tion of the Convention, they directed the Committee of Safety to inform them, among other important matters, that it be earnestly recommended to the Congress, that should they adhere to their resolution of taking into Continental pay no more than six battalions, to suffer the two old regiments to stand first in the arrangement; since otherwise the officers of those regiments would be degraded in their ranks. This requisition of the Convention arose principally from an information given them by some of their members, that the officers of the two old regiments were much dissatisfied with the resolution of the Congress for refusing to take their regiments upon the Continental establishment, which would occasion them to lose their rank when acting in conjunction with Continental officers.

As the Convention made no doubt but that this requisition would be complied with by the Congress, they declared, in their ordinance for raising an additional number of forces for the defence and protection of this Colony, "that all commissions granted by the Committee of Safety, in pursuance of the said, or a former ordinance of Convention, to any regular officer, should be void as soon as such officer, or any other in his stead, should be appointed or commissioned by the General Congress; and that the pay of every such officer should, from the time of such appointment, and notice thereof, given to the Committee of Safety, be the same as was settled by the General Congress.

Upon the 25th of February, the Committee of Safety received a packet from the Delegates in Congress, enclosing commissions for the officers of the six regiments the Congress had agreed to take upon the Continental establishment, of which the old regiments were two. Those to the Field-Officers were completely filled up, the others for the Captains and inferior officers were left blank, to be filled up by the Committee of Safety. Colonel Henry being appointed by one of those commissions to the command of the First Regiment, the Committee informed him thereof in a polite letter, and that they were ready to deliver him his commission, whenever he should think proper to call for it. In consequence of this letter, Colonel Henry came to the Committee, and the President delivered him the commission, which, after reading, he returned to the President, and declared that he would not accept of it, but gave no reasons for his refusal, and immediately left the Committee.

Thus, Mr. Printers, I have given you an honest detail of the publick proceedings, so far as they relate to Colonel Henry, from his first appointment to the command of the First Regiment to his refusal of the Continental commission, appointing him to the same command, according to the desire and resolution of the Convention; and I protest I cannot discover any thing invidious in these proceedings,' or that the least indignity has been offered to Colonel Henry's honour. But I will make no reflections: I submit what I have said to the determination of the impartial publick.

CATO.

CAPTAINS KENT AND HENRY TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OR SAFETY.

Head-Quarters, Northampton Court-House, Virginia,

February 28, 1776.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN: Your much esteemed favour of the 14th instant is now before us, the contents of which has given much satisfaction to us, and our companies in general. The company from Kent County arrived here the 12th, and the company from Queen Anne's on the 14th instant, in good health and spirits.

Sunday night last a schooner that lay in Hunger's Creek, loaded with provision, was taken possession of by thirteen Negroes, who attempted to make their escape to Lord Dunmore, but the next morning she was pursued by a whale boat, which overhauled her upon York-Spit, and returned with her Monday night; the Negroes are now under guards. This is the only remarkable circumstance that has happened since our arrival here.

We have not heard what officer is to take the command over us; the Field-Officers of the Regulars raised in Accomack and this County are on the Western-Shore, but expected over every day. The Militia and Regulars here are in a very defenceless state, and see no anxiety among them to gel either disciplined or accoutred. The resolve under which we marched mentioned our coming to the assistance of the inhabitants of Accomack and Northampton Counties; but, we are persuaded, should we have an engagement at this time, we should have but little assistance from them, but hope in a few days some companies will arrive from the Western-Shore. General Clinton's arrival at Norfolk, with one thousand troops, we imagine you are informed of.

It is said Dunmore has many friends in this place, though the complexion of the Tories, (we are told,) changed much on our arrival here; however, we can say with truth, that we were received here with every mark of esteem and friendship, and the Committee has spared no pains to procure us comfortable quarters. We beg leave to observe, your wish for our continuing here the time mentioned by the Convention, although we had enrolled only to serve till the 1st of March; what you have said on this head, and putting it in our power to draw on the Treasurer for money to pay wages, we hope will have a good effect with the companies, but could wish the Convention had recommended our staying the time mentioned, rather than ordered. The 1st of March is very near, when we expect a few must return home from necessity. As each company has brought a physician with them from home, which we every day find useful and necessary, hope some provision may be made for them, otherwise they must be considerably out of pocket, as they have been, and must be, until their return home, at their own expense, besides finding all the medicines and instruments necessary. And as you request the companies to return in a body to their respective Counties, hope some money will be paid us to defray the expense of our march back. Though one of our companies was only fifteen, and the other twelve days on their march to this place, yet the one hundred pounds received of the Treasurer was expended, and our Commissary not prepared to receive us, which much distressed us for a few days. If an opportunity offers to this place, should be glad to be furnished with the Continental regulations relaiive to wages and victualling, the latter of which our Commissary either does not, or pretends not to know any thing about. We shall endeavour whilst here to give all the satisfaction we can to the inhabitants of this place, as far as is consistent with our duty; but more particularly the Province to which we belong, and shall cheerfully obey every command of our Representatives, as far as can be done by a people who are determined to preserve their liberties; and hope the conduct of our companies this campaign will not reflect dishonour, either on the Province to which they belong, or themselves.

We are, with every mark of esteem and respect, gentlemen, your obedient, humble servants,

JAMES KENT,

WILLIAM HENRY.

To the Council of Safety of Maryland.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL LEE.

Philadelphia, February 28, 1776.

SIR: Your letter of 22d instant has been duly received, and referred to a Committee of Congress, who have not yet reported thereupon.

As soon as the Congress have come to a determination I shall do myself the pleasure to communicate the same to you. In the mean while I am directed to desire you not to set out for Canada, until you receive further orders from Congress.

I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient, humble servant

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To Major-General Lee.

PLAIN HINTS ON THE CONDITION OF THE COLONIES.

Philadelphia, February 28, 1776.

Nothing can be more surprising than the great chain of events which have taken place in the American Colonies within the small compass of a few years. Possibly no instances occur in the history of mankind in which the universal opinion has been more frequently opposed. It is no wonder, then, that we now find ourselves at a loss, and uncertain where to fix. That the King can do no wrong; that the interests of Great Britain and the Colonies were the same, reciprocal and inseparable; that she could not injure