country, or reputation to myself, and, therefore, I think it my duty to refuse it.

I am, gentlemen, with the greatest respect, your most obedient humble servant,

ADDISON MURDOCK.

To the Honourable Council of Safety, Annapolis.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO COMMITTEE FOR PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.

GENTEMEN: The tale Convention having resolved that the records should be removed from the city of Annapolis, and directed the Council of Safety to provide a fit and proper place for them, and we having determined they should be carried to Upper Marlborough, if a safe and convenient place can be procured for them there, request you will examine into the stale and condition of the Court-House of your County, in which, if it will answer, we had rather the records should be lodged, but if it will not, of any of the vacant houses in the town, and provide one, which you may apprehend best adapted to the purpose, upon such reasonable rent as you may agree for.

We are, &c.

To the Committee of Observation for Prince George's County.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO DELEGATES IN CONGRESS.

GENTLEMEN: Mr. Maynard, who will deliver this to you, is going with letters to New-York, from the Governour to Mr. Foxcroft. The package covers three other letters, which are intended to go by the packet, two of them to William Eden, Esq., which the Governour, on his honour, assures us, contain nothing unfriendly to America, the other to Lord Dartmouth, which we have seen, enclosing copies of the Instructions of the Convention to their Deputies in Congress, and, also, of the Declaration, with his assurances to the Ministry, that he believes they contain the real sentiments of the people of this Province.

The Governour has taken this measure in consequence of a free conversation with Messrs. Matthew Tilghman, Thomas Johnson, Thomas Stone, and James Hollyday, and ourselves, on the subject. The step cannot be productive of an ill effect. It may be of the greatest service. It may possibly bring about some overture to a general reconciliation. He has promised you shall have the perusal of what he has wrote, when you come to Maryland. We intimate this to you to prevent the letter being stopped, on suspicion of its containing any information or intelligence unfriendly to America.

We do not doubt but you will think with us, that the sooner it reaches England the better, in the present critical situation of our affairs, and that you will give Maynard the proper passports to New-York. We are, &c.

To the Deputies of Maryland, in Congress.

P. S. There are some few other letters, which, from the Governour's information, we believe are from Colonel Sim and others, to Thomas Eden & Co., on private business.

COLONEL MAXWELL TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Trenton, January 23, 1776.

SIR: You will receive this by Captain John B. Scott, of my regiment, who escorts General Prescott and Captain Chase, to your honourable House. I suppose the Committee of this town will write you, by Captain Scott, of General Prescolt's behaviour here, therefore I shall omit it. I find the Congress has ordered my regiment to Canada immediately. I hope I shall always obey them cheerfully, but must beg leave to mention to them, at all times, what the regiment wants to complete it; and with a presumption that I have leave, I must inform you it wants a great part of every thing but men. We want, for the regiment about two hundred and eighty stand of arms, four hundred and five bayonets, and a great many of the arms want repairing; we have them at so many smiths we cannot get an exact return. They have got their hats, shoes, and stockings, I believe, in general, but they want much warmer clothing to go into Canada than if they stayed here. There are a good many cartouch-boxes and cross-belts, some haversacks, and frocks here. Mr. Lawrey, I suppose, has the rest of the articles making, in different places, but still, I am afraid, not so quick as I could wish, possibly for want of materials. He is gone to the eastward, to pay off Lord Stirling's regiment. I shall send off an express tomorrow morning, to hurry him here, and leave the paying that regiment to his clerks.

I have sent to Burlington, yesterday, for a return of the part of this regiment there; when I get it, I will endeavour to make you a complete return of the regiment, with their arms, &c.

I refer you to Captain Scott for further particulars; you will find him very intelligent.

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

WILLIAM MAXWELL, Colonel.

To the Honourable John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, in Philadelphia.

N. B. Articles necessary, that I have not seen any of, viz: Axes, tomahawks, camp-kettles, canteens, moccasins, caps, &c. If the powder, lead, and flints, are to be sent to Lord Stirling, this would be a good opportunity by Captain Scott, with his returning wagons.

NEW-JERSEY COMMITTEE OF SAFETY TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read January 25, 1776.—Referred to Committee of Correspondence.]

Trenton, January 23, 1776.

SIR: Your letter of the 20th, covering resolutions of Congress and a letter to Lieutenant Hamer, I received, and delivered Mr. Hamer his letter, for which he said he was much obliged. I shall lay your letter and the resolutions before our Provincial Congress, which meets on Tuesday next, to which, I dare say, they will pay proper attention.

Your favour of the 22d, we received this morning, and immediately waited on General Prescott and Captain Chase; on the former a guard was set, as we have informed in our letter of yesterday. The General said he should be glad, if it could be, that his setting off might be deferred until to-morrow morning, to which we readily consented. He and Captain Chase are coming in a light covered wagon, guarded by a detachment of Captain Scott, by whom this will be delivered.

I have the honour to be, (for the Committee,) your most obedient, humble servant,

SAMUEL TUCKER, Chairman.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

LIEUTENANT HAMER (A PRISONER) TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Trenton, January 23, 1776.

SIR: I have the pleasure of your favour of the 19th instant, for which I beg leave to tender you my best thanks, and to assure you that I shall always be ready to pay such attention to the future resolves of the Congress as will entitle me to receive their indulgence during this unhappy contest.

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

IBBETSON HAMER,

Lieutenant Royal Fusileers.

RICHARD HUDDLESTON (A PRISONER) TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read January 25, 1776.—Referred to Committee of Correspondence.]

Trenton, January 23, 1776.

SIR: Amongst all civilized nations at war it has been a practice when a Surgeon is taken prisoner to release him immediately, as being esteemed a friend to both sides. In a sick or wounded soldier he never sees an enemy, but affords him all the relief in his power. When the Surgeons in your army before St. John's applied to me on the route here, for some medicines they stood much in need of for their sick, I gave them to them with pleasure, and every assistance in my power I readily afforded to the sick they sent over the Lake with us. This humanity called on me to do, as it would on your Surgeons in like case. The scarcity of Surgeons, at present, in Canada, will make the miseries