The following gentlemen are recommended as Officers, to be commissioned to fill up the vacancies of the late Company of Colonel William Harrison, to wit: William Winter, Jun., Captain; George Dent, Jun., First Lieutenant; John S. Chilton, Second Lieutenant; and William Barker, Ensign; and, in consequence of a letter of resignation received from John S. Chilton, the Committee thought proper to recommend Burdit Hamilton in his stead.

Ditto, for the late Company of Major John Marshall: Benjamin Philpot, Captain; Henry Dent, First Lieutenant; Buford Cottrell, Second Lieutenant; and Philip Marshall, Ensign.

Ditto, for the late Company of Colonel Samuel Harrison: William McPherson, Captain; Peter Green, First Lieutenant; Thomas Green, Jun., Second Lieutenant; and Leonard Hamilton, Ensign.

Ditto, for the late Company of Colonel Francis Ware: Walter Hanson, of John, Captain; Thomas Simms, First Lieutenant; Jos. W. Harrison, Second Lieutenant; and John Beal Twener, Ensign.

Ditto, for the late Company of Colonel Josia's Hawkins; John Hanson, Youngest, Captain; Henry Massey Hanson, First Lieutenant; James Russell, Second Lieutenant; and John Griffin, Ensign.

Ditto, for the late Company of Major Thomas Harris: Jonathan Yates, Captain; Richard Hedley Courts, First Lieutenant; John McCall, Second Lieutenant; and Raphael Boar man, Jun., Ensign.

Ditto, for the late Company of Captain William Campbell: Waller Winter, Captain; Richard Bennett Boar man, First Lieutenant; Jonathan Thomas, Second Lieutenant; and Nehemiah Gibbons, Ensign.

Ditto, for the late Company of Captain John H. Stone: George Swann, Captain; John Gwinn, First Lieutenant; Michael Stone, Second Lieutenant; and William Lamar, Ensign.

Mr. James Fernandis, who was First Lieutenant to Captain Robert Sennett's Company, having entered into the regular service, made a recommendation of Officers necessary for that Company, and the following gentlemen are recommended, to wit: John Muschett, First Lieutenant; William Me Conkie, Second Lieutenant; and Samuel Stone, Jun., Ensign.

To fill up the vacancies in the Company lately commanded by General John Dent: Henry Ward, Captain; George Dent, First Lieutenant; Thomas McCartie, Second Lieutenant; and John Grant, Ensign; were recommended by a majority of thirty-two privates of the said Company, met for that purpose.

The Committee think proper to recommend to the honourable the Council of Safety, Captain Thomas Hanson Marshall, who lives in the Hundred to which the said Company belongs, but is not one of that Company, having enrolled in a neighbouring one of Militia. Henry Ward, who is above recommended by the said Company for Captain, was chosen Second Lieutenant by a former election, and, in the judgment and opinion of the Committee, it would tend most to the publick service for the honourable Council of Safety to commission the said Thomas Hanson Marshall, Captain for the said Company; George Dent, First Lieutenant; Henry Ward, Second Lieutenant; and John Grant, Ensign,

The honourable Council of Safety are requested to inquire of Colonel William Smallwood for a recommendation of Officers for the Company he commanded.

Signed by order:

JOHN GWINN, Clerk.

In Committee, Port-Tobacco, February 26, 1776.

Resolved, That every Member of this Committee produce, by the first Tuesday in April next, of his own manufacturing, six pounds of crude Nitre, under the penalty of twelve Shillings currency.

Signed by order:

JOHN GWINN, Clerk.

COLONEL BARTLETT TO MESHECH WEARE.

Philadelphia, February 26, 1776.

SIR: The enclosed order of Congress, of the 23d instant, I am directed to transmit to our Colony, and I make no doubt (if they have not already) they will speedily comply with the recommendations.

The necessity of arms and ammunition for our defence, and the danger of disappointment, shows the necessity of our using our utmost efforts to be supplied as much as may be within ourselves. And though I can, with pleasure, inform you that large quantities of powder and saltpetre have arrived here, and more is daily expected, yet, as we have reason to believe that as soon as the spring opens, our harbours will be much infested by the British cruisers, who have orders to seize all American vessels, and as large quantities of military stores will be wanted for sea, as well as land service, I humbly conceive it will be prudent to endeavour to supply ourselves with the necessaries of life and defence within ourselves, and leave as little to the uncertainty of winds, weather, and enemies, as possible, at least for the present.

You will please, sir, to see that the several orders of our Convention or Assembly for manufacturing arms, gunpowder, and saltpetre, be transmitted to me, and an account of what has been done in consequence of such orders, as it is necessary the Congress should know, as soon as may be, the true stale of all the Colonies, with regard to their supplying themselves with these necessary articles; and when our Assembly meets, you will please to lay these resolves before them, and, in the mean time, communicate them to the Council or Committee of Safety, or whoever they have left to transact business in their recess.

I am, your most obedient servant,

JOSIAH BARTLETT.

To the Honourable Meshech Weare, Esq.

TO THE AUTHOR OF COMMON SENSE.

New-Jersey, February 26, 1776.

SIR: In your famous pamphlet, entitled Common Sense, by which I am convinced of the necessity of independency, to which I was before averse, you have given liberty to every individual to contribute materials for that great building, the grand charter of American liberty. I shall, therefore, venture to lay before you and the publick, a few hints, as they may occur to my mind, not having seen your second edition. And, for reasons already published, must consider independency as that which must lake place in a few months at farthest; the temper, and fixed designs of the King, Ministry, and Parliament of Great Britain, being incompatible with the safety of these Colonies in any other way. Nor are we under any obligations to the contrary, from any thing contained in either of the petitions to the King, as some vainly argue, because they have both been rejected by him, to whom alone they were addressed: and that rejection sealed by the blood of many of the Colonists, who, being treated like Rebels, have been murdered while innocent. Of this number are General Montgomery, and all those brave men slain in this war, whose lives might have been saved by the King's having immediately put a stop to all hostilities, as soon as he received our last petition. For I can truly affirm, that the death of one American, whose life might have been saved by the King's immediate compliance with that petition, is sufficient to discharge America forever from any obligations to reconciliation on that account. But, to return, it is the custom of wise architects to lay their foundations deep, lest the basis should sink from under the superstructure. Should this letter point out one good stone for that purpose, though it were placed under ground, I am amply rewarded for my trouble.

Equality in strength, riches, and honours, are necessary to safety, mutual confidence, and friendship. Hence, the so much talked of balance of power in Europe, so necessary to the safety of those countries, but more especially of the weaker kingdoms and states. Hence, also, those common proverbs, "the poor is despised of his neighbour;" and "the weakest goes to the wall." æSOP's iron and earthen pots cannot swim with safety together. Therefore, let it be the work of your Continental Conference to set bounds to their claim as an associated Continent, which ought to include, at least, the thirteen at present associated Colonies, with those of Quebeck and Nova-Scotia. Then, let there be at least three new Colonies formed, viz: Montreal, Albany, and Susquehannah. Montreal may be formed by dividing Canada into two Colonies by a line running from south to north, and crossing St. Lawrence