I shall always hold myself in readiness to move to any place the Congress may think proper. I do assure you, sir, that I will esteem it a particular favour, if you will move the Congress to grant my request.

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

DUNCAN CAMPBELL.

To the Honourable John Hancock.

To the Honourable the Committee of Safety of the Province of PENNSYLVANIA.

The Petition of the Committee of Privates of the Association, belonging to the City and Liberties of PHILADELPHIA, humbly sheweth:

That as it is of the utmost consequence, in the prosecution of our present most righteous opposition to tyranny and arbitrary power, that none be commissioned as officers in the Continental service, but those who manifest the most sincere and warm attachment to the cause of liberty; and as the honourable Continental Congress has intrusted the appointment of all inferior, and the recommendation of all superior officers, for this Province to this honourable Board, your Petitioners do pray this honourable Board to appoint or recommend none, but such as have signed the Articles of Association given out by the honourable House of Representatives of the freemen of this Province, seeing this ought, at this time, to be considered as the strongest mark of attachment to the cause which our present circumstances will admit of.

As your Petitioners have the pleasure to assure this honourable Board that the signing the Articles of Association aforesaid is become very general in the City and Districts, and like to be universal among those who have heretofore associated, and as the Association is principally composed of tradesmen and others, who earn their living by their industry, they do further pray this honourable Board, that such of them as may be capable of performing such publick works as this honourable Board may have in charge to see executed, and have signed the Association aforesaid, may be employed, in preference to all others, and that such works may be as equally distributed among the signers of the Association as conveniently can.

The propriety of this application, your Petitioners humbly conceive, will speak for itself; and as they assure themselves that this honourable Board will consider the Associators, who sign the articles, as better to be depended on, and more worthy of encouragement, than those who do not, they take the liberty to request this honourable Board to show them these marks of their favour and countenance. And your Petitioners will pray, &c.

Signed, on behalf of the Committee of Privates.

SAMUEL SIMPSON, Chairman.

Philadelphia, February 5, 1776.

The Petition from the Committee of Privates being read, this Board resolved, that the matters therein prayed are reasonable and proper, and this Committee will pay a due regard to the same.

Extract from the Minutes:

WILLIAM GOVETT, Secretary.

PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE.

In Committee of Inspection and Observation,

February 5, 1776.

Whereas the Continental Congress did lately resolve, "That if any person should be so lost to all virtue and regard for this country, as to refuse to receive the Bills of Credit emitted by the authority of Congress, or should obstruct or discourage the currency thereof, and be convicted by the Committee of the City, County, or District, where he should reside, such person should be deemed, published, and treated as an enemy of his country, and be precluded from all trade or intercourse with the inhabitants of the Colonies."

And whereas John Drinker, hatter, Thomas and Samuel Fisher, of the house of Joshua Fisher & Sons, merchants, all of this city, having been charged with a breach of this Resolve, in refusing to receive the above Bills of Credit in payment, appeared before this Committee, acknowledged the truth of the charge, and alleged, in their defence, scruples of conscience thereupon, as being money emitted for the purpose of war;

This Committee, pursuant to the trust reposed in them, proceeded to consider the charge and defence, and are of opinion, that if such allegation was true, yet as the Congress have made no exception, and as such conduct tends to subvert the most essential rights and liberties of their fellow-citizens, and by destroying the means of defence, to expose their lives and properties to unavoidable ruin, it ought not to be admitted; but it appears to this Committee, by their own acknowledgments, that the above persons have heretofore received, and do continue to receive Bills of Credit emitted in this and the neighbouring Provinces, though frequently issued for the purposes of war, therefore, such objection is not well founded, nor the present pretence consistent with their former conduct. This Committee, therefore, (the parties having declared they did not mean to appeal to any other Board) do hold up to the world the said John Drinker, Thomas and Samuel Fisher, as enemies to their country, and precluded from all trade or intercourse with the inhabitants of these Colonies.

Ordered, That the above be published.

Extract from the Minutes:

PETER Z.LLOYD, Secretary.

Kingwood, Hunterdon County, Committee Chamber,

February 5, 1776.

Whereas, Nathaniel Blinko, merchant, of the township of Kingwood, aforesaid, hath extorted upon his merchandise, from time to lime, contrary to the Resolves of the honourable Continental Congress, though often admonished to the contrary by the members of this Board, when he hath declared that he would ask what he pleased, in spite of the Committee; Therefore, Resolved, That we will break off all dealings or commerce with the said Nathaniel Blinko, and hold him up as an enemy to the glorious struggles for American liberty; and we request that none may deal with him, on pain of being treated in the same manner.

By order of the Committee:

WILLIAM COOLBAGH, Clerk,

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM NEW-YORK, TO A GENTLEMAN IN PHILADELPHIA, DATED FEBRUARY 5, 1776.

Yesterday, about the same time, Generals Lee and Clinton arrived. The Committee of Safety met immediately, and we expected something like a commencement of hostilities today. The Mayor went on board, and the Governour and General both assured him not a man was to be landed here. A twenty gun ship, said to be the Mercury, and a transport, came into the harbour yesterday. Clinton came in the frigate, and is going to the Southward, I believe to Virginia. A Dr. Gilson has been taken into custody at Newport, and sent to Head-Quarters for treasouable practices at Rhode-Island. Lee says, he will send word on board the men-of-war, that if they set a house on fire, in consequence of his coming, he will chain one hundred of their friends together by the neck, and make the house their funeral pile.

GENERAL LEE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

New-York, February 5, 1776.

MY DEAR GENERAL: I arrived here yesterday, but not without some difficulty. My disorder increased, rather than diminished, so that I was under the necessity of being carried in a litter a considerable part of the way. I consider it as a piece of the greatest good fortune that the Congress have detached a Committee to this place; otherwise I should have made a most ridiculous figure, besides bringing upon myself the enmity of the whole Province. My hands were effectually tied up from taking any steps necessary for the publick service, by the late resolve of the Congress, putting every detachment to the Continental forces under the command of the Provincial Congress where such detachment is.

I should apprize you that General Clinton arrived almost at the same instant with myself. He has brought no troops with him, and pledges his honour that none are