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not discover any more vessels than three ships and a smaller vessel, which we supposed was a tender. I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant, JAMES NICHOLSON. To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland. COLONEL J. BEALL TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY. May 29, 1776. GENTLEMEN: I have delivered twenty-four barrels of powder to Lieutenant Ford. I was last Saturday at Georgetown; Yost then told me he expected to have the arms for Port-Tobacco ready by the last of this week; but have just now received a line from him informing me that the man who supplies him with bayonets and barrels has been sick, and that he cannot furnish him with those articles till the 16th of next month. I have employed two wagons to carry the powder, at three dollars a day; when they return I shall settle with them, and give orders for their pay. As soon as those arms can be had I shall employ a wagon to carry them to Port-Tobacco. I am, gentlemen, your very humble servant, JOSEPH BEALL. To the Honourable Council of Safety of Maryland. CAPTAIN R. BEALL TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY. Drum Point, May 29, 1776. SIR: I will solicit your notice. I am loath to complain, as it is highly necessary, when I have the greatest right. I looked upon it when I came to Drum Point everything must be provided for one part of my company. Can it be possible the Committee could make such a report? It is a fact, there is not house-room for twenty men. Can it be expected the men can encamp out among the pines without blankets or tents? Upon the whole. I must say this company, which I have the honour to command, has been greatly neglected, makes me particularly anxious. The arms that were sent to Drum Point are vile trash; whoever made them imposed much, and is culpable; the locks are quite useless; must say there is not eight out of twenty-nine can make any use of, as it is out of my power to repair or make these arms fit for use. I look upon it these arms have been culled and picked. Such vile work never could have been inspected. As this is the most advantageous post, hope the honourable Council will let me have twenty rifles for the station. Have not heard anything respecting our arms and ammunition, so that we stand here exposed, and remain in a most defenceless state. There was no thread came with the osnabrigs; cannot get any to make the hunting-shirts. Dear sir, your most affectionate servant, REZ. BEALL. To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland. GENERAL McDONALds REPORT TO THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, AT PHILADELPHIA, MAY 29, 1776. That he was, by a party of horsemen, upon the 28th day of February last, taken prisoner from sick quarters, eight miles from Widow Moors Creek, where he lay dangerously ill, and carried to Colonel Caswells camp, where General Moore then commanded, to whom he delivered his sword as prisoner of war, which General Moore was pleased to deliver back in a genteel manner before all his officers then present, according to the rules and customs of war practised in all nations; assuring him at the same time that he would be well treated, and his baggage and property delivered to him, &c. Having taken leave of General Moore and Colonel Caswell, Lieutenant Colonel Bryant took him under his care; and after rumaging his baggage for papers, &c., conducted him to Newbern, from thence with his baggage to Halifax, where the Committee of Safety there thought proper to commit him to the common jail; his horses, saddles, and pistols, &c., taken from him, and never having committed any act of violence against the person or property of any man; that he remained in this jail near a month, until General Howe arrived there, who did him the honour to call upon him in jail; and he has reason to think that General Howe thought this treatment erroneous and without a precedent; that upon this representation to the Convention, General McDonald was, by order of the Convention, permitted, upon parole, to the limits of the town of Halifax, until the 25th of April last, when he was appointed to march, with the other gentlemen prisoners, escorted from the jail there to this place. General McDonald would wish to know what crime he has since been guilty of, deserving his being recommitted to the jail of Philadelphia, without his bedding or baggage, and his sword and his servant detained from him. The other gentlemen prisoners are in great want for their blankets and other necessaries.. DONALD McDONALD NORTHAMPTON (PENNSYLVANIA) ASSOCIATORS. At a meeting of the Associators of the Fourth Battalion in Northampton County, held at the house of Major Benjamin Van Campen, the 29th day of May, 1776: Colonel Jacob Stroud informed the said Associators the occasion of the meeting, &c. Whereupon Nicholas Dupui, Esq., was appointed to and seated in the chair, and was moved that the Resolve of Congress of the 15th instant, be read; whereupon it was read, &c. The people, in testimony of their warmest approbation, gave three cheers, &c. Moved, That the Instructions given by the House of Assembly to their Delegates in Congress, be read; and the same were read accordingly, &c. Upon motion, Resolved, unanimously, That it is the opinion of this meeting that the said Instructions have a dangerous tendency to withdraw this Province from the happy union with the other Colonies, which we consider both as our glory and protection. On motion, Resolved, unanimously, That the present House of Assembly was not elected for the purpose of forming a new Government. On motion, Resolved, unanimously, That the present House of Assembly, not having the authority of the people for that purpose, cannot proceed thereon without assuming arbitrary power. It being moved, and the question put, Whether the present Government is competent to the exigencies of our affairs; the same was carried in the negative unanimously. Resolved, unanimously, That a Provincial Convention ought to be chosen by the people for the express purpose of carrying the said Resolve of Congress into execution. Resolved, unanimously, That the Chairman be directed to sign these Resolves on behalf of this present Assembly. Resolved, unanimously, That we will support the measures now adopted at all hazards, be the consequences what they may. The meeting was conducted with the utmost decorum and harmony. NICHOLAS DUPUI, Chairman. To the Honourable the Representatives of the Province of New-York, in Provincial Congress convened. The humble Address of the General Committee of Mecha-nicks in union, of the City and County of New-York, in behalf of themselves and their constituents: GENTLEMEN: We, as a part of your constituents, and devoted friends to our bleeding country, beg leave, in a dutiful manner, at this time to approach unto you, our Representatives, and request your kind attention to this our humble address. When we cast a glance upon our beloved continent, where fair freedom, civil and religious, we have long enjoyed, whose fruitful fields have made the world glad, and whose trade has filled with plenty of all things, sorrow fills our hearts to behold her now struggling under the heavy load of oppression, tyranny, and death. But when we extend our sight a little farther, and view the iron hand that is lifted up against us, behold it is our King; he who, by his oath and station, is bound to support and defend us in the quiet enjoyment of all our glorious rights as freemen, and whose dominions have been supported and made rich by our commerce. Shall we any longer sit silent, and contentedly continue the subjects of such a Prince, who is deaf to our petitions for interposing his Royal authority in our behalf, and for redressing our grievances, but, on the contrary, seems to take pleasure in our destruction? When we see that one whole year is not enough to satisfy the rage of a cruel Ministry, in burning our *
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