on this, or any other subject conducive to the interest of both, and to our mutual defence.

We are, with great respect, your most humble servants,
JOHN PAGE, Vice-President.
DUDLEY DIGGES,
JOHN TABS,
P. CARRINGTON,
THOMAS WALKER,
JAMES MERCER.

To the Honourable Committee of Safety.

COLONEL SMALLWOOD TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Annapolis, January 27, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I observe the gentlemen of the Convention have allowed the soldiers as a uniform, hunting-shirts, but no spatterdashes, which renders the regimentals incomplete; this they certainly have not adverted to, otherways am persuaded they must have seen the impropriety of allowing one and not the other, for you must be sensible that clean spatterdashes as well as hunting-shirts, must cover a multitude of blemishes in the dress and appearance of the regiment, which I would most earnestly wish to appear as respectable, and to become as formidable as might be, under our present disadvantageous situation respecting military matters; this, therefore, I hope you will take under consideration. Flatter myself, as the expense will be trifling, you will be induced to purchase as much osnaburghs, or (what will be much better, if to be had,) Russia sheeting as will answer this purpose.

I know the publick business is very pressing, and (hat you will be much engaged, yet I must entreat you to purchase what cloths are to be had in Baltimore, suitable for soldiers' clothing; also, sail-duck, for tents. The men inlisted must be very bare, as the Captains are continually pressing me to know how they are to be furnished with clothes, urging that they cannot march them to their station till clad.

Intrenching tools, &c., imagine may be made here at any time.

I think you must judge it essentially necessary to request Mr. Johnson, or some other of our Congress members, to write General Washington to send us a good Adjutant or two, for the use of the Province in general, who, as an encouragement, might be allowed more than the common wages.

I am, with much diffidence, gentlemen, your very obedient, humble servant,

W. SMALLWOOD.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety.

COLONEL ST. CLAIR TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read January 31, 1776.]

Lancaster, January 27, 1776.

SIR: On my arrial here, I found the Committee of this place, and the officers of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment, in some dispute, occasioned by one of my officers having in-listed a Sergeant and a Drummer belonging to that corps. The officers had applied to the Committee to order them to be dismissed, alleging that the inlisting them was a breach of the capitulation.

It is rather my sentiment that the inlisting the prisoners is improper; but, as we were much in want of sergeants and drums, and had no directions respecting these people, and as the thing was done, I put it on this issue, that I should write the matter to you, and if the inlistment was disapproved of, the men should be returned.

If you will please, sir, to inform the Committee of Lancaster, they will acquaint Captain Watson, with whom the recruits are.

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

ARTHUR ST. CLAIR.

To John Hancock, Esq., President of the Continental Congress.

LORD STIRLING TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Elizabethtown, January 27, 1776.

SIR: My letter to you of the 24th, from on board of the ship Blue-Mountain-Valley, off Amboy, I hope you received. The next day we got her into the Sound, near Blazing-Star, where she grounded; but, by lightening her, we got off again yesterday morning, and brought her up to Elizabeth-Point, where she now lies, under the care of Captain Rogers, in whose charge, for the use of the Continental Congress, I have put her, and is guarded by a detachment of my regiment. I thought it most prudent to unbend her sails, and to have her unladen as soon as possible, and have given directions to have the cargo and stores brought into this town as soon as possible.

Captain Rogers, who was recommended to me by the New-York Committee of Safety, has been very alert and steady throughout this whole affair, is well worthy of the confidence they placed in him.

I would now give a more particular relation of this transaction, but the cold and fatigue I have been exposed to for the last fortnight, has almost got the better of me; it is with difficulty I can set up to write this.

I shall enclose a copy of the manifest and bill of lading of the cargo of this ship. A strange cargo! And twenty-odd similar ones sailed about the same time. The Captain is a brother to George Dempster, Esq., a valuable friend to North-America, in the House of Commons; he is a sensible, genteel young man; all his property (about one hundred pounds sterling) is on board; a trifle, also, belongs to the Mates. I must beg it as a favour of the Congress to order me to restore it to them, for they have all behaved extremely well, and were very useful to us in working the ship, and the sailors are now assisting the soldiers in unlading her.

I have great reason to believe that more of these ships will come on this coast, and try to get into New-York. Four or six small vessels kept ready, and in good weather to run between Sandy-Hook and Egg-Harbour, might pick them up, and prevent their receiving any assistance from Captain Parker.

Major De Hart returned yesterday from Long-Island, with the detachment of my regiment, and has brought me four colours of the Long-Island Militia; the arms they took they have delivered up to Colonel Heard. I shall enclose a copy of Major De Hart's report to me.

I am your most obedient, humble servant,

STIRLING.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

Ship BLUE-MOUNTAIN-VALLEY:—Manifest of her cargo. Shipped in London, at different times, as follows:

September 26, 1775, twenty-five chaldrons coals; September 28, fourteen ditto; September 28, fourteen ditto; September 28, nineteen ditto; September 29, fourteen ditto; September 29, twenty-one ditto. Total, one hundred and seven chaldrons.

October 2, thirty bundles hoops; October 3, porter, marked Calvert, seventy butts; October 4, porter, marked Calvert, thirty butts. Total, one hundred butts.

October 6, eighteen empty puncheons; October 9, two hundred and twenty-five bags beans; October 9, one hundred and fifty-six sacks potatoes; October 10, ten casks sour-krout; October 10, eighty live hogs; October 11, seventeen empty puncheons.

October 13, completed ship's sea-stores and proceeded on the voyage to America.

Sundry stores of the ship, viz: masts, sails, rigging, cables, anchors, &c., quantity uncertain.

Copy from the Mate's books:

STIRLING.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO A GENTLEMAN IN NEW-YORK, DATED MONTREAL, JANUARY 27, 1776.

The remnant of our battalion are to hold themselves in readiness, and expect marching orders to-morrow.

I am, for some time, to be stationed at the Three-Rivers, some matters being necessary to be settled with the Tories, who, in different parts, begin to be insulting since our late misfortunes at Quebeck. This makes the third visit I have had amongst this kind of people. I expect soon to be called down to Qucbeck.

Your old friend, Captain Mott, behaved well in the attempt to storm, and in the retreat brought up the rear with great reputation. Our blockade at Qucbeck is yet main-