at which time we shall be glad to see as many of you as can be spared from Congress.

We request you will make the inquiry directed by the enclosed resolve of our late Convention, and transmit us an account of the standard proof of cannon as early as possible. Our guns are nine and eighteen-pounders.

We are, &c.

To the Deputies for Maryland in Congress.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

SIR: Your favour of the 4th instant, enclosing resolves of the honourable Congress, we received to-day at one o’clock.

Our authority not being competent to order the marching of our Militia out of the Province, we have called a meeting of our Convention, to be held at the City of Annapolis, on the 20th of this month, at which time we shall lay your letter, with the resolves, before them.

We are sorry for the reverse our affairs have lately met with in Canada; but trusting in the justice of our cause, and the active spirit of our countrymen, we hope matters will soon wear a different aspect in that quarter.

Be assured, sir, of our utmost exertions at this critical crisis to prevent the impending calamities which threaten this Continent, and that the Province of Maryland will continue to act with firmness in the common cause, until peace may be happily restored. We are, &c.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq., President of the Congress.

SECRET COMMITTEE TO WILLIAM BINGHAM.

Philadelphia, June 10, 1776.

SIR: We are sorry for your disappointment of the sloop Hornet; but in consequence thereof we have procured an order to despatch the ship Reprisal, Captain Lambert Wickes; and herewith we send you the letters and orders for Captain Wickes and Captain Hallock, which they will comply with; and you will consequently take your passage for Martinico, on board the Reprisal, Captain Wickes; and hoping for a speedy and safe passage, and for a successful issue to the business you are charged with, we remain, sir, your humble servants,

BENJAMIN HARRISON,
JOHN DICKINSON,
ROBERT MORRIS.

To William Bingham, Esq.

SECRET COMMITTEE TO CAPTAIN WICKES.

Philadelphia, June 10, 1776.

SIR: We have received your letter of the 6th, and approve your proceedings as therein represented; and as you seem very desirous to make a cruise, we have this day agreed to give up the direction of the ship Reprisal to a Committee of Congress, styled the Committee of Secret Correspondence. The members are Benjamin Harrison, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, John Dickinson, Thomas Johnston, and Robert Morris, Esqs; any three of them are a quorum.

This Committee are directed to despatch one of our cruisers to the West-Indies; and we understand they have already given the needful orders to Captain William Hallock, of the sloop Hornet, from whom we have just received advice that said sloop is leaky and unfit to proceed on that voyage; for this reason your ship is assigned for that service, and you are hereby directed to receive from Captain Hallock the etters and orders of said Committee. Consider them as directed to yourself, and obey them in every particular. We hope this voyage will afford you an opportunity of rendering essential service to your country, and that you will bring us back a parcel of fine seamen, and a number of good prizes.

A supply of stores will be sent you by the Wasp; and we are, sir, your humble servants,

To Captain Lambert Wickes.

MRS. CONNOLLY TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

June 10, 1776.

SIR: As I expected from the nature of your letter to me that before now I should have been permitted to return home, I patiently waited your further orders; but finding no appearance answerable to my expectation, and unconscious of having done anything to merit a detention here from an only child, at an expense very enormous, I must request the liberty of returning on next Monday. I am ready to submit to any examination, or to come under any restriction you may judge necessary; but if I do not hear from you before that time, I shall conclude that I have your permission, and depart accordingly.

I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

SUKEY CONNOLLY.

Philadelphia, June 10, 1776.

At a meeting of the First and Second Battalions* of this City, present one thousand men, the following questions were proposed and carried, with only twenty-four dissentients in the First, and two in the Second Battalion, viz:

“Whether they will support the Resolves of Congress of the 15th ultimo, and the Proceedings of the publick meeting held the 20th following, in consequence thereof?

“Is it the determined resolution of this Corps to support the proceedings of the publick meeting aforesaid, at all hazards?”

At a meeting of the Associators of the Fourth Battalion of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, on the usual place of parade, in consequence of notice given to them on the 6th instant that their sense respecting a new Government of this Province, and the mode proposed for obtaining it, &c., would this day be freely taken,

Present: The Officers and Privates of nine Companies.

The Colonel, Thomas McKean, informed them that since he had proposed this meeting for the above, among other purposes, he had been waited upon with the following Resolution of the Committee of Privates of the five Battalions:

“In Committee of Privates, June 6, 1776.

“Moved, and unanimously agreed to, That an application be made to the Officers of the several Battalions to take the sense of each Battalion, whether they will support the Resolve of Congress of the 15th ultimo, and the Proceedings of the publick meeting held the 20th following, in consequence thereof?

He said that he was happy to find that his own idea of the propriety of this measure was supported by so respectable a body as the Committee of Privates.

The Resolve of Congress of the 15th ultimo, was then read, and the Proceedings of the publick meeting in the State-House yard on the 20th of the same month. And thereupon the questions were severally put:

Is it the determined resolution of this Corps to support the said Resolve of Congress with their lives and fortunes?

Carried unanimously in the affirmative.

Is it the determined resolution of this Corps to support the Proceedings of the publick meeting aforesaid, at all hazards?

Carried unanimously in the affirmative.

After which the Colonel proposed another question to them, viz:

Whether they wished the Province of Pennsylvania to be a free and independent State, and united with the other twelve Colonies represented in Congress?

Carried unanimously in the affirmative.

No arguments or persuasions were urged for or against the above propositions, and all present, amounting to upwards

*The Lieutenant-Colonel of the Third Battalion refusing to put the question, gave great umbrage to the men, one of whom replied to him in a genteel spirited manner: “How our Delegates in Congress may act we know not, though we have a right to know, and intend to promote an inquiry for that purpose. The Counties, such as we have heard from, are for a Convention. The Committee of Bucks County have appointed Deputies to the Conference to be held in this city on the 18th instant.” Take heed, Tories, you are at your last gasp! You have had many warnings, and many kind invitations!