Our Army at Crown-Point is an object of wretchedness Enough to fill a humane mind with honour; disgraced, defeated, discontented, dispirited, diseased, naked, undisciplined, eaten up with vermin; no clothes, beds, blankets; no medicines; no victuals, but salt pork and flour. A chaplain from that Army preached a sermon here the other day, from Cursed is he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully. I knew better than he did who the persons were who deserved these curses; but I could not help myself, nor my poor country, any more than he I hope that measures will be taken to cleanse the Army at Crown-Point from the small-pox, and that other measures will be taken in New-England, by tolerating and encouraging inoculation, to render that distemper less terrible.

I am solicitous to hear what figure our new Superior Court made in their eastern circuit: what business they did; whether the grand juries and petit juries were sworn; whether they had tried any criminal, or any civil actions; how the people were affected at the appearance of courts again; how the Judges were treated—whether with respect, or cold neglect, fee. Every Colony upon the Continent will soon be in the same situation. They are erecting Governments as fast as children build cob-houses; but, I conjecture, they will hardly throw them down again so soon.

The practice we have hitherto been in, of ditching round about our enemies, will not always do. We must learn to use other weapons than the pick and the spade. Our armies must be disciplined, and learn to fight. I have the satisfaction to reflect that our Massachusetts people, when they have been left to themselves, have been constantly fighting and skirmishing, and always with success. I wish the same valour, prudence, and spirit, had been discovered every-where.

JOSEPH HART TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read July 8, 1776.]

Warminster, Bucks County, July 7, 1776.

HONOURABLE SIR: This day, Mr. Wynkoop delivered me your letter of the 3d instant, directed to the Committee of our County, requesting that the troops we are raising to form the Flying-Camp might be immediately sent to New-Brunswick This I dare say our Committee will readily comply with; but they are not yet formed, and tomorrow the election must be attended. On Wednesday, however, our Committee are to meet to appoint officers; and when that is done, I am of opinion the men will turn out immediately, and which 1 believe our Committee will encourage, to the utmost of their abilities.

I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

JOSEPH HART

To the Hon. John Hancock, President.

GEORGE ROSS TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Lancaster, July 7, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: The present situation of publick affairs having made it necessary that the Militia of Pennsylvania should be immediately marched to the Jerseys, to act until the Flying-Camp shall be formed, and the resolves of the Congress and Committee lately convened at Philadelphia, directing and approving of this measure, having been made known to the Associators here, they have almost to a man determined to march on this service. The Committee, considering the dangerous situation of the town, exposed to the fury and ravages of near four hundred of the prisoners taken at Chambly and St. John's, who are stationed here, and cannot be confined day or night, in the present open state of our barracks, have been under the necessity of checking the ardour of the Associators in the town, and permit but a part to leave the place; but as these will have our best arms with them, and those who remain are not in numbers equal to those prisoners, the remainder of the inhabitants and their property are, we think, rather too much exposed. Upon these prisoners first coming to Lancaster, the Committee asked the sentiments of Congress as to enclosing the barracks ground, and keeping a guard over them there. The Congress then thought this measure unnecessary, doubtless from a persuasion that by the prisoners mixing and working with the inhabitants, they would learn and be convinced of the justness of our cause, and become rattier the friends than enemies of the rights of America. But experience, evinces the contrary. By their mixing with the people, they have done much mischief. They adhere, with an extraordinary degree of firmness, to their tyrannical master and his cause, and every action and expression convinces us that they would seize every opportunity to promote it and distress us.

We have lately found several of them in the dress of our riflemen, and as that dress is now become a kind of passport for those who wear it, we cannot help hinting to Congress the danger of these people carrying intelligence between our enemies in that garb, and that, as they are now placed, we cannot prevent it. Indeed, it is probable that the officers from Lebanon have gone off in that disguise. We have had it hinted that some of them are travelling through the country, procuring signers to some paper, which, it is more than probable, is of bad tendency, and shall therefore endeavour to detect them. That they have had the most early intelligence of events which have happened in Canada, we have had experience. We therefore cannot help mentioning to Congress our opinion as to the necessity of having them in some manner secured, so as to prevent their straggling, carrying intelligence, or insulting or injuring the inhabitants; and that, while at liberty, they are a dangerous set of people, and beg leave to request the direction of Congress in the premises.

As it is proposed to march part of the town Militia on Thursday next, we shall be happy in having the sentiments and directions of Congress before that time.

And have the honour to be, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant.

By order of the Committee:

GEORGE ROSS, Chairman.

To the Hon. John Hancock, President of the Honourable Continental Congress.

DOCTOR COCHRAN TO THOMAS McKEAN.

New-Brunswick, July 7, 1776.

DEAR SIR: The bearer, Lieutenant Woodman, of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment, taken prisoner at Ticonderoga last summer, has resided in this town ever since, on his parole. As far as I know, he has behaved himself with decency respecting publick matters; nor do I find that he has ever been charged with taking part either with one side or the other. He has made a in this town, and is at present employed in repairing it. He is married to a daughter of Mr. Legrange, of this place, and has a family of six children, which renders his removal from hence rather distressing; therefore, if any indulgences, consistent with the publick safety, can be allowed him, I hope they will not be improperly bestowed. I know your readiness to do acts of humanity; therefore leave the matter of it particularly to your own judgment and the publick security.

I am, dear sir, your very obedient, humble servant,

JOHN COCHRAN.

To Thomas McKean, Esq., Philadelphia.

GENERAL LIVINGSTON TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Elizabethtown, July 7, 1776.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: By Captain Swan, of the new levies, just going off for the city, I take the liberty of enclosing a rough draught of the Sound and Jersey shore, from Elizabeth Point to Amboy, with an abstract of the different posts I have directed along the same. Although this may not be of any essential service, yet I thought it not amiss, as it might give you an idea of what I had done, that your Excellency might rectify anything that was amiss in the arrangement.

Since writing the above, a deserter is brought in to me, whose examination I have taken, and enclose it; and forward this by express, lest it should be delayed. I have also this moment received intelligence from Philadelphia, that the Pennsylvania forces marched the 5th instant to our assistance, and that the principal part of the strength of Pennsylvania will soon be on their march, for the same benevolent purpose.

I received your Excellency's letter respecting the persons apprehended at Amboy, and I shall send them all (except