Amount of Sundries I am ordered to purchase by Congress, as per their order of the 26th of FEBRUARY, 1776, and sundry other orders, viz:

2,752 Hunting Frocks, limited at 10s. 8d.					£1,467	14	8
2,752 Felt Hats, upon an average will cost about 6s. per piece,					825	12	0
2,752 pairs Yam Stockings, from 4s. 6d . to 5s. 6d.—say 5s.					688	0	0
2,752 pairs of Shoes, at 8s.					1,100	16	0
2,752 Blankets, at 16s.					2,201	12	0
2,752 Canteens—156 for Officers—2,908, at 3s					436	4	0
458 Camp Kettles, at 8s.					183	4	0
1,566 Cartouch Boxes, (1,122 being bought by Mrs. Smith,) at 14s.					1,096	4	0
1,566 Gun Slings, at 1s. 6d.					117	9	0
2,908 Knapsacks, at about 2s. 6d.					368	10	0
2,752 Tomahawks, ground, and handles, at 2s. 6d.					344	0	0
32 Drum Cases, at 5s.					8	0	0
32 Drums, at 60s.					96	0	0
32 Fifes, at 6s.					9	12	0
700 Bill-Hooks, at 5s.					175	0	0
12 Field-Officers’ Tents, at about £25					300	0	0
2,688 Muskets will average at least 75s.					10,080	0	0
			The price of tents depends on the price of duck. If I must give £5 10s. for Raven’s duck, they will cost full what I have estimated. A square tent takes a piece of duck, and making 52s. A soldiers’ 21 yds., at about 3d. pr yd., and making, 16s.		768	0	0
32	Captains’ Tents,
32	Lieutenants’
16	Ensigns’
4	Adjutants’
4	Quarterm’sters’
4	Chaplains’
4	Surgeons’
96,	at about £8 per piece,
108 Tent Bags, at 5s.					27	0	0
108 Valises, at about 40s.					216	0	0
450 Soldiers’ Tents, at about 80s.					1,832	0	0
					£22,340	17	8

WILLIAM POWELL, TO NEW-YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

New York, March 21, 1776.

Yesterday I made application to your honourable House for a permit to go on board the man-of-war, and am really sorry I am thus under the necessity of being troublesome. Ruin may be the consequence to me as an individual. My property as a merchant of St. Christopher’s, and in the vessel, is all I have to subsist on. My application to Captain Parker is grounded on every circumstance that ought to induce him to let me pass: my wife going with me; myself as, an inhabitant of St. Kitts, as appears by my register; a West-India family with me; the vessel in ballast. On the other hand, my all at stake if I am taken going from hence, or in the Islands, unless I get the permit. All which I humbly submit to your consideration; and am, sir, your most obedient servant,

WILLIAM POWELL.

To the Chairman of the Committee of Safety, New-York.

BENJAMIN BIRDSALL TO NEW-YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

At Oyster-Bay, Southwest Neck, March 21, 1776.

GENTLEMEN OF THE PROVINCIAL CONGRESS IN NEW-YORK: I think myself bound in duty to inform you of the conduct of the people in the southeasternmost part of our County of Queen’s County, where I am well acquainted. I here enclose a song, that is publickly and frequently sung with joy and jollity, and healths drank " Damnation to the Congress." Such publick conduct, I conceive, is detrimental to the publick union of friendship in our County—to the American cause now in contest with Great Britain . I, for my own part, rely my trust and confidence in the Continental and Provincial Congress; and depend they will take all methods that to them may seem advantageous for the safety of our country, and the more perfect union of the people. I can say our Queen’s County has been, and still is, in a surprising situation, and dangerous to the welfare of our country, and in remarkable contradiction with those who are actually friends to the cause of America; and unless some particular resolves should be shortly passed for the better regulating said County, and by its being in some way regulated by the Congress military law, I apprehend it will grow worse, instead of better. I am ready and free to discharge any request in my power for the protection of my country, at either the call of the Continental or Provincial Congress; and therefore I pray that, until a perfect peace may be finally settled with you, (the Congress and Great Britain,) you may stand fast in the light, with that true guide in Congress, that will support and protect advantageous laws for the protection of your friends, and a perfect union in and throughout all the thirteen United Colonies— and more, all the friends to the American cause, be they where they may.

From your most obedient and humble servant,

BENJAMIN BIRDSALL.

To the Honourable Provincial Congress in New-York .

TO THE FREEBORN SONS OF AMERICA IN GENERAL, AND OF CONNECTICUT IN PARTICULAR.

New-York, March 21, 1776.

MY DEAR COUNTRYMEN: As the American separation and independence is now seriously thought of, and realized by our friends as an event near at hand, and reconciliation despaired of as a thing utterly impracticable, if not impossible, it is high time to attend in good earnest to the dictates of common sense, and to be collecting the materials and laying the plan for a more sound Constitution and perfect scheme of Government among ourselves, that will never wax old or decay, nor prove rotten and defective, as all others of human invention have done; but be so wise, permanent, and solid, as to stand in full vigour and glory as long as the sun and moon endureth, and afford to every individual in the present and in all future generations ample security and indemnification of his life, his liberty, and property. Then our peace will be as a river, and our righteousness as the waves of the sea.

To accomplish this important work, the present happy Continental Union must, by a solemn stipulation or confederation of all the Colonies, be established and ratified, to endure till