MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO JESSE HOLLINGSWORTH.

SIR: We have received your letters with regard to the vessels sunk at Whetstone Point; and although you decline acting in your first letter, we are pleased to find you have since accepted of the trust reposed in you by the Council of Safety; and we find by your last letter that you have, in part, executed the same, by raising several of the vessels. You are desirous of having some further instructions about repairing and valuing the vessels after they are raised: we must beg leave to refer you to the proceedings of the last Convention, (page 13,) where you will see what we are directed to do; and also we refer to our former instructions, by which you are requested, after raising the vessels, to cause them to be rigged and put in the same slate they were in before they were sunk, as soon as may be; and then you, or any two of you, are to cause them severally to be re-appraised, on oath, by persons you may appoint; to which we shall add nothing further at present, only request you to advise with Captain Nicholson in all your proceedings, and to take care your men appointed be free from any partiality or just objection, and that they make regular returns of appraisement to us. We doubt not you will do what is right, and then the owners cannot complain; or if they do, their unjust allegations will be little attended to, we believe, by the Convention who are shortly to meet.

We are, &c.

To Mr. Jesse Hollingsworth.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO THEIR DELEGATES IN CONGRESS.

GENTLEMEN: Your favour of the 11th instant, we received at ten o’clock this morning. We have already complied with almost everything you requested, and we wish we had time to collect the fair and uninfluenced sense of our people on the most important point of Independence, before the meeting of the Convention; but as the assembling of that body is already fixed on the 20th of this month, it will be impossible to make the necessary inquiry before that time. We presume the first business of the Convention will be regulating the movement of the Militia, and that, if necessary, in the mean time the several Committees of Observation may be directed fairly to collect the sense of the Province on the subject of Independence, and make report thereof to the Convention. Any mode their Representatives may think proper to point out would be better relished by the people than for us to put them into a violent ferment, in a way that might not be approved of. It is a point of great magnitude, and we think it best (the shortness of the time considered) to leave it untouched until the meeting of the Convention on Thursday next. Mr. Paca, no doubt, is with you before now. Messrs. Johnson and Goldsborough are still with their families, we hear. We wish to have you all down when the grand question is decided. We leave it, however, to yourselves to judge whether you can be spared from Congress, and hope whatever is done will be generally agreed to.

From the Virginia paper we learn that Clinton left Cape Fear with his troops on the 29th of May. This comes to that Colony by express, in a letter from General Lee to their Convention. General Howe’s house was burnt, and some of his domesticks ill-treated. No other damage of consequence, says the paper. And Clinton published a Proclamation warning the people of North-Carolina to flee from the wrath that was hereafter to come upon them, and exhorting them to return to duty. Where he is gone, is not ascertained. The paper says that the prevailing opinion is, they are gone to the southward. General Lee writes he thinks they are coming round to Virginia. If they are coming this way, we shall soon hear of them, and will let you know. We are, &c.

To the Delegates for Maryland in Congress.

DELAWARE ASSEMBLY.

In the House of Representatives for the Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware, at Newcastle, Friday, June 14, 1776, A. M.:

Mr. McKean delivered in at the Chair a certified copy of a Resolution of Congress, of the 15th of May last, which was, by order, read, and is in the words following, to wit:

“In Congress, May 15, 1776.

“Whereas his Britannick Majesty, in connection with the Lords and Commons of Great Britain, has, by a late Act of Parliament, excluded the inhabitants of these United Colonies from the protection of his Crown: And whereas no answer whatever to the humble Petitions of the Colonies for redress of grievances and reconciliation with Great Britain, has been, or is likely to be given, but the whole force of that Kingdom, aided by foreign mercenaries, is to be exerted for the destruction of the good people of these Colonies: And whereas it appears absolutely irreconcilable to reason and good conscience for the people of these Colonies now to take the oaths and affirmations necessary for the support of any Government under the Crown of Great Britain, and it is necessary that the exercise of every kind of authority under the said Crown should be totally suppressed, and all the power of Government exerted under the authority of the people of the Colonies, for the preservation of internal peace, virtue, and good order, as well as for the defence of their lives, liberties, and properties, against the hostile invasions and cruel depredations of their enemies: Therefore,

“Resolved, That it be recommended to the respective Assemblies and Conventions of the United Colonies, where no Government sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs has been hitherto established, to adopt such Government as shall, in the opinion of the Representatives of the people, best conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents in particular, and America in general.

“Extract from the Minutes:

“CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary. ”

By special order the same was read a second time, and,

On motion, Resolved, unanimously, That this House do approve of the said Resolution of Congress.

Saturday, June 15, P. M.

Whereas it is become absolutely necessary for the safety, protection, and happiness of the good people of this Colony, forthwith to establish some authority adequate to the exigencies of their affairs, until a new Government can be formed: And whereas the Representatives of the people, in this Assembly met, alone can, and ought at this time, to establish such temporary authority:

Resolved, unanimously, That all persons holding any office, civil or military, in this Colony, on the 13th day of June instant, may, and shall continue to execute the same, in the name of the Government of the Counties of New-castle, Kent, and Sussex, upon Delaware, as they used legally to exercise it in the name of the King, until a new Government shall be formed, agreeable to the Resolution of Congress of the 15th of May last.

Extract from the Minutes:

JAMES BOOTH, Clerk of Assembly.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Philadelphia, June 14, 1776.

SIR: I am extremely happy to have it in my power to assure you that the several matters referred to Congress in your letters, will receive a speedy determination. With great pleasure I shall transmit you the result as soon as I am ordered. I enclose to you at this time sundry important resolves, to which I beg leave to refer your attention.

You will there perceive that Congress have ordered nine thousand dollars to be advanced to Colonel Hand, which you will please to direct to be paid him out of the military chest at New-York. This money is to be stopped out of the pay of the regiment.

The establishing a War Office is a new and great event in the history of America, and will doubtless be attended with peculiar advantages, when properly conducted and inspected. I hope the Committee will be ready in a few days to enter upon the execution of their duty. You will see the outlines of this office in the enclosed resolves. Some further regulations, it is more than probable, will be necessary in the course of time. The Congress have only laid a foundation at present; it still remains, in a great measure,