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Parliament, Ministry, and King of Great Britain, are united in using their utmost efforts to subdue and enslave them. That they have likewise the highest sense of the necessity of secrecy in many of the measures of the Congress, particularly in those which relate to military affairs. That they apprehend that the Instructions of the honourable Assembly, of November 9th, 1775, to their Delegates, have a tendency to weaken the Union of the Colonies, and to make publick many of those measures of the Congress which sound policy requires should be known only to the Members of that body. The Committee beg leave, therefore, to request that the said Instructions be rescinded; and, further, to declare that they are of opinion that peace, liberty, and safety, can only be obtained for this Province by a strict adherence to the resolutions of a majority of the Colonies. Signed in behalf, and by order of the Committee, by JOHN BAYARD, Chairman. March 20, 1776. COLONEL IRVINE TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS. Carlisle, March 20, 1776. SIR: I am honoured with your orders to march my Battalion to New-York, which shall be complied with, with all possible expedition. Many of the arms are old, and want bayonets and other repairs. However, I shall not wait for bayonets, as I hope we may be supplied at Philadelphia or New-York. I have been obliged to purchase many rifles; but they, I presume, may be changed for muskets, should the service require it. Knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, and many other necessaries the Commissaries promised to forward for my battalion, are not yet come to hand. Though I do not mean to wait for them, yet I think it proper to acquaint you, as, perhaps, your further orders may be necessary. I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant, WILLIAM IRVINE. To the Honourable John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress. A List of the Sixth Battalion of PENNSYLVANIA Troops, in the Continental service, commanded by Colonel WILLIAM IRVINE: Captain David Grier’s Company: 4 Sergeants, 4 Corporals, 1 Drummer, 1 Fifer, 78 Privates—88 non-commissioned Officers and Privates. Captain Abraham Smith’s Company: 4 Sergeants, 4 Corporals, 1 Drummer, 1 Fifer, 76 Privates—86 non-commissioned Officers and Privates. Captain Samuel Hay’s Company: 4 Sergeants, 4 Corporals, 1 Drummer, 1 Fifer, 75 Privates present, 2 not present—87 non-commissioned Officers and Privates. Captain Jeremiah Talbot’s Company: 4 Sergeants, 4 Corporals, 1 Drummer, 1 Fifer, 76 Privates present, 4 absent—90 non-commissioned Officers and Privates. Captain William Rippey’s Company: 4 Sergeants, 4 Corporals, 1 Drummer, 1 Fifer, 79 Privates—89 non-commissioned Officers and Privates. Captain Moses McLain’s Company: 4 Sergeants, 4 Corporals, 1 Drummer, 1 Fifer, 74 Privates—84 non-commissioned Officers and Privates. Captain James J. Wilson’s Company: 4 Sergeants, 4 Corporals, 1 Drummer, 1 Fifer, 89 Privates—99 non-commissioned Officers and Privates. Captain Robert Adams’s Company: 4 Sergeants, 4 Corporals, 1 Drummer, 1 Fifer, 70 Privates present, 7 recruits not joined—87 non-commissioned Officers and Privates. Total of non-commissioned Officers and Privates, seven hundred and ten. WILLIAM IRVINE, Colonel. Carlisle, March 20, 1776. A List of the Officers of the Sixth Battalion, with their rank. Field-Officers: Colonel, William Irvine; Lieutenant-Colonel, Thomas Hartley; Major, James Dunlop. Captains: David Grier, Abraham Smith, Samuel Hay, Jeremiah Talbot, William Rippey, Moses McLain, James A. Wilson, Robert Adams. First Lieutenants: William Alexander, John McDonald, William Bratton, John McDowal, Lewis Bush, John Grier, Samuel Eddy, John Alexander. Second Lieutenants: Alexander Parker, Samuel McFerran, Abdiel McCalister, John Brooks, Thomas Brown, John Hoge, Andrew Irvine, Robert Wilson. Ensigns: Samuel Montgomery, William Nicliols, William Graham, William Miller, William Lusk, Robert Hoops, Joseph Culbertson, William Veiper. Staff-Officers: Chaplain, William Linn; Adjutant, John Brooks; Quartermaster, James Calderwood; Surgeon, Robert Johnson; Mate, John McDowal, if allowed. A List of Officers, as posted to each Company. First, Captain David Grier, Lieutenant John McDowal, Lieutenant Abdiel McCalister, Ensign William Nichols. Second, Captain Abraham Smith, Lieutenant John Alexander, Lieutenant Andrew Irvine, Ensign Samuel Montgomery. Third, Captain Samuel Hay, Lieutenant John Grier, Lieutenant Alexander Parker, Ensign William Miller. Fourth, Captain Jeremiah Talbot, Lieutenant John McDonald, Lieutenant Thomas Brown, Ensign William Graham. Fifth, Captain William Rippey, Lieutenant William Alexander, Lieutenant John Brooks, Ensign William Lusk. Sixth, Captain Moses McLain, Lieutenant Samuel Ed-dey, Lieutenant John Hoge, Ensign Robert Hoops. Seventh, Captain James A. Wilson, Lieutenant Lewis Bush, Lieutenant Robert Wilson, Ensign Joseph Culbertson. Eighth, Captain Robert Adams, Lieut. William Bratton, Lieutenant Samuel McFerran, Ensign William Veiper. The dates of the commissions are the 9th last January, except a few that have been lately recommended; the dates of those I am not yet informed of. WILLIAM IRVINE, Colonel. LORD STIRLING TO GENERAL SCHUYLER. New-York, March 20, 1776. MY DEAR GENERAL: I had the honour of receiving your letter of the 16th instant, this day. The important intelligence received within these last three days from General Washington, of General Howe’s preparations for embarking his Army from Boston, I have not communicated to you, as I concluded that the same intelligence would reach you at Albany at least as soon as it came to this place; and, indeed, it was almost impossible for me to write you sooner than this moment, as my whole time has been employed in making the necessary arrangements for the defence of this place. As to the troops here, they consist of the First Battalion from New-Jersey, about five hundred, sick and well; two Regiments from Connecticut, about five hundred each, whose time of service expires on Monday next, and I am fearful I shall not be able to persuade them to stay longer. We have about five hundred Minute-men and Militia from the Counties of Westchester and Dutchess, and about two hundred Militia from New-Jersey. This is our whole army at present. I cannot now send you the exact return of the whole, as some of the latter have arrived only this day, and I have not yet received from the reviewing officers the report of them. The whole of these, excepting the necessary guards, are employed on fatigue, on this and Long-Island, in executing the fortifications agreed upon between General Lee and myself. In these works we are assisted every day by about one thousand of the inhabitants of the city, who have turned out, on this occasion, with great alacrity—the inhabitants and the Negroes taking their turn of duty regularly. I have the satisfaction to see that, according to the numbers, the work goes on amazingly well. I yesterday received a letter from General Livingston, with one thousand pounds of steel, sent from Trenton, at your request, for the use of the blacksmiths and armourers who are going into the Indian country, which I have ordered to be forwarded, to you by the first sloop to Albany. The cannon, shot, &c., designed for Canada, were sent off by General Lee before he left this place, and I hope are safe arrived at Albany. I am rejoiced to find that your health is so much re-established, that you have reason to think you will not soon experience
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