may think of writing to the Committee of Safety of Virginia, or whether you may think of publishing anything as a declaration of the people, I must repeat it, I think the shorter and the more peremptory it is, the better effect it will have. We are not accountable to them for our conduct, and therefore I am not for entering into a discussion of the matter with them.

This letter has been written two or three days, and I have not had an opportunity of sending it till now, by Mr. Lux. I did intend to set off for Annapolis to-morrow, as I am a little better than I have been, but Mr. Lux informs me that the Convention is to meet on the 18th; if so, it will be impossible for me to go down and be up here again, and return again to the Convention, without hurrying myself too much; so I shall stay till I hear from you by Mr. Lux. I think, as the Convention is to meet shortly, you need not hurry your answer or declaration, but defer it for a post or two. Pray present my compliments to all my brothers of the Council.

I am, dear sir, your most obedient servant,

CHARLES CARROLL.

To the Honourable William Hayward, Esq.

B. MACKALL TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

GENTLEMEN: We have received your letter of the 4th instant concerning Captain Beall’s complaint for want of house-room for his troops. We, in answer, inform you that, agreeable to our prior information, we procured houses at Drum Point, which we thought were sufficient; but finding that the resolves of the Convention in December last only obliged us to find the troops sufficient accommodations during the winter season, we are of opinion that we cannot engage our County in any expense of building barracks.

We are, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servants.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO ROBERT ALEXANDER.

SIR: Mr. Purviance has just now informed us of your return to Baltimore-town, after your long absence from your family and friends, which, as it must afford you and them great joy and satisfaction, we most sincerely congratulate you thereon. We have some times found much difficulty in transaction of business that originally had been under your direction, for the want of the contracts and other papers relative thereto, and we should be glad that you would transmit to us, as soon as you conveniently can, all the agreements and papers you have in your possession respecting the publick, and which properly may come under the inspection and cognizance of our Board.

We hope soon to hear of your being restored to perfect health; and are yours, &c.

To Robert Alexander, Esq.

To His Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq., General and Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the United Colonies, &c. :

The Memorial of Colonel JOHN NICOLSON, late acting as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Regiment under the command of Colonel JAMES CLINTON, in the Northern Department, and nominated as Colonel of a Regiment to be recruited in CANADA out of the four NEW-YORK Regiments, humbly showeth :

That your Memorialist was, on the 28th of June last, appointed a Captain of a company by the Provincial Congress of New-York, in the regiment commanded by Colonel James Clinton; and having recruited his company, was commissioned accordingly by the honourable the Continental Congress. That your Memorialist, having joined said regiment, inarched with his company to the fort of St. Johns, where he served during that seige, with the rest of the Army, under the command of the late worthy General Montgomery; that after the reduction of that fort, he proceeded with the Army to Montreal; that soon after that place surrendered, the time for which your Memorialist’s company were inlisted expired; that many (as well the officers of said regiment as men) then quit the service and returned home, by which a new arrangement of officers became necessary, and was made by General Montgomery; that the Lieutenant-Colonel and Major, and some of the elder Captains of said regiment, being among those who returned home, (or never joined the regiment,) your Memorialist was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the said regiment, and continued to act in that capacity before Quebeck (unless when prevented by sickness) until the 15th of April last, when the time for which the regiment were inlisted expired; that your Memorialist was then appoihted by General Arnold to the command of a regiment to be recruited and raised out of the four New-York Regiments in Canada, which appointment was afterwards confirmed by General Wooster, and your Memorialist being advised that his acceptance of this appointment would promote the publick service, has accordingly accepted the same, and, with his officers, (everything considered,) had made some considerable progress in recruiting said regiment before the late unhappy event which occasioned the retreat of the Army from before Quebeck. That notwithstanding your Memorialist is conscious that, in the whole of his conduct on that occasion, he faithfully complied with the orders of his superior officers, which were given in consequence of a council of war, and that in every case he has endeavoured to discharge his duty as a good officer as far as in him lay, yet a report has lately been raised and industriously propagated by some ill-minded persons, (for reasons best known to themselves,) as well through the Army as country, that your Memorialist had, upon the above occasion, not only been guilty of disobedience of orders, but of cowardice; whereby your Memorialist’s reputation (which is dearer to him than life) is greatly injured, and his usefulness as an officer much impaired, and unless he can have justice in the premises will be totally destroyed.

Your Memorialist begs leave further to observe, that he is appointed and commissioned a Major in the regiment under the command of Colonel Wynkoop, which, though a degradation in rank, he would rather consent to accept than be considered out of the Army, and not entitled to have his conduct properly inquired into.

Your Memorialist therefore humbly prays your Excellency to order an inquiry to be made concerning his conduct on the above occasion, in such manner as is agreeable to military practice on similar occasions; and your Memorialist will ever pray, &c.

JOHN NICOLSON.

June 12, 1776.

TO THE AGED FRIENDS OF THE AMERICAN CAUSE IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW-YORK.

GENTLEMEN: Although all such persons as are above the age of fifty years are, by Congress, exempted from bearing arms, the imminent danger to which this City and County are exposed renders it necessary that every healthy, though aged friend to the common rights of our country and mankind, should have an opportunity of lending their assistance, by voluntarily forming themselves into companies, for garrison duty in the City and County aforesaid.

The alarming apprehensions we are under of an invasion from our malicious and inexorable enemies, we hope will apologize for the recommendation of this measure to you; especially at a time like this, when, if it be in the power of our foes, we are to be robbed of all our rights and liberties.

Virtuous Fathers! We pretend to assume no authority over you in this matter, but wish that your posterity may have reason to boast their descent from ancestors who, in the City and County of New-York, have nobly stood forth in defence of the lives, liberties, and fortunes, of a generation who, by your noble example now, will transmit the fair inheritance to their sons, and your names with honour to the latest ages.

N. B. Such gentlemen as are willing to step forth as aforesaid, are requested to meet at the house of the Widow Vandewater, near the new brick meeting-house, on Monday next, at four o’clock in the afternoon.

Extract from the Minutes.

Published by order of the Committee:

JOSEPH WINTER, Secretary.

Committee-Chamber, New-York, June 12, 1776.