to be called into life at such a time; yet even these times have their pleasures.

To Mr. Chase, Annapolis.

JOSIAH BARTLETT TO JOHN LANGDON.

Philadelphia, July 1, 1776.

DEAR SIR: Yours of the 14th ultimo is now before me. I am truly sorry that guns, &c., for the ships cannot be got as soon as wanting, but so it happens. The Committee appointed for that purpose have not been able to procure them yet. As to naval affairs, I must refer you to brother Whipple, who continues of the Marine Committee alias Board of Admiralty, and who will, while here, inform you from time to time what is to be done in your department as agent for New-Hampshire.

I am sorry to hear our Colony have determined to keep up the Provincial Regiment at Portsmouth in the pay of the Colony, besides the Continental Regiment. The design of raising that regiment was to ease our Colony of that expense, and I expected they would have been immediately put on the Continental establishment, and our Colony eased of the burden. The cost of maintaining Colonel Gilman’s Regiment, with the bounty given to the men going to Canada, with our other expenses, will be very great, and where we can save cost, consistent with the publick safety, we ought to do it. In short, in my opinion it will be no advantage to us, for when it is known that our harbour is defended by our own forces, it is very probable the Continental Regiment may be ordered somewhere else, which would not be the case if they were wanted, as was expected, for the Colony’s defence. I have the highest opinion of Dr. Brackett, but think he would not accept of the appointment of Surgeon to the Continental Regiment, especially as it may possibly be ordered to some distant place, and I fear he would take it as an affront to offer it to him. New-Jersey have appointed a new set of Delegates, consisting of five; among them is Dr. Witherspoon.

The affair of Independency has been this day determined in a Committee of the whole House; by next post I expect you will receive a formal Declaration, with the reasons. The Declaration before Congress is, I think, a pretty good one. I hope it will not be spoiled by canvassing in Congress.

General Lee, by express, informs us that fifty-three ships, with General Clinton, were before Charlestown, South- Carolina. General Washington, by express this day, informs us that General Howe, with near one hundred sail, were at Sandy-Hook; so that we may soon expect serious work.

Before this reaches you, you will hear that General Sullivan has evacuated Canada, and is at present at Isle-aux-Noix, and I expect soon to hear he is at Crown Point. The time is now at hand when we shall see whether America has virtue enough to be free or not.

Sir, you will excuse the erasements and many other defects in this scrawl, as I have not time to copy or correct it.

I am, sir, your friend, &c.,

JOSIAH BARTLETT.

To Captain Langdon.

P. S. The transport, with Highlanders, that was taken by the Cabot, and afterward retaken, is taken a second time by Captain Barron, and carried into Jametown, Virginia. She had two hundred and twelve soldiers on board, being the whole of the soldiers in two transports taken by the Cabot. The other transport contained the officers of both, and was retaken by the Cerberus man-of-war, and afterward taken again by the Schuyler and Montgomery, and carried into New-York.

CHESTER COUNTY (PENNSYLVANIA) COMMITTEE.

Present fifty Members.

On motion, Resolved, That this Committee use their utmost endeavours to put in execution the Resolve of Conference for raising six hundred and fifty-two Men forthwith in this County; and that the following gentlemen be appointed Officers, viz: William Montgomery, Colonel; Thomas Bull, Lieutenant-Colonel, and John Bartholomew, Major. Captains: Joseph Gardner, Benjamin Wallace, Samuel Culbinson, James Boyley, John McDowel, John Shaw, Matthew Boyd, and John Beaton. First Lieutenants: William Henry, Andrew Dunwooddy, Thomas Kenney, Benjamin Culbinson, Samuel Lindsey, Allen Cunningham, Joseph Strawbridge, and Joseph Bartholomew. Second Lieutenants: Robert Filson, William Lockurt, Thomas Davis, Samuel Hammel, Jeremiah Cloud, Joseph Wherrey, David Curry, and Alexander Mc Caragher. Ensigns: John Grardtrensher, William Cunningham, John Filling, Andrew Curry, Thomas James, Lazarus Finney, Archibald Desart, and John Lew-ellyn.

A true copy from the Minutes:

CALEB DAVIS, Secretary.

PENNSYLVANIA COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

The Committee, taking into consideration the Resolution of Congress [for raising a German Battalion], and being of opinion that the publick service requires that it be carried into execution without any delay, and the Recruiting service be entered on as soon as possible:

Resolved, That this Board will, on Friday, the 5th instant, appoint Captains, and on Friday, the 12th instant, Lieutenants and Ensigns, for the four Companies of Germans directed to be raised in this Province by order of Congress; and that it is the opinion of this Board that, consistent with the Resolve of Congress, no person but such as are Germans born, or the sons of Germans, should hold any office in said Companies.

All such gentlemen who fall under the above descriptions, and are desirous to enter into the service, are requested to send in their applications as early as may be.

Extract from the Minutes :

WILLIAM GOVETT, Secretary.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GENERAL WARD.

New-York, July 1, 1776.

SIR: I received your favours of the 20th and 23d ultimo, and am happy to hear of the further success of our armed vessels, in the capture of the transport with the Highland Grenadiers. If they have been fortunate enough to take the eleven ships mentioned in your last, I suppose we are in possession of a large share of the Highlanders ordered against us. I am extremely sorry for your indisposition, and wish to afford you all the relief in my power, and that the situation of things will admit of. It is particularly unlucky that Mr. Whitcomb should refuse his commission at this crisis. A fleet has arrived at the Hook, which we suppose to be General Howe’s, having received authentick intelligence of his sailing from Halifax on the 9th ultimo with one hundred and thirty-two sail. One hundred and ten came in on Saturday; more were in the offing; and a few had got in two or three days before. We expect he will make an attack as soon as possible; and I am making every preparation to receive him. As we are extremely deficient in arms here, and in great distress for want of them, I shall be glad if you will send off those taken from the Highlanders, which you conceive can possibly be spared. Let them be sent immediately to Norwich, to the persons there who were intrusted with the others, with directions to forward them without delay, by water, if there shall be no risk; if there is, by land. You will observe that the new regiments to be raised in the Massachusetts are to furnish their own before they are received, or can be taken into pay.

To Major-General Ward.

P. S. It is not in my power to send a General Officer now. I have but one Major-General, and not Brigadiers more than are absolutely necessary, nor so many. I have heard nothing more of the other three hundred carbines; they are not yet arrived.

COLONEL REED TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Head-Quarters, New-York, July 1, 1776.

SIR: The General being informed that the Provincial Congress of New-York have collected a quantity of lead in