between Montreal and the Three-Rivers. The Province of New-York is at present too long and too large for convenience in Government, as the Deputies, in the extremities of it, at some seasons especially, cannot be so soon convened as urgent necessity might require; for Hillsborough, which lies twenty miles north of Crown-Point, is three hundred miles distant from New-York, the half of which distance ends about fifteen miles below Albany; near that place, let the Province be intersected by a line running thence west to Delaware-River, and east to Connecticut-River, through part of Massachusetts; thence northerly, up said river to the latitude of Hillsborough; thence west, crossing Lake Champlain, till it meets a line running north from the west end of the south line first mentioned. This Colony, to be named Albany, will include the lands in dispute between New-York and New-Hampshire, and, by taking them away from both, will settle that matter so far as it respects Government. The like dispute will be settled by forming a Colony on Susquehannah, to include all those lands contended for by Connecticut and Pennsylvania. The reason for dividing Canada is the same as that for New-York. All the Colonies in New-England must undergo some alteration in their boundaries, because Rhode-Island bears no proportion to that of Massachusetts-Bay, the former not having sixty thousand inhabitants, while the latter hath four hundred thousand, an odds of near seven to one, and a much greater difference in their extent of territory; while Connecticut has one hundred and ninety-two thousand, and New-Hampshire, one hundred and fifty thousand; therefore, let about two Counties on the north of Connecticut be taken from Massachusetts, and added to Connecticut, so as to join that Colony on the north to that of Albany; and in lieu of this addition, let Connecticut spare from its east side, the Counties of Windham and New-London, lo Rhode-Island, which Colony may also be further increased by the addition of one County more from the Massachusetts, lying next to Connecticut and Rhode-Island, after which, if the Bay is still too strong for her neighbours, take part from her on the other side, and annex it to New-Hampshire; still remembering to leave her a little superior to them, for she is worthy, as our elder sister, and the nurse and defender of American liberty. Let the bounds of the more Southern Colonies also be ascertained, either as they now are, or more advantageously; perhaps by forming a second tier on the back of the first, leaving Pennsylvania and Virginia, each, equal to Massachusetts; and let the name of dominion be reprobated in Virginia, or assumed in all the other Colonies. All these new boundary lines to be so run as not much to incommode any particular Town or County. To this scheme of assizing the Colonies, it may be objected, that the Delegates in Conference from those Colonies which will thereby be lessened, will oppose such alteration, and that the rest of them will not presume on so arbitrary a stretch of power, as to proceed therein without their consent. Let such objectors consider, that the strength and happiness of America must be Continental, and not Provincial, and that whatever appears to be for the good of the whole, must be submitted to by every part; this holds true, and ought to be a governing maxim in all societies. Neither will there, on such alteration, arise any considerable inconvenience to any one Colony, which will not be fully atoned for by a convenience arising from the same. So that I conceive the objection is removed. The benefits arising from equality in the Colonies, are too apparent to need further elucidation, among which, an equal representation in Congress is none of the smallest.

The reason why Canada and Nova-Scotia must be included in the Continental compact, is, that they cannot be happy without being so, as we shall be obliged to treat them in some measure as our enemies, till they are; nor is there any thing sufficient to hinder them from joining us immediately, but their fear of Great Britain, they being both under the dreadful tyranny of martial law, from which they would soon emerge were they properly assisted by Continental troops, Deo co-operante. That good work, I hope, is almost already completed in Canada, and may be repeated in Nova-Scotia.

At the meeting of the first Congress, after the Charter is formed, as proposed in Common Sense, let a just return be carried in by the Delegates of each Colony then in the Association, of all the Militia resident in their respective Colonies, including Continental troops of all kinds, being free white men, from sixteen years to fifty, and their returns to be made annually. From this annual return, let the Grand Congress ascertain the number of Delegates to be elected in the several Colonies for the ensuing year, yearly, as one is to one thousand. So that, if the return of the Militia in New-Jersey, be twenty-six thousand, this Colony will, the ensuing year, send twenty-six members to Congress, and so of the rest; the whole Congress consisting of about five hundred members, who are to give their votes in Congress personally, not by Colonies. The number of Deputies in each Provincial Assembly, to be chosen annually by towns, as one to two hundred Militia, through the Colony, no town, however small, to send less than one. So that New-Jersey, on the above supposition, will have an Assembly of one hundred and thirty members. These large Assemblies will be acquainted with all the material circumstances of their constituents. Delegates to the Continental Congress to be elected by ballot, in the several Counties, the number each County is to elect to be ascertained by the Provincial Assembly according to the above rule, no County sending less than one. Every free man, above the age of twenty-one years, having had a deed for lands for the space of one year, immediately preceding the election, or having in his possession either real or personal estate to the value of one hundred dollars, to have a vote in either of the above elections. Widows, paying taxes, to have an equal right to vote as men of the same property. Every person excluded by the above rules from a share in the choice of Representatives, to be exempted from paying taxes raised for the support of legislation; but of County, Town, and Poor Rates, &c., raised for such like social purposes, they shall be liable to pay a just proportion.

Hints on the regulation of the Continental Militia, which, at a moderate computation, are about five hundred thousand, &c, may be given in some future letter, from, honoured sir, your great admirer and advocate,

ESSEX

RICHMOND COUNTY (NEW-YORK) COMMITTEE TO PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.

Richmond County, February 26, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: In consequence of your letter, dated February 21st, three of our Committee went to Elizabethtown, and applied to the Chairman of the Committee, for the inhabitants of our County then in their prison to be returned. Said Chairman, knowing not by what authority Colonel Heard and Colonel Thomas had taken them in custody, referred the matter to said Colonels. Accordingly, one of our Committee went to Woodbridge, waited on the Colonels, who then promised the prisoners should be delivered up with the charge alleged against them. On returning to Elizabethtown, Colonel Thomas informed our Committee-men, that he could not then furnish them with the charges, but would send the prisoners on Saturday morning, under a guard, to be delivered at Richmond town, with the charges, to our Committee. Accordingly, our Committee attended at the time and place, in order to receive them, but none appeared. The Committee then adjourned till this day; when, being assembled, Mr. Isaac Decker appeared, informed the Committee that on Saturday last, at sun-set, the Sheriff of Elizabethtown opened the prison door, desired said Isaac Decker and Minno Burger to wait on Colonel Thomas, which they accordingly did. Said Colonel then told them, that on promising they would appear this day before the Committee in the County of Richmond, he would discharge them. Accordingly Isaac Decker has appeared; Minno Burger, unwell, could not appear. Our Committee is at a loss how to act; the above Colonel has not sent any charge against them. We shall, therefore, wait your direction. Richard Connor, Esq., on giving his obligation to Colonel Thomas to appear when called upon, was admitted to return home before your letter came to hand; said obligation has not been returned to us, nor any charge against him. Abraham Starrow, we are informed, is detained in prison on account of a debt.

We are, gentlemen, your most obedient and most humble servants. By order of the Committee:

CHRISTIAN JACOBSON.