Major-Generals Clinton, Burgoyne, Lord Percy, and Lord Cornwallis, Lieutenant-Generals in America. The old Colonels who now act as Brigadiers are to have commissions as Major-Generals, and the other Colonels will be appointed Brigadiers.

In case of Major-General Carleton's death, it will remain with you to dispose of the different commands as you, in your discretion, shall think fit. It will, consequently, be in your power to leave the command of the troops on the side of Canada to Major-General Burgoyne; or, if you think it more advisable, you may appoint General Clinton to that service; and it being His Majesty's pleasure that Major-General Lord Cornwallis should be employed in Canada, he and his regiment are to be sent thither as soon as he joins the army under your command.

In the present state of affairs in North America, the security of Nova-Scotia and Newfoundland are objects of attention; and I am commanded by the King to signify to you His Majesty's pleasure, that the two battalions of marines now serving under your command, or any part of them you shall judge necessary, should be posted at Halifax; and that a detachment of Major Gorham's corps be posted at St. John's, in Newfoundland, as a garrison will be wanted there. It is also His Majesty's pleasure that as many of the private men of the Sixty-Fifth Regiment as are fit for service should be turned over to the Twenty-Seventh Regiment, and, if there are more than will complete it, you will incorporate them in any other corps; that the Twenty-Seventh Regiment, when so completed, be joined to the army under your command; and that the commissioned and non-commissioned officers and invalids of the Sixty-Fifth be sent home to England.

I must not omit to acquaint you, before I leave the subject of military arrangement, that the officers of the Guards have expressed such spirit and zeal for His Majesty's service, that His Majesty has ordered a detachment of a thousand men, rank and file, with officers in proportion, to serve under you in America; and I have only further to add, that the King is so desirous of expressing, upon every occasion, his Royal approbation of the General Officers serving in the principal ranks in America, that he has declared his intentions that he will not employ any General Officer from hence who may be superior in rank to Major-Generals Clinton, Burgoyne, Lord Percy, or Lord Cornwallis.

This letter will be intrusted to the care of the commander of His Majesty's ship Greyhound, who will also deliver up to you the officers of the privateer fitted out by the Rebels, under a commission from the Congress, and taken by one of Admiral Graves's Squadron. The private men have all voluntarily entered themselves on board His Majesty's ships; but the officers having refused so to do, it has been judged fit to send them back to America, for the same obvious reasons that induced the sending back the Rebel prisoners taken in arms upon the attack of Montreal, in September last.

It is hoped that the possession of these prisoners will enable you to procure the release of such of His Majesty's officers and loyal subjects as are in the disgraceful situation of being prisoners to the Rebels; for, although it cannot be that you should enter into any treaty or agreement with Rebels for a regular cartel for exchange of prisoners, yet I doubt not but your own discretion will suggest to you the means of effecting such exchange, without the King's dignity and honour being committed, or His Majesty's name used in any negotiation for that purpose; and I am the more strongly urged to point out to you the expediency of such a measure, on account of the possible difficulties which may otherwise occur in the case of foreign troops serving inNorth America.

I am, &c.,

GEORGE GERMAINE.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO DELEGATES. IN CONGRESS.

GENTLEMEN: The enclosed memorandum was intended to be delivered personally to Mr. Chase whilst in Baltimore Town, but his going sooner than we expected, prevented its being done; we should be obliged to you to advert to the contents thereof, as if addressed to all the Deputies, and be pleased to give us an answer, as soon as you can, with convenience to yourselves. We find that blankets, strouds, camp equipage, and cannon, to say nothing of powder, will be much wanted, and we doubt, are not to be procured in this Province. When any thing occurs in the news way, we should be glad to have a line from you, and are, your most, &c.

To the Deputies of Maryland, in Congress.

The following is a copy of the enclosed Memorandum above-mentioned.

Mr. Chase is requested by the Council of Safety to furnish them with the price and dimensions of the chevaux-de-frise lately made at Philadelphia.

To inform them whether any thing, and what, has been done in Congress, in consequence of a resolve of the late Convention, relative to the canvass imported into this Province by Mr. Jugé, a foreigner.

Whether Messrs. Willing and Morris have received a letter from Messrs. Chamberlaine, Hooe, and Ringgold, or either of them, advising them that this Province would receive five tons of the saltpetre imported by said Willing and Morris, manufactured into gunpowder, in part discharge of the powder to be furnished by them, and whether they have taken any measures in consequence of it.

Whether there are any match coat blankets or strouds to be got in Philadelphia or New-York, and to transmit the plates and paper directed by the money bill, to be procured at Philadelphia, as soon as possible.

Also, to inform them whether there be any probability of getting knapsacks, haversacks, and canteens, for the soldiers, and at what prices, respectively, and in what time they can be furnished.

JOHN D. THOMPSON TO BENJAMIN RUMSEY.

Cecil County, February 1, 1776.

DEAR SIR: By Captain Craig I inform you Mr. Nathaniel Rumsey is arrived. I called on him yesterday, he tells me he has (in partnership with a gentleman of Philadelphia) about eight tons of gunpowder, and five tons of saltpetre; he has engaged to supply this County with one ton of powder, at the same price the Committee of Philadelphia will, provided the money will be immediately advanced. This County has very little powder; I am sure not more than sixty pounds; the people are very uneasy on that head, and seem much distressed. I most earnestly beg that you will represent this matter to the Council of Safety, and request of them to advance to the Committee of this County such a sum of money as will purchase one ton, at the rate of twenty-five pounds per hundred. Captain Craig, if the Council pleases to advance the money, will receive it, and deliver it to Colonel John Veasey, Chairman of the Committee.

I am, dear sir, your very humble servant,

JOHN D. THOMPSON.

To Benjamin Rumsey, Esq.

DORCHESTER COUNTY (MARYLAND) COMMITTEE TO COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Dorchester County, February I, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Captain Joseph Robson, who commands the Minute Company of this County, applied last week to us, and informed us, that he had, upon his receiving orders from the last Convention to march his company to Virginia, examined the guns belonging to the men in his company, and could not make out more than ten that were in any sort fit for service; and as the Convention had ordered that the company should be supplied with arms from Chestertown, we advised the Captain immediately to make application to the Committee of that County, for that purpose, which he has since, accordingly done, but has been able to procure from thence only ten muskets, with three bayonets, and not one cartridge or cartouch-box, of which articles the company are also entirely in want.

It, therefore, under, the resolve of the Convention, becomes our duty to endeavour to borrow as many guns as will supply this deficiency, and this duty we would, with