utensils of manufacture and husbandry; likewise a considerable quantity of fine pear-lash, in casks, &c.

THOMAS WALKER.

Philadelphia, sworn the 24th of April, 1776, before

SAMUEL MIFFLIN.

ORDERS GIVEN THE SEVERAL CAPTAINS IN THE FLEET, AT SAILING FROM THE CAPES OF DELAWARE, FEBRUARY 17, 1776.

SIR: You are hereby ordered to keep company with the, if possible, and truly observe the signals given by the ship I am in, but in case you should be separated in a gale of wind or otherwise, you then are to use all possible means to join the fleet as soon as possible; but if you cannot, in four days after you leave the fleet, you are lo make the best of your way to the southern part of Abacco, (one of the Bahama Islands,) and there wait for the fleet fourteen days. But if the fleet does not join you in that time, you are to cruise in such places as you think will most annoy the enemy. And you are to send into port, for trial, all British vessels, or property, or other vessels, with any supplies for the Ministerial forces, who you may make yourself master of, to such places as you may think best within the United Colonies.

In case you are in any very great danger of being taken you are to destroy these orders and your signals.*

ESECK HOPKINS, Commandant-in-Chief.

GENERAL LEE TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read February 20, 1776.]

New-York, February 17, 1776.

SIR: I think it my duty to inform you, that the Phenix and Governour Tryon's ship are already out of the harbour, and that the Asia is under sail. They, most probably, have had intelligence of the danger which threatens their comrade, the Mercury, and General Clinton, from your fleet, and are sailed with an intention of attacking it. As it may be thought prudent to apprize your fleet of the circumstance, I must repeat, that I thought it my duty to send an express on the subject. The Asia ran aground opposite the Exchange; as the tides are low, we were in hopes she would not have been able to have got off this flood. In these hopes we were preparing cartridges for* some pieces of cannon, (which is not here from want of method, a very short operation,) and flattered ourselves that we should have been able to have destroyed or much damaged her, but she is now, unfortunately, afloat.

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

CHARLES LEE.

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

TRYON COUNTY COMMITTEE TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Tryon County Committee-Chamber, February 17, 1776.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN: Your favour we received this week, and immediately called our members to a meeting, in order to consult for raising troops to contribute to the defence of our Colony, as desired.

We resolved to inlist, for such purpose, under Continental pay, at least two full companies, with despatch; and we will endeavour to afford three companies, if possible, but it is no sure dependance upon three, before trial.

We recommend the following persons, as well qualified, to be commissioned as officers for the two companies, in the following rank: Jacob W. Seeber, Captain; Yoost House, as Lieutenant; Jacob Ja. Clock, Ensign; Abner French, Captain; Jacob Simons, Lieutenant; John New-York, Ensign.

In regard to your request for recommending two persons for each office, that you may make the choice, we would have done accordingly, but to prevent confusion in inlisting, and affronts, likewise, to the one or the other, to the hurt of the same, we concluded to recommend but one for each office, which so chosen, we judge capable and of influence among the people. We leave the expedition of their commissions, and other regulations, to your further directions. Concerning the clothing and accoutrements wanting for those new recruited men, we must annex, that it would be a needful encouragement, at least in our County, to furnish

For sailing: Loose the foretopsail, and sheet it home.

For weighing and coming to sail: Loose all the topsails, and sheet them home.

For the fleet to anchor: Clew up the maintopmast, and hoist a weft m the ensign.

For seeing a strange vessel: Hoist the ensign, and lower and hoist it as many times as you see vessels, allowing two minutes between each time?

For chasings: For the whole fleet to chase, a red pendant at the fore, topmast head.

To give over the chase: A white pendant at the foretopmast head.

For the Columbus to chase: Strike the broad pendant half-mast, to be answered by a weft in the ensign and making sail. To chase to windward—hoist the ensign, lowering the pendant at the same time; if to leeward, not. To give over the chase: a white pendant at the foretopmast head; and if at a great distance, fire a gun at the same time. This may serve for any of the vessels to give over the chase and return into the fleet.

For the Andrew Doria to chase: A Dutch flag at the foretopmast head. To chase to windward: hoist the ensign, lowering the pendant at the same time; if to leeward, not. To give over the chase: a white pendant at the foretopmast head; and if at a great distance, fire a gun at the same time.

For the Cabot to chase: A white flag at the foretopmast head. To chase to windward, &.c, as above.

For the Providence to chase: A St. George's ensign, with stripes at the mizen peak. To chase to windward, &c, as above.

For the Fly to chase: A Dutch flag at the maintopmast head. To chose to windward, &c, as above.

For the Hornet to chase: A rod pendant at the maintopmast head. To chase to windward, &c, as above.

For the Wasp to chase: A Dutch flag at the mizzen peak. To chase to windward, &c, as above.

For a general attack, or the whole fleet to engage: The standard at the maintoprnast head, with the striped jack and ensign at their proper places.

To disengage and form into a squadron: A white flag at the ensign staff, and the same into a weft for every vessel to make the best of the way off from the enemy for their own preservation.

For all the Captains to come on board the Commodore: A red pendant at the ensign staff.

To speak with the Columbus: A white pendant at the mizentop must head.

To speak with the Andrew Doria: A Dutch flag at the mizentop mast head.

To speak with the Cabot: A weft in a jack, at the mizentopmast head.

To speak with the Providence: A white flag at the mizentopmast head.

To speak with the Fly: A Dutch flag at the ensign staff.

For any vessel in the fleet that wants to speak with the Commodore:

A weft in the ensign; and if in distress, accompanied with two guns,

To fall into a line abreast: A red pendant at the mizen peak.

To fall into a line ahead: A white pendant at the mizen peak.

For meeting, after a separation: A weft in an ensign, at the maintopmast head, to be answered with the same, and cluing up the main, topgallant sail, if they have any set.

For the ship Providence to chase: A red pendant at the mizentopmast bead. To chase to windward, &c, as before.

To speak with the ship Providence: A weft in the ensign at the ensign staff".

Signals in a fog, or thick weather.

When it comes on foggy, and the Commodore will continue the same sail and course: Fire a gun every half hour.

To bring too on the larboard tack: Fire two guns.

To bring too on the starboard tack: Fire three guns.

Any vessel in the fleet discovering an enemy of superior force, shall fire four guns, and shall be answered by every vessel in the fleet, with two guns, and then endeavour to speak with the Commodore, and upon hearing one of the fleet engage, an attack must be made by the whole, in the best manner possible.

For the whole fleet to anchor: Fire five guns.

To haul upon the wind upon the starboard tack: Fire six guns.

To haul upon the wind upon the larboard tack: Fire seven guns.

To bear up, or go before the wind: Fire eight guns.

Any vessels in the fleet discovering land or danger: Fire minute, guns until the danger is over.

Signals by night.

To weigh and come to sail: Three lights in the mizen shrouds abreast of each other, to be answered by each ship with one light in the main shrouds.

To put about and stand upon the other tack: Two lights upon the ensign staff, to be answered by the other vessels with one.

To ware and stand upon the other tack: Three lights upon the en sign staff, to be answered by the other vessels with two.

To ware and stand before the wind: Two lights at the mizen peak, to be answered by three lights at the ensign staff.

For the fleet to heave too with their starboard tacks on board: A light in the starboard main shrouds, with one gun.

To heave too with their larboard tacks on board: Two lights in the larboard main shrouds, with two guns.

For discovering strange vessels: A light upon the ensign staff, with a false fire, and as many false fires as vessels discovered.

For discovering land or danger: Show a great number of lights, and fire guns, which is to be continued until every vessel in the fleet answer it by firing a gun each.

For the fleet to attack or engage the enemy: Fire a gun, and as many false fires us there are ships in the fleet.

For meeting, after a separation: Two false fires, to be answered by the same.

For the fleet to anchor: A light at the maintoprast head, to be answerved by a light at I he same place when safe at anchor.