PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO NEW-YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Philadelphia, January 20, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I have the honour of enclosing you sundry resolutions passed by Congress, as well for the defence of your Colony, as for repairing the loss lately sustained in Canada, and succouring our friends there.

The shortness of the time will not permit me to enlarge. I must, therefore, beg leave to refer you to the enclosed extracts, and just inform you, that the Congress rely with confidence on your zeal for the cause, that you will exert your utmost endeavours to hasten the march of the troops ordered to Canada, and to raise those destined for the defence of your Colony. Herewith I send you blank commissions for the officers under the rank of Majors, which you will please to fill up. On the recommendation of General Schuyler, the Congress have continued Colonel Van Schaick, Lieutenant-Colonel Yates, and Major Gansevoort, in the service of the United Colonies, and have appointed them to the command of the battalion to be raised in your Colony for the defence of Canada; and they have directed me, agreeable to an established rule, to request you will please to transmit, as soon as possible, the names of a number of gentlemen, whom you shall judge duly qualified, at least two for each command, out of whom they may elect Field-Officers for the other battalions.

1 am, gentlemen, &c.,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To the Convention, or Committee of Safety, of New-York.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Philadelphia, January 20, 1776.

SIR: On Wednesday evening, Mr. Antill arrived with your despatches of the 13th instant, which were immediately communicated.

The Congress sincerely condole with you on the loss of your amiable friend, their gallant and much esteemed General.

Having conferred with Mr. Antill, and duly deliberated on the situation of our affairs in Canada, they have come to sundry resolutions, which I have the honour to enclose, and which you will please to communicate with the utmost despatch to General Wooster, as far as they relate to the defence of Canada, or are necessary for his direction.

The Congress rely with confidence that he will exert his best endeavours to keep up the spirits of his troops, especially, when you assure him, that every means will be used, with all possible expedition, to succour and support him. The battalions from Pennsylvania and New-Jersey, which were under marching orders, will set forward the beginning of next week; and despatches are sent to General Washington, and to the Colonies of Connecticut and New-Hampshire, to hasten up troops from thence.

Enclosed is a number of commissions for the battalions to be raised in Canada, which you will cause to be filled up with the names of such as you shall deem most suitable. As General Montgomery, to whom it was left to recommend proper officers, is now no more, you will endeavour to find out the most accomplished and suitable men, for the Canadian regiments; having a regard to men of influence, and such as are best attached to our cause.

1 am, &c.,

JOHN HANCOCK, Presidnet

To General Schuyler.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO NEW-JERSEY COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Philadelphia, January 20, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I am directed by Congress to forward to you the enclosed resolutions, by which, you will perceive, it is their earnest desire, that you should exert your utmost endeavours in forwarding the march of the battalion to Canada.

As another battalion is ordered to be raised in your Colony, it is expected you will pursue the most effectual measure's for levying the same with all possible expedition, and supplying them with arms, accoutrements, and other necessaries, that (there may be no delay. I am directed to request you to send the names of such gentlemen as you judge best qualified, at least two for each command, out of whom the Congress may elect Field-Officers for said battalion. Blank commissions will be sent you to fill up with the names of such as you shall please to appoint officers under the rank of Major.

I must not omit pressing the necessity of attending to the collecting of specie, an article so necessary just at this juncture, that the safety of America depends upon it; for without it, an army cannot, at this time, be kept up in Canada, and the loss of Canada will, in all probability, involve us in an Indian war.

I am, &c.,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To the Committee of Safety of New-Jersey.

JOSIAH BARTLETT TO New-HAMPSHIRE COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Philadelphia, January 20, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: The Congress on the 8th instant, voted to raise one regiment in the western parts of our Province for the service in Canada. The news of the misfortune at Quebeck arriving here last Thursday, they voted yesterday to give the men a bounty of forty shillings, and one month's pay advance, to encourage the speedy inlisting and sending forward said regiment, and I hope you will do every thing in your power to hasten it, as the taking and securing Canada this Winter, or early in the Spring, before the arrival of British troops, will be of almost infinite advantage to the Continent, more especially to New-England, and to our Colony in particular. One regiment will begin to march from this place for Canada in a few days, and one regiment from New-Jersey in eight or ten days; orders are, also, given to raise men as soon as possible for the same service, besides those in New-Hampshire, one more regiment in Pennsylvania, one ditto, in New-Jersey, one ditto, on the western parts of New-York, and one ditto, in Connecticut, and this day I expect one will be ordered to be raised in Massachusetts for the same purpose. No cost or pains must be spared to secure the important Province of Canada.

I beg leave to renew my request, that Delegates may be appointed and sent here, as soon as possible, as in my opinion the representation of a Colony, at this important crisis, is too weighty and important to be intrusted to any one person. That you may see the necessity of a larger representation of our Colony, I would inform you, that beside Committees for special purposes, that are frequently chosen, there are four or five standing Committees appointed, some for secrecy, some for despatch; some of which Committee are intrusted with large powers; and that there may be no cause of complaint, those Committees consist of one Delegate from each Colony; sometimes two, sometimes three, of those Committees sit at the same time, so that, though I attend some one of the Committees almost every night and morning, before and after Congress, yet sometimes business of consequence is transacted by them without our Colony being represented, and sometimes the Committees sit while the Congress is sitting, so that our Colony must be unrepresented in one of them, while every other Colony may be represented in both.

I have been here almost five months, great part of the time without a colleague. I really find that I never knew what confinment, with business, was before, and that I want more exercise of body, and less of mind, at least for some time. I please myself with hopes I shall soon see Delegates here from our Colony, and that I may return to my family, and with my domestick affairs relax and unbend my fatigued mind.

The sum of twelve thousand five hundred dollars, which the Congress ordered to be sent to you, to be used in raising our regiment for Canada, I shall send forward, as soon as I can. Please to acquaint me with the publick affairs of our Colony, as often as convenient, and, in particular, with your success, from time to time, in raising the regiment. As the Congress have intrusted you with appointing the officers, 1 know you will do the best you can to appoint proper persons, and hope you will be so fortunate as to give general satisfaction.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

JOSIAH BARTLETT.

To the Provincial Committee of Safety of New-Hampshire