Congress having passed a resolve respecting this cargo, as you will see by the enclosed copy, I desire that you will immediately forward to New-York eight hundred of the carbines, and the residue have put into some good and secure place, not to be disposed of till further directions unless the recruits raising to complete the five regiments left at Boston should be in want, in which case you may supply the deficiency out of them. I also request that you will directly forward to New-York four hundred barrels of the powder, and have the remainder of it sent to some place of security in the country not too contiguous to Boston, there to be kept under a good and trusty guard until it shall be disposed of, apprehending it imprudent that more should remain in Boston than may be absolutely necessary, for fear of accidents, though I do not think any attempts will be made against it by the enemy. You will forward, too, the lead wrote for by General Putnam, and such articles out of the cargo as Colonel Knox and Colonel Putnam shall respectively apply for, and have the rest properly secured.

As to the two hundred carbines that are to remain at Boston, I do not mean that they are to be put into the hands of the recruits raising to complete the old regiments but in case of absolute necessity, such as the appearance of an invasion, or the like, and that every possible method should be used for them to procure arms without depending on those.

I shall be glad of your returning to the Massachusetts Government the powder they have lent the continent, as by this fortunate capture we are enabled to pay our debts in that way. I am, &c,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Major-General Ward.

YORK (PENNSYLVANIA)COMMITTEE TO PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE.

York, May 28, 1776.

SIR: On Saturday last we were favoured with the company of several of your respectable body, joined by others the worthy citizens of Philadelphia, who laid before our town Committee, immediately assembled for that purpose, the letters, votes and proceedings of the City and Liberties of the capital. The joy we felt upon this interesting occasion may be more easily conceived than expressed. Towards evening, a certain Charles Stedman, attorney-at-law, came into town, and opened to his host his having certain papers tending to the confirmation of the powers of Government in the hands of the present Assembly. This good citizen lost no time till he made the Committee acquainted with the important discovery; orders were thereupon issued forthwith for securing Mr. Stedman’s portmanteau, and keeping an eye on his person, till he might be examined. On our Secretary’s application, he readily confessed his having three copies of the Remonstrance, issued by the party too notoriously the enemies of the rights of freemen to find much countenance here. These copies he delivered to the Secretary, and then, as well as upon his examination, declared that he found them at his father’s house, in Philadelphia, and was there told they had been left by Mr. Andrew Robinson, with a verbal request to carry them to William Mc Clea, Esquire, at Sunbury. Nothing further appearing amongst the packages of Mr. Stedman, he was suffered to pass, after he had regained, opened, and read a letter he had been seen conveying to one of the prisoner’s servants, which only discovered his great affection for the worthy family of Doctor Kearsly, as he was pleased to style them, and some other worthies of the same political complexion.

Mr. Stedman’s departure from town was attended with such circumstances as caused two young men, who came with another large packet of these treasonable papers, directed to Messrs. Johnston & Lukens here, to decamp with precipitation. These carriers told the landlord they had received their charge from Doctor Smith and Phineas Bond, at Lancaster.

Our Committee being early assembled, Messrs. Lukens & Johnston showed an anonymous letter, directed to them both, requesting them to forward the letters and remonstrances without loss of time, and the Evening Posts, and to request their despatch in procuring the signing of those papers in their several Districts. On the delivery of the bundle to the Committee, it appeared filled with remonstrances and Evening Posts, and sundry sealed letters, one of which, directed to Henry Wolf, of Yorktown, was opened by his consent and read, a copy of which is enclosed.

By this discovery, the Committee judged it proper to retain all the other letters till Friday next, when a meeting of the County Committee is warned to take all these important matters into consideration. You may depend upon the event of this meeting to be favourable to the cause of liberty, as the sense of the town militia was taken yesterday, and I am happy in being able to assure you that not a single dissentient or even cool person appeared in four large companies. By order of the Committee.

I am, gentlemen, your most humble servant,

JAMES SMITH, Chairman.

To the Honourable Committee of Inspection and Observation of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia.

NEW-YORK COMMITTEE TO PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.

Committee-Chamber, New-York, May 28, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: We have had repeated applications to this Committee to get the house called Hampden-Hall emptied of sundry utensils belonging to the continent or this Province, which, we know not. The house being private property, and Mr. Roorback being advised to remove them, has applied to this Committee to procure a store for the said goods. This Committee are in a dilemma how to act in this matter, not knowing whose property the goods are; nor have they received any powers (in their opinion) from your honourable House, to provide stores for such purposes. They therefore pray your particular directions on this subject; and are, very respectfully, your obedient, humble servants.

By order of the Committee:

ROBERT HARPUR, Deputy Chairman.

To the Honourable Provincial Congress, New-York.

COLONEL H. B. LIVINGSTON TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Fort Constitution, May 28, 1776.

SIR: When I was last in town I represented the necessity of having an armourer at this post, to General Washington. He desired me, if I could find a man capable of the business, to employ him. Such a man I have found. He not only repairs but makes guns and bayonets. But he says he cannot carry on the business to any advantage without two other hands to assist him. If you should think proper to employ him and two others, there are two who understand the business very well, soldiers in our regiment. One of them has a gun of his own make with him, a very tolerable one. Should you not think proper to employ either of these men, yet there is a necessity for an armourer’s shop at this post, as I will be obliged to employ one to repair the arms sent here by the Committee of Dutchess. They sent us fifty-six stand, and only one so much in repair as to be fit for service. The Commissioners at this post. seem to be in doubt whether their powers extend so far as to erect any building they shall conceive necessary, without a particular order for every one, though ever so much wanted. In consequence of this, we are now without an Hospital, and our sick and well, officers and privates, are obliged to stow together in the same rooms, for want of barracks. If you could prevail upon the Provincial Congress or the Committee of Safety to remedy these evils, you would much oblige me. I wrote you two letters before, but as I have received no answer, suppose you have not received them. The bearer, Mr. Reader, is the man above-mentioned as an armourer. I could wish him to be employed by the Committee or Congress. As I received only a verbal order from General Washington, he will agree with them about the terms.

I remain, sir, with all respect, your most obedient, humble servant,

HENRY B.LIBINGSTON, Lieutenant-Colonel.

To John McKesson, New-York.

N. B. Pray excuse this scroll, as I am hurried.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Fort George, May 28, 1776.

DEAR GENERAL: This moment I have received a letter from General Sullivan, of which the enclosed is a copy.