from Congress, on their arrival in Canada, did, ex officio, supersede my orders, and released the abovementioned persons to go to Montreal, where Major Gray put on his sword and cockade and strutted about like a victorious conqueror. Two prisoners of war also had this enlargement at that time to go from that fort into the adjacent village, and in a few days they went off, recruiting for the King's Army among the Canadians.

I must beg leave to observe, that by the above transaction, the greatest insult and indignity was cast on my character and conduct, being then commander-in-chief in Canada; and it was certainly inconsistent with good policy, let their private sentiments of me and my measures be what they would, as it naturally rendered general orders contemptible in the eyes of the officers and soldiers of our own Army, as well as of our enemies. And yet, what is more extraordinary, all this was done before I could possibly have an interview (consistent with the publick safety) with these gentlemen on the subject.

DAVID WOOSTER, Brig. General.

To the Honourable Committee of Congress.

GENERAL WOOSTER TO THE COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS.

Philadelphia, July 5, 1776.

As I understand that my character has greatly suffered by an injurious representation that I am guilty of robbing one Bernard, an Indian trader in Montreal, of his goods last winter, I therefore beg leave to state that matter in its proper light. In January last I called the Indian traders of Montreal together, and inquired of them whether they expected passports in the spring to carry their goods, &c., into the Indian country as usual; they told me they expected that indulgence; but that, at any rate, they should be permitted to carry provisions to their people in the upper country. As I apprehended the granting of passports for the upper country might be attended with unhappy consequences to the interests of the United Colonies—as the goods which they make use of for that trade were much wanted for our Army, and there was the greatest reason to expect that by this way our enemies would be supplied with everything they wanted—I did not incline to grant passports without the direction of Congress. I therefore advised them to choose a committee to wait upon Congress for their direction. They sent Mr. Forbisher, who did not return till the month of April. Soon after, I was informed the merchants were determined to send off their goods in the spring, with or without passports; upon which I gave out a general order prohibiting the carrying any coarse goods out of the city, except such as were wanted by the country people. About the 20th of March I was informed that the abovementioned Bernard had privately conveyed out of the city into the suburbs a large quantity of coarse goods for the upper country trade; and upon further inquiry, found that the goods were loaded in the night and carried off twenty-nine sleigh loads. I immediately sent a party after them, who, about thirty miles from Montreal, overtook and brought back seven loads of blankets, powder, and various other goods, calculated for the Indian trade. These goods were all brought to Head-Quarters; and as I was then preparing to go to Quebeck, I gave them into the hands of Mr. George Measam, with orders to take an exact account of them, and to keep them to be delivered out to the troops when wanted; that if it should afterwards be judged that Mr. Bernard had not properly, by the rules of war, forfeited them, they might be paid for. You will please to observe that this Bernard had broken through and violated a publick agreement, disobeyed general orders, and was carrying warlike stores, provisions, &c, to our enemies; and, notwithstanding, I was called a robber for detaining the man's goods. I am far from being certain that many are and will be of opinion that the goods were as legal a prize as any vessel or goods taken coming from Great Britain or the West Indies this war. In addition to my own opinion of the propriety of preventing the Indian trade, I had General Lee's instructions to prevent the carrying off of coarse goods, which you will see by his letter of the 28th of February.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

DAVID WOOSTER, Brig. General.

To the Honourable the Committee of Congress.

ELBRIDGE GERRY TO GENERAL WARREN.

Philadelphia, July 5, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I have the pleasure to inform you that a determined resolution of the Delegates from some of the Colonies to push the question of Independency has had a most happy effect, and, after a day's debate, all the Colonies, excepting New-York, whose Delegates are not empowered to give either an affirmative or negative voice, united in a declaration long sought for, solicited, and necessary—the Declaration of Independency.

New-York will most probably, on Monday next, when its Convention meets for forming a constitution, join in the measure, and then it will be entitled THE UANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE THIRTEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

I enclose you a copy of the Declaration for yourself, and another for Major Hawley, and offer you my sincere congratulations on the occasion; and I pray that we may never want the Divine aid, or the spirit and the means to defend it. Yours, &c.,

ELBRIDGE GERRY.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER DATED PHILADELPHIA, JULY 5, 1776.

By a person this day from the lower counties in Jersey, we are informed that the brig Nancy, Captain Montgomery, of six three-pounders and eleven men, from St. Croix and St. Thomas for this port, loaded on Congress account with three hundred and eighty-six barrels of gunpowder, fifty firelocks, one hundred and one hogsheads of rum, and sixty-two hogsheads of sugar, &c., on board, in the morning of the 29th ultimo, 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 Captains Wickes and Barry, when it was agreed to run the brig ashore, which was done, and, under favour of a fog, they have 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 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, (brother of Captain Wickes,) third lieutenant of the Continental ship Reprisal, and wounded a boy in the thigh.

MEASURES FOR DEFENCE OF NEW-JERSEY AND PENNSYLVANIA.

At a Conference of the Delegates in Congress for the States of New-York, New-Jersey, and Pennsylvania, of the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania, the Committee of Inspection and Observation for the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, and the Field-Officers of the five Battalions of the said city, &c., at the State House in Philadelphia, on the 5th day of July, 1776, in pursuance of the following Resolution of Congress, to wit:

"In Congress, July 4, 1776.

"Resolved, That the Delegates of New-York, New-Jersey, and Pennsylvania, be a Committee to confer with the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania, the Committee of Inspection of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, and the Field Officers of the Battalions of the said City and Liberties, on the best means of defending the Colonies of New-Jersey and Pennsylvania, and that they be empowered to send expresses where necessary.

JOHN HANCOCK, President."