Thompson, and of another I wrote in consequence thereof to the Committee of Safety of this Province, which comprehended everything I can say on the subject of them at present. Be pleased to excuse the want of time, or better paper.

I am, most respectfully, your most obedient, humble servant,

STIRLING.

To the Honourable John Hancock.

LORD STIRLING TO NEW-JERSEY COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Elizabethtown, March 23, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I have just received the enclosed letters from General Washington and Brigadier-General Thompson. From them you will see the necessity of every Province, contiguous to New-York, exerting themselves in sending troops to that place to assist in fortifying and defending it, and also in defending and fortifying such parts of this Province as are most liable and likely to be invaded. With an attention to the latter I came over from New-York yesterday, in order to view the grounds on the heights of Bergen-Neck and the Kills Von Cull, and Staten-Island. I was prevented by the bad weather proceeding so far in this as I could have wished. But, on the whole, I think that the Militia of the Counties of Bergen, Essex, and Middlesex, should be immediately employed in fortifying Amboy, Elizabethtown-Point, the Kill, and Bergen-Neck, with Paulas-Hook. I shall communicate my plan to Brigadier-General Livingston, and shall return to New-York to-morrow morning, and will be over here again in a day or two, and bring some Assistant Engineers with me, in order to lay out such works as General Thompson, on my report, approves of. In the mean time, I hope your Committee of Safety will, without delay, direct the Militia before-mentioned to be employed in the way above suggested; and also to direct the Militia of the interior Counties to march either to the succour of New-York or of the most exposed parts of this Province, as may be found necessary. There is a resolution of Congress, passed a few days ago, that such Militia of this Province as are called upon for the service of fortifying and defending New-York, shall receive pay agreeable to the establishment of the Continental Troops of the Middle Department; and as these works proposed in New-Jersey are with a view to the same point, I make not the least doubt but the troops employed in them will be put on the same footing. For the further satisfaction of your Committee of Safety, they can send a copy of this letter to Congress, and know their determination of this matter. But, for God’s sake, do not, at this critical moment, suffer any delay in your directions for the march of the Militia from the interior Counties, nor for the employment of the others in the works of defence which may be found necessary.

To Samuel Tucker, Chairman of the Committee of Safety of the Province of New-Jersey, Trenton.

(Copies to Mr. Hancock and to Brigadier-General Livingston, with the letter to him, to desire the Militia of the interior Counties to march immediately.)

GENERAL WILLIAM THOMPSON TO LORD STIRLING.

New-York, March 23, 1776.

MY LORD: I have taken the liberty of opening the enclosed letter from his Excellency General Washington to your Lordship, (of the 19th instant,) knowing it was of a publick nature. You will see, my Lord, the necessity of sending a number of troops to this place as soon as possible, as it is very probable that General Howe will endeavour to possess himself of the city. I must therefore request you will write to the sundry Committees to order the Militia, with all convenient speed, as well to this place as to any part in Jersey you may judge they will attempt to land at. You will also please to write to Colonel Dayton to march for this place with as many of his regiment as have arms.

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

WILLIAM THOMPSON.

To Lord Stirling.

LORD STIRLING TO COLONEL DAYTON.

Elizabethtown, March 23, 1776.

SIR: I have it in command from Brigadier-General Thompson to desire that you will immediately march to New-York, with as many of your regiment as have arms.

I would recommend it to you to be as alert in obeying this order as possible. And as you have this evening informed me that many of your men who have good firelocks have yet no bayonets, they being in the maker’s hands, I think you had best order such to march, and let care be taken to send the bayonets to them as soon as possible.

To Colonel Dayton.

LORD STIRLING TO GENERAL WILLIAM LIVINGSTON.

Elizabethtown, March 24, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I now enclose you copies of a letter from General Washington, of the 19th, one from Brigadier-General Thompson, of yesterday’s date, and another from me to the Committee of Safety of this Province. From these, you will see the necessity of putting the eastern part of this Province, as well as New-York, in an immediate state of defence; and from the conversation I have had with you on the subject, you know my sentiments with regard to fortifying the several places mentioned in the letter to the Committee. I think it highly necessary, also, to possess some commanding height on Staten-Island. The men employed in these works will be in the most proper places to guard the Province, and I should think the Militia of the Counties of Bergen, Essex, and Middlesex, would be sufficient if only one-third of them were employed weekly on the business. The Militia of the interior Counties ought to be sent forward to New-York as soon as possible; and you may be assured that, as soon as they can be spared from thence, they will be sent over again into New-Jersey, or to Staten-Island, for the purpose before-mentioned; and that, in case the enemy should attempt to land their Army in New-Jersey, a very considerable part of our Army at New-York will be detached to oppose them. I shall only add, that as soon as you inform me or General Thompson when the men of these Counties will be ready to go to work, I will attend, with the Chief Engineer, to mark out the most necessary grounds to be fortified.

STIRLING.

To Brigadier-General Livingston.

MESSAGE FROM THE COUNCIL OF MASSACHUSETTS TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:

The Secretary will herewith lay before you two letters from the Committee of Newburyport, one dated 24th February last, and the other the 18th instant, wherein you will observe that the order of Court of the 8th of February last, relativeto fixing for the sea, and manning with fifty men each, the Sloop Machias Liberty and the Schooner Diligent, hath not been fully executed; that it is not in the power of said Committee to do it; and that if said vessels are manned, it must be from the eastern part of this Colony. Considering the danger that would attend the suffering said vessels to leave the harbour in which they now are, with so few men as are inlisted to serve on board, (which are a number little more than sufficient to sail them;) the great delay it would cause to attempt recruiting and marching men the distance of two hundred miles at this season of the year; that the present appearance of our affairs are materially different from what they were when said order of Court was made; and that there is good reason to believe that one, if not both, said vessels are unfit, in their construction, for the service for which they are designed; the Council thought it their duty to lay this matter before you, and recommend it to your immediate consideration.

Council Chamber, March 23, 1776.

Newburyport, February 24, 1776.

The Committee of Safety, Correspondence, and Inspection, of Newburyport, beg leave to acknowledge the receipt last evening of a resolve of the honourable General Court, passed the 8th of this present month, appointing them, “with