post, that the Marine Committee desire you would ship your men so soon as you can. They also direct me to desire you will provide six months’ wet provisions and four months’ dry; this stock to be kept good. You will apply to the Commissary at Boston for the provisions (that is, beef, pork, and bread or flour) he has orders to supply you. As for guns, that matter remains as when I wrote you last. I cannot prevail with Governour Hopkins to consent to part with those at Providence. I tell him your ship will make a cruise of three months, if she has guns, before either of the Providence ships can be got to sea; but he insists that those ships are as forward as yours. I believe the guns must go from hence. There is a probability that enough for one ship will be in town in about ten days, and you may depend I shall exert every nerve to get the first for the Raleigh.

I am just come from the Committee, and have once more got their unanimous consent to nominate you for agent. I think there is no doubt but you will be appointed, but believe it will be in expectation that you resign your seat in Congress, which I have assured all the members that I have mentioned the matter to, that you were determined on. In return for my exertions in this matter, I think I have a right to expect that you will use your endeavours to get a good man appointed in your stead to come here. I suppose a list of the officers are on the way here. I shall despatch them as soon as they arrive.

There has been a most hellish conspiracy at New-York. We have not the particulars of it yet; but, by the best information I can get, the plan was to assassinate the General, blow up the magazine, and spike the cannon. This was to be done on the arrival of the enemy, it is supposed; however, there is a full discovery of the whole plot, and a considerable number (say thirty or forty) of the infernal villains seized, and I hope justice will be done to them.

Governour Franklin is seized by the Convention of New-Jersey, and is to be confined in Connecticut. The middle Colonies are getting in a good way. Next Monday being the 1st of July, the grand question is to be debated, and I believe determined unanimously. May God unite our hearts in all things that tend to the well-being of the rising empire.

Yours, very sincerely,

WILLIAM WHIPPLE.

To John Langdon, Esq.

Colonel Bartlett desires his regards, but is too lazy to write.

BERGEN COUNTY (NEW-JERSEY) COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Committee for the County of Bergen, held at New-Bridge, the 24th day of June, 1776, the Resolutions of the honourable Provincial Congress of New-Jersey, of the 14th instant, directing a mode for raising three thousand three hundred men in this Province for reinforcing the Army at New-York, being under consideration:

1st, Resolved, That this Committee will cheerfully and zealously assist the officers in raising and equipping the quota of men for this County; and we do most earnestly recommend to the several Committees of the County that they exert themselves in aiding and assisting the officers appointed on that detachment, to the utmost of their power.

2d, Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Committees, and especially to the Committee for the Precinct of Bergen, that they be careful and diligent in watching the motions of the enemy by sea and land, and to give notice immediately to his Excellency General Washington, or to the commander of any body of troops who may be stationed in their vicinity.

3dly, Resolved, That it is the duty of this Committee to promote harmony among the people of this country, both by their influence and example, the better to enable us to exert our utmost power in the great cause of America, and in the present dangerous and critical juncture. And we most earnestly recommend to the good people of this County, that they aid and assist the families of those brave men who are necessarily abroad in defence of their country, in getting in their harvest, that their wives and families may not suffer by their absence.

By order of the Committee:

DANIEL SMITH, Chairman.

JOSEPH TRUMBULL TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

New-York, June 24, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Yours of the 22d instant, enclosing resolves of Congress respecting the supply of the troops in Canada, is just received, and shall be duly attended to. I shall be very glad to hear from you as soon as your leisure will permit.

In the mean time, and ever, I am, dear sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

JOSEPH TRUMBULL.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

INSTRUCTIONS TO MAJOR-GENERAL GATES.

SIR: The honourable the Continental Congress, reposing the greatest confidence in your wisdom and experience, have directed me to appoint you to the very important command of the troops of the United Colonies in Canada, with a power to appoint a Deputy Adjutant-General, a Deputy Quartermaster-General, a Deputy Mustermaster-General, and such other Officers as you shall find necessary for the good of the service. You are also empowered to fill up all vacancies in the Army in Canada, and notify the same to Congress for their approbation. You are also authorized, until the 1st of October next, to suspend any officers and fill up all vacancies, transmitting to the honourable Congress such order and suspension, giving your reasons therefor, and specifying the special charge made against such officer.

You are directed, previous to your departure, to consult with the Commissary-General, and concert with him the most effectual measures for continuing proper supplies of provisions for that department.

You are in like manner to consult with Colonel Knox about the artillery which may be wanted, and what may probably be procured there, and whether any brass or iron field-pieces can be spared from hence for that service.

Upon your arrival at Albany you will consult with General Schuyler with respect to the present state of provisions, stores, &c., and fix upon some certain means of forwarding the regular supplies in future from that place. At the same time endeavour to learn whether supplies heretofore sent have not reached that department, and by what means such failures have happened, that a proper remedy may be provided. From General Schuyler you will also receive such advice and information respecting the operations of the campaign as may be useful and necessary.

You are to direct all the General Officers, Deputy Quartermaster-General, local Commissaries, Paymaster in Canada, and all other persons there or on the communication, without delay to render their accounts, and settle them; no General Officer on such settlement receiving pay as Colonel of a Regiment, or any Field Officer as Captain of a Company.

Upon your taking command of the troops, you will give particular orders, agreeable to a rule of Congress, that no officer suttle or sell to the soldiers, on penalty of being fined one month’s pay and dismissed the service with infamy.

That all sales of arms, clothing, ammunition, and accoutrements, made by soldiers, are to be deemed void. That the baggage of officers and soldiers is hereafter to be regulated conformably to the rules of the British Armies.

By a like resolve, no troops in Canada are to be disbanded there; but all soldiers in that country ordered to be disbanded, or whose times of inlistment being expired, shall refuse to reinlist, shall be sent under proper officers to Ti-conderoga, or such other posts on the lakes as you shall direct, where they are to be mustered, and the arms, accoutrements, blankets and utensils, which they may have belonging to the publick, shall be delivered up and deposited in the publick store.

You will as soon as possible make as accurate a return as you can procure of the troops, artillery, arms, ammunition, provisions, and stores, which you find in Canada, or upon the communication with Albany, distinguishing where stationed and in what magazines; and if possible transmit such a return to the honourable Continental Congress and to me once a fortnight.

The distance of the scene, and the frequent changes which have happened in the state of our affairs in Canada, do not allow me to be more particular in my instructions.

The command is important, the service difficult but