the full amount. I have likewise agreed for their breeches, and they are all well armed; and, as their clothes will be finished in about a week, nothing will retard our march, after the expiration of that time, but the want of blankets.

I am, honourable gentlemen, with due respect, your obliged, humble servant,

GEORGE STRICKEB.

To the Council of Safety of Maryland.

To the Honourable the Representatives of the Freemen of the Province of PENNSYLVANIA, in General Assembly, met:

The Petition of the Committee of Inspection for the County of BUCKS, humbly sheweth:

That, as a general uneasiness prevails among the Associators in this County, on account of the late Military Resolutions of this honourable House, and many persons have signed them under a full persuasion that amendments would be made therein; and as there are many able-bodied men, between the age of fifty and sixty years, possessed of large estates, who are entirely exempt from military duty and experience, your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray that the Association may be extended to the age of sixty.

And as the lax upon the non-Associators is considered an equivalent for personal services, and the Associators have no compensation for their arms and accoutrements, not to mention the dangers they will be exposed to when called into actual service, your petitioners pray that an additional tax be laid upon the estates of non-Associators proportion ate to the expenses of the Associators, necessarily incurred for the general defence of property.

And as, by marching whole battalions, or companies of Militia, large tracts of country will be left destitute of men, except those who either hold all resistance unlawful, or such as are disaffected to the present measures, your petitioners, therefore, beg leave to submit it to the consideration of the House, whether it would not be better to direct the Colonels to draft from their battalions such number as shall, from time to time, be requisite, thereby affording an opportunity for those whose circumstances will not always admit their going, to get volunteers in their stead, and, at the same time, leaving sufficient force in every part of the country to quell any local insurrections.

All which your petitioners humbly pray may be taken into the consideration of the House, and such amendments made as you, in your wisdom, shall see meet.

Per order of the Committee:

JOSEPH HART, Chairman.

In Committee, Bucks-County, February 27, 1776.

GENERAL LEE TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read March 4, 1776.]

New.York, February 27, 1776.

SIR: Since I did myself the honour of writing to you last, Messrs. Price, Walker, and Bonfield, are arrived from Canada, a circumstance which I consider as very fortunate, as they are able to give the best intelligence, and communicate the necessary lights on the measures to be adopted with respect to that country. In consequence of their representations, and as the season of the year, and precariousness of the weather, will admit of no delay, I shall, without waiting for orders from the Congress, take the liberty to contract immediately for four thousand barrels of pork, and a considerable quantity of rum. I have likewise written to General wooster, ordering him to purchase, and grind into flour, twenty thousand bushels of wheat. I have, also, engaged a company of carpenters, on terms, as it appears to me, very reasonable. The captain is to have one dollar per diem, the men half-a-dollar; but they are not only to furnish their own tools, but each man is to provide himself with a gun and bayonet, and act occasionally as soldiers. Lord Stirling has, at my request, written to engage another company, on the same terms, and to consist of the same number of men, which is twenty-five. As these terms are so moderate, and the time so pressing, I hope that the Congress will approve of the step. These are times when it is impossible, without great danger to the publick cause, to wait for formal instructions; but as I shall never lake this liberty, unless urged by necessity, and a view to the publick service, I flatter myself 1 shall never incur the censure of the Congress.

There is, certainly, nothing more important, in the present circumstances of America, than giving proper encouragement to the military spirit, inciting a military ardour; and recompensing those who have acquitted themselves with zeal and valour. On this principle, sir, I take the liberty of recommending to the favour of the Congress Major Ogden, who was a volunteer with Colonel Arnold in his hazardous expedition, who was with him, and received a wound in the attack. This gentleman, by his absence, (though he was absent in the service of his country,) has been thrown out of the way of promotion in his own Province; but as there are several vacant Lieutenant-Colonelcies and Majorities in the New- York battalions, I beg leave to recommend him for one of them. I have no particular connection or intimacy with the gentleman, but, merely from a motive of justice, and a conviction that it will be proper to reward men of his stamp, I venture on (he recommendation. By some unfortunate accident, or mistake, a considerable list of meritorious officers, who have served the campaign in Canada, are struck out of employment. It must be submitted to the justice and wisdom of the Congress, whether it will not be right to remedy a grievance, before it is too late, which, neglected, may be attended with very bad consequences.

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

CHARLES LEE.

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

P. S. I find myself considerably better since my last, and hope to be able to set out in two or three days, though I must confess I leave this place in its present state with no small anxiety of mind. As there are no measures taken for its security, I tremble lest the enemy should take possession of it.

You have not favoured me with an answer on the subject of Doctor Fague. The gentlemen arrived from Canada are of opinion he might be of great service there. I should think that if some Jesuit, or religieuse of any other order, (but he must be a man of liberal sentiments, enlarged mind, and a manifested friend to civil liberty,) could be found out, and sent to Canada, he would be worth battalions to us. This thought struck me some time ago, and I am pleased to find, from the conversation of Mr. Price and his fellow-travellers, that the thought was very far from a wild one. Mr. Carroll has a relative, who exactly answers the description.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO NEW-YOBK CONGRESS.

Albany, February 27, 1776.

SIR: When an officer has acted with remarkable attention and propriety, it becomes a duty in his commander to give publick testimony of it. Such has been the conduct of Captain willet, during the last campaign. He is, there fore, entitled to the attention of his country.

I am, sir, your most humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To Nathaniel Woodhull, Esquire, President of the New-York Congress.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Road March 5, 1776.]

Albany, February 37, 1776.

SIR: I am honoured with your letter of the 20th, by express, advising me of the new arrangement in command. I shall ever, sir, be contented to remain where Congress thinks I can be of service. My disorder is become very alarming lo the physicians here, but I do not think that it is so dangerous as they imagine; and I hope a little relaxation from the business of the closet, and a moderate degree of exercise, will re-establish me tolerably well.

I shall not be able to leave this until all the troops destined for Canada are passed, and until the batteaus are built at Fort-George, and every thing got into such a train as that General Lee's intended military operations in Canada may not be retarded, nor the Army suffer for want of provisions.