muskets, with like accoutrements, at Georgetown, per month; the time commences on the 14th of this instant. We are much surprised that we have not had some guns delivered us heretofore from your shop. We are, &c.

To Mr. Henry Yost, Frederick County.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO JOHN UNSOLD.

SIR:On the 14th of December, 1775, you entered into an engagement to make and deliver, on or before the 1st day of May, 1776, to the Council of Safety, or their order, at Georgetown or Baltimore town, eighty good, substantial, proved muskets, three and a half feet in the, barrel, three-fourths of an inch in the bore, with double bridle-locks, black-walnut or maple stocks, and plain, strong brass mounting, bayonets with steel blades seventeen inches long, steel ramrods, double screws, priming wires and brushes fitted thereto, with a pair of brass moulds to cast twelve bullets on one side, and on the other side to cast shot of such a size as the musket will chamber three of them. Twenty-nine muskets, very roughly made, with pickers and wipers, and one bullet mould, have been delivered; but not one bayonet. The residue of the arms, and the bayonets, &c., are immediately wanted. The Province has been greatly disappointed by your non-compliance with your contract; we therefore require you will immediately send them, on pain of answering all the evil consequences that may ensue. We are, &c.

To Mr. John Unsold, Frederick County.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO COLONEL WARE.

SIR: We leave Colonel Ware entirely at large on the point of inoculation; we think it the safest method of taking the small-pox, but would have him judge of the risk; we are doubtful tents cannot be provided for some time. Captain Fulford comes up to make some inquiries for us; if it lies in your way to assist him, we should be obliged to you for it. We are, &c.

To Colonel Francis Ware.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO FREDERICK COUNTY COMMITTEE.

GENTLEMEN: We send you enclosed a list of prisoners transmitted to us from North-Carolina, who are to be kept in custody in this Province. We request you would make the best inquiry you can into the circumstances and condition of the persons, and have those kept that you may think entitled to any indulgence in some room or rooms in Fredericktown under a proper guard; the others in the publick prison there, until the Tory-House is got ready, which we hope will be done soon. The Convention from North-Carolina have sent us no state of the prisoners’ particular cases, nor anything more than we enclose you a copy of; they are to do it soon. Should any of the prisoners incline to hand any state of their case in writing to us, we should be obliged to you to forward any such, and we will consider the affair more fully hereafter, and give instructions, if any be necessary, what further we would have done. The immediate expense will fall, we suppose, on this Province; but surely North-Carolina or the Continent will reimburse us. We are, &c.

To the Committee of Observation for the Middle District of Frederick County.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO COLONEL MAGRUDER.

SIR: We request you would appoint a proper guard to convey the prisoners from North-Carolina that will be delivered to you at Georgetown, from thence to Fredericktovm, there to be delivered to the Committee of Observation, to whom we have written on the occasion. The Province will be answerable to you for reasonable expenses.

We are, &c.

To Colonel Zadock Magruder.

COLONEL HAND TO ANDREW ALLEN.

[Read May 4, 1776, and referred to Mr. Reed, Mr. Sergeant, and Mr. Huntington.]

Philadelphia, May 3, 1776.

SIR: I beg leave through you to inform the honourable Continental Congress that, in consequence of their resolution of the 15th ultimo to recruit and reinlist the Rifle Regiment, I have, with the approbation of the Commander-in-Chief, ordered a number of officers and men on that service. In full confidence that the honourable Congress would be pleased to advance a fund for the purpose of recruiting, to be deducted from the future pay of the regiment, I have directed the officers (who will be here to-morrow) to call on me for money. As the country is much drained of men, and the inlisting for two years a matter of novelty, we will be obliged to advance each man a month’s pay on his inlisting, which, for the seven companies now to be completed, will amount to one thousand three hundred and forty-seven pounds ten shillings, Pennsylvania currency, allowing each man to receive advance as private, exclusive of the sum allowed for inlisting each recruit, and for subsistence of the officers and recruits until they join the regiment, which I am unacquainted with, and beg the Congress will please to ascertain.

As arms are scarce, and those now in the regiment are the property of the soldiers, it will be necessary to detain those belonging to the men that will not re-engage, and pay them the value, which will be a charge against the recruits. Money for this purpose I must also request the honourable Congress will be pleased to permit me to draw for, as soon as I know the sum wanted.

A decent pride being one of the most necessary constituents of a soldier, and as nothing contributes more to a man’s good opinion of himself than dress, I trust that the Congress will advance me a sum sufficient to purchase a complete uniform dress for the Rifle Regiment. I am convinced it will be of great utility, and contribute much to the good of the, service; and as it will be deducted by easy stoppages from their pay the ensuing year, the Continent can suffer no loss.

As at the time the Rifle Regiment was raised the Congress thought it proper to allow no more than one drummer or fifer to a company, and as the regiments since raised are allowed a drummer and a fifer to each company, which is absolutely necessary; I therefore pray that I may have the same indulgence.

I have only to add, that his Excellency has laid his commands upon me to use the utmost diligence in recruiting; and that I am, sir, with much respect, your most obedient, humble servant,

EDWARD HAND,
Colonel of First Continental Regiment.

To Andrew Allen, Esq., in Continental Congress.

PENNSYLVANIA COMMITTEE OF SAFETY TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read May 3, 1776, and referred to Mr. Sherman, Mr. Floyd, and Mr. Sergeant.]

In Committee of Safety, Philadelphia, May 3, 1776.

SIR: This Committee having considered the petition of Mr. Oswell Eve, are of opinion it should be laid before the honourable Congress; and they take the liberty of sending it to you for that purpose; at the same time, they certify that Mr. Eve has at different times, upon the recommendation of this Board, shown his works and improvements to such gentlemen as were appointed from this and the neighbouring Colonies to view the same.

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

JOHN NIXON, Chairman.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO COLONEL WYNKOOP.

New-York, May 3, 1776.

SIR: Since the Adjutant-General’s letter to you of the 1st instant, I have received from the Committee of Safety a note of the companies belonging to each regiment, and the places where they are stationed; by which I find that four of the companies belonging to Colonel Clinton’s Regiment are at Fort Montgomery and Fort Constitution, which will answer the purpose intended when the order was sent