Should they agree to our terms, you are to promise, in the names of the United Colonies, that we will defend and protect the people of Canada against all enemies, in the same manner as we will defend and protect any of the United Colonies.

You are to establish a free Press, and to give directions for the frequent publication of such pieces as may be of service to the cause of the United Colonies.

You are to settle all disputes between the Canadians and the Continental Troops, and to make such regulations relating thereto as you shall judge proper.

You are to make a strict and impartial inquiry into the cause of the imprisonment of Colonel Dufee, Lieutenant-Colonel Nefeu, Major St. George Dupree, and Major Gray, officers of Militia; and of John Fraser, Esq., late a Judge of Police at Montreal, and take such order concerning them as you shall judge most proper.

In reforming any abuses you may observe in Canada, establishing and enforcing regulations for preservation of peace and good order there, and composing differences between the troops of the United Colonies and the Canadians, all officers and soldiers are required to yield obedience to you.

And to enforce the decisions that you, or any two of you may make, you are empowered to suspend any military officer from the exercise of his commission till the pleasure of the Congress shall be known, if you, or any two of you, shall think it expedient.

You are also empowered to sit and vote as members of Councils of War in directing fortifications and defences to be made or to be demolished; and to draw orders upon the President for any sums of money, not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars in the whole, to defray the expenses of the works.

Lastly, you are, by all the means you can use, to promote the execution of the resolutions now made, or hereafter to be made in Congress.

Additional Instructions.

You are empowered and directed to promote and encourage the trade of Canada with the Indian Nations, and grant passports for carrying it on, as far as it may consist with the safety of the troops and the publick good.

You are also directed and authorized to assure the inhabitants of Canada their commerce with foreign nations shall, in all respects, be put on an equal footing with and encouraged and protected in the same manner, as the trade of the United Colonies.

You are also directed to use every wise and prudent measure to introduce and give credit and circulation to the Continental money in Canada.

In case the former resolution of Congress, respecting the English American Troops in Canada, has not been carried into effect, you are directed to use your best endeavours to form a battalion of the New-York Troops in that country, and to appoint the Field and other officers, out of the gentlemen who have continued there during the campaign, according to their respective ranks and merit; and if it should be found impracticable, you are to direct such of them as are provided in the four battalions now raising in New-York, to repair to their respective corps. To enable you to carry this resolution into effect, you are furnished with blank commissions by the President.

By order of Congress:

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

NEW-YORK DELEGATES TO COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Philadelphia, March 19, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: We beg leave to recommend to your particular attention the enclosed request from the Delegates of Maryland. We are not sufficiently acquainted with the state of our artillery to judge whether it will be in your power to oblige a sister Colony on this pressing occasion. We can only say that it will give us great pleasure if you can consistently contribute to the safety of Maryland, from whose Delegates our Colony has always received a uniform and zealous support. Their friendship in procuring an instruction from their Convention expressly directing them to move and use their endeavours for procuring relief to our Colony in the article of tea, and their generous offer to supply us with a ton of their scanty stock of powder some months ago, deserve our grateful acknowledgments, and the esteem of our constituents. We could not, indeed, avail ourselves of the last favour, because the interposition of Congress was necessary, and we had reason to be apprehensive that the powder would have been sent another way, where it was then thought more necessary.

We have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servants,

JAMES DUANE,
JOHN ALSOP,
JOHN JAY,
LEWIS MORRIS.

To the Honourable Convention of New-York.

MARYLAND DELEGATES TO NEW-YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Philadelphia, March 19, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: The Convention of Maryland voted a considerable sum of money to defend the harbour of Baltimore town, the most considerable place of our trade. Fortifications and batteries are now erecting; and every means in our power to procure cannon have failed. If your Colony can spare us four eighteen-pounders, or eight twelves, or eight nines, (which shall be returned as soon as others can be procured,) they will be of infinite service in defending a boom now very nearly ready to be laid across the river. We are, gentlemen, your most obedient servants,

W. JOHNSON, JUN.,
SAMUEL CHASE,
WILLIAM PACA.

To the Honourable Council of Safety of New-York.

JOHN WITHERSPOON TO LORD STIRLING.

Princeton, March 19, 1776.

MY LORD: I am this day favoured with your Lordship’s letter of the 17th, as Chairman of the Committee of Somerset County, and shall not fail to lay it before them at their first meeting, which is on Wednesday next week, the 27th. I would have called them immediately, but the notices could not be sent so as to procure a meeting above two days sooner, as one of their number is gone to Philadelphia to procure powder, and it would have been very disagreeable to them to have been called twice in so short a time. I shall not fail to acquaint your Lordship of the resolution of the Committee: and wishing you much lawful and signal success in your present important charge,

I am, my Lord, your Lordship’s most obedient, humble servant,

JOHN WITHERSPOON.

To Lord Stirling.

MOSES OGDEN TO JOSEPH HALLETT.

Newark, New-Jersey, March 19, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I yesterday attended the vendue at Elizabethtown, and purchased a quantity of coal, to fulfil your order for shot; and as it cannot be delivered without the cash, I am obliged to request the favour of you to advance, and send me by the bearer, (Mr. Garret Jacobus, one of our workmen,) one hundred pounds, who will give you a receipt for the same. We have everything prepared for despatch as soon as the coal arrives.

I am, sir, your very humble servant,

MOSES OGDEN.

To Mr. Joseph Hallett, New-York.

LORD STIRLING TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

New-York, March 19, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I have this evening, by express, received the two enclosed letters from General Washington. I have communicated the contents of them to the Committee of Safety of this Province, and shall meet them to-morrow morning, to consult on such measures as necessarily arise from this intelligence. The Congress may be assured every step will be taken to prepare this place for the reception of the enemy. The work is great; not a moment of my time is left unemployed in effecting it.

I had the honour of receiving your letter of the 16th instant