LANCASTER (PENNSYLVANIA) COMMITTEE TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

In Committee, Lancaster, January 10, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: The women and children belonging to the privates of the Seventh and Twenty-Sixth Regiments, who are prisoners here, have this day implored us, in a body, that we would interest ourselves in their behalf. They tell us they are denied further provisions, by Mr. Franks, agent in this place, and that they must inevitably perish, unless relieved from their present distress by your munificence.

We are also informed, by the gentleman who transacts the business for the contractors here, in the absence of Mr. Simon, that he has received express orders not to deliver out any allowance of meat or bread to the soldiers' wives or children, for the future.

Being mindful that humanity ought ever to distinguish the sons of America, and that cruelty should find no admission amongst a free people, we could not avoid considering the situation of their women and children as pitiable, indeed. We were strongly inclined, at the first moment, to assist them in their distress. Our feelings, as men, evidently pointed out to us those people as real objects of compassion.

The Committee have, accordingly, requested of Colonel Matthias Hough to supply them with necessary provisions at the publick expense, until your pleasure can be made known unto us. Mr. Hough has engaged to do this at our request. We flatter ourselves your honourable body will approve the step we have taken, and will give directions for the future subsistence of the women and children. From the returns given to us, we find that there are twenty-four women and twenty-five children belonging to the soldiers of the Seventh Regiment, and six women and eight children belonging to the Twenty-Sixth Regiment.

The Committee have been under the necessity of taking up a number of blankets for the prisoners, at the publick expense. There were in the barracks about one hundred and sixty-five old blankets, almost worn out, and to these we have added seventy-two new ones. The whole serve as a scanty covering for the soldiers, against the rigour and inclemency of the season. We have also been obliged to purchase a quantity of coarse, strong linen, to be filled with straw, for their use. The article of fire-wood, for the consumption of so many men, is very expensive. One hundred weight of soap has been also furnished by us to the prisoners. We beg your directions in what manner these accounts are to be discharged.

The Committee have not yet been favoured with your instructions respecting the officers continuing here until their baggage comes up, and whether they are allowed the privilege of drawing bills for their support. Our particular situation must apologize to you for our importunity, and the trouble we give you. Amongst the more important concerns, it is our highest wish to conduce, in some degree, to the general weal, and that our conduct may be rendered acceptable to the honourable Congress,

We are, gentlemen, with the utmost respect, your most obedient and very humble servants.

By order of the Committee:

J. YEATES, Chairman.

To John Hancock, President of the honourable Continental Congress.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Philadelphia, January 10, 1776.

SIR: I had the pleasure of transmitting you, some days ago, a letter of thanks for your eminent services in the cause of your country.

The several letters you mention in your last, came safe to hand, and were laid before Congress. The distresses of this great Continent, thrown into convulsions by an unnatural war; the unprepared state we were in, when unjustly attacked; the enemies that have arisen up against us in different quarters; and the horrid attempts of the Southern Governours to excite domestick insurrections, and bring the Savages to desolate our frontiers; the necessity of providing armed vessels, to prevent, if possible, the desolation threatened our sea-coast; these, and other matters of the highest importance, which you can easily conceive, must apologize for your letters not having an earlier answer; besides, the Congress flattered themselves, from the steps they had taken, and from the orders and instructions given to their Committee, who were sent to confer with you, that your army would have reinlisted, and your difficulties in other respects have been relieved.

After the return of their Committee, the Congress took into consideration your several letters, and the Report of the Committee, and thereupon came to sundry resolutions, which I have the honour to enclose.

Phelps has thrown in a petition praying to be beard is his justification; but, as matters of higher moment engage the attention of the Congress, that is suffered to lie over.

The Congress resent the conduct of Lieutenant Halsey, and are of opinion you should proceed to have his conduct inquired into by a court-martial, giving him previous notice to appear in his own defence, and that such sentence should be passed on him as the court-martial shall think just; and should he decline to submit his conduct to such examination and sentence, in that case all arrears due to him ought to be stopped.

I cannot sufficiently express the confidence the Congress have in your attention to the publick interest, and their reliance that you will give to the proper officers in your department such orders as will procure indemnification to the publick for any embezzlement or waste of its stores or moneys.

Desirous of giving every reasonable encouragement and indulgence to men who have resigned their lives in the cause of their country, they have given you power to grant discharges to such officers as find themselves under a necessity of quitting the service, and to remit to such of the troops raised in the Colony of New-York as may reinlist, any right the Congress might have to stop wages for the underclothes delivered to them.

I must not omit to inform you of the grateful sense the Congress have of the friendly offices Mr. Price has done to General Montgomery, for the support of the American cause. You will, therefore, be pleased to embrace the first opportunity of returning him their thanks for the same, and assure him immediate measures shall be taken for replacing the moneys he has advanced.

You will, also, be pleased to notify Colonel Easton their approbation of his services, and that they will retain in their minds a just sense of them,

The conduct, spirit, and resolution shown, both by the officers and men who have penetrated Canada, have induced the Congress, in testimony of their approbation, to reserve the raising of two regiments out of the forces now there, for the defence and protection of that country, which their valour has rescued from slavery. The regiments in Pennsylvania and New-Jersey are under orders to march and join them, and the other regiments destined for that service will be ordered to march as fast as raised.

The enclosed resolutions of Congress are so full and explicit that I need not enlarge.

I shall be happy to hear of your perfect recovery, being, with much esteem, sir, &c,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To General Schuyler.

CHRISTOPHER GADSDEN TO ADMIRAL HOPKINS.

Philadelphia, January 10, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Enclosed is a copy of an order from the Committee to Captain Stone, sent by directions of Congress, on an application from Maryland, which it is necessary you should have.

I also take the liberty to send you a list of the Field-Officers and Captains of two regiments of Foot, and the companies of Artillery, all Provincials, stationed in Charles-town, South-Carolina. Should you go there, upon your arrival off the bar, the pilot will inform you what officer is at Fort Johnson, or any of the nearest batteries to you, from whom you may depend upon all the assistance they can give; they are, most of them, gentlemen of considerable fortunes with us, who have entered into the service merely from principle; and to promote and give credit to the cause, they take it by turns to be at the fort, and the zeal and activity of all of them is such, that you cannot happen amiss, let who will be there. In Charlestown, my particular friends, Mr. Lowndes, Mr. Ferguson, Colonel