When the people first came to Samuel, demanding a King, God said to him, Hearken to their voice, yet protest solemnly unto them, (that in this they sin against the Lord to their own hurt,) and show them the manner of the King that shall reign over them; that is, what will in fact be the spirit and oppressive burden of Kingly Government. This is called the manner of the Kingdom. 2 Samuel x, 25. As Samuel had before told them how it would be if they put themselves under Kingly Government, so now, they persisting in their demand, and, in a spirit of unbelief, presumptuously despising all the consequences God had forewarned them of, and having received the Kingly Government which God gave them in his anger, as an instrument of chastising, with presumptuous shouting, Samuel repeats to them what he had foretold them before, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord, that it might remain a witness for God, that he bad faithfully forewarned them of the oppressions and miseries they were bringing on themselves and their posterity, and a witness against them in the day when they should find this prediction verified upon them, and cry unto the Lord by reason of their grievous oppressions by the hand of their King, and not be heard.

As all Scripture is given for our instruction and warning, so this in particular is a speaking admonition to America now, when Heaven is opening a door of deliverance from such sore oppression, and the British Government, by their cruel and brutish treatment of her, has released her from all obligations of conscience, gratitude, or interest, to remain any longer subject to it, or dependant on it; and if now, (after all the cruel injuries we have suffered, and the greater we cannot but foresee,) we say nay, we will not be made free, but we will have a King, even Britain’s King, to reign over us and over our children, we shall soon cry out, by reason of infinite oppressions, with a great and a bitter cry, and the Lord will not hear us in that day. How justly might he answer us, saying, I would have set you free, but you would not accept it; go cry to your King and tyrant rulers, whom you have chosen; let them deliver you.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

New-York, April 18, 1776.

SIR: Permit me, through you, to convey to the honourable Congress the sentiments of gratitude I feel for the high honour they have done me in the publick mark of approbation contained in your favour of the 2d instant, which came to hand last night. I beg you to assure them that it will ever be my highest ambition to approve myself a faithful servant of the publick, and that, to be in any degree instrumental in procuring to my American brethren a restitution of their just rights and privileges, will constitute my chief happiness.

Agreeable to your request, I have communicated, in general orders, to the officers and soldiers under my command, the thanks of Congress for their good behaviour in the service; and am happy in having such an opportunity of doing justice to their merit. They were, indeed, at first “a band of undisciplined husbandmen;” but it is (under God) to their bravery and attention to their duty that I am indebted for that success which has procured me the only reward I wish to receive—the affection and esteem of my countrymen. The medal intended to be presented to me by your honourable body, I shall carefully preserve as a memorial of their regard.

I beg leave to return you, sir, my warmest thanks for the polite manner in which you have been pleased to express their sentiments of my conduct; and am, with sincere esteem and respect, sir, yours and their most obedient and most humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To the President of Congress.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GENERAL WARD.

New-York, April 18, 1776.

I received your favour of the 17th instant, in answer to Colonel Glover’s application to you. I am of opinion that all accounts respecting the armed vessels should be paid by the Agents only; and as the trial of the prizes cannot be much longer deferred, they will have cash for the goods which may be condemned, in their hands, much more than sufficient to answer the demands upon them; if there is not a probability of this, you will be pleased to give a warrant for as much as will pay the wages clue. The ship Jenny and the brigantine, both taken by Commodore Manly, (the former from London, the latter from Antigua, bound to Boston,) are, by what I can learn, proper vessels to be fitted out as cruisers. You will therefore, sir, have a person of knowledge and trust sent on board to examine them. If the report of them is such as they have been represented to me, you must have them purchased for account of the United Colonies. If Commodore Manly is in your neighbourhood his opinion of them must have weight; and if they are fit for the purpose, he will, of course, have his choice of them, and attend the fixing one of them out. His First Lieutenant can command the Hancock in the mean time. The sooner this is put in execution the better. Nothing material to inform you of from hence.

I am, &c.,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To General Ward.

NEW-YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

In Committee of Safety, New-York, April 18, 1776.

SIR: Your recommendation of yesterday we took into consideration immediately on receipt of it; and, thereupon, framed the enclosed resolves and orders.

We cannot sufficiently thank your Excellency for your most delicate attention to the civil Government of this Colony, and beg leave to give you the strongest assurances that we most eagerly embrace this, as we shall every other, opportunity of co-operating with you in every measure which shall come recommended to us with the argument of publick utility.

We are, sir, with the greatest respect, your most obedient humble servants.

By order of the Committee:

WILLIAM PAULDING, Chairman.

To General Washington.

LORD STIRLING TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

New-York, April 18, 1776.

SIR: Thomas Vernon was some time since made prisoner on the evidence of one Craig, a copy of which I now enclose you, and I think was then examined by the Committee of Safety. The General desires me to transmit to you the enclosed letter from Vernon, and request that the Committee would make such further inquiry into the matter as will enable them to determine whether it be worth while to keep him any longer prisoner or not.

I am, sir, your humble servant,

STIRLING.

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

CRAIG’S Examination relative to THOMAS VERNON, a prisoner.

Craig, lately a soldier in the First Regiment of Yorkers, declares that he was employed by one Vernon, a hatter of this city, to rig out a sloop the said Vernon had lately purchased by order of Governour Tryon, to be employed by the Governour as a tender or cutter, and occasionally to cruise in the North and East Rivers; that the said Vernon was to be supplied by the said Governour with swivels for the said sloop; that the said Craig went on board, with the said Vernon, of the Dutchess of Gordon, and there conversed with the Governour and the Attorneys General Kemp and Skinner, who urged him to be active in procuring as many men as possible, not only for the said sloop, but for the Asia and other men-of-war soon expected here; that above fifty or sixty soldiers, now in town, in the Continental service, were engaged by the said Vernon for the service of the Ministry.

March 12, 1776.

ELIHU MARVIN TO NEW-YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Orange County, April 18, 1776.

This Committee being informed that the four regiments ordered to be raised in this Province are not yet full, and it is the opinion of this Committee that there may be another company raised on the north side of the mountains, if warrants