“Roebuck, at Gwin’s Island, May 30, 1776.

“DEAR SIR: I have received your letter of the 26th instant, by Mr. Smith, who arrived here yesterday, and am sorry (though not surprised) to learn that you think it necessary to leave Annapolis.

“The Province of Maryland has hitherto been looked upon as having acted with a degree of moderation in the present unnatural rebellion subsisting in the Colonies; and I had some expectation, from your continuing in your Government, that you might have been able to convince the people of the impossibility of their succeeding in the plan that America is now pursuing; which is the only motive, I fear, that will have any weight in bringing them back to their allegiance. But as you have certainly now given this a very fair trial, and it is become apparent that the matter can only be settled by force of arms, I confess that I think your remaining longer among them would only be exposing yourself to insults, and would answer no good purpose to his Majesty’s service. I shall, therefore, very soon send one of the King’s ships to receive you on board, until a passage can be provided for you to England, which I believe will happen very shortly. I shall also not fail to give orders to the ship that she shall commit no hostilities at Annapolis whilst on that service. But as no officer in his Majesty’s service can be supposed to suffer patiently the smallest insult to be offered to the British colours, it will be necessary for you to inform the persons that assume the government of the people, that if the peace is not as strictly observed on the part of the Provincials, both with regard to the boats as well as the ship, during the time it may be necessary for her to stay on the coasts of Maryland, that any orders which I may think proper to issue for the purpose, will not restrain the Captain of the ship from acting as he shall think proper and necessary upon the occasion.

“Had I not received your letter, you would certainly have heard from me in a few days, to have acquainted you that his Excellency the Earl of Dunrnore and myself, with the joint forces under our command, left Norfolk on the 23d instant, and put into this harbour on the 28th, in order to complete our wood and water, where we at present remain.

“I have the honour to be, dear sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

“A.S.HAMMOND.

“To Governour Eden, Annapolis. ”

His Excellency further adds, that he is in daily expectation of the arrival of one of his Majesty’s ships of war to receive him.

And he was pleased to conclude by observing to the Board, that although he had not consulted them in the progress of this disagreeable business, his not doing it was not owing to any distrust of, or disrespect to them, being fully persuaded they would have given him their best advice on this, as they have always done on every other occasion; but that the whole of these transactions seemed immediately to concern himself; his absence was to be supplied by the President and Council; very few of the Council were present for him to consult with; and, in general, that the different proposals made to him by the Council of Safety, or Convention, required immediate answers, which depended only on himself.

Whereupon, on mature consideration being had, the Board agreed to the following Address, and ordered the same to be presented to his Excellency by the Hon. Benedict Calvert, Esq., being No. 17, and which is as follows, viz:

“To His Excellency ROBERT EDEN, Esquire, Governour and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Province of MARYLAND.

“MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: We are very much obliged to your Excellency for the information you have given us, and are fully persuaded that the urgency of the occasion did not admit of our being consulted; and, indeed, if we had been consulted, it would not have been in our power to advise a conduct more proper, in your very peculiar and embarrassing situation, than that which you pursued.

“By the experience we have had of your inclinations and endeavours to promote the peace and welfare of this Province, we are encouraged to entertain the most sanguine expectation that your benevolent regards will not be lessened by any disagreeable incidents which have occurred in the present unhappy conjunction of affairs, and not proceeding from any personal disrespect to yourself.

“We are satisfied of the sincerity of the Members of the Convention in the declaration they have made of their ardent desire that a reconciliation may take place between Great Britain and the American Colonies; and as we most cordially join them in this affection, so we do in soliciting that you will exert your good offices to re-establish peace and amity.

“We cannot take leave of your Excellency without expressing our most earnest wishes for your health and happiness, and that we may again see you here, in the peaceful possession of the office of Governour, and the people of this Province in the full enjoyment of their constitutional rights.

“BENEDICT CALVERT.

“June 7, 1776. ”

Wednesday, June 12, 1776.

Council at the Governour’s.—Present: His Excellency Robert Eden, Esquire, Governour, Daniel Dulany, William Hayward, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, and Philip Thomas Lee, Esquires.

Ordered, by his Excellency the Governour, with the advice of this Board, that Proclamations issue for dissolving the present General Assembly, which stands prorogued to this day; and that Writs of Election issue to call a new Assembly, bearing date the 14th instant, and returnable the 25th day of July next.

Which were issued accordingly.

His Excellency was also pleased to mention to this Board that, by such letters as he had received from Mr. Hamersley, agent to and one of the Lord Proprietary’s guardians, it was to be inferred that the desire at home is to have the Land-Office shut up till the claim to the Province should be ascertained by judgment now depending in England relative thereto; and he requested their advice on this subject; when

The Council, on consideration thereof, gave it as their opinion that, during the present disturbances, such a step might probably give offence here, and be injurious to the Proprietary’s interest; and therefore recommended, as they had before done, to his Excellency to leave the Land-Office open for business, in the same manner as it has hitherto been.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Philadelphia, June 7, 1776.

SIR: The enclosed letter from the Commissioners in Canada I am commanded by Congress to transmit to you. The contents of it are truly alarming. Our Army in that quarter is almost ruined for want of discipline, and everything else necessary to constitute an army or to keep troops together. The Congress, in this situation of our affairs, have resolved that General Wooster be recalled from Canada. I am therefore to request you will immediately order him to repair to Head-Quarters, at New-York.

Yesterday I sent off an express to General Mercer, with orders to set out directly for Head-Quarters, and at the same time enclosed his commission.

I enclose you a resolve respecting Doctor Potts’s appointment in Canada. You will please to give him orders to go either into Canada or to Lake-George, as you may think most proper.

I have the honour to be, every sentiment of regard and esteem, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To His Excellency General Washington.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO THE SEVERAL COLONIES.

Philadelphia, June 7, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I am commanded by Congress to transmit you the enclosed resolves, [of June 3d,] and to request your immediate attention to the same.

The article of lead is so essentially necessary to us at this juncture, and is withal so scarce, that no pains should be spared to procure it. The situation of the United Colonies will be extremely deplorable if we depend entirely upon the importation of it. Every people should have within