sent in consequence of alarming intelligence from General Washington, of an intended attack on that city by General Howe, with all his forces. To the motives suggested in my letter on that occasion, I can only repeat, that it is the only measure that can possibly save us from destruction.

I am extremely sorry to observe that our affairs in Canada are oh so bad a footing. In order, however, to retrieve our misfortunes in that quarter, a most important step will be to supply our troops there with as much gold and silver as we can collect. You will, therefore, be pleased to send by express, immediately on receipt of this, all the hard money in your possession to General Schuyler, or to the Paymaster in Canada, Mr. Jonathan Trumbull, Jun.

I do myself the pleasure to transmit herewith the sum of thirty thousand dollars, in a small box, marked and numbered, which you will please to use your best endeavours to have exchanged for specie; and also the sum of twenty one thousand dollars, in a small box, marked and numbered, for the use of the two battalions to be raised in our Province, which you will please to improve accordingly. There are in this box Massachusetts bills equal in value to two thousand seven hundred and twenty-five and three-fourths dollars, as per list enclosed.

You will also be pleased to procure hard money to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars, if possible. For any sum above the thirty thousand now sent which you may collect in specie, your bills on me shall be duly honoured; or should you be so fortunate as to collect even more than one hundred thousand dollars in hard money, your bills on me for such overplus shall also be duly honoured.

Whatever further sum you may collect after you shall have forwarded all now in your hands, you will be pleased to send immediately to Canada, if you should judge it so considerable to be worth the expense of transmitting.

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

JOHN HANCOCK.

To the Honourable Assembly of Massachusetts-Bay.

The enclosed resolutions respecting the prohibition on the exportation of salted beef and pork, I request the favour you will be pleased to order to be published in all the newspapers.

I have in charge from Congress most earnestly to solicit your attention to the article of hard money, and to request you will issue such orders as may be effectual for obtaining a considerable quantity, &c. As often as a sum worth sending is in hand you will please to order it by express to Canada.

Your Delegates, from the enhanced price of all articles and the increase of expenses in this city, are reduced to the necessity of acquainting you that their funds are exhausted, and to solicit your attention to them, in ordering them such sums of money as you judge necessary. This is the request of the whole, by whose desire I mention it.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO WILLIAM PALFREY.

Philadelphia, June 14, 1776.

SIR: I received your favour enclosing your weekly Return to the 8th of June.

The Congress having appointed Ebenezer Hancock, Esq., Deputy Paymaster-General for the Eastern Department, it will no doubt give you pleasure to find yourself relieved of so considerable a part of your burden. I forward to him by this opportunity one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, for the use of the troops in that department.

It is my opinion you had better hire a clerk immediately, and run the risk of Congress making an allowance for him. It is scarcely possible at this time to get them to determine the matter for you. A thousand objects infinitely more important press on them, and demand an immediate attention and decision. Thus much you may depend upon, I will do all in my power to prevail with them to make an adequate allowance for a clerk, if you choose to employ one. Should you incline to adopt my opinion on this matter, Mr. Winthrop, whom I expect every hour, will be as fit a person as you can find.

I am, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To William Palfrey, Esq.

RICHARD PETERS, JUN., TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Philadelphia, June 14, 1776.

SIR: I am much obliged by the honour conferred on me by the Congress in appointing me Secretary to the Board of War and Ordnance. I accept the office with that diffidence which must naturally strike a person so unacquainted with the business as I am. I am conscious that the “most constant attendance and unremitting application are indispensably necessary;” and these, I am determined, shall not be wanting, however deficient I may be in other respects. I feel myself happy in being under the direction of the gentlemen appointed on the Committee, and shall do myself the honour of waiting on them to take their orders with regard to my duty.

I am your obedient humble servant,

RICHARD PETERS, Jun.

To the Hon. John Hancock, Esq.

NEW-HAMPSHIRE DELEGATES IN CONGRESS TO MESHECH WEARE.

Philadelphia, June 14, 1776.

SIR: This goes by the person who carries the money, mentioned in a former letter, which was ordered for the advance wages and defraying the charges of raising the regiments to be stationed at Portsmouth. The sum ordered is ten thousand five hundred dollars; five hundred dollars of which William Whipple has taken, which he desires may be replaced out of the Treasury, and charged to him. Ten thousand dollars is in a box directed to you. There is in the same box ten thousand dollars for John Langdon, Esq., which please to advise him of.

We are, with great respect, your most obedient servants,

JOSIAH BARTLETT.
WILLIAM WHIPPLE.

To the Hon. Meshech Weare, Esq.

RESOLVE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

In Assembly, June 14, 1776.

Resolved, by the Members of Assembly now met, That they are earnestly desirous of carrying into execution the Resolutions of Congress of the 1st instant; but that as they despair, after repeated disappointments, of procuring a quorum of the House, they find themselves unable at this time to proceed on the said Resolutions.

Ordered, That the Delegates of this Colony lay the foregoing Resolution before the honourable Congress.

Extract from the Minutes:

ABEL EVANS, Clerk of Assembly.

CHESTER COUNTY (PENNSYLVANIA) COMMITTEE.

Present, seventy-four Members. Major William Evans in the Chair.

On motion, Resolved, That the Letter from the Committee of Inspection and Observation of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, dated the 21st May last, be read.

Resolved, That there is a necessity for a Provincial conference of Deputies from the Committees of Inspection, &c., of this Province: Therefore,

Resolved, That Richard Thomas, William Evans, Thomas Hockley, Caleb Davis, Elisha Price, Samuel Fairlamb, William Montgomery, Hugh Lloyd, Richard Reyley, Evan Evans, Lewis Grono, Sketchley Morton, and Thomas Levis, or any seven of them, be a Committee to represent this County in Provincial Conference, to be held in the City of Philadelphia the 18th instant.

On motion, adjourned till to-morrow, five o’clock, A. M.

June 15.—Met according to adjournment.

Resolved, That the five Resolves of the honourable House of Assembly, of the 6th of April last, for the purpose of collecting the Arms from the Non-Associators, &c., be ordered to be printed in the Pennsylvania Gazette and Packet.