CAPTAIN NICHOLSON TO MARYLAND CONVENTION.

Baltimore, July 4, 1776—five o’clock.

GENTLEMEN: I was favoured with your commands last evening, but too late to get the ship under way. Am now proceeding with the ship and tenders, and shall lose no opportunity in getting to Annapolis as soon as possible, to wait your further commands.

I am, gentlemen, your most obliged humble servant to command,

JAMES NICHOLSON.

To the Honourable the Convention of Maryland.

PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATORS.

At a meeting of the Officers and Privates of fifty-three Battalions of the Associators of the Colony of Pennsylvania, at Lancaster, on the 4th day of July, 1776, on notice, to choose two Brigadier-Generals to command the Battalions and Forces in said Colony:

Colonel George Ross was unanimously chosen President, and Lieutenant-Colonel Daniel Clymer was unanimously chosen Secretary.

The Protest of the Board of Officers of the five Battalions of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia to the Assembly was read.

The Circular Letter signed by the Chairman, Colonel Roherdeau, was read.

The Circular Letter from the Committee of Privates of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, signed by the Chairman, Mr. Samuel Simpson, was read.

The Protest of the Privates of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia to the Assembly, signed by Mr. Samuel Simpson, was read.

A question was put, whether the Officers and Privates shall vote by ballot separately.

Resolved, unanimously, in the affirmative.

Resolved, That both Brigadier-Generals be voted for at the same time, and that the highest in votes to be the Commanding Officer.

Adjourned till five o’clock, P. M.

P. M., five o’clock.—The Officers and Privates met according to adjournment.

Resolved, That the President, with Colonel Mark Bird and Captain Sharp Delany, be judges of the election for Brigadier-Generals.

The poll was then opened, and after casting up the same, the majority of votes were for Daniel Roberdeau and James Ewing.

The President immediately declared Daniel Roberdeau First Brigadier-General, and James Ewing Second Brigadier-General.

Resolved, That the Brigadier-Generals shall have full power and authority to call out any number of the Associators of this Colony into action, and their power to continue, unless superseded by the Convention, or by any authority under their appointment.

Resolved, That the President of this Board shall have full power and authority to grant Commissions to the two Brigadier-Generals, to continue until Commissions shall issue from the Convention, or any authority they may delegate to confirm or supersede them.

Resolved, That we will march under the command and direction of our Brigadier-Generals to the assistance of all or any of the free and independent States of America.

Resolved, That the Associators to be drafted out of each County by the Brigadier-Generals shall be in the same proportion as that directed by the late Provincial Conference in Philadelphia.

Resolved, That the thanks of this Board be given to the President for his seasonable and excellent Speech this day in behalf of the liberties of America, and for the cheerfulness and impartiality with which he conducted the business of the day. Which the President received and politely thanked them for.

Resolved, That the President, with Lieutenant-Colonel Daniel Clymer and Captain Sharp Delany, be a Committee to revise and correct the Minutes of the Proceedings of this day, and they are desired to publish them in the several Newspapers in this Colony, and that they be signed by the President.

GEORGE ROSS, President
DANIEL CLYMER, Secretary.

Lancaster, July 4, 1776.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER. FROM TRENTON, NEW-JERSEY, DATED JULY 4, 1776, A. M.

A gentleman who this moment arrived informs that about half-past twelve on yesterday noon, as he was passing from Staten-Island to Brunswick, he was surprised by three or four officers and about one hundred Regulars, who detained him upwards of two hours. In the course of his confinement he met with Courtlandt Skinner, who told him that General Howe with his Army, from seven to ten thousand men, had landed the night before and taken possession of every pass on the Island. He says he saw most of the troops, but as they were dispersed through the Island, he could form no idea of their numbers. Skinner also told him that the fleet from England had arrived at the Hook on the night of their landing, with ten thousand men, who were to land on Staten-Island, as this morning; that they had placed two regiments opposite Amboy, had planted several pieces of cannon there, and at each of the ferries. He also asked the officers if the Commissioners were come; to which they answered yes, and that they were the very men most proper to settle differences of this sort, and also told him they were determined to dislodge our worthy General from New-York. He left New-York yesterday morning, where the Jersey Militia had most of them arrived; that the General and his troops were in high spirits, and he supposed much disappointed at this sudden movement of Howe’s. The Jersey Militia have turned out unanimously, to their great credit; but as most of them have gone over to New-York, would it not be necessary for Pennsylvania to send them assistance? The gentleman thinks that both the General’s express (if one was sent) and the stage are in all probability stopped, for which reason I thought it necessary to send an express. I fear I shall not be able to join our worthy General; however, I am determined to try, and if I fail, must be satisfied with having done my duty. Howe treated him very genteelly and dismissed him at half-past two.

The enemy have taken several of the Riflemen who were on their way to Pennsylvania. I hope all such scoundrels, who will quit an army in sight of an enemy, may meet the same fate.

GENERAL LIVINGSTON TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Elizabethtown, July 4, 1776.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: Since my last to Mr. Adjutant Reed nothing material has happened here, excepting that we are all fully confirmed in the enemy’s having posts along the whole Staten-Island shore as far as Amboy. They have thrown up a couple of small breastworks on the Causeway leading from the Point over the Salt Meadows, at the entrance of the two brigades. It is said that last night they brought two pieces of cannon to the nearest work. We have between four and five hundred men at the Point, who have thrown up a line from the Point House eastward, to answer as a cover. We have two field-pieces, with a part of the company of Artillery of this Province.

Your Excellency must be sensible that as the department I now act in is to me entirely new, I must be desirous of every aid that can possibly be obtained. If you, sir, could spare a few experienced officers to assist me in this important business, it might be of essential service. Our men are raw and inexperienced, our officers mostly absent, want of discipline is inevitable, while we are greatly exposed for the distance of twelve or fourteen miles.

I have the honour to be, sir, your very humble servant,

WILLIAM LIVINGSTON.

To His Excellency General Washington.

ESSEX COUNTY (NEW-JERSEY) COMMITTEE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Newark, July 4, 1776.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: AS not only the levies, but the main body of the Militia, of this and the neighbouring Counties are gone to New-York, and as the King’s troops are in possession of Staten-Island, and there being but a narrow river between them and our defenceless country, and it being thought improbable that General Howe will make any attempt on New-York with his present strength, or until all his expected reinforcements arrive, and as there is great reason to apprehend that he, knowing our naked and