I herewith send you a commission for Henry Knox, as Colonel of the regiment of artillery.

The enclosed accounts of advances to the rifle companies, you will please to order the Paymaster-General to deduct from their pay, agreeably to the several charges.

I have nothing further in command from the Congress.

Yesterday we received advice by an express from the Committee of Frederick, in Maryland, that Connolly and three associates were taken prisoners, and are now in confinement in that county. By his examination taken, and the papers found with him, the deposition of his servant, which you transmitted to Congress, is fully confirmed.

This day we received advice from Southampton, in Virginia, that Lord Dunmore has erected his standard at Norfolk, proclaimed martial law, invited the negroes to join him, and offered them freedom; for which purposes he has issued a proclamation from on board the ship where he resides; and that two counties have been obliged to submit to him. However, I hope such measures are taking as will speedily and effectually repel his violence, and secure the peace and safety of that Colony.

The committee have just brought in their report on the vessel taken toy the people of New-Hampshire. As soon as the Congress have come to a determination thereon, I shall do myself the pleasure to transmit it to you.

In the mean time, with sincere and hearty wishes for your safety, happiness, and prosperity, I have the honour to be, sir, &c.,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To General Washington.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Philadelphia, December 2, 1775.

SIR: The Congress having found it necessary to send Commissioners to the northward to consult with General Schuyler, among other things have instructed them to use their best endeavours to induce the men to reinlist for one year from the first of January next, in the Continental service; and for the encouragement of the Connecticut troops, who have not been mustered by the Deputy Mustermaster-General, they have given directions that such as reinlist be paid all arrears that may be due to them, according to the rolls to be sent by you.

You will be pleased, therefore, as soon as possible, to transmit to General Schuyler, by express, the rolls of such of your Colony as are employed in that department, ascertaining how long the men have been in the service.

I enclose you the resolutions of Congress respecting the disposition of the officers taken at St. John's; by which you will perceive they are to be stationed in the lower parts of Lebanon and Windham, and to be upon their parole, and under certain restrictions therein mentioned, which you will please to order to be executed, and when effected, transmit me a copy signed by each officer, to be laid before the Congress.

I am directed by Congress to inform you that no bounty is to be allowed the soldiers on reinlistment, but the General is directed to pay such soldiers as will reinlist for the succeeding year, their wages for the months of October, November, and December, and also to advance to them one month's pay; and I am ordered to recommend to you to promote the recruiting service in the present army, as well as in the particular Colony.

I have the honour to be, &c.,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO NEW-HAMPSHIRE CONVENTION.

Philadelphia, December 2, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: The enclosed resolutions I transmit you by order of Congress. Your zeal in the cause renders any further recommendation unnecessary.

Having nothing more in charge to communicate, and being much engaged in despatching expresses, I can't add, But that I am, with much respect, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To the President and Members of the Convention of New-Hampshire.

THEODORE VAN WTCK TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

New-York, December 2, 1775.

SIR: I have the honour to be elected a member of this Congress, but am sorry the publick did not duly consider my infirmity in respect to my hearing, which renders me a very unfit person to discharge that important trust, as I am not able to distinguish or understand any argument or debate, unless the speakers are very near me, which always gives me extreme pain and uneasiness. I humbly beg, therefore, in case of my non-attendance, that the gentlemen of the Congress, will not impute it to any unwillingness in me to serve; for I can assure them that I am a friend to the rights and liberties of my country, and will cheerfully bear my part of the burden to preserve them inviolate in any thing that I am capable of, or properly qualified for.

I have the honour to be, sir, yours and their very humble servant,

THEODORE VAN WYCK.

To Colonel Woodhull, President of the New-York Provincial Congress.

DECLARATION OF THOMAS COXDEN.

New-York, December 7, 1775.

Thomas Colden, High Sheriff of Ulster County, having received the King's proclamation, with Governour Tryon's subjoined, gave public notice that he intended reading said proclamation at St. Andrew's Church, in Ulster County, on Saturday, the 2d of December, 1775, to all such officers, both civil and military, and all others that chose to attend. Whereupon the Committee of Hanover Precinct (the place of his residence) met and judged it their duty to oppose every measure that would have a tendency to strengthen the hands of ministerial tyranny, and that would, on the other hand, weaken or discourage the promoters and supporters of American freedom, and thereupon applied to the commanding officer of the regiment of militia to which they belong, who immediately ordered four companies of militia to march to the above-mentioned church, where all the officers (Capt. Cadwallader and C. Colden, Jun., excepted,) and most of their men attended, together with three companies of minute-men, at which time and place the following declaration was offered to the Sheriff, and then read to the seven companies then and there present, who unanimously accepted thereof, as full satisfaction for the first publick offence; which declaration he publicly signed at the head of the seven companies then under arms, and in the presence of a great number of spectators assembled on the occasion, who thereupon were dismissed and separated without the least confusion or disorder.

DECLARATION.

"I do hereby acknowledge that I have acted in such a manner as to draw the resentment of all those that have appeared friends to the true interests of the United, Colonies, and supporters of the measures of the Continental and Provincial Congress; and that I am sorry for it, and that I will for the future act and behave as a friend to the measures adopted by the United Colonies: And that I will hereafter, whenever required by the Committee where I reside, be aiding and assisting in carrying into execution the resolves of the Continental and Provincial Congresses, on all occasions, as far as in me lies.

"Given under my hand at St. Andrew's Church, in Hanover Precinct, in Ulster County, the 2d day of December, 1775.

THOMAS COLDEN, Sheriff."

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM AN OFFICER IN THE NORTHERN ARMY, DATED MONTREAL, DECEMBER 2, 1775.

Last night Gen. Wooster received information, by letters from Boucharville, that a plan was laid for cutting off the communication between Gen. Montgomery's army and our garrison, and at one stroke to destroy all the friends of the United Colonies; that a magazine of arms, &c., was deposited with a captain of the militia; that the scheme was concerted and to be conducted by St. Luke La Corne, who had a strong party in readiness to put it in execution.

On this intelligence Col. Ritzema, with a detachment of one hundred men, among whom was part of my com-