where the lowest and most licentious of them have risen into outrage, they have never departed from the path of natural honour-volunteers unto death in defence of the person or fortune of those who had served or defended them. Division of property never entered the mind of the populace. It is incompatible with that spirit which impels them into action. An avaricious mob was never heard of; nay, even a miser put in the midst of them, and catching their spirit, would, for that instant, cease to be covetous.

I shall conclude this Letter with remarking, that the Eng lish fleet and army have, of late, gone upon a different plan of operation to what they first set out with; for, instead of going against those Colonies where independence prevails most, they go against those only where they suppose it prevails least. They have quitted Massachusetts-Bay and gone to North-Carolina, supposing they had many friends there. Why are they expected at New-York, but be cause they imagine the inhabitants are not generally inde pendents, (yet that Province hath a large share of virtue, notwithstanding the odium which its House of Assembly brought upon it.) From which I argue, that the electing of the King’s Attorney for a Burgess of this city is a fair invitation for them to come here; and in that case, will those who have invited them turn out to repulse them? I suppose not, for in their nine hundred and twenty-three votes, there will not be found more than sixty armed men, perhaps not so many. Wherefore, should such an event happen, which probably will, I here give my first vote to levy the expense attending the expedition against them on the estates of those who have invited them.

THE FORESTER.

Philadelphia, May 9, 1776.

CIRCULAR FROM THE TREASURY OFFICE.

Treasury Office, Philadelphia, May 9, 1776.

HONURABLE GENTLEMEN : We enclose to you the resolutions of Congress, passed 26th of December,1775, and 17th of February following, and have to request your honourable House will cause the number of inhabitants of your Colony to be taken and transmitted to this office, conformable to the directions laid down in the first mentioned resolve.

I have the honour to be, in the name of the Superinten dents of the Treasury, honourable gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,

JAMES DUANE, Chairman.

To the Assembly of.......

WILLIAM FLOYD TO JOHN McKESSON.

Philadelphia, May 9, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Two men-of-war yesterday came up the river, with some tenders and prize-vessels with them, be tween Wilmington and Chester; they were met by thirteen row-galleys of this place, when a battle ensued, which lasted most all the afternoon, with very heavy firing on both sides. I have not heard the galleys have suffered any damage. The Roebuck, which is the largest ship, was obliged to stop the bullet holes round her side, and at high-water ran aground. While the men-of-war were engaged our vessel (the Wasp) went out of Wilmington river, and retook one of the prize-vessels. The Province ship, mounting sixteen or eighteen, guns, full manned, is gone to the assistance of the galleys. We have no news this morning from them, but expect every moment to hear.

The preparations which are making by our enemies on the other side the water, from the intelligence we have, ap pear to be very considerable, which make it necessary that all the Colonies should be in a situation best calculated to exert their whole strength. I think it cannot be long before our Provincial Congress will think it necessary to take up some more stable form of Government than what is now exercised in that Province. The two Carolinas have done it, and Viginia I expect will soon do the same. As to Commissioners coming to treat of peace, we have little or no hopes of it; therefore we ought to be in a situation to preserve our liberties another way.

My compliments to all friends.

I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

WILLIAM FLOYD.

To John McKesson, Esq.

CAPTAIN ROBERTSON (PRISONER) TO PRESIDENT OF CON GRESS.

[Read May 14th. Referred to Mr. Livingston, Mr. Jefferson, and Mr. J. Adams.]

Yorktown, May 9, 1776.

SIR : My duty as an officer obliges me to write you at this time; and in case that I might be thought remiss on that head hereafter, I have taken the liberty to trouble you, and hope you will excuse me to inform, that four of the detachment I commanded at St. Johns, and included in the capitulation, have been entertained by recruiting parlies of the Continental Army, and, in my opinion, contrary to the articles; therefore I hope you will be pleased, with ad vice of Congress, to send those men to Lancaster, to join their company, that they may be forthcoming in case of an exchange, or otherwise their names, and by whom inlisted, enclosed.

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

DANIEL ROBERTSON,

Captain Royal Highland Emigrant Regiment.

To John Hancock, Esq.,

PETER TALLMAN TO THOMAS McKEAN.

Burlington County, New-Jersey, May 9, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I have received yours by the bearer, Captain Peter Simons, owner of the Sloop Sally and cargo, which was stranded on Little-Egg Harbour shore some time past, in which you inform that the County Committee are directed to dispose of said effects, by order of Congress. Captain McNight never produced said order to said Com mittee, but has sold the effects entirely, without any order from Committee for that purpose, as I am well informed. As soon as we had intelligence that Captain McNight was gone to Egg-Harbour in order to dispose of said goods, sent a member belonging to said Committee down in order to stop the sale of said goods; I am since informed did not arrive in time.

I have not to add, gentlemen, but am yours,

PETER TALLMAN, Chairman

Messrs. Thomas McKean and honourable Committee.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GENERAL WARD.

New-York, May 9, 1776.

SIR : Your letters of the 27th and 28th ultimo came in course to hand. I am glad that you have given your attention to the works, which, I doubt not, are by this time complete; it will give me pleasure to hear they are, for should these accounts of Hessians and Hanoverian troops coming over prove true, it is possible the enemy may make some attempts to regain a footing in your Province.

I have represented to Congress the want you were in for cash, to which I have not yet received an answer; when I do you shall be informed thereof. The account you give of the vessels at Beverly being unfit for service, surprises me prodigiously; I was taught to believe very differently of the ship Jenny, by Commodore Manly and Captain Bartlett, who you mention to have given you their opinion of them. The brigantine from Antigua was also thought very fit to arm. Doctor Brown’s accounts are more immediately on the Director-General of the Hospital Department. When he arrives here I shall give them to him for his inspec tion. Mr. Singletary’s account is easily settled, as he has the Commissary’s receipt for the arms; if the account of the cost of the arms was more particular, it would be more re gular and satisfactory.

A letter is just come to my hands from Winthrop Sargent, Esquire, Agent for the Navy at Gloucester. He Says there are some women and children whom he is obliged to maintain at the Continental expense, also a number of men taken in the last prizes. You will please to examine into their situation; if prisoners of war, they should be sent to some inland place and confined; if Tories, the General Court are the proper persons to take cognizance of them. I see, by the publick prints, that the prizes at Beverly are to be sold the 20th instant. As by the obstructions put on commerce in general there may appear but few purchasers for the vessels, of course they may be sold vastly under their value; I think you had best have some person, in whom you can confide, present at the sale, with power to purchase