safe passage to this country, and for making good cruisers on this coast afterwards. You are to make your contracts in writing: stipulate the prices, not to exceed the current rates for each article, and make it your business to be well informed on this point. We are sensible that it is difficult to extract arms and ammunition from many parts of Europe, and that penalties are inflicted on such as are detected in doing it; consequently a premium beyond the first cost and common commissions must be allowed to those that under­take it; and, in this respect, we are rather at a loss how to limit you, being willing to allow what might be reasonable compensation, but unwilling to submit to extortion. How­ever, as it is not in our power to judge of this point with precision, we exhort you to make the best bargain you can for the continent, and we conclude to allow you a commis­sion of two and a half percent, on the amount of the invoice of the goods, and on the cost and outfit of the cutters; but you will observe this commission is the whole of what we are to pay you, being the only compensation you are to expect for transacting this business, and expect and hope it will afford you a very handsome reward for your services.

Our design is, to pay for those goods and cutters by re­mitting to the consignation of those that supply them cargoes of this country’s produce, such as tobacco, rice, indigo, skins, furs, flour, lumber, iron, &c.; and we hereby pledge the thirteen United Colonies for the punctual discharge of the debt or debts you may contract, in virtue of and in con­formity with these orders. We agree to allow such rate of interest as you may agree for, not exceeding five per cent, on the amount of the debt or debts, from the time the goods are shipped until payment is made, and this interest to cease on such partial payments as may be made from time to time. In confirmation of these orders, we deliver you herewith a letter to your friend, Mr. Jean Wanderwoordt, attended with a certificate of our being a quorum of the Secret Com­mittee, properly authorized to transact such business for the publick, which you may avail yourself of with Mr. Wanderwoordt, or any other person necessary for effecting the purchase.

It is our understanding, that the goods you contract are to be at the risk of the contractors until they are shipped on board, and bills of lading granted for them, after which they become our risk; and if the risk from that time to the ending of the voyage can be covered by insurance, at a premium not exceeding twenty per cent., we would wish to have such part insured as is to come from Europe direct out for this coast; the insurance to be against all risks whatever, at and from the shipping port to any place of delivery in the thirteen United Colonies of America.

When you have accomplished the business so far as to make the contracts and purchase the cutters, you must cause to be shipped three thousand stand of arms, six hun­dred barrels of powder, three thousand gun-locks, and sixty thousand gun-flints, on board each cutter. Take bills of lading, deliverable to us in any part of the United American Colonies, and despatch them for this coast. These cutters must be well armed and manned. You should procure, if possible, masters that are acquainted with the sea-coast of America, men of intelligent understanding and firm minds, well attached to the American cause; many such there are in Europe, pining to return and serve this country in the present glorious contest. You will also pick up as many American seamen as possible, and if sufficient of those do not offer, complete the number with the best you can get; and in fitting these vessels it will be well done to put on board each three or four tons of musket balls, suited to the bore of the ten thousand stand of arms. As the operations of our enemies are uncertain, it is hard for us to point out what part of the coast these cutters should push for. We believe the inlets between New-York and Virginia may be as safe as any. They must get into the first place of safety they can, and give us immediate advice by express of their arrival; and by these vessels you will transmit us any pub-lick news, or any useful intelligence in your power. The remainder of the goods we think it most prudent to order out in foreign bottoms to some of the foreign Islands in the West-Indies, where we can send for them with ease and tolerable security. You will consult with your friends what Island may be safest to make use of; and also obtain recommendation to a proper house for receiving and reship-ping the goods, transmitting us the name and address by the cutters, and we shall send them funds to pay the freight and charges. Those goods going in neutral bottoms need only be insured against the common risks of the sea, &c.

We are, sir, &c, &c.

To Mr. William Hodge.

CERTIFICATE OF APPOINTMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF SECRET CORRESPONDENCE.

This may certify to whom it may concern, that Colonel Benjamin Harrison, Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Thomas John­ston, John Dickinson, and John Jay, Esquires, are appointed by the Congress of the thirteen United Colonies in North-America, a Committee of Secret Correspondence, and that faith and credit ought to be given to them as such,

COLONEL REED TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read June 1, 1776.]

Philadelphia, May 30, 1776.

SIR: The honourable Congress having been pleased some time ago to make an addition to the pay of the General’s Secretary, upon an expectation that I should continue in that appointment, I think it my duty to acquaint you that, agreeable thereto, I repaired to New-York, where I found a gentleman of character and abilities performing the services of that office with satisfaction to the General. As my first acceptance of the office was purely accidental, and occa­sioned by publick motives, the necessity of my continuance seemed now to cease, and induced me to request the General to excuse my further attendance, which he was so obliging as to comply with. This, and engagements both of a pub­lick and private nature in this Province, and these only, were my reasons for declining the service; at the same time, I assured the General, that if in the course of business my small abilities could be of any use, I would, on the shortest notice, most cheerfully devote myself to it again.

Having been absent from the General for some time, I considered the pay of the office most properly due to those gentlemen who did the duty during that absence; I accord­ingly, with the General’s approbation, divided it between them.

I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect and regard, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

JOSEPH REED.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

YORK COUNTY (PENNSYLVANIA) COMMITTEE.

In Committee for York County, May 30, 1776.

Present: Fifty-five Members. Colonel Robert McPherson in the Chair.

The Resolve of the honourable Continental Congress, of the 15th instant, being read, was. most cordially agreed and thankfully accepted; and

Resolved, That a delegation from this body, of nine mem­bers, be ordered to attend the Conference of Committees at Philadelphia, the 18th day of June next, to consider of the best and most effectual measures for carrying into execution, and settling the preliminary steps for the election of a Pro­vincial Convention, to form a Constitution founded on “the authority of the People.”

Resolved, That as the former Legislative powers of this Province cannot act without being under oaths or affirma­tions to the King of Great Britain, and dependant on him, which, by the cruel and wicked proceedings of that King and Parliament of Great Britain, more especially by a late Act of Parliament declaring the Colonists Rebels, and cut­ting them off from the protection of that Crown, the same has become incapable of legislation, and in that respect totally extinct; but

Resolved, nevertheless, That the Executive powers of Government ought to proceed in the usual channel, and that the laws heretofore made be put in due execution, until a Government, formed on the authority of the people only, takes place, agreeable to the Resolves of Congress of the 15th instant.

Resolved, That Mr. James Rankin, lately chosen a mem­ber to represent this County in Assembly, in sending seven Letters and a bundle of Remonstrances to seven inhabitants of this County, for the express purpose of getting those Remonstrances