Whereas Samuel Purviance, Jun., William Smith, and David Steuart, have certified to this Council, that in consequence of the Resolve of the late Provincial Convention, of the 4th day of August last, sundry persons have lent and advanced to the publick divers sums of Money, amounting in the whole to eleven hundred and ninety-five Pounds three Shillings and six Pence, sterling, which they have paid into their hands:

It is therefore Ordered, That upon the said Samuel Purviance, Jun., William Smith, and David Steuart, their certifying to the Treasurer of the Western Shore the names of the lenders, and the sums of Money by them respectively advanced and paid into their hands; and on the same certificate, and also the receipt of the said Samuel Purviance, Jun., William Smith, and David Steuart, for the said Moneys being produced to the said Treasurer, that then the said Treasurer pay to the said lenders, or their order, the sums by them respectively advanced, according to the order of Convention.

Messrs. Purviance, Smith, and Steuart, having given contingent orders to Captain Woolsey and Captain Waters, for the importation of sundry goods, it is the opinion of this Council that if any goods, other than those ordered by the Convention, should be laden on board, that the same will not be the adventure or on the risk of the publick.

Ordered, That the Deputies of this Province, in the Continental Congress, or any three of them, contract for the purchase of any quantity not exceeding three hundred barrels of Gunpowder, for the use of this Province, at a price not exceeding fifteen Pounds, common money, per hundred, and that the Treasurer of the Western Shore pay to the order of the said Deputies a sum not exceeding four thousand five hundred Pounds, to be by them applied to the purchase of the said Powder.

On application from Doctor Ephraim Howard, (son of Henry,) for the loan of six hundred Pounds, to enable him to carry on the manufacture of Saltpetre in an extensive manner,

It is Ordered, That on his producing a certificate from Major Jenifer and Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, or either of them, that he hath given bond, with sufficient security, agreeable to the order of the Convention, the Treasurer of the Western Shore pay the said Doctor Ephraim Howard the sum of six hundred Pounds, common money, for the purpose aforesaid.

A like application was made by Doctor Samuel Coale, for the loan of two hundred and fifty Pounds, to enable him to carry on a Saltpetre work.

Ordered, That the said sum of two hundred and fifty Pounds, common money, be paid him by the Treasurer of the Western Shore, on his producing a certificate from Mr. Alexander and Charles Carroll, Barrister, or either of them, of his having given bond, with good security, agreeable to the order of the Convention.

“By the Council of Safety of Maryland, October 21, 1775.

“It is recommended to the officers having the charge and keeping of the Records in the Secretary’s, Land, and Commissary’s Offices, that proper Chests, not over large, be provided at the publick expense, and the Records of Conveyances, Certificates, Patents, and Wills, be placed in those Chests, and kept in the offices to which they respectively belong, in order that they, as well as the late papers, may be ready, in case of emergency, to be instantly removed to some place of security, and there kept under the care of the proper sworn officers.”

Ordered, That copies of the foregoing Recommendation be transmitted to the several offices therein mentioned.

The following Notice was ordered to be printed in the Annapolis Gazette, viz:

“By the Council of Safety of Maryland, October 21, 1775.

“The Committees of Observation are requested to complete their returns of the Minute and Militia Officers, and the Companies of Militia formed in Battalions, agreeable to the Resolves of the late Convention, as soon as may be, that the proper Commissions may issue.”

Resolved, That there be a meeting of the Convention, at the City of Annapolis, on the 4th day of December next, and that the Clerk of this Council enclose a copy of this Resolve to the Delegates of each County within this Province.

Ordered, That the Treasurer of the Eastern Shore pay John Garratt, for his trouble in attending this meeting, and for providing Wood and Candles, the sum of forty Shillings, common money.

Signed by order:

ELEAZER MC COMB, Clerk.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Philadelphia, October 20, 1775.

SIR: Captain John Macpherson having informed the Congress that he had invented a method by which, with their leave, he would take or destroy every Ministerial armed vessel in North-America, they appointed Governour Hopkins, Mr. Randolph, and Mr. J. Rutledge, to confer with him on the subject, for he would not consent to communicate the secret to any but a Committee and you.

These gentlemen reported that the scheme, in theory, appeared practicable; and that, though its success could not be relied on without experiment, they thought it well worth attempting on the fleet in and about Boston Harbour, their destruction being an object of the utmost importance.

The Congress have therefore desired Captain Macpherson to repair immediately to Cambridge. They recommend this matter to your particular attention, and request that if you view it in the light which the Committee did, you will give him all the support and assistance in your power, and furnish him with every thing he may require for this service.

I am, &c.,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To General Washington.

NEW-YORK CONGRESS TO CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

[Read October 25, 1775.]

In Provincial Congress, New-York, October 20, 1775.

SIR: Over and above the necessary expenditures, by reason of the different services recommended to us, we are in advance to the general concern for moneys paid to the troops, and also for provisions and other necessaries forwarded by the order of the Continental Generals, and tents furnished to the troops under the command of General Wooster and Colonel Hinman, and many other expenditures; which several articles, in the departments of the Paymasters and Commissaries, amount in the whole to a very considerable proportion of the moneys sent us by your body. We have now not above five thousand Dollars remaining, and are continually called upon for cash, on several occasions interesting to the service. We beg, therefore, that you will forward us money by the first opportunity, the necessity of which we doubt not will be immediately perceived.

We shall, as soon as possible, lay before the Commissaries, Paymasters, &c., our accounts, and send duplicates to the Congress, in order to check the drafts which they may make; and in the interim, pray your advice whether these gentlemen are to replace unto us the moneys advanced in Their department.

We are, Sir, with great respect, your most obedient and humble servants. By order:

NATHANIEL WOODHULL, President.

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

RETURNS OF OFFICERS OF SEVERAL NEW-YORK REGIMENTS.

CITY OF ALBANY.— FIRST REGIMENT.

Jacob Lansing, Junior, Colonel; Dirck Ten Broeck, Lieutenant-Colonel; Henry Wendell, Abraham Cuyler, Majors; Volkert A. Douw, Adjutant; Ephraim Van Veghten, Quartermaster.

John Barclay, Captain; John Price, Abraham J. Yates, Lieutenants; John Scott, Ensign.

Thomas Barret, Captain; Matthew Visscher, Abraham Eights, Lieutenants; John Hoogkerk, Ensign.

John Williams, Captain; Henry Staats, Barent Van Aelen, Lieutenants; Henry Hogen, Ensign.

John M. Beekman, Captain; Isaac De Freest, Abraham Ten Eyck, Lieutenants; Teunis Van Veghten, Ensign.