Army, and keeping it up for one year from the last day of December next, subject to be disbanded or reduced by order of the Congress within that time, upon being allowed one month’ advance pay; and report to the Congress of what number it should consist; what should be the pay of the officers and privates, (that of some of the former in the present Army being, it is apprehended, too low, and that of the latter too high;) what number each Company, and how many Companies each Regiment, should contain; of what quantity and kind of provisions a ration should consist; the best method of providing arms, clothing, and provisions, for the Troops; what rules and regulations are necessary for their government; by whom the officers should be chosen or recommended; how the best officers and men in the present Army may be engaged for the next, making a complete arrangement of the whole, by putting all the Forces, in what Colony soever recruited, on one establishment in every respect, and thereby abolishing all Provincial distinctions; that the Committee report how, when, and where, the said Army may be raised and levied.

That they confer and consult, as above directed, on the several other matters mentioned in the General’s letters to the Congress, upon which no order has been made, and the best methods of removing the difficulties or remedying the evils therein stated, and upon any other matters which, in the course of this business, may occur to the Committee relative thereto, and make report thereon to the Congress.

That the Committee, having made the necessary inquiries, report what number of effective men it may be expected that the Colonies of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Connecticut, and Rhode-Island, respectively, could and would furnish, if necessary, by the 10th day of March next, and on what terms.

That the Committee report an estimate of the expenses which will attend the measures they may recommend or submit to the Congress.

Additional Instructions.

That the Committee consider as included in their inquiries, not only the Forces necessary to be kept in the Massachusetts-Bay, but in the Northern Department; and that they obtain and report as exact an estimate as they can of the expenses which have been, and by the 31st of December next will be, incurred in pursuance of the Resolution of the Congress, for putting these Colonies into a proper state of defence.

To the Honourable the Delegates of the Thirteen United Colonies in General Congress assembled:

The Committee for the County of CUMBERLAND, in the Province of NEW-JERSEY, beg leave to represent:

That the good people of this County have ever showed themselves forward in the cause of liberty, being the first in (at least this part of it) the Province that took up arms in support of the common cause, ever since which they have been diligently engaged in learning the military art, and furnishing themselves with the implements of war; notwithstanding which, they have not been able to provide themselves with a sufficient quantity of ammunition, particularly powder, of which article they assure us they have not a sufficient quantity to enable them to defend their property, in case of any emergency, until a supply could be procured from Philadelphia. We cannot but think this circumstance truly alarming, when we consider that we lie open, defenceless, and exposed to the depredations of Ministerial robbers, should they think proper to enter our Ray. These considerations, joined to the probability we conceive there is that General Gage will, before the beginning of the winter, try every method, and ransack every place that may be in his power, to furnish his Troops with fresh provisions, will, we apprehend, fully apologize for this our application to your honourable Board for relief, especially when we assure you that we have taken every method in our power to furnish ourselves. We therefore earnestly beg you would take such measures for our relief in the premises as to you shall seem meet, assuring you that you may with the greatest safety rely on our taking every precaution necessary for securing any powder you may be pleased to order for our relief, and that none of it shall be used but in support of the rights and privileges of our countrymen. Signed by order of the Committee:

September 30, 1775.

THOMAS HARRIS, Chairman.

HENDRICK FISHER TO NEW-YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

New-Jersey, September 30, 1775.

SIR: As our Committee of Safety is at present not sitting, on receiving your favour of the 27th instant, by order of your Committee I immediately advised with some of our Committee members, who were of opinion, with me, that as our Provincial Congress is to meet on Tuesday, the 3d of October next, which is as early as our Committee possibly can be convened, to lay your request before them, which I shall do accordingly, as soon as they have formed a board, and doubt not, but they will do therein what is most proper.

I have the honour to subscribe myself your (and the other gentlemen of your Committee) very obedient and most humble servant,

HENDRICK FISHER

To John Haring, Esq., Chairman of the Committee of Safety for the Province of New-York.

JOHN MCDONALD TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

The information of John McDonald, late Miner, and Clerk, from Scotland, who, on the 15th of September, 1775, was appointed to proceed to Mr. Palmer, at Newburgh, to examine his Lead Mines; and, according to my charge, have taken inspections of the state and value of the Mines, with all possible diligence, conformable to mining, which, as in the following, most humbly sheweth:

The principal and only valuable mines that I know of, and I make not the least doubt the best in this Continent, are on Judge Livingston’s land, adjoining to Mr. Palmer’s. The inclination of the mine vein is to the southwest and northeast, and of two feet breadth, mostly white spar, from which have taken a sample of the ore, &c.; may make you sensible, if it be worth your while to put it in execution, and from its advantageous situation for working is most likely to turn out to immediate profit, both for the owner and the Continent. The branch of Mr. Palmer’s mine is about five feet breadth, consisting of different sorts of spar, and seems to me to be of likely quality, but at present free from the appearances of metals, till farther trials are made. And in case these mines be pursued, conform to its circumstances, requires the first necessary scheme, which driving a cross cut, in order to work out better discovery; if successful, the worker or overseer, providing being perfectly acquainted with lead mines, must fix. upon driving an inset as low as level bearing, also sinking, cross cutting, and rising, where the appearances are best, so that the same were brought to a bearing, the better to indemnify damage or expenses. I would not launch out considerable sums of money upon uncertainty, in trials of this nature, but where there is a visible prospect; and how the above mines turn out, there’s none can express till trials are made. It is my humble opinion, what may be for a national, publick good, should be rather bestowed upon, than lie dead and useless in the bowels of the earth.

Honourable Congress or Committee, this is most humbly offered to your serious consideration; and remain your honours’s most humble servant,

JOHN MCDONALD

To the Honourable Provincial Congress, or Committee, now sitting in the City of New-York.

THOMAS PALMER TO NEW-YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Newburgh, September 30, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: I received yours, per bearer, Mr. McDonald, respecting my lead mine. As to your offer of purchasing the lead, in case I opened it, 1 should be more obliged to you, in case lead was an article that was not vendible to any one else. However, to satisfy you and the bearer, I have caused the mine to be shown him, as also one on the land of Judge Livingston, in which I am part owner. A sample, per bearer, with his opinion on the matter, you will have. I think it an object worth your and the Continental Congress’s notice, you may, if you please, work mine for a small profit to me; and Judge Livingston