that he, the said John Greshan, shall well and truly settle with the said Court the accounts of the Estate of Sill Johnston, deceased, and pay into the hands of the Guardian to the Orphans of the deceased all such sums of Money which shall be directed by order of the said Court to be paid to the said Guardians; and that the said Sheriff shall keep the said Estate in his hands, unless such bond and security is given, until the meeting of Johnston Inferiour Court, and then deliver the same up to the Justices of the said Court, that they may make such order concerning the same as to them may seem just, it having on oath been made appear to this Council, that the said John Greshan was about to leave the Province in a private manner.

Resolved, That Samuel Ashe, Esq., pay into the hands of Thomas Eaton, Esq., for the use of Captain William Green, one hundred and twenty Pounds, to be applied to the enlisting of Regular Soldiers, and be allowed in his account with the publick.

The Council being informed that discontents had taken place among the people in the County of New-Hanover, arising perhaps from mistake and misrepresentation, and that in consequence thereof they had publickly protested against the proceedings of the Late Congress:

Resolved, That this Council do highly disapprove of such conduct, as tending to create divisions, which may prove prejudicial to the cause of liberty; and they do therefore recommend to Mr. President, Samuel Ashe, and John Ashe, Esquires, to explain the proceedings of the Congress to the people abovementioned, and endeavour, by argument and persuasion, to promote that harmony which is so essential for the preservation of the rights of America.

Whereas the mode by Congress provided for securing Debts due from persons suspected of an intention to abscond is found defective, as no application can be made but in term time, or at the sitting of the Committees:

Resolved, That the Committees of Safety and County Committees, in their respective jurisdictions, may make such other and further regulations with respect to this point as to them shall appear necessary.

Resolved, That the Colonel of each regular Regiment in this Province have a power to appoint a Clerk, by warrant, under their hands, to each Regiment, who shall receive the same pay that Clerks upon the Continental establishment receive for their service.

Resolved, That the Committees of the several Counties and Towns, and the Committees of Safety for the several Districts of this Province, be required to exert their utmost influence to forward and hasten the Minute service, and procure the several Battalions of Minute-Men to be completed with all possible despatch; and that the Militia be immediately embodied, and Adjutants employed to instruct them in military discipline, agreeable to the Resolutions of the Provincial Congress; the same being of very great importance to the publick safety.

Whereas it appears to this Council, that, from the great extent of Rowan County, it is very inconvenient and burdensome for the Militia thereof to assemble at any one place therein, and that a division of the Rowan Regiment would ease the inhabitants, and encourage military discipline; therefore,

Resolved, That the Regiment of Militia in the said County of Rowan shall be divided by a line beginning at the Catawba River, where Lord Granville’s south line crosses the same; thence running up the said River, in the middle of the main stream thereof, to the mouth of the Lower Creek; thence a due north course to the dividing ridge between the waters of the Catawba and the Yadkin Rivers; and that all the Militia of said County, on the west side of said line, shall be, and is hereby made and established a new and distinct Regiment, and shall be known and distinguished by the name of the Second Regiment of Rowan Militia.

Resolved, That Commissions issue to the Field-Officers of the Second Regiment of Rowan Militia.

Resolved, That it be, and it is hereby recommended to the Committees of Safety, who have not yet met, to meet in their respective Districts on or before the last Tuesday in November next.

CORNELIUS HARNETT, President.

By order:

JAMES GREEN, JUN., Clerk.

NEW-YORK CONGRESS TO CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.
[Read October 23, 1775.]

In Provincial Congress, New-York, October 18, 1775.

SIR: We are this moment honoured with your favour of the 16th instant, advising us of the unanimous resolutions of Congress to forward to General Schuyler the ton of powder yesterday sent us, which was immediately ordered to be carried into execution; although we cannot, beside that, command two hundred pounds of powder, if it would save the Colony from destruction. We have frequently spared all the powder in our Colony to supply the urgent calls of the Continental Army, at Cambridge and Ticonderoga, and thereby exposed ourselves to insult and ruin. We therefore entreat you to represent to Congress the ab solute necessity of replacing without delay the powder we have furnished the Continental Army, for otherwise we shall not be able, in case of an invasion, to make that defence which might be expected from us by our neighbours, nor even to prevent insults. Should the Congress be unable to order us the powder out of the Continental magazine, we submit it to their consideration, whether the City of Philadelphia cannot with greater safety to the confederated Colonies spare the quantity we have sent to the Army, than we can want it.

We are, respectfully, Sir, your most obedient servants

NATHANIEL WOODHULL, President.

To the Hon. John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS

[Read October 31, 1775.]

Ticonderoga, Wednesday, October 18, 1775.

SIR: Since my last of the 5th inst., General Montgomery has favoured me with several letters, extracts whereof I do myself the honour to enclose you.

The General’s complaint, in No. 1, that he wants men, is too well founded; the enclosed return will show how much the Army is reduced by sickness, &c. At that time, all the men that I could send were on the way to join him, and they arrived on the 9th, as you will see by No. 2. It is too true that very few of the men he sends to this post return. The greater part of them are so averse to going back that they pretend sickness and skulk about; and some, even officers, go away without leave, nor can I get the better of them, although I do not suffer a ration of pro vision to be issued unless I countersign the order, and the sick, or pretended sick, do not get half allowance.

What little money I have been able to procure at Albany, I have sent on. I fear the want of specie will be fatal to us, should every thing else go well. The Canadians have suffered much by paper currency, and a burnt child dreads the fire.

Two hundred and fifty-three of General Wooster’s Regiment came across Lake George on Sunday, but the General is not yet arrived, and they do not choose to move until he does. Do not choose to move! Strange language in an Army; but the irresistible force of necessity obliges me to put up with it. This morning I gave an order to Lieu tenant-Colonel Ward to send a subaltern, a sergeant, corporal, and twenty privates, in two batteaus, to carry powder, artillery stores, and rum. The Colonel (who is a good man) called upon me to know if he would not be blamed by General Wooster for obeying my orders, I begged him to send the men, and urged the necessity. The men, I believe, will condescend to go. I could give many instances of a similar nature; but General Montgomery has most justly and emphatically given the reasons: “Troops who carry the spirit of freedom into the field, and think for them selves,” will not bear either subordination or discipline.

If there is any foundation in the report that the garrison intend quitting St. John’s, I conjecture it must arise from

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