express to you His Majesty's approbation of your zeal for the publick service, and of the unalterable attachment you have shown to his person and Government, from the first commencement of the unhappy disputes, which have involved His Majesty's faithful servants in the Colonies in difficulties and distress that are only to be equalled by the fortitude with which they are borne.

Your letter contains a great deal of very useful information, and your confidential communication of the characters of individuals, more especially such as come over into England, is of great advantage; and you may rest assured that every possible precaution will be used that no part of your letter shall transpire.

An armament consisting of seven regiments, with a fleet of frigates and small ships, is now in readiness to proceed to the Southern Colonies, in order to attempt the restoration of legal Government in that part of America. It will proceed, in the first place, to North-Carolina, and from thence either to South-Carolina or Virginia, as circum-stances of greater or less advantage shall point out. If to the latter, it may have very important consequences to the Colony under your government; and, therefore, you will do well to consider of every means by which you may, in conjunction with Lord Dunmore, give facility and assistance to its operations.

I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

GEORGE GERMAIN.

To Deputy Governour Eden.

The clause in the Act of Parliament, passed the 19th of December last, which ascertains the powers of the Commissioners, is in these words:

"Provided, That in order to encourage all well-affected persons in any of the said Colonies, to exert themselves in suppressing the rebellion therein, and to afford a speedy protection to those who are disposed to return to their duty, it shall and may be lawful to and for any person or persons, appointed and authorized by His Majesty, to grant a pardon or pardons to any number or description of persons, with such exceptions therefrom as shall seem fit and reasonable, by proclamation in His Majesty's name, to declare any Colony or Province, Colonies or Provinces, or any County, Town, Port, District, or place, in any Colony or Province, to be at the peace of His Majesty; and from and after the issuing of any such proclamation, in any of the aforesaid Colonies or Provinces, or if His Majesty shall be graciously pleased to signify the same by his royal proclamation, then, from and after the issuing of such proclamation, this act, with respect to such Colony or Province, Colonies or Provinces, County, Town, Port, District, or place, shall cease, determine, and be utterly void. And if any captures shall be made after the date and issuing of such proclamations, of any ships or vessels, and their cargoes, belonging to the inhabitants of any such Colony or Province, Colonies or Provinces, County, Town, Port, District, or place, or of any ships trading to or from such Colony or Province, Colonies or Provinces, respectively, the same shall be restored to the owners of such ships or vessels, upon claim being entered, and due proof made of their property therein; and the captors shall not be liable to any actions for seizing or detaining the said ships or vessels, or their cargoes, without proof being made that they had actual notice of such proclamation having been issued."

RECANTATION OF EZEKIEL BEACH.

Morristown, New-Jersey, December 23, 1775.

I, Ezekiel Beach, of the Township of Mendham, in the County of Morris, have heretofore by my words and conduct, been guilty of opposing the good people of this County in the measures by them adopted for preserving American freedom, particularly saying, "I had rather the Ministerial troops would conquer the Continental; and further declared, that the Parliament of Great Britain had a right to levy the oppressive taxes and acts upon America, particularly the act for changing the Government of Massachusetts-Bay; and further declared, that I would assist the Ministerial troops with provisions and other necessaries, provided they would pay for the same;" and having, on the most mature deliberation, considered of such my con-duct, do most heartily disapprove of the same, and do hereby promise, that for the future, I will observe as far as in me lies, the rules and regulations of the honourable Continental Congress, and the Provincial Congress of New-Jersey; and will use my best endeavours to promote and carry into execution every measure adopted already, or that may hereafter be adopted by said Congresses, for preserving the rights and liberties of this country, and will most cheerfully sign the Association adopted by said Provincial Congress when thereunto required; and do hereby desire, that in future the good people of this country would consider me as a friend to the same, which I hope to manifest by my conduct.

EZEKIEL BEACH.

Signed at Morristown, this 23d day of December, 1775.

Witnesses present,

THOMAS MILLEDGE

CORNELIUS LUDLOW,

PETER LAYTEN.

REPORT OP THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO CONFER WITH GENERAL SCHUYLER.

[Read December 23, 1775. Referred to Mr. Dickinson, Mr. McKean, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Hooper, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Langdon.]

Report of the Committee directed to repair to TICONDEROGA and confer with General SCHUYLER about several matters relative to the publick service, to take survey of and Report the state of the Fortification in the High-lands, and to use their endeavours to procure an accession of the CANADIANS to an union with these Colonies.

Your Committee beg leave to Report, that agreeable to the directions of Congress, they repaired to the fortress in the Highlands on the 17th day of November. For the state in which they found it, and their observations there-upon, they refer the Congress to their letter of the 22d day of the same month; but they cannot help again recommending, with the utmost earnestness, the sending some persons, well acquainted with fortification, to take a survey not only of the works but of the whole river, from Teller's Point to the north end of the Highlands, as your Committee are persuaded that the fortress now erecting will by no means be sufficient to secure Hudson's river, if it should be attacked by any considerable force. Your Cornmittee beg leave, further, to hint at the propriety of obstructing the channel, at least lessening the depth of water; since they have been credibly informed that the river carries twenty-five feet of water to within twelve miles of Albany; and, although it is out of their department, they cannot but wish to turn the attention of Congress to such obstructions in the Narroies during the winter season, (when our enemies' ships will be out of our ports,) as will effectually secure the whole Province of New- York. Though they are by no means satisfied of its practicability, yet they would submit it to the Congress, whether it may not be worth their inquiry.

Your Committee further report that they met with General Schuyler on the 28th day of November, at Ticonderoga, and spent some days with him, in conferring on the subjects about which they were directed to inquire; that they learned from him the following facts: That General Montgomery, in order to overcome the scruples of the troops, and to induce them to follow him to Montreal, about which they hesitated, on account of the advanced season, was under the necessity of engaging that, after the reduction of that place, those who chose it should be at liberty to return; that, in consequence of this promise, Colonel Warner, with his Green-Mountain Boys, returned, though the term of their inlistment did not expire till the first of January; that about one regiment of the York troops have been, and are still, employed at Crown-Point, Ticonderoga, at the different posts between that and New-York, and as batteaus-men on the lakes; that the remaining three regiments, together with Captain Lamb's company of artillery, did not, at the beginning of the campaign, exceed eighteen hundred men; that their numbers had been considerably lessened by death, sickness, desertion, and escorts for prisoners; and that, though few of the remainder had accepted of the permission to return, yet there were not left above one thousand men in Canada, who, from the best information your Committee could receive from the General, or otherwise, have, for the most part, reinlisted; that of the troops from the several New-