may prove prejudicial to them, and our desire of contributing to undeceive a people misled by the hopes of finding in their Mother Country that same licentious spirit which prevails among themselves.

To this testimony of our unshaken loyalty and affection, it gives us pleasure to add, that the same principles prevail among the people under our care, who, as well as we, look with astonishment on those factious men in Great Britain, who, to gratify their own ambition, are ready to sacrifice the interests of their Country and the lives of their fellow-subjects.

It is our earnest prayer to the great disposer of all events, that the authority of the British Legislature may be acknowledged and obeyed throughout all the parts of your Majesty’s Dominions, and that means may happily be devised for obtaining that end without the further effusion of human blood, which, as men and ministers of the gospel of peace, we wish to be avoided. But if, to our great regret, lenient measures should unhappily prove ineffectual, and only tend to foment the disorders which they are meant to remedy, we will most cordially pray for success to such expedients as the wisdom of your Majesty’s counsels shall find necessary to employ.

That Almighty God may pour down his best blessings on your Majesty’s person and family; that be may long preserve your Majesty to be the guardian of our religious and civil liberties, as presently established by law, and to reign over a free, happy, and affectionate people; and may at a distant period crown you with immortal glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord, are and ever shall be the earnest prayer of, may it please your Majesty, your Majesty’s most faithful, most obedient, and most loyal subjects, the Ministers and Elders assembled in this Provincial Synod of Angus and Mearns.

Signed in our name, and at our appointment, by

JAMES ADAMSON, Moderator.

Martinico, October 25, 1775.

A few days ago an English frigate cast anchor in the harbour of Fort Royal, under the cannon of the fort, and sent some armed men in her boats to seize a New-England vessel which lay in that harbour, whose crew they made prisoners, then plundered the vessel, and afterwards left it to the mercy of the waves. The Count De Nozieres, being then at Guadaloupe, the Sieur de Sablonet, commandant in his absence at Fort Royal, failed not to take upon him to punish this violation of the law of nations, by firing on the English frigate, which, after this expedition, sailed for St. Pierre, where there were then a dozen ships belonging to New-England. The frigate anchored, without ceremony, also in that port, and despatched her boats to visit the ships which she suspected to be laden with warlike ammunition; but, as they met with resistance from the first they attempted to board, the inhabitants of St. Pierre defended the English Americans, and, having armed them selves, took the boats with their crews, and the men were conveyed ashore, notwithstanding all their resistance. Some of them were wounded on this occasion. The Count de Choiseul-Meuze, second in command at Martinico, and then chief in the absence of the General, immediately went to the store-house where the English were detained, and, after sharply upbraiding them for so manifest an infraction of the law of nations, he sent a detachment on board the English frigate, and caused it to be signified to the commander, that he would not release his men till such time as he had repaired the injury which had been done. This was accompanied with an express order to put to sea immediately after; and the more efficaciously to decide the matter, he instantly set about preparing the battery of St. Martha, and threatened to sink the English frigate if she deferred giving the satisfaction which was demanded. The firmness of our commandant had its effect on the Captain, who speedily performed what was desired, and then weighed anchor, after having received his boats and his men.

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Committee for Chesterfield County, at the Court-House, on the 25th of October, 1775, the following gentlemen were chosen Officers for the Militia of this County:

Edward Friend, Esq., County Lieutenant; John Bott, Esq., Colonel; Robert Haskins, Esq., Lieutenant-Colonel; Joseph Bass, Esq., Major.

Captains: Thomas Boiling, George Robertson, Robert Goode, Richard Baugh, James Elam, Benjamin Brance, Bernard Markham, Jesse Cogbille, Edward Moseley, James Harris, Creed Haskins, and Joseph Royal.

Lieutenants: Rich’d Booker, Archerd Bass, David Pat teson, John Osborne, Patrick Height, Archerd Walthall, Stephen Pankey, King Graves, John Hill, Thomas Wool dridge, Samuel Goode, and Benjamin Ward.

Ensigns: John Archer, John Hill, John Fowler, Jun., Thomas Osborne, Branch Elam, Thomas Goode, Obadiah Smith, Jun., George Cogbille, Jun., Alexander Baugh, William Scott, Jun., Jesse Clark, and Daniel Worsham.

Resolved, That publick notice be given to our suffering friends in the County of Norfolk, and places adjacent, who may be compelled to quit their habitations in this time of distress, that the Members of this Committee will furnish them with every accommodation in their power, and they doubt not of the same disposition in the other inhabitants of this County.

By order of the Committee:

JERMAN BAKER, Cl’k.

PRESIDENT OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS TO THE PRO VINCIAL CONGRESS OF NEW-JERSEY.

Philadelphia, October 25, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: The Congress having taken into consideration your letters of the 13th and 14th instant, have directed me to inform you, that they are of opinion the publick service makes it necessary that the Jersey Battalions be levied with all possible expedition; but, as the Congress are waiting the return of their Committee from camp, in order to establish permanent regulations for all the Continental forces, they, for the present, incline to suspend a determination on the question about the appointment of regimental field-officers.

The publick exigency will not admit of loans from the Continental Treasury to any of the Colonies. The Congress, however, hope that this will not disable you from supplying yourselves with arms and ammunition; in doing which, it is not doubted you will fall upon such means as will be most for the ease and safety of the Colony, without hazarding the emission of paper currency.

From some expressions in your letter of the 14th inst., the Congress apprehend it is the intention of your Convention to take into constant pay four thousand Minute-Men. But as this will be a very heavy expense, and more, it is apprehended, than any one Colony can afford, we hope you will well weigh and consider such a measure before you adopt it. With respect to provisions for Minute-Men, the Congress have made none, conceiving that the several Colonies will make proper provision for them where necessary, or when they are called into actual ser vice, except when they are taken into Continental service; in which case they will be entitled to the same pay as other Continental troops.

I am, &c.,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To the Provincial Convention of New-Jersey.

A LIST OF THE FIELD-OFFICERS FOR THE COUNTY OF ULSTER, NEW-YORK.

Johannes Hardenbergh, Colonel; Abraham Hasbrouck, Lieutenant-Colonel; Johannes Snyder, Jonathan Elmendorph, Majors; Petrus J. Elmendorph, Adjutant; Abraham A. Hasbrouck, Quartermaster.

James Clinton, Colonel; James McClaughry, Lieutenant-Colonel; Jacob Newkerk, Moses Philips, Majors; George Denniston, Adjutant; Alexander Trimble, Quar termaster.

Levi Pawling, Colonel; Jacob Hoornbeek, Lieutenant-Colonel; Johannes Cantine, Joseph Hasbrouck, Majors; David Bevier, Adjutant; Jacobus Bruyn, Jun., Quarter master.

Jonathan Hasbrouck, Colonel; Johannes Hardenbergh, Jun., Lieutenant-Colonel; Johannes Jansen, Jun., Lewis Dubois, Majors; Abraham Schoonmaker, Adjutant; Isaac Belknap, Quartermaster.