two regiments to our forces, without the approbation of Congress.

I mentioned before, that a plan for the reduction of that Province was under consideration of Congress, which, if they think proper to adopt, his Excellency has no doubt but that a gentleman who interests himself so much in the cause of America as you do, will give every assistance and advice for the accomplishment of this important business that is in your power. I am, &c.

To the Reverend James Lyon.

HERBERT COUKTENAY TO CHARLES CARROLL, BARRISTER.

Baltimore, February 18, 1776.

SIR: Mr. Spear showed me a note which Mr. Purviance brought him from the Council of Safety, whereby it is probable you may have occasion to see Captain Martin; therefore, have given him orders to wait on the Council of Safety, with Mr. Spear's captain.

Should you have occasion to employ the brig FriendShip, Captain Martin, back here, with such returns as you may have ordered, I shall have no sort of objection, provided you insure her at one thousand pounds, this money, and allow a sufficient freight for such goods as she may bring back; though Captain Stone intended she should bring some property of his, lying in the West-Indies, invested in salt, rum, be, with her freight money out. The vessel is a prime sailer, and has a Bermuda register, and manned with Negroes, save the Captain and Mate, which may probably be a cloak for her against the late resolution of the Parliament to seize all American vessels.

I am satisfied you cannot employ a vessel more fitting than the Friendship, and should you determine on this, Captain Martin will take your orders respecting the home-ward voyage, and I shall be glad, in such case, that you will please write me a few lines, in conformity to the above proposal, as I am acting only as an agent for Captain Stone, and am, with all respect, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

HERBERT COURTENAY.

To Charles Carroll, Esq., Barrister.

JOSEPH SIMS TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Prince George's County, February 18, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: During the sitting of the last Convention, the officers of the several companies belonging to the Eleventh Battalion, of this Province, were appointed, except the Nottingham Company, which could not then be done for want of a choice being made by the people. Since that, and very lately, the people have had a meeting for that purpose, and have made choice of the following gentlemen, viz: Fielder Bowie, Esq., Captain; Messrs. Robert Bowie, First Lieutenant, William Newman Dorsett, Second Lieutenant, and George Gant, Ensign. As it is necessary their commissions should immediately issue, I 5m desired by the company to apply for them, and a messenger is sent on purpose.

I must, therefore, request you will direct your Clerk to fill up the commissions with the names of the above gentle-men, and enclose them to me by the return of this express, who will wait for that purpose.

I am, gentlemen, with great regard, your most obedient, humble servant,

JOSEPH SIMS.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM JOHN ADAMS TO A FRIEND, DATED PHILADELPHIA, FEBRUARY 18, 1776.

I sent you, from New-York, a pamphlet entitled "Common Sense," written in vindication of doctrines which there is reason to expect that the further encroachments, of tyranny, and depredations of oppression, will soon make the common faith, unless the cunning Ministry, by proposing negotiations and terms of reconciliation, should divert the present current from its channel.

Reconciliation, if practicable, and peace, if attainable, you very well know, would be as agreeable to my inclinations, and as advantageous to my interest as to any man's; but I see no prospect, no probability, no possibility. And I cannot but despise the understanding which sincerely expects an honourable peace, for its credulity, and detest the hypocritical heart which pretends to expect it, when in truth it does not.

The newspapers here are full of free speculations, the tendency of which you will easily discover. The writers reason from topics which have been long in contemplation, and fully understood by the people at large in New-England, but have been attended to in the Southern Colonies only by gentlemen of free spirits and liberal minds, who are very few. I shall endeavour to enclose to you as many of the papers and pamphlets as I can, as long as I stay here. Some will go by this conveyance.

Doctor Franklin, Mr. Chase, and Mr. Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, in Maryland, are chosen a Committee to go into Canada. The characters of the two first you know. The last is not a member of Congress, but a gentleman of independent fortune, perhaps the largest in America—a hundred and fifty or two hundred thousand pounds sterling; educated in some University in France, though a native of America, of great abilities and learning, complete master of the French language, and a professor of the Roman Catholic religion, yet a warm, a firm, a zealous supporter of the rights of America, in whose cause he has hazarded his all. Mr. John Carroll, of Maryland, a Roman Catholick Priest, and a Jesuit, is to go with the Committee, the Priests in Canada having refused baptism and absolution to our friends there. General Lee is to command in that country, whose address, experience, and abilities, added to his fluency in the French language, will give him great advantages.

The events of war are uncertain. We cannot Insure success, but we can deserve it. I am happy in this provision for that important department, because I think it the best that could be made in our circumstances. Your prudence will direct you to communicate the circumstances of the Priest, the Jesuit, and the Romish religion, only to such persons as can judge of the measure upon large and generous principles, and will not indiscreetly divulge it. The step was necessary, for the anathemas of the Church are very terrible to our friends in Canada.

ALBANY (NEW-YORK) COMMITTEE.

Albany Committee Chamber, February 18, 1776.

The Committee of the Township of Schenectady, reported this day to the General Committee of the City and County of Albany, that on the 15th day of January, instant, a Letter was laid before them under the signature of Benjamin Hilton, and directed to Alexander White, Esq., Sheriff of the County of Tryon, an extract whereof is in the following words:

Schenectady, December 22, 1773.

DEAR SIR: Lieutenant McDonald, who Is in town, Just now informed me, that Arnold, immediately on his arrival before Quebeck, sent a flag to demand from Colonel Maclean, an immediate surrender of the town. The messenger was conducted hoodwinked to Maclean, who told him, he would give Arnold a final answer in a few hours; in the mean time, Colonel Maclean lined the houses of the town, past which Arnold was to pass, to take possession of the town. Colonel Maclean, at the expiration of the time, sent a messenger to Arnold to inform him, that he was extremely sorry he had it not in his power sufficiently to defend the town, therefore, was willing to surrender it to him without the effusion of blood, and might take possession of it as soon as he pleased. Arnold himself, with the greatest part of the troops, immediately went lo take possession of the town, and after they had entered the gates, they were closed, and the troops that Maclean had placed in ambush, in the houses, immediately fired upon them, killed, three hundred, and took the rest prisoners, among which Arnold is said to be. Maclean immediately sallied out of the town, pursued the remainder of Arnold's men over the Plains of Abraham, and killed a great many of them; a fine stratagem, worthy of immortalizing Maclean's name, and handing it down to the latest posterity in letters of gold, This seems very probable to me, and Mr. McDonald says it maybe depended upon. Arnold, before his arrival at Quebeck, was obliged, in order to keep his men from starving, to kill all the horses and dogs he had with him, and, after all, fell short four days, in such fine fare; however, no better than they deserved.