have fulfilled our promises in the petition, and, without any delay, or expense of a negotiation, peace and happiness would instantly be diffused throughout America.

I fear this fleet and armament can never be the harbingers of peace; therefore, however ardently I wish for peace, I most earnestly recommend it to my countrymen to be prepared for war.

A VIRGINIAN.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO THE SEVERAL COMMITTEES OF OBSERVATION.

To Committees where only Fifty Men are stationed:

GENTLEMEN: We perceive, by the proceedings of the Convention, that one-half of Captain Riezin Beall's company are to be stationed in your County. We understand the officers of that company are drawing their men together, and are desirous of knowing where they are to be stationed, so as to answer the purpose intended. We know not where proper houses can be got in your County, and, therefore, request you would make inquiry, and let us know your sentiments, where the men ought to be stationed, and whether convenient houses can be got for them.

Annapolis, February 23, 1776.

To Committees for those Counties where whole Independent Companies were stationed:

GENTLEMEN: Agreeable to the resolves of the last Convention, an Independent Company is to be stationed at such place in your County as the Council of Safety may think proper; but, as we are not so well acquainted with your County as to determine where they may be most conveniently posted, we shall be glad the Committee of Observation would take the matter under consideration, and give us their sentiments of the place which may best answer the intended purpose. We are, &c.

RICHARD BARNES TO MARYLAND CONCIL OF SAFETY.

Leonardtown, February 23, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Agreeable to the directions of our Committee, I send you, by Lieutenant Neale, seven gun-locks," which are all we have belonging to the publick. I have also sent you some gold, which be kind enough to give him paper money for. Philip Reed, Second Lieutenant in the Leonardtown company of Militia, has desired leave to resign his commission, as being very inconvenient for him to attend; should, therefore, be glad you would appoint Bennet Combs, in his place, (who is Ensign in the company,) and James Williams, Ensign, The company belongs to the twenty-first battalion of Militia. If agreeable, send the commissions by Mr. Neale.

We have received no powder, as yet, from Charles County.

I remain, gentlemen, your humble servant,

RICHARD BARNES.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

FREDERICK RHINELANDER TO PETER VAN SCHAACK.

New-York, February 23, 1776.

DEAR SIR: At my return from Philadelphia, I had the happiness to receive your long letter. As I am to consider it as an answer to mine, of six and a half lines, I am the more obliged to you for its contents.

I forbear to mention the distressed state of this once happy city. Though General Lee has every thing to recommend him as a General, yet I think he was out of luck when he ordered the removal of the guns from the Battery, as it was without the approbation or knowledge of our Congress; consequently, the inhabitants were unprepared for so melancholy an event. The inclemency of the weather heightened our distress. The wind, too, was so high, that the rivers could not be crossed, but with the utmost hazard. Samuel Bayard was made prisoner. The Secretary's office is removed to Nicholas Bayard's, where Samuel is yet under a guard. Mr. Stevens is made prisoner by the New-England troops, and sent to Hartford. A flag was sent on board the Asia, with a proposal to exchange Stevens for a New-England officer, taken by the Asia, last summer. No answer has been sent. General Clinton has gone to the Southward. It is said he expects, to be joined by seven thousand troops from the other side the water.

General Lee is taking every necessary step to fortify and defend this city. The men-of war are gone out of our harbour; the Phenix is at the Hook; the Asia lies near Bedlow's Island;so that we are now in a state of perfect peace and security, were it not for our apprehensions of future danger. To see the vast number of houses shut up, one would think the city almost evacuated. Women and children are scarcely to be seen in the streets. Troops are daily coming in; they break open and quarter themselves in any houses they find shut up. Necessity knows no law. Private interest must give way to the publick good. Mr. Jacob Walton was ordered to remove, and give up his house, which is now occupied by the soldiers. I have not moved an article out of town yet, though I have taken a house for my family, at a place called Paramus. The Speaker has desired me to get a place for: him in the same neighbourhood. I think it will be out of the route of the Army.

We are going to raise a new battalion. Colonels Lasher and Gounerneur Morris are candidates for the command. As both the gentlemen have great merit, it is hard to tell which will succeed.

General Lee is ordered to take the command at Canada; General Schuyler to command at New-York.

Yours, &c.,

FREDERICK RHINELANDER.

ROBERT BOYD, JUN., TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

New-Windsor, February 23, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Your favour of the 12th instant came safe to hand, and I note the contents; but am at a loss to ascertain exactly what number of gun-barrels, &c., 1 can furnish by the 1st of April, as therein required. I hope, at or near that time, to have as many completed as will pay up the publick money I received, and then propose waiting on the honourable Congress, and determine whether I am to proceed any further, or not; but am inclined to think I shall not, on the strength of the old contract, as by that contract there is no fixed number to be made, only a definite number given, if that could be completed within six months. At the time I contracted, my ideas relative to executing the business were exceedingly erroneous. I thought one month would be sufficient for preparation in order to begin the business; but, with sundry hindrances, four months elapsed before that could be done. I also thought there would be no difficulty in procuring hands who understood the business, or, if there should, I could procure common smiths, who, in a little time, would learn; but found myself egregiously disappointed in both these opinions. In relation to the first, 1 sent both to East and West, in order to procure hands, but found them all employed on such terms as rendered it out of my power to remove them; and in relation to the second, the difficulty arose from my being circumscribed within the narrow limits of a few months, and could not foresee what would take place at the end of that time; therefore, could not, without a manifest risk, pursue that mode, as it is no trifling affair to teach a number of hands in a business they are wholly ignorant of, at a private expense, without having such a kind of certainty of prosecuting it as will, in the end, reimburse the expense accrued in teaching them. I believe no reasonable man will doubt the sincerity of my intention of carrying on the business to a considerable extensiveness, when they see that I have been at one hundred and twenty pounds expenses in preparing for it; and I do think there is not such a shop in this or any of the neighbouring Governments, (that hath come under my view,) for convenience in carrying on the business aforesaid. But this answers very little purpose, when the superintendent thereof must employ his own fingers at every piece of business that is done in it. But, even in this case, more might have been done, had not much of my lime been spent in attendance on publick business, which it was out of my power to avoid.

As I have imposed on the patience of the honourable House in proceeding to this length, therefore shall now conclude, with only observing, that if the honourable Cop-