is not near full, nor gone; but there are some reasons—one is, that no officers were allowed on York side, nor anybody even to advise. Mr. Morey left a letter for Colonel Bedel, at Exeter, informing that Mr. Johnson could not be an officer as he said.

We had concluded no officer could be allowed in another Colony; and he has given out since that he had a right to inlist all the soldiers in another Colony, but no officer might be allowed. On the whole, I am sorry that New-Hampshire is so backward, and am afraid the lake will be broken before they cross it. It is really strange that Philadelphia Troops can be raised, and in Canada, before your troops, when we are not more than one hundred miles from Montreal.

I have taken the freedom to tell you the true state of the case, as you are one of the Committee, and a friend to the cause.

From your friend and humble servant,

THOMAS JOHNSON.

To Nathaniel Folsom, Esq., Exeter.

WILLIAM LUX TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Baltimore, March 21, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: By a letter I received from Mr. Bowly, by this day’s post, he tells me our Delegates had ordered all the sailcloth to be left at Philadelphia; the other things were to come in the packet on Tuesday. I expect they mean to sell the sailcloth, as the price is very high there. We sold ours at nine pounds ten shillings per bolt. If the gentlemen have not written you their reasons for doing it, I think you had better order it down, as perhaps you may not soon meet a further supply.

General Lee got here last night, and has been to view our battery. Ho thinks it very well executed, and that it will answer the intention. He has taken Mr. Massenbaugh with him to Virginia, and says he understands his business, and that he cannot do without him. I desired him to write you a line on the occasion, because, as you had been pleased to give him the command chiefly through my intelligence, I desired to stand acquitted to you. That he has promised to do. Mr. Massenbaugh would have waited on you to have thanked you for your favours, but the General was in so great a hurry, and said he must go with him.

I am, with the highest respect, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

WILLIAM LUX.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO COLONEL JOHN VEAZEY.

SIR: In consequence of a letter we received from Mr. Thompson, of the 14th of last month, advising us of the importation of eight tons of gunpowder, in Delaware, by Captain Nathaniel Ramsay, and that he had engaged to supply your County with one ton of it, we wrote to you immediately, requesting you would secure the whole for the use of this Province, and transmitted, by Captain Craigg, the sum of five hundred pounds for the ton engaged; but as we have since understood none of the powder was to be had, we desire you will return the money by the first safe conveyance; and hope you will excuse our taking this liberty with you, as we are not yet furnished with the plates and paper for the new emission, and drafts come in every day upon our Treasury, which is reduced very low.

We are, &c.

To Colonel John Veazey.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY COMMITTEE.

GENTLEMEN: We have transmitted a copy of the enclosed order to the Committee of Observation for Kent County, and expect they will send the gunpowder to you early in next week, as it probably will be with them on Saturday, from Philadelphia. Upon the late alarm, some powder was given into the hands of the Militia on this side of the bay, and we fear it will be difficult to collect the greatest part of it again, and that too much of what may remain with the people will be lost to the publick. We recommend it to you, therefore, to deliver to the Captains of the companies on the water as much as you may conceive will be sufficient, (taking their receipt,) with orders not to distribute it among their respective companies until there is a real necessity, and to keep the residue in some convenient part of your County, where, upon an emergency, the other companies may be supplied. We are, &c.

To the Committee of Observation for Queen Anne’s County.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO DORCHESTER COUNTY COMMITTEE.

GENTLEMEN: We received yours of the 15th instant, by Captain Woolford, and are much pleased to hear that the Militia of your County behaved with so much spirit and alacrity on the late alarm occasioned by the Otter sloop-of-war and her tender’s appearance in the bay; but, at the same time, we are concerned to find they have so few good arms among them. We doubt not but that the same noble and generous spirit, which induced them to step forth on the late occasion, in defence of our just rights and privileges, and those of their fellow-citizens, will support them under every difficulty they may have to encounter. You may be assured that the Council will give them, as well as every other part of the Province, all the assistance in their power. We have ordered the arms and powder imported by Captain Tibbet, for the use of the Province, down to Chestertown, from whence the arms will be distributed among the regular troops stationed on the Eastern-Shore, and a proportion of the powder sent to the Committee of each County. Enclosed we send you our orders for the distribution of the powder (which we have ordered to be sent to Cambridge, to Mr. Harrison’s care) by the Commit-tee of Kent County, and we hope will reach you by the middle of next week, as also an order on the Treasurer of the Eastern-Shore for the payment of the expenses of sending forward that for Worcester and Somerset Counties. Upon the late alarm some powder was given into the hands, of the Militia on this side of the bay, and we fear it will be difficult to collect the greatest part of it again; and that too much of what may remain with the people will be lost to the publick. We recommend it to you, therefore, to deliver to the Captains on the water side as much as you may conceive will be sufficient, (taking their receipts,) with orders not to distribute it among the respective companies until there is a real necessity, and to keep the residue in some convenient part of your County, where, upon any emergency, the other companies may be readily supplied.

We have given Captain Woolford an order on Captain Robson for the Provincial arms which we received from the Committee of Observation of Kent County, and we hope soon to be able to completely arm his and the other Independent Companies stationed on your shore.

We are, &c.

To the Committee of Observation for Dorchester County.

PHILADELPHIA COUNTY COMMITTEE.

Philadelphia County, March 21, 1776.

At a meeting of a considerable majority of the gentlemen who have been chosen to serve for the ensuing year as a Committee of Inspection and Observation for this County, Colonel William Hamilton was appointed Chairman, and Dr. Enoch Edwards, Secretary.

This Committee, after having observed that several Committees of the Province of Pennsylvania have recommended the calling a Convention, and some of them proceeded to nominate persons to represent them in the same,

Resolved, N. C. D., That it is the opinion of this Committee that the measure of calling a Convention is by no means necessary at this time, as we trust that the honourable House of Assembly, now sitting, are ready to hear and redress every grievance that is, or may properly be, laid before them.

Resolved, That it be requested of all those gentlemen who have undertaken to collect Donations for the Poor of Boston, that they would pay their several sums into the, hands of Mr. Joseph Mathers, who is appointed Treasurer for this year.

Resolved, That John Bull, Esquire, Colonels William