to be held sacred, and faithfully fulfilled, because something is then given up or received, as a condition or equivalent; but no such stipulation is to be found in the capitulations upon which those gentlemen surrendered; nor had general Schuyler a right to make fresh terms with his prisoners, after they were in his power, without the consent of the Congress. Nevertheless, we should have paid a respect to his opinion and advice in the matter, had he given it, but we have not heard a word from him on the subject.

We have no objection to your permitting two or more of the officers to come, at proper times, from their places of residence to Lancaster, for the purpose of settling with, and paying, their soldiers. Major Preston, being applied to, absolutely refuses to supply the soldiers with clothing or blanketing. We must, therefore, desire you will take care that they do not suffer for want of those articles, nor any other that are necessary for their comfortable subsistence in this inclement season. What you have already done of that kind, in furnishing them with firing, bedding, &c, is well approved, and the expenses will be defrayed. The inhabitants are at liberty to purchase bills drawn by the officers for their support and accommodation; but this is to be at the risk of the purchasers, and not to exceed what is, evidently, necessary for these purposes, wherein it is to be considered the Congress advances each officer two dollars a week for his subsistence.

We approve of your regulations for preserving the peace of the Borough, and of your placing a guard and ordering a patrol for that purpose, the expense of which will be paid.

The agent of the Army's Contractor refusal to supply the soldiers' wives and children with any meat or bread, surprises us. We know not the motives of such conduct, but we must approve of those humane sentiments which induced you to provide for them in their distress. The expenses will be allowed in your accounts.

Upon the whole, gentlemen, you have judged rightly in supposing that every measure you have taken, to render the situation of our prisoners as comfortable as possible, would be agreeable to us. As men, they have a claim to all the rights of humanity; as countrymen, though enemies, they claim something more. You have, therefore, the thanks of the Congress; and lam, in their behalf, gentlemen, &.c.,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To the Committee of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

JOHN HANCOCK TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Philadelphia, January 18, 1776.

SIR: The bearer, Captain F. Gurney, has the charge of conducting five hundred thousand dollars for the use of the Army under your command. I wish it safe to hand. I shall, this evening, despatch an express to you with sundry matters of importance.

I am, sir, your obedient, humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To His Excellency General Washington.

COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS TO ESECK HOPKINS.

Philadelphia, January 18, 1776.

SIR: As this, perhaps, may be the last opportunity we may have to write you before you go to sea, we thought it necessary to give you every intelligence that is come to our knowledge. We shall first give you the disagreeable intelligence, brought hither by an express from Quebeck, of an unsuccessful attack that was made to storm that city on the 31st of December, in the morning, in which General Montgomery, his Aid-de-camp, Captain Macpherson, and Captain Cheeseman, both by his side, were all shot instantly dead by the grape-shot of one cannon; upon which, his patty rather deserted their duty. Colonel Arnold, who conducted a different attack, proceeded awhile, successfully; but, upon his receiving a wound, and falling, after Tie had entered the city, (although the party were afterwards commanded and behaved with great bravery,) by the other attack falling, were overpowered and surrounded by numbers, and, after a most gallant defence of four hours, were obliged to surrender themselves prisoners of war, and, we hear, are very kindly treated by General Carleton. This is the substance of what we heard from thence.

We have just received a report from New-York, that three men-of-war arid eighteen transports had sailed from Boston, to what place not known, but supposed to be for Newport, New-York, or Virginia; thus much of the report is certain, that the Asia and Phenix are lying in the East-River, hi New-York, and that the Viper is lying at Sandy-Hook. From Virginia we have heard nothing material, but what you are well acquainted with. From the Carolinas we are informed that Lord William Campbell, with the Tamer, sloop, and Cherokee, cutter, has departed from Charlestown Road; that Governour Martin, in the Scorpion, sloop-of-war, has also departed from Cape-Fear. It is supposed that both these are gone to Savannah, in Georgia, in order to seduce the Province, if it is in their power, from the union of these Colonies, and get provisions, if they can, to subsist on. Should it be your fate to go southward, as far as Savannah, it is very probable you may have these Governours to dine with you on board your own ship, and increase your naval strength by the Tamer, Scorpion, and Cherokee.

The Congress have determined to erect a splendid monument to the memory of the gallant Montgomery, and to every other commanding officer bravely fighting and falling in his country's cause.

We wish you a successful cruise, and are your sincere friends,

STEPHEN HOPKINS,

JOSEPH HEWES,

SILAS DEANE.

To the Honourable Eseck Hopkins, Esq., Commander-in-chief of the American Fleet.

LORD STIRLING TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Elizabethtown, January 18, 1776.

SIR: On Saturday evening Colonel Heard, communicated to me the orders of Congress of the 10th instant, relative to my furnishing him with three companies to join the Minute-Men on the expedition into Queen's County. The next morning I went over to Woodbridge, to concert with Colonel Heard the necessary manoeuvres, and agreed to furnish the companies strong, as his party was rather deficient. He has now with him near three hundred of my regiment, completely armed, accoutred, and provisioned for four days. As the men of my regiment went partly from Brunswick and Amboy, as well as this place, I thought it best, yesterday morning, after regulating the embarkation from the Point, to go to Staten-Island to regulate the like there, and to assist Colonel Heard in whatever might be necessary. I had sent off a party of thirty-six men the evening before to guard the mouth of the Kills. About eleven, yesterday, the first division, notwithstanding the most boisterous wind, crossed over to Bergen Point; Colonel Heard followed about noon; Major De Hart, with the first division of my regiment, followed soon after; and the whole, who had passed, marched for Bergen town. The wind continued extremely violent; night coming on, and the men much fatigued, I ordered the remainder to halt, and be quartered in the several parts of the Island they then were. At daybreak this morning, those on StatenIsland began to pass over. I remained there till about noon, when the chief of the whole had passed over to Bergen Point, and then came to this place. I am this moment informed, that the first division landed safely in the City of New-York yesterday evening from Paulus Hook; that Major De Hart, with about two hundred of my regiment, landed there about eleven (his evening; and that the rest were following them, without the least movement about the men-of-war, or any of their boats. I have high confidence in Colonel Heard's management of this affair, yet I cannot but regret that I have not the command of it. However, I shall always most implicitly obey the order of Congress, and endeavour to serve the cause by every exertion in my power.

I have the honour to be your most humble servant,

STIRLING.

To the Honourable John Hancock.