of the prisoner Auchmuty to communicate with his nephew, by the agency of J. L. C. Roome, whose note for the purpose Was found upon a negro before it reached young Auchmuty. It was the General's opinion that the abovementioned prisoners should be immediately sent to our Congress, to be disposed of by them, in some place of security, and charged me with the doing of it. They will be delivered to the Congress by Lieutenant Gilbert Dean and a guard of twenty men of my brigade. However inconvenient it may be to return me the guard, I must earnestly insist that it be immediately done. My brigade is very thin, and there is already a large guard gone out of it to New-England with the Scotch prisoners of war.

I have nothing material to inform Congress of now than as follows, to wit: Independency declared last Tuesday in Congress by an unanimous voice. Our infamous brethren of Staten-Island, instead of assisting the troops in removing the stock, drove them into hiding places. Not above a hundred were got off. The enemy, or a part of them, are landed on Staten-Island, live in great harmony with the inhabitants, who sell them their stock for hard money, and I suppose were never so happy in their lives. An attempt was made on the Jersey shore, but upon the appearance of the Militia they retired to the Island again, and broke up the causeway; and Richard Lawrence was the first man on that work. Brigadier Heard, of the Jersey Militia, with a party and two twelve-pounders, have destroyed one of the enemy's tenders in the Kills.

I am, sir, with great respect, your most obedient servant,

JOHN MORIN SCOTT.

To the President of the New-York Provincial Congress, at the White-Plains.

Examination of JOHN SIMPSON.

White-Plains, in Westchester County, July 6, 1776.

John Simpson, of the County of Northumberland, in England, aged about thirty-eight, about five feet ten inches, light eyes, and brown hair, being examined, says, that he sailed from London in the ship Saville, himself master, bound for Boston, with a cargo of provisions for the Ministerial Navy, where he arrived in November last, and was detained at Boston until the Army under General Howe left that place for Halifax. That he sailed from Halifax with General Howe's fleet, and on their arrival at the Narrows one of his boats went adrift, on which he, with three of his sailors, took another boat and went in quest of her, and on their coming near Long-Island shore were taken prisoners, and brought up to New-York, from whence he was sent to this place.

Parole of JOHN SIMPSON.

I, John Simpson, master of the ship Saville, a victualling transport, being made a prisoner of war by the Army of the Thirteen United Colonies in North America, do promise and engage, on my word and honour, and on the faith of a gentleman, to depart from hence to the township of Bedford, in, Westchester County, in the Province of New-York, being the place of my destination and residence, and there, or six miles thereof, to remain during the present war between Great Britain and the said United Colonies, or until the Congress of the said United Colonies, or the Assembly, Convention, or Committee or Council of Safety of the said Colony, shall order otherwise; and that I will not, directly or indirectly, give any intelligence whatsoever to the enemies of the said United Colonies, or do or say anything in opposition to, or in prejudice of, the measures and proceedings of any Congress for the said Colonies during the present troubles, or until I am duly exchanged or discharged.

Given under my hand, this sixth day of July, A. D. 1776.

JOHN SIMPSON,

Master of the Saville Victualler.

Examination of SAMUEL COX.

Samuel Cox, a native of the Island of Bermuda, master of the sloop Charlotte, about five feet ten inches high, brown complexion, light eyes, brown hair, about twenty-five years of age, being examined, says he sailed from Halifax as master of the said sloop on the tenth of June last, with a cargo of intrenching tools, fee, for the use of the Ministerial Army, and bound to Sandy-Hook; that he was taken in the said sloop on the 28th of last month, by Captain Rogers, in an American armed sloop, and carried into Fire-Island Inlet, on the south side of Long-Island, from whence he was brought prisoner to this place.

SAMUEL COX.

Parole of SAMUEL COX.

I, Samuel Cox, being made a prisoner of war by the Array of the Thirteen United Colonies in North America, do promise and engage, on my word and honour, and on the faith of a gentleman, to depart from hence to the township of Bedford, in Westchester County, in the Province of New-York, being the place of my destination and residence; and there, or within six miles thereof, to remain during the present war between Great Britain and the said United Colonies, or until the Congress of the said United Colonies, or the Assembly, Convention, or Committee or Council of Safety of the said Colony, shall order otherwise; and that I will not, directly or indirectly, give any intelligence whatsoever to the enemies of the United Colonies, or do or say anything in opposition to, or in prejudice of, the measures and proceedings of any Congress for the said Colonies during the present troubles, or until I am duly exchanged or discharged.

Given under my hand this 6th day of July, A. D. 1776.

SAMUEL COX,

Master of the Sloop Charlotte Transport.

Examination of WILLIAM ELDER.

William Elder, a North Briton, about five feet eight inches in height, aged twenty-five, light eyes, fair complexion, and dark brown hair, being examined, says he came from Scotland via Falmouth, in the packet last spring was a year; that he came out as a volunteer with Colonel Allan Maclean, who, on his arrival, went to Boston; that the examinant received a letter from Major Small, informing this examinant that Colonel Maclean had recommended him and requested him to come to Boston; that the examinant took passage in the ship Sally, bound to Boston; that on the 6th of March last, the said ship was cast away on the south side of Long-Island, and he taken prisoner and brought to New-York, where he remained a prisoner till yesterday, when he was sent to this place.

WILLIAM ELDER.

Parole of WILLIAM ELDER.

I, William Elder, being made a prisoner of war by the Army of the Thirteen United Colonies in North America, do promise and engage, on my word and honour, and on the faith of a gentleman, to depart from hence to the town of Bedford, in Westchester County, in the Province of New-York, being the place of my destination and residence; and there, or within six miles thereof, to remain during the present war between Great Britain and the said United Colonies, or until the Congress of the said United Colonies, or the Assembly, Convention, or Committee or Council of Safety of the said Colony, shall order otherwise; and that I will not, directly or indirectly, give any intelligence whatsoever to the enemies of the United Colonies, or do or say anything in opposition to, or in prejudice of, any Congress for the said Colonies during the present troubles, or until I am duly exchanged or discharged.

Given under my hand this 6th day of July, A. D. 1776.

WILLIAM ELDER, Volunteer.

Examination of WILLIAM MCDERMOTT.

William McDermott, an Hibernian, aged twenty-two, about five feet six inches high, fair complexion, light eyes, and light brown hair, being examined, says, that on his passage from New-York (he having been for some time on board the Asia) he was cast away on board the ship Sally, on the south side of Long-Island, taken and sent prisoner to New-York, where he remained a prisoner till yesterday, when he was sent to this place.

WILLAIM MCDERMOTT.

Parole of WILLIAM MCDERMOTT.

I, William McDermott, being made a prisoner of war by the Army of the Thirteen United Colonies in North America, do promise and engage, on my word and honour, and on the