His Majesty by Thomas Grosvenor, Esquire, one of their Representatives in Parliament.

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty.

Most Gracious Sovereign:

We, your Majesty’s most dutiful subjects, the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, Sheriffs, and Common Council of your ancient and loyal City of Chester, seeing, with deep concern, that those conciliatory measures tendered by your Majesty’s benignity, with the approbation of the great Council of the Nation in the last session of Parliament, to your rebellious Colonies in America, have not only failed to bring them back to their duty, and to acknowledge the supreme power of the British Parliament over them, but that, encouraged by the daily publications of factious subjects at home, in their favour, they have denied that power, and made such warlike preparations to resist all attempts to enforce it, as plainly show they aim at independency, and to bid defiance to that power which first raised and hath since supported them—cannot help, therefore, declaring our abhorrence of proceedings so subversive of all order and good government.

We are convinced, from the experienced clemency of your Majesty’s Government, that (your Parliament being now assembled) if any other measures than those already offered, consistent with the honour and dignity of your Majesty’s crown and Parliament, can even yet be suggested to heal the wound given by the American rebellion to the British Constitution, your tenderness and affection for all your subjects will permit them to be held forth to America, to close that scene of blood, which, from fatal necessity, will follow the refusal of the American Provinces to return to their obedience.

We entirely approve the wisdom of Parliament for assuring your Majesty of their firm resolution to grant you all such supplies as, with the assistance of Divine Providence, may enable you to enforce that duty and allegiance which mild and gracious offers have failed to obtain, and to which we declare we will, with all cheerfulness, contribute, till the right and authority of Great Britain, over her Colonies, shall be settled on a solid and lasting basis.

Given under our common seal, this second day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five.

THOMAS GRIFFITH, Mayor.

REPORT OF GUNNING BEDFORD, DEPUTY MUSTER-MASTER GENERAL OF THE NEW-YORK DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE UNITED COLONIES.

Philadelphia, November 2, 1775.

HONOURED SIR: I made the best of my way forward, according to your Honour’s direction, to General Schuyler. When I arrived at Head-Quarters, (Ticonderoga, ) I received orders from his Excellency the General, to muster the troops under his command. The Connecticut troops would not suffer me to muster them, for reasons mentioned to your Honour in my letter of the 31st August, and signified to the Congress by General Schuyler himself.

Of the New-York troops, I mustered nine Companies of the First Regiment, the whole of the Second Regiment, the whole of the Third Regiment, and nine Companies of the Fourth Regiment. The remaining Company of the First Regiment I met on the North River, on my way from Albany to New-York; the remaining Company of the Fourth Regiment I left at lsle-aux-Noix, when I was ordered to return to Ticonderoga.

I mustered one Company of the Regiment of Green Mountain Boys; the remainder of them passed me on Lake Champlain, as did the five Companies of New-Hamp-shire troops, commanded by Colonel Bedel.

In order that those Companies which had escaped me should not pass unmustered, General Schuyler thought proper that I should appoint an Assistant Deputy Muster-Master. I have accordingly appointed John McPherson, Esq., to that office. I then received orders from his Excellency General Schuyler to come to the southward, muster those troops which had not then gone forward, and make my report to the honourable the Continental Congress. I have now done accordingly, and hope my conduct may meet with their and your Honour’s approbation.

G. BEDFORD, Dep. Muster-Master General.

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

SOLOMON PHELPS TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Cumberland County, New-York, November 2, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOUR: I find the honourable Provincial Congress for our Colony of New-York have resolved that said Congress shall be dissolved on the 14th day of this instant, and that there shall be a new election of Representatives through the Colony. This intelligence we have in Holt’s paper, of October 19th, ult. I have showed the said paper to some of the Committee of Safety for this County. They think the County ought to have some further intelligence from New-York, before they proceed to order an election, as is recommended in the abovementioned paper. I have told them that it is my opinion that the above intelligence is sufficient. Our Delegate, Major Williams, has wrote us nothing concerning the same.

I, as one of the Committee of Safety for this County, should take it as a great favour, if the County might have some further intelligence, to satisfy those gentlemen who object, that the said intelligence is not sufficient. If the Secretary, or any other gentleman belonging to the Congress, would send us a letter, concerning a new choice of Representatives, I should be exceedingly obliged to them for the same. The people in general, among us, want to choose new members, and are always ready to adhere strictly to the resolves of the honourable the Provincial Congress, if they shall be made acquainted with the same.

Mr. Moses Allen, the post, rides from Hartford (Connecticut) to Northfield, weekly, and brings some New-York papers with him. The honourable Congress, sending us word in regard to the above particular, would much oblige the County, and particularly your Honour’s most obedient humble servant,

SOLOMON PHELPS.

The Honourable President Livingston.

CONNECTICUT COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Thursday, November 2, 1775.

At a meeting of the Governour and Council of Safety, Present: His Honour the Governour, Honourable Deputy Governour Griswold, Jabez Huntington, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Nathaniel Wales, Jedediah Elderkin, Joshua West, Benjamin Huntington, Esquires.

A motion by Doctor John Waldo, of Coventry, (and recommended by Colonel Jedediah Huntington, &c. Improved two months, from 14th August to 14th October last, as a Doctor, chiefly in said Colonel Huntington’s Regiment, when they were very sick, and both the Surgeons’ Mates also sick, and that he has expended six Pounds in said service, for subsistence, &c., and horse; and moving for an allowance, &c.; and, on consideration, this Board do allow said Doctor Waldo the sum of thirteen Pounds, which is four Pounds per month, and five Pounds for said expenses, and that an order be drawn accordingly. And an order was drawn accordingly, and delivered him.

Voted, also, An order on the Pay-Table, in favour of Mr. David Trumbull, for one hundred Pounds, to be improved for fixing, stocking, and repairing, &c., about one hundred and eighty Gun-Barrels sent from Crown Point for the use of the Colony; said sum to be improved for that purpose, and to account for in manner and for the use aforesaid. And he having already expended fifty-nine Pounds in said service, drew an order accordingly.

The Brigantine Minerva, an Armed Vessel in the service of this Colony, commanded by Captain Giles Hall, having been lately ordered by this Board on a cruise to the Northward, on an important enterprise, for the defence and safety of this Colony, and the hands on board having neglected and refused to obey said orders, said Captain Hall and Lieutenant Phillips, of said brig, being notified, were present to be inquired of in the premises; and being examined, &c., it appears that all the hands, or Soldiery and Marines on board, except about ten or twelve, being duly noticed by said orders, utterly declined and refused to