door cut in one side capable of being shut tight, and the barrel to be fixed so as to be turned by the shaft of the mill. Put in a few pounds at a time, and let it be rolled as above, which will make the powder smooth; then sift it in the finest sieve, till the fine parts that work off in the barrel pass through the sieve, which is to be returned again into the mortars. The powder must be put in flat trays or dishes, and set by to dry either in a small room kept warm with a large stove, or, if the weather be dry, in the shining of the sun.

I, therefore, most heartily recommend to the good people of this Continent to enter into these necessary businesses with spirit, being well assured that a greater quantity may, with ease, be made than will be needed for our consumption, even admitting the times to be worse than the threats of the British Administration would lead us to expect.

Any person inclining to build a powder-mill will be shown a plan, with directions for the construction of all its parts and utensils, by applying to their very humble servant,

HENRY WISNER.

LANCASTER ( PENNSYLVANIA ) COMMITTEE TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read December 27, 1775.]

Lancaster, December 21, 1775.

SIR: The Committee of Correspondence of this County have received your letter of the 18th instant, enclosing certain resolutions of the honourable Congress, respecting the disposition of the officers and privates, who are prisoners here.

We beg leave to mention to you, that in consequence of the directions transmitted to us, the officers met us this morning, and having perused your resolve, requesting some time to determine on their respective places of residence, this indulgence we thought ourselves bound to grant upon their entreaty. We have taken their parole for the present, and now enclose the same to you.

They complain greatly of a separation from their soldiers, as a breach of General Schuyler's solemn engagement, and that they cannot remove from hence until their baggage, with the men's clothing, and the pay of the troops, come up. They say that justice cannot be done to the privates, with respect to their pay in arrear, unless the officers are upon the spot to make the proper settlements. The soldiers also express great uneasiness about their clothing and pay, if their officers are removed from them. Of these matters we conceive it our duty not to judge, but strictly to conform to your orders. The want of warm clothing for the soldiers (of which they are in great need) is still one of the objects of their complaint, but on this head we referred them to Major Preston. The gentlemen of the Seventh Regiment tell us, they have reason to believe that the Major is to furnish clothing for the Twenty-Sixth Regiment alone.

The letter we had the favour of receiving from Messrs. Lynch and Lewis informed us, that Mr. David Franks had engaged to supply the troops with provisions. We are at a Joss to know to what fund our barrackmaster must apply for the payment of the articles of wood, candles, bedding, and blankets, and the implements of the cooking, absolutely necessary for the prisoners here.

We request your directions, whether in case any of the officers should incline to draw bills for any money necessary for their accommodation and subsistence, the inhabitants shall be at liberty to advance their cash, and take their bills; or whether this shall be considered as an infraction of the former resolution of Congress. The officers have requested to be informed by us, whether any provision is to be made for their future subsistence. We look up to you for an answer.

The general outlines of the duties of our department being made known unto us, we shall endeavour to conform minutely to them. In such matters, wherein circumstances may make it necessary to exercise our own judgment, we hoped in no instance to deviate essentially from the system of the honourable Congress.

By order of the Committee:

EDWARD SHIPPEN, Chairman.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

DISAFFECTED PERSONS IN QUEEN'S COUNTT, NEW-YORK.

In Provincial Congress, New-York,

December 21, 1775.

Whereas on the 13th instant, on information that a number of disaffected persons in Queen's County, had been supplied with Arms and Ammunition from on board the Asia ship-of-war, and had been arraying themselves in military manner, to oppose the measures taking by the United Colonies fat the defence of their just rights and privileges, and thrown out many threatening expressions against sundry persons residing in that and the neighbouring Counties,

It was resolved by this Congress as their opinion, That such conduct is inimical to the common cause of the United Colonies, and ought not by any means to be suffered; but that measures should be immediately taken to pat a stop to it.

And it was therefore ordered, That the inhabitants of the said County should appear by a Committee before this Congress, on Wednesday then next, at ten o'clock in the morning, to give satisfaction in the premises: with which order the said inhabitants of Queen's County have not complied. And whereas the persons above-mentioned and their adherents have opposed the election of Representatives for that County in this Congress, on a poll opened for that purpose, whereby that County remains unrepresented in this Congress: And whereas a prevailing party prevented the election of Delegates for the County of Richmond, at a late poll there opened for that purpose; by means whereof the said County is not represented in this Congress: And whereas the poll list for Queen's County has been returned to this Congress, whereby the persons opposing such representation as aforesaid, and appearing to this Congress to be inimical to the interest of the United Colonies, may be ascertained:

Resolved, first, That such inimical persons as aforesaid have been guilty of a breach of the General Association, and of an open contempt of the authority of this Congress, as effectually representing the majority of the inhabitants of this Colony.

Resolved, secondly, That the inhabitants of the County of Richmond, by neglecting to elect Representatives in this Congress, have been guilty of a breach of the General Association.

Resolved, thirdly, That the Committee of the said County of Richmond, do and shall, within fifteen days after the publication hereof, return to this Congress, or the Committee of Safety, a list of the names of those who oppose a representation of the said County in this Congress, to the end that the delinquents against the common cause in that County may be ascertained, and that in default thereof the whole County of Richmond be deemed delinquent.

Resolved, fourthly, That the said delinquents, in the said Counties respectively, and each and every of them, be and hereby are entirely put out of the protection of this Congress.

Resolved, fifthly, That all friendly and commercial intercourse between the said persons so put respectively out of the protection of this Congress, and the other inhabitants of this Colony, ought to be, and the same, as far as can be effected by the recommendation of this Congress, hereby is and shall continue to be totally interdicted, until further orders of this Congress, or the Committee of Pub-lick Safety.

And to the end that no persons may plead ignorance of the aforesaid Resolves and this Order,

It is ordered, That the same, together with a list of such delinquents as aforesaid, in each of the said Counties respectively, be, without delay, printed and dispersed in handbills, and inserted in all the newspapers of this Colony.

A true copy from the minutes:

ROBERT BENSON, Secretary.

List of the Delinquents in QUEEN'S County, mentioned in the foregoing Resolutions of the Provincial Congress of New-York: