day, reported the necessity of reinforcing our Army there with four regiments, &c. That to be raised in our Colony to be one. To expedite the raising of which, an arrangement of the officers was also reported, and agreed to by Congress. We objected to this measure, and thought it our duty to withhold our assent, not only because it was (as we conceived) introducing a new precedent which might give offence, but might interfere with appointments which you might probably have made for the same regiment in consequence of the former resolve. The present occasion and necessity of despatch were urged to support the measure, and it was alleged that, as these appointments were of particular persons who had merited by former service, it interfered with no former rule; and even should the appointments be continued to the Provincial Congress, it would, in this case, only create unnecessary delay, as the same persons must be appointed by them, to answer the design and meaning of this Congress expressed in their former resolve. We were persuaded, nay, we are morally certain, considering the busy season of the year, which will enhance the wages of labourers and the numbers of Militia now in the service, that this regiment cannot possibly be raised in time to answer the end for which it is more particularly designed; and should our affairs in Canada grow worse, as we have reason to apprehend from present appearances, we feared lest delay, and every unavoidable misfortune which may befall our Army in Canada for want of a proper reinforcement, might by some be imputed to our Colony, notwithstanding your utmost exertions to carry into execution this impracticable and (as we conceive) ineffectual measure, we judged it, therefore, most prudent only to mention our reasons for withholding our assent, without making a more pointed and strenuous opposition to this measure, thereby leaving the Colony in such a situation as not to incur any blame on this occasion.

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

To the Honourable the Provincial Congress of New-York.

PENNSYLVANIA COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

In Committee of Safcty, Philadelphia, June 27, 1776.

The Committee having reason to believe that wicked and ill-disposed persons have seduced and enticed some of the men belonging to the boats to desert the service, and go into other employ, have thought it necessary to publish the following Resolve of Assembly:

“In Assembly, March 26, 1776.

“Resolved, That any person or persons whatsoever, within this Colony, who shall harbour and conceal any deserter (knowing him to be such) from the Continental forces, or any other forces raised within this or any other of the United Colonies for the defence of America shall forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding fifty, nor less than thirty dollars, or suffer three months’ imprisonment, for each offence, being convicted thereof by the testimony of one or more witnesses before any two Justices of the Peace of the City, Borough, or County respectively, where such offence shall be committed, who are hereby authorized to hear and determine all offences contrary to the above resolve; which fine shall be deposited in the hands of the Overseers of the Poor of the City, Borough, or Township, where the offence is committed, for the use of the poor of such place.”

And the Committee give this publick notice that they are determined to prosecute with the utmost rigour any person who shall harbour, conceal, or in any manner employ any deserter from the service of this Colony.

By order of the Committee:

GEORGE ROSS, Chairman

GOVERNOUR FRANKLIN TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND ASSEMBLY OF NEW-JERSEY.

Perth-Amboy, June 27, 1776.

The occasion of my calling you together at this time was not only to give you an opportunity of considering the present distracted state of the Province, and of defending your own and the people’s constitutional rights, if you should choose it, but to communicate to you and to consult you upon some intelligence I have received from his Majesty’s Secretaries of State respecting the business to be transacted by the Commissioners which his Majesty has graciously condescended to appoint for the purpose (among others) of “conferring with proper persons upon such points as may be necessary for effecting a restoration of the publick tranquillity.” These Commissioners, I had great reason to expect, would be arrived by the time of your meeting, and I know of no persons of this Province so proper to receive and confer with them as yourselves.

On the whole, gentlemen, much positive good would, in my opinion, have resulted to the Province had a meeting of the General Assembly been held at this juncture. Elut as that now seems not likely to happen, I shall take my leave of you and the good people you represent, perhaps for the last time. Permit me, before we part, to recommend it to you to defend your Constitution in all its branches. Let me exhort you to avoid, above all things, the traps of independency and republicanism now set for you, however temptingly they may be baited. Depend upon it, you can never place yourselves in a happier situation than in your ancient constitutional dependency on Great Britain. No independent State ever was, or ever can be, so happy as we have been, and might still be, under that Government. I have early and often warned you of the pernicious designs of many pretended patriots, who, under the mask of zeal for reconciliation, have been, from the first, insidiously promoting a system of measures purposely calculated for widening the breach between the two countries, so as to let in an independent republican tyranny—the worst and most debasing of all possible tyrannies. They well know that this has not even a chance of being accomplished but at the expense of the lives and properties of many thousands of the honest people of this country; yet these, it seems, are as nothing in the eyes of such desperate gamesters ! But remember, gentlemen, I now tell you, that should they (contrary to all probability) accomplish their baneful purpose, yet their Government will not be lasting. It will never suit a people who have tasted the sweets of British liberty under a British Constitution. When the present high fever shall abate of its warmth, and the people are once more able coolly to survey and compare their past with their present situation, they will, as naturally as the sparks fly upwards, wreak their vengeance on the heads of those who, taking advantages of their delirium, had plunged them into such difficulties and distress.

This, gentlemen, I well know is not language suited to the times; but it is better—it is honest truth, flowing from a heart that is ready to shed its best blood for this country. A real patriot can seldom or ever speak popular language. A false one will suffer himself to speak nothing else. The last will often be popular, because he will always conform himself to the present humours and passions of the people, that he may the better gratify his private ambition and promote his own sinister designs. The first will most generally be unpopular, because his conscience will not permit him to be guilty of such base compliances, and because he will ever serve the people, if in his power, against their own inclinations, though he be sure that he thereby risks his ruin or destruction. I am not insensible of the dangers I am likely to incur, but I do not regard them. It is the part of an ignoble mind to decline doing good for fear of the evil that might follow. I bear no enmity to any man that means well, however we may differ in political sentiments. I most heartily wish you, gentlemen, and the people of this once happy Province, may again enjoy peace and prosperity, and I shall ever particularly honour and esteem such of you and them as have dared, with an honest and manly firmness, in these worst of times, to avow their loyalty to the best of Sovereigns, and manifest their attachment to their legal Constitution. As to my own part, I have no scruple to repeat at this time what I formerly declared to the Assembly, “that no office nor honour in the power of the Crown to bestow, will ever influence me to forget or neglect the duty I owe to my country; nor the most furious rage of the intemperate zealots induce me to swerve from the duty I owe his Majesty.”

WILLIAM FRANKLIN.