transports which left Greenock in company, having three thousand troops on board, bound to Boston.

Last Saturday, arrived here the brig Charming Peggy, Captain Joseph Jauncey, in twenty-one days from Curacoa, having on board twelve carriage and twelve swivel guns, and thirty-five men; she has brought in about fifteen tons of powder, and a considerable quantity of dry-goods. On Thursday, Captain Jauncey spoke with Captain Munro, in a sloop belonging to Providence, from Hispaniola, who, on his passage, had retaken two sloops, which had been taken by the Acteon frigate, and ordered for Jamaica; these sloops were from Cape-Fear, bound to Hispaniola, to which place Captain Munro sent them. On Friday, Captain Jauncey was chased by two sloops, with which he exchanged a few shot; and the next morning, just as it was light, with a fair wind, he passed within about three miles of a man-of-war, which lay at anchor under the east side of Block-Island, who, as soon as they discovered the brig, made all the sail they could after her, and followed her within a few miles of our harbour. Those vessels being seen at some distance off from the heights about this town, the Columbus, Captain Whipple, the Andrew Doria, Captain Biddle, and the Providence, Captain Jones, put out as fast as possible; but as soon as they got within about two leagues of the ship, supposed to be the Cerberus, she made all the sail she could from them, and stood up the western Sound; they chased her till towards night, when the weather coming up thick, they lost sight of her, and returned.

Captain Munro, mentioned above, we are told, is safe arrived at Stonington; and it is reported that the two transports taken by Captain Biddle are arrived at the eastward.

COLONEL HORRY TO JOHN L. GERVIS.

Camp on Haddrell’s Point, June 15, 1776.

SIR: You will greatly oblige me if you will order a quantity of salt to be immediately sent to this post; there are now of the Militia here one hundred and fifty-two men, and we have only had one barrel, which was borrowed of Colonel Sumpter’s Regiment; and, upon inquiry, I am told that the salt which was intended for us was sent to some other post. However, I am assured you will relieve us as soon as possible, for the men complain that eating beef without salt occasions their having disorders in the bowels.

I am your obedient, humble servant,

DANIEL HORRY.

To John L. Gervis, Esq.

GENERAL MERCER TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
[Read June 24, 1776.]

Williamsburgh, June 15, 1776.

SIR: I had the honour yesterday to receive your letter of the 6th instant, together with a commission appointing me a Brigadier-General in the Army of the United Colonies.

Give me leave, sir, to request of you to present to the honourable the Congress my most grateful acknowledgments for this distinguished mark of their regard.

I was on duty with part of my regiment before Gwinn’s Island, where Lord Dunmore has taken possession, when your instructions reached me; in consequence of those, I shall use my utmost diligence, after settling the accounts of my regiment, to wait on you in Philadelphia.

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

HUGH MERCER.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

Williamsburgh, Virginia, June 15, 1776.

This day arrived in town from Georgia, on his way to the General Congress, George Walton, Esq., one of the Delegates from that Province; also Lieutenants Walton and Pannell, on the Recruiting service. By these gentlemen we learn that the Convention of Georgia have authorized their Delegates in Congress to concur in any scheme which may be proposed for the benefit of the United Colonies, even to a total separation from Great Britain, and that, in the mean while, a form of Government had been established in the Province.

We also learn that the islands upon the coast of Georgia, which abound with live stock, are continually infested by the British Pirates; but that, by the vigilance and activity of the soldiers, and adjacent inhabitants, they have not been able as yet to obtain any supplies, and in the frequent-skirmishes the Pirates have always been soundly drubbed—as they ought to be.

MARYLAND DELEGATES IN CONGRESS TO COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Philadelphia, June 15, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Yours of the 10th instant was delivered to us yesterday. It has happened very well that you have called a Convention on the 20th; though, for the purpose of complying with the resolve of Congress, we think your own powers are fully adequate.

It never was intended that any part of the Militia was compellable to inarch out of the Province; nor do we know of any power in ours, even though the Convention was sitting, to order the Militia upon service out of the Province. It was intended that the flying camp should be formed by voluntary inlistments of the Militia; and it was supposed that the people of the respective Provinces would readily and voluntarily march to the head-quarters of this flying camp, which was ordered principally to defend the Middle Colonies. It will be necessary, however, to appoint officers, and give directions to the body of Militia when raised, and this may be done by your Council, or the Convention.

We wrote you a few days ago, requesting a call of the Convention to deliberate upon matters of the last importance, and we are glad that an earlier meeting than we expected, will afford an opportunity to our constituents to communicate to us the sense of the Province upon the very interesting subjects mentioned in our letter.

The session will be a very important one; and we wish to attend, though we know not whether it will be agreeable to our constituents to leave the Province unrepresented in Congress, it being a matter of much consequence to keep up the representation at this and all other times. We shall wait to hear from you and them upon this head; indeed, we cannot quit the Congress without leave, which will not be given here unless our attendance in Convention is desired. Mr. Tilghman left us yesterday. Mr. Paca is here. We have nothing new since we last had the honour of addressing you. The Continental proof of cannon is two-thirds of the weight of a ball of powder, and two balls; though this is said to be less powder than is used for the purpose in England.

We are, gentlemen, with much respect, your most obedient servants,

T. STONE,
J. ROGERS.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

P. S. We have sent by the stage four reams of paper, a box of instruments, and a gun-carriage.

GEORGE COOK TO COLONEL PLATER.

Smith’s Creek, June 15, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I have sent you by this opportunity the draft of Smith’s Creek. I hope it will please, as I have laid it down as correctly as I possibly could; it took me much longer than I expected. I was three days and a half in talcing the angles and distance of places, with the soundings in the channel and on the bars, and two days in platting. The three and a half days was obliged to hire two hands to attend me. I am at this time much hurried by a report of part of Dunmore’s fleet intending up the bay, expected to land off Lookout. The news is brought by the tender of the Congress; they had it from deserters from the fleet of Dunmore. Excuse haste.

I am, dear, sir, your most humble servant,

GEORGE COOK.

To Colonel Plater.

AMOS GARRETT TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Harford County, Swan Creek, June 15, 1776.

SIRS: Agreeable to the resolves of the Convention, I have been endeavouring, as Superintendant of the Saltpetre Works of this County, to comply with the same, but have met with difficulties in the essay that I did not expect from the several publications thereof. I have got my works erected, and materials collected for going on with it. I have been some time at work, but whether owing to extra wet