Ordered, That the Clerk transmit a copy of the above Resolutions to Mr. Purdie, and entreat him to publish the same as soon as convenient.

JOHN NASH, JUN., Chairman.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM ALEXANDRIA, (VIRGINIA, ) DATED OCTOBER 26, 1775.

The post from the southward brings advice that Lord Dunmore had sent a party of armed men into the Town of Norfolk, who had spiked seventeen pieces of cannon and taken two off. This was done in the face of day, and without any opposition; indeed, none could be expected, as the principal people of that Town are Tories. His Lordship has also seized, dragged on board a man-of-war, and confined in irons, a certain Mr. Goodrich, who lived in the neighbourhood of Norfolk. This gentleman’s crime is, that he suffered one of his vessels, a few days ago, to bring one hundred and fifty barrels of gunpowder, and land the same safely, without asking his Lordship’s consent. We have also certain intelligence that Dunmore, a few days ago, with one hundred and forty men, landed about ten miles below Norfolk, at a place called Kemp’s Landing, where he broke open a blacksmith’s shop and destroyed about fifty muskets, which the smith had to repair, then pillaged a number of houses in the neighbourhood, and look two officers and four privates, in the Minute service, prisoners. The object of this expedition was to intercept the powder abovementioned, but it had luckily been carried off some time before. His Lordship has lately received from Augustine a re-enforcement of two hundred men; so that his whole corps is now supposed to consist of five hundred men.

NEW-HAMPSHIRE DELEGATES TO COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Philadelphia, October 26, 1775.

SIR: Your favour, in Committee, of the 12th instant, is now before us, in answer to which, we say that General Washington had laid the affair of the flour ship before the Congress some days before your favour came to hand, but nothing has been concluded.

We urged that the ship and her cargo belonged to the Colony, as she was taken by our men in Provincial pay, and not by Continental forces; that we had suffered and were still suffering many losses by the taking of our ships inward and outward bound, and that before the taking of this flour ship. As soon as the matter is settled, shall inform you.

We are greatly rejoiced to hear that the batteries are in such readiness, as we have expected to hear that Portsmouth was cannonaded. Captain George Hastings (who built a ship at Kennebunk last year, and loaded with masts at Portsmouth) is now here, having been cast away on the Jersey shore, in a transport from Boston, bound to New-York, with Captain Duncan Campbell and Lieutenant Symes, and a number of men, who were employed to enlist Scotchmen in the back parts of New-York, to re-enforce the Ministerial Army; they are all close prisoners, except Captain Hastings. A quantity of goods, &c., is saved out of the ship.

I saw Captain Hastings yesterday; and as I was acquainted with him, he wanted to inform that when he sailed from Boston, the 4th instant, Captain Mowat, (Scotchman, ) with three armed transports, were almost ready to go to Portsmouth, for the purpose of burning the Town; therefore, for God’s sake, be ye ready.

You mention powder. There is a joint Committee for procuring that article, of which Mr. Langdon is one. Every precaution is taken for ample supplies; but as the whole Continent is to be supplied, as well as the two Armies, it makes it uncertain when we can send you any.

We beg leave here to suggest that the greatest attention should be paid to the use of powder; that no cannon be fired unless drove to the last extremity.

We are sorry to see that you intended to emit more paper money; but as General Washington’s requisition demanded it, must be done. The House is now crowded with motions, otherwise should have moved for a grant of a certain sum to our Colony, which would have answered our purpose without emitting; shall do it first opportunity, but fear the want of our accounts will prevent the grant.

We some time since made a motion for the regulation of our civil Government, and this day a Committee was appointed to consider the motion and report thereon. Could have wished for a petition from our Congress, setting forth all the reasons, had been transmitted us, which would have helped the matter much.

Committee has been appointed to collect the depredations committed by the sons of tyranny through the Continent, which you will hear from.

We are, with respect, your most obedient servants,

JOSIAH BARTLETT,
JOHN LANGDON.

To William Whipple, Esquire.

P. S. Enclosed is a Resolution of Congress respecting powder.

TRYON COUNTY (NEW-YORK) COMMITTEE TO SIR JOHN JOHNSON.

Tryon County Committee Chamber, October 26, 1775.

HONOURABLE SIR: As we find particular reason to be convinced of your opinion in the questions hereafter expressed, we request that you will oblige us with your sentiments thereupon, in a few lines, by our Messengers, the bearers hereof, Messrs. Ebenezer Cox, James McMaster, and John J. Clock, Members of our Committee. We wish to know whether you will allow the inhabitants of Johnstown and Kingsborough to form themselves into Companies, according to the regulations of our Continental Congress, for the defence of our Country’s cause; and whether your Honour would be ready himself to give his personal assistance to the same purpose; also, whether you pretend a prerogative to our County Court-House and Jail, and would hinder or interrupt the Committee making use of the same to our want and service in the common cause.

We do not doubt you will comply with our reasonable request, and thereby oblige, honourable Sir, your obedient and humble servants. By order of the Committee:

NICHOLAS HERCKHEIMER. Chairman.

Hon. Sir John Johnson, Johnson Hall.

JOHN SCHENCK, JUNIOR, AND OTHERS, TO THE NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Poughkeopsie, October 26, 1775.

To the Honourable the Congress in and for the Colony of NEW-YORK:

The officers of the Independent Company at Pough-keepsie, in Dutchess County, beg leave to remonstrate to the Congress—

First. That it will appear, as well by the enclosed copy of the Articles of Association of said Company, as from the knowledge of some of the Members in Congress for Dutchess County, that this Company was established, agreeable to their articles, on the first day of August last, as an Independent Company, and that we never solicited commissions on any other establishment.

Second. That by the rules and orders, &c., published by the Congress on the 22d of same month, in the first resolve contained in said orders it appears that all Independent Companies established in this Colony prior to that date were excepted out of said rules and orders, and to abide the association by them entered into.

Third. That the commissions sent by the Congress embody us as a Company of Minute-Men in Colonel Jacobus Swartwout’s Regiment, contrary to the intent and meaning of our association, which is what our men wish to abide by.

Fourth. That we conceive the articles subscribed by us and the soldiers of our Company bind us and them as firmly to defend the glorious cause of American liberty, as the rules and orders, &c., published by the Congress, possibly can do.

These matters we request the Congress would take into consideration, and favour us with their answer. If the association on which our Company is founded is permitted to stand good, we presume it will give great satisfaction to the Company; if not, we shall endeavour most conscientiously to do our duties, but doubt much whether we shall keep or be able to enlist, in this Precinct, a sufficient number of men. Should the Congress determine in favour of