But this is not all: they are not only condemned and despised, but exorbitant rents exacted from them, when forced to remove from their estates, and obliged to sacrifice their livings for the good of the community. How much this adds to the weight of their sufferings you may easily conceive; but unless you have been in the like distress, it is impossible for. you to have a perfect idea of theirs. Few possess the means of purchasing the necessaries, much less the conveniences of life. The rest, my countrymen, must rely entirely on your generosity; and could you be satisfied with regard to their political conduct, I am persuaded they would experience the good effects of your benignity. But before you can be convinced, it behoves you to divest yourselves of those strong prejudices which you have imbibed, and to listen with the same attention to the voice of truth as you have done to that of calumny.

PHILANTHROPOS.

Suffolk, Virginia, June 3, 1776.

JAMES RINGGOLD TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Annapolis, June 3, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Having had the honour of being appointed Second Lieutenant to the Light Infantry of regular Troops, raised for the defence of this Province, under the command of Captain Stricker, and not thinking myself contented in that department, have enclosed you my commission, with my resignation. From, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant,

JAMES RINGGOLD.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO SUNDRY OFFICERS.

SIR: The enclosed extract from a letter of Commodore Hammond to Governour Eden, (in consequence of an intercourse between His Excellency and the Convention,) will inform you that a man-of-war may be daily expected up the bay. We give you this notice that the Militia need not be alarmed, or unnecessarily drawn out upon duty on sight of these vessels. We make not the least doubt but that you will give the orders necessary for preventing any insult being offered either on her passage up or down the bay.

We have the strongest assurances that the Governour will leave the Province with the most friendly regard for its inhabitants, and will do everything in his power that may contribute towards promoting a reconciliation between the mother country and her Colonies. We are, &c.

(To Brigadiers Chamberlaine and Hooper, Colonels Wright, Weems, Mackall, and Barnes, and Captains Beall and Thomas, respectively.)

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO WILLIAM HINDMAN

SIR: We send you, enclosed, an order on yourself to the Paymaster of the Eastern-Shore for two thousand pounds. But before he draws the money, you will be pleased to see that a bond is executed (if not already done) with condition as herein mentioned, in the penalty of five thousand pounds, currency, payable to the Honourable Matthew Tilghman and James Lloyd Chamberlaine, Esquires, which you will hereafter transmit to us. We are, &c.

To William Hindman, Esq.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO CAPTAIN BEALL.

SIR: We received yours of the 29th, and are sorry to hear you are not properly accommodated with houses at Dram Point. We expected there were good houses there sufficient. Under the present circumstances, we have come to a resolution, that if houses cannot be got, barracks should be erected, under the inspection of the Committee, sufficient, together with the houses at the point, to hold the one-half of your company, and request you would apply to them for that purpose. The arms were sent you by Captain Thomas; we believe they are not so good as they ought to be, especially the locks. We wish we could supply you with better immediately, but have not any just now; we expect we shall have enough soon. We have ordered some guns from John Yost, at Georgetown, which Colonel Beall will send you down in a few days. The money for your subsistence we would have sent, but Mr. Risteau never came near us. Colonel Smallwood delivered us your letter. The regular method is, to transmit us your account by some safe hand, and we will order you the cash and other necessaries you may want. We are, &c.

To Captain Rezin Beall.

P. S. When we get our rifles, which we expect daily, we will change, and give you rifles for some of the worst of your muskets.

JOHN HANCOCK TO MASSACHUSETTS COUNCIL.

Philadelphia, June 3, 1776.

SIR: We received your favour of the 10th of May, with the enclosures; and having communicated such a part thereof as was necessary to Congress, beg leave through you, to inform the honourable Assembly that the sum of thirty thousand dollars is ordered to be sent them, for the purpose of exchanging it for specie. We enclose a copy of the resolve, by which it will appear how the latter is to be disposed of, and think it will be necessary to place it to the account of the United Colonies. The sums mentioned in your letter are delivered to Colonel Porter; and any other sums of money that may be delivered in consequence of the resolve aforesaid, since the Colony is charged with the sums advanced it by Congress.

We find, in an account sent by the General Court to General Washington, and by him transmitted to Congress, a charge of three thousand pounds of powder delivered by Governour Trumbull on account of the Colony, more than is contained in the account you enclosed us. And as the General is now here, and informs us that he shall write General Ward directions to deliver to the Colony the whole of the powder which is due from the continent, we enclose the last-mentioned account and vouchers, to be adjusted accordingly. We shall send forward the money mentioned above, and twenty-one thousand dollars, granted by Congress for raising the two battalions lately ordered to be raised in Massachusetts-Bay; and are, sir, with great respect for yourself and the honourable Assembly, your most humble servants.

At the desire and in behalf of the Delegation of Matsachusetts.