject, and how many difficulties we have to struggle with to accomplish your humane request; whether we shall succeed or not, it is out of our power to determine. We are not without hopes; but whatever may be the event, you may rely upon our utmost exertions to obtain the permission which you solicit.

We have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servants,

To the Committee of Safety of New-York.

JOSIAH BARTLETT AND JOHN LANGDON TO THE NEW-HAMPSHIRE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Philadelphia, September 20, 1775.

DEAR SIR: Yesterday it was moved in Congress to discharge Colonel Fenton from his confinement. It seems that living at Hartford had afforded him an opportunity to see several of the members, as they passed to and from the Army; and, by his politeness and address, and by telling how much he had suffered, had prejudiced some of them that he had been hardly dealt with by us. The copy of a letter from General Putnam was also produced, wherein he says, that “the populace had seized him, and carried him before the Congress of New-Hampshire; and that, after a full hearing, they could not find that he had done any thing against the liberties of America, in word or deed; but, for fear that he might, had ordered him to be confined.” But, as we knew the whole of that affair, we convinced the Congress that our Convention had done right. The Congress passed a resolution to this effect: “That whereas the Convention of the Colony of New-Hampshire had prudently and justly ordered Colonel John Fenton to be confined; and that he being now desirous to remove to Great Britain or Ireland, therefore resolved that General Washington be directed to allow Colonel Fenton to repair forthwith to New-York, and from thence to Great Britain or Ireland, on his giving his parole not to take up arms against America;” which order your Delegates consented to, thinking it better than keeping him confined at the publick expense.

As to publick news, you will see it in the publick prints, and we have no other that we can at present communicate. We should be glad to receive from you all possible intelligence of our affairs, and shall think it our duty to write you often, even though it were only to tell you we have nothing new to inform you of.

We are your most obedient humble servants,

JOSIAH BARTLETT,
JOHN LANGDON.

Matthew Thornton, Esq., Chairman of the Committee of Safety, New-Hampshire. To be communicated.

OFFICERS CHOSEN IN PAWLING’S PRECINCT, DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW-YORK.

In Captain Coon’s Company: John Van Duser, Captain; Valentine Wheeler, First Lieutenant; Luke Wolcott, Second Lieutenant; Rulef Knickerbacker, Ensign.

In Captain Ephraim, Pray’s Company: Isaac Talman, Captain; Ichabod Ward, First Lieutenant; Andrew Morehouse, Jr., Second Lieutenant; Ezra Rutty, Ensign.

In Captain Thomas Sheldon’s Company: James Martin, Captain; Benjamin Elliott, First Lieutenant; Stephen Akin, Second Lieutenant; Nathan Burdick, Ensign.