two adjoining Townships, to collect the Arms from the disaffected persons and non-Associators aforesaid; and have further directed that the Committees of Inspection and Observation in each County shall take care that the said recommendation of Congress be effectually put in execution: And whereas some people in Berks County, in contempt of the said authority, have refused to deliver up their Arms to the said collectors, and put the Committee to the disagreeable necessity of taking proper notice of their conduct;—this publick notice is given, as well to the said disaffected persons and non-Associators as to the said collectors in this County, that the Committee will afford all the assistance in their power to the said collectors in procuring the Arms aforesaid; and in case of their neglect or refusal to do their duty, will take such notice of them, and such further measures as will answer the intention of the said resolves.

Whereas it hath been proved before the Committee of Berks County that we, the subscribers, have been guilty of spreading a report that the Officers of the Milita Company of Colebrookdale Township, in the said County, had sold their men to the Colonel of the battalion to which they belong: We do hereby acknowledge our misconduct, and beg pardon of the Officers of the said company for spreading the said report, and do promise for the future to conduct ourselves so as to give no offence to the said company or any other of the Associators of this County.

Witness our hands:

June 15, 1776.

Whereas I, the subscriber, have greatly abused the persons appointed to collect the Arms of the non-Associators in the Township of Bern, in Berks County, for which I was justly confined by the Committee of the said County; I do therefore beg pardon of the publick for my misconduct, and promise to behave myself for the future so as to give no offence to the publick, or opposition to the measures of the Congress, Assemblies, or Committees, acting by their authority.

June 15, 1776.

Whereas I, the subscriber, have declared that no person who hath taken the oaths of allegiance to the King ought to be permitted to hold any office in the Militia, and that Henry Chreist and Baltzer Geehr, Esquires, were unfit persons to be Colonels for that reason; and whereas I am now convinced that if such an opinion should prevail it would occasion the removal of many worthy officers who have taken the said oaths before the same were dispensed with by the honourable Congress, and promote great disturbances among the Associators: I do therefore hereby declare that I look upon the said opinion as unjustifiable and wrong, and beg pardon of Colonel Geehr for the disturbance my declaring the same hath produced in his battalion; and I do engage for the future not to mention the same, or any other matter which may tend to the disturbance of the Associators, or other persons engaged in the support of the publick measures necessary at this time.

June 15, 1776.

ADDRESS TO THE INHABITANTS OF NEW-JERSEY.

COUNTRYMEN AND FRIENDS: This Province has been requested by the Continental Congress to send, without delay, from their Militia, three thousand three hundred men to New-York, in consequence of authentick information that the grand attack of our common enemy this summer, which will probably prove the decisive campaign, is to be upon that city; and that their force may be expected there in a few days. Your Representatives in this Congress have, with all the despatch in their power, and with the utmost unanimity, prepared an ordinance for raising the number called for, as equally from the different parts of the Province as possible. They have determined to raise the men by voluntary inlistment in the several Counties, in full confidence that in this way they will be raised most speedily, as well as consist of persons of the greatest spirit and alacrity for the important service. Filled with the same zeal for the defence of their country, they apply to you by this short Address, and in the most earnest and affectionate manner entreat you not to sully the reputation acquired on all former occasions; but to give a new proof to the publick of your courage and intrepidity as men of your unalterable attachment to the liberties of America, and the sincerity of your unanimous resolutions from the beginning of this contest. Were there time to draw up a long discourse in this hour of danger, the arguments that might be used are innumerable; and as some of them are of the most urgent, so (blessed be God) others are of the most encouraging and animating kind.

The danger is not only certain, but immediate and imminent. It does not admit of a moment’s delay, for our unjust and implacable enemy is at hand. The place where the attack is expected is of the last importance—not only a city of great extent, the interest of whose numerous inhabitants must be exceedingly dear to us, but situated in the middle of the Colonies, and where the success of the enemy would separate the Provinces, and disunite their efforts by land, which are of necessity liable to interruption from the enemy’s fleet by sea. It is scarce worth while to add, that this Province, by its vicinity, would then be exposed to the cruel depredations of the enemy, who, happily, hitherto have been able to do us little or no mischief but by theft and rapine. It would seem to carry an unjust suspicion of you to say any more on our own private interest, as we hope every honest man is chiefly concerned for, and will strain every nerve in support of the common cause of the United Colonies.

We cannot help putting you in mind how signally Almighty God has prospered us hitherto, and crowned our virtuous efforts with success. The expulsion of the enemy from Boston, where they first took possession, and begun their oppressive measures, was an event as disgraceful to them as it was advantageous to the publick cause, and honourable to that brave and resolute army by which it was accomplished. It will certainly be no small encouragement to those who shall now proceed to the place of danger, that they shall join with many of the same soldiers who have gained immortal honour by their past conduct, as well as serve under that wise and able leader whose prudence, firmness and attention to his great charge, have procured him the most unlimited confidence, both of those who direct the publick counsels and of those who are in arms under his command.

We must not forget the activity and success of the inhabitants of the Southern Colonies. They ran to arms in thousands the moment they heard of an attack, both in Virginia and North-Carolina. God was pleased, in both cases, to reward their alacrity, for they obtained a complete victory over their enemies, with so little loss of blood, as was not barely wonderful, but scarcely credible. At the battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge, there were but a few men killed; and at Norfolk, Great-Bridge, we did not loose a single life.

Time does not permit us to enlarge on the past events of this war, in which the kindness of Providence is so clearly to be seen. We therefore only further observe, that by the preparations in Britain for this campaign, and by all the intelligence received from Europe, it is plain that not honour and advantage only, but absolute necessity, requires us to exert our utmost efforts, for all is at stake. Every one is now obliged to confess what many saw long ago, that entire and unconditional submission is the point to which our enemies are determined to bring us, if in their power; so that nothing remains for us but either the abject slavery of tributary States, or to maintain our rights and liberties by force of arms, and hand down the fair inheritance to our posterity by a brave and determined defence.

We desire and expect that, in such a situation of things, all particular difference of small moment, arising from whatever cause—whether religious denominations, rivalship of different classes of men, scarcity of some articles of commerce, or any other—may be entirely laid aside. The present danger requires the most perfect union. Let every enemy perceive that the Representatives of the Colonies, as soon as they determine upon any measure, are able to bring out the whole strength of this vast country to carry it into execution.

That you may be under no apprehension, either of inequality in the burden, or that our own coasts will be left unguarded by the destination of this brigade, we have