to hear the small-pox has broken out among the party under your command. We think it most advisable that all the men under your command who have not had the small-pox should be immediately inoculated, and desire you would apply to Doctor Craig for that purpose. You will make the best bargain you can with the Doctor. All necessary expenses will be paid by the Council in behalf of the Province.        We are, &c.

To Lieutenant Bennett Bracco.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO JESSE HOLLINGSWORTH.

SIR: AS the former request made by the Council was disagreeable, as you mention to us, to Messrs. Lux & Bowley and Captain Woolsey, we thought it most proper to refer the consideration of their claims and proposals, with all the papers and letters relative to that transaction, to the Convention who have concurred with the report of their Committee of Claims, which we send you enclosed. You will therefore make known to those gentlemen this resolution of the Convention, and you will proceed agreeable to the instructions we have given you respecting those cargoes, and you will please to inform those gentlemen we will pay the particular sums to their order.

Lieutenant Moore has made known to us that there are wanting for the artillery here two hundred four-pound balls, two hundred six-pound ditto, and four hundred three-pound ditto. These are cast at the Kingsbury Furnace, and we request the favour of you to expedite them as soon as they possibly can be done.        We are, &c.

To Mr. Jesse Hollingsworth.

TO THE PEOPLE OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Every moment that I reflect on our affairs, the more am I convinced of the necessity of a formal declaration of independence. Reconciliation is thought of now by none but knaves, fools, and madmen; and as we cannot offer terms of peace to Great Britain until (as other nations have done before us) we agree to call ourselves by some name, I shall rejoice to hear the title of the United States of America, in order that we may be on a proper footing to negotiate a peace.

Besides, the condition of those brave fellows who have fallen into the enemy’s hands as prisoners, and the risk which every man runs who bears arms, either by land or sea, in the American cause, makes a declaration of independence absolutely necessary, because no proper cartel for an exchange of prisoners can take place while we remain dependants. It is some degree of comfort to a man taken prisoner that he belongs to some national power—is the subject of some State that will see after him. Oliver Cromwell would have sent a memorial as powerful as thunder to any King on earth who dared to have used prisoners in the manner which ours have been. What is it that we have done in this matter? Nothing. We were subjects of Great Britain, and must not do these things. Shame on your cowardly souls that do them not! You are not fit to govern.

Were Britain to make a conquest of America, I would, for my own part, choose rather to be conquered as an independent State than as an acknowledged rebel. Some foreign powers might interpose for us in the first case, but they cannot in the latter, because the law of all nations is against us. Besides, the foreign European powers will not be long neutral, and unless we declare an independence and send embassies to seek their friendship, Britain will be beforehand with us; for the moment she finds that she cannot make a conquest of America by her own strength, she will endeavour to make a European affair of it. Upon the whole, we may be benefited by independence, but we cannot be hurt by it, and every man that is against it is a traitor.

REPUBLICUS.

Philadelphia, June 29, 1776.

Philadelphia, June 29, 1776.

The brig Nancy, Captain Montgomery, of six three-pounders and eleven men, from St. Croix and St. Thomas for this port, with three hundred and eighty-six barrels of gunpowder, fifty fire-locks, one hundred and one hogsheads of rum, and sixty-two hogsheads of sugar, &c, on board, in the morning of the 29th of June, when standing for Cape May, discovered six sail of men-of-war, tenders, &c, making towards him, as also a row-boat. The boat and tenders he soon after engaged and beat off, stood close along shore, and got assistance from Captain Wickes and Barry, when it was agreed to run the brig ashore, which was done; and, under favour of a fog, they saved two hundred and sixty-eight barrels of powder, fifty arms, and some dry-goods; when the fog clearing away, Captain Montgomery discovered the enemy’s ships very near him, and five boats coming to board the brig, on which he started a quantity of powder in the cabin, and fifty pounds in the mainsail, in the folds of which he put fire, and then quitted her. The men-of-war’s boats (some say two, some three) boarded the brig, and took possession of her with three cheers; soon after which the fire took the desired effect, and blew the pirates forty or fifty yards into the air, and much shattered one of their boats under her stern. Eleven dead bodies have since come on shore, with two gold-laced hats and a leg with a garter. From the great number of limbs floating and driven ashore, it is supposed thirty or forty of them were destroyed by the explosion. A number of people from on board our ships of war, and a number of the inhabitants of Cape May, mounted a gun on shore, with which they kept up a fire at the barges, which the men-of-war, &c, returned, and killed Mr. Wickes, Third Lieutenant of the Contineutal ship Reprisal, and wounded a boy in the thigh.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO PENNSYLVANIA COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Philadelphia, June 29, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I do myself the honour to enclose sundry resolves respecting the further augmentation of the Continental forces. The Congress have thought it expedient to order a German Battalion to be raised, as soon as possible, in the Colonies of Pennsylvania and Maryland, to be employed in such manner as will be most likely to defeat the designs of our enemies, and to promote the cause of American liberty. I am, therefore, to request you will exert yourselves to carry the enclosed resolves into effect as speedily as possible.

I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To the Honourable Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO CONVENTION OF MARYLAND.

Philadelphia, June 29, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: YOU will perceive by the enclosed resolves, which I do myself the honour of transmitting in obedience to the commands of Congress, that they have judged it necessary to augment the Continental forces with a battalion composed of Germans, to be raised in your Colony and Pennsylvania, and to be employed in such manner as will be most likely to defeat the designs of our enemies, and to promote the cause of American liberty.

In order to complete the Rifle regiment at New- York, the Congress have likewise determined that six companies be raised for that purpose—two in your Colony and four in Virginia. I am, therefore, to request, by order of Congress, you will be pleased to appoint the officers, and forward with all possible expedition the raising the companies, agreeable to the enclosed resolves.

The five thousand dollars your Delegates have received of me; and enclosed you have their receipt.

I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To the Honourable the Convention of Maryland, and, in their recess, to the Honourable Council of Safety.

(Same to the Honourable Convention of Virginia. )

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Philadelphia, June 29, 1776.

SIR: I do myself the honour of transmitting sundry resolves respecting the further augmentation of the Continental forces. The Congress have thought it expedient to order a German Battalion to be raised as soon as possible in