The amount of money I have given an order for is eighty-nine pounds fourteen shillings, for seventy-eight blankets.

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

GEORGE STRICKER.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

CALVERT COUNTY COMMITTEE TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

In Committee of Observation, Calvert County, March 4, 1776.

This Committee, agreeable to the request of the honourable Council of Safety, inform their Honours, that at Drum-Point, (near the mouth of Patuxent,) there are two dwelling-houses, with fire-places to each, and a store-house, and very near thereto a school-house, on the river side, which the proprietors are ready and willing should be used by Captain Beall’s men; and this Committee offer it as their opinion, that that is the most proper place for the troops to be stationed at in this County. Signed by order:

E. JOHNSON, Clerk pro tem.

To the Honourable Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Esq.

PENNSYLVANIA COMMITTEE OF SAFETY TO DR. FRANKLIN.

In Committee of Safety, Philadelphia, March 4, 1776.

SIR: In order to carry into execution the resolve of Congress, for the manufacturing of fifty tons of saltpetre into powder, the Committee of Safety have purchased a seat for erecting a powder-mill, which they intend to build in such manner as to manufacture about four tons, per week; and they are of opinion it will be necessary to build a magazine for the secure keeping of the powder, as it is made at a suitable distance from the mill. This being a proper season for erecting the same, those gentlemen, who have the superintendence of the mills, will be able at the same time to oversee the building the magazine.

The Committee request you will please to take the opinion of the Congress relative to the erecting such magazine.

By order of the Committee.

I am, sir, your most humble servant,

GEORGE ROSS, Chairman.

To Doctor Franklin.

SAMUEL TUCKER TO LORD STIRLING.

New-Brunswick, March 4, 1776.

MY LORD: Your letter of the 1st current I received this morning; and, as our Congress had adjourned last evening, I convened as many members of our Committee of Safety as were in this city, who unanimously advised the sending your letter to the Continental Congress, which I shall forward by the first good opportunity.

We have passed an ordinance for raising two Artillery Companies, to consist of sixty-four men each, officers included: one to remain in East, the other in West-Jersey; to be inlisted for twelve months, unless sooner discharged; to act occasionally in conjunction with our Militia; and have ordered six field-pieces for each division to be immediately purchased, with all the necessary equipments, &c.

Bergen County have agreed to accept payment for the seventy-nine stand of arms taken by Captain Meeker, which they have valued at four pounds ten shillings for each stand, and which our Congress have agreed shall be paid. I most sincerely wish your Lordship all manner of success in your arduous employments; and have the honour to be your most obedient, humble servant,

SAMUEL TUCKER.

To Lord Stirling,

P. S. Ship Blue-Mountain-Valley is condemned by Congress.

In Congress, New-Jersey, March 2, 1776.

The Congress proceeded to the determination of the prize-ship Blue-Mountain-Valley, now lying at Elizabethtown Point, lately seized by Lord Stirling, with a detachment of the Continental Forces and Militia; and it appearing, by the testimony of credible witnesses upon their oaths, that the said Ship, John H. Dempster, master, sailed from London some time last fall, laden with stores, shipped by order of the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty’s Treasury, bound to the Port of Boston, or any other Port in America, the said cargo, by the bill of lading, dated the 30th day of November, 1775, to be delivered unto the Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty’s Forces in America, or to his order; and the honourable the Continental Congress having, previous to the taking of the said Ship, resolved that all Transport Vessels in the same service, having on board any Troops, Arms, Ammunition, Clothing, Provisions, or Military or Naval Stores, of whatever kind soever, and all vessels, to whomsoever belonging, that shall be employed in carrying Provisions, or other necessaries, to the British Army or Armies, or Navy, that now or shall hereafter be within any of the United Colonies, or any Goods, Wares, or Merchandise, for the use, of such Fleet or Army, shall be liable to seizure, and, with their cargoes, shall be confiscated:

It is, therefore, Resolved, That the said Ship Blue-Mountain-Valley, with such of her cargo as was shipped by order of the said Lords Commissioners of his Majesty’s Treasury, directed, as by said bill of lading, to be delivered at the Port of Boston, or elsewhere, unto the Commander-in-Chief of his Majesty’s Forces in America, or to his order, shall be, and the same is hereby, confiscated to the use of the captors, pursuant to the general directions for distribution resolved on by the said honourable Continental Congress.

Resolved, That the said Ship and Cargo be disposed of by any two agents or persons, to be chosen, the one by Lord Stirling, and the other by the Committee of Elizabethtown.

Resolved, That all the necessary expense and charge which have arisen by guarding and securing said Prize, and supporting the Seamen, be first deducted out of the nett proceeds of such sales.

Resolved, That the amount of the sales of the said Ship and Cargo (the expense and charge of guarding and securing the same, and supporting the seamen, being first deducted and paid thereout) be divided among the captors, as well as those of the Militia sent out by the Committee of Elizabethtown, as such of the Continental Forces as were employed in that service under Lord Stirling; that the said distribution be made among the officers, privates, and to the vessels employed in the said capture, in such manner as is usually distributed in the neighbouring Colonies, agreeable to the resolutions of the Continental Congress.

Resolved, That all such Goods, Wares, and Merchandises, on board said Ship, belonging to the Captain Mates, and Seamen, as their, or either of their own private property, be reserved for the proprietors thereof, and delivered to them free of all cost and deductions.

Resolved, That the Captain and Seamen belonging to said Ship when seized, be suffered to go to any place they may think proper, his Majesty’s Fleet or Army only excepted.

And this Congress recommend to the captors of said Ship to make some gratuity to each of the Seamen taken on board, to enable them to travel to some other parts in pursuit of business.

A true copy:

W. PATERSON, Secretary.

ROBERT OGDEN TO LORD STIRLING.

Elizabethtown, March 4, 1776,

MY LORD: I heartily congratulate you on your appointment to be Brigadier-General, and which 8:29 PM 4/28/2005will give every friend to his country great pleasure to see that posts of so much importance are filled by gentlemen of the first abilities, and so strongly attached to the common cause; sincerely wish all officers, from the highest to the lowest, may be advanced according to their abilities, merit, and valour; and none but such be employed in the service.

There are many fire-arms lost, or, at least, at present missing, that were lent (by the inhabitants of the town) to furnish Captain Meeker, and the parties under him, to assist your Lordship in taking, the Ship Blue-Mountain-Valley. He has been applied to for the arms, but says he knows nothing about them, who had them, nor where to be found. His ignorance and high temper makes it difficult to treat with him; perhaps, though, fire in his constitution may be serviceable on a forlorn hope. It would be very kind if your Lordship would give orders to inquire whether there are any spare arms in the battalion, that do not belong