piety, as well as your uniform and zealous attachment to the rights of America, to appoint you their Chaplain.

It is their request, which I am commanded to signify to you, that you will attend on them every morning at nine o'clock.

I have the honour to be, sir, with respect, your most obedient and very humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To the Rev. Mr. Jacob Duche.

JOSEPH HEWES TO SAMUEL JOHNSTON.

Philadelphia, July 8, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I have received your favours of the 23d May, and 6th and 11th of June. The first of these came last to hand. I have not had an opportunity to forward your letter to Elmsly. Tryon is not to be trusted with it. I send it by some vessel bound to France or Spain. I cannot find out any other way of conveyance, and that is very precarious.

I shall endeavour to get for you a proper account of the linen manufactory here. I have been several times at it, but have not been hitherto fortunate enough to meet with any of the directors. I expect, in the course of our political convulsions with Great Britain, I shall be rendered incapable of holding any share in any publick manufactory for want of stock. I will think of it when I get home, which I hope will be towards the end of August.

I received a letter from your Committee of Secrecy, War and Intelligence, respecting the expediency of fortifying the harbour of Cape-Lookout. I laid the matter before a committee of Congress appointed to consider what places were proper to be fortified; but before they consider and make report thereon, it is absolutely necessary that they should have a plan or map of the harbour, with proper explanations and descriptions. These should be taken by an engineer on the spot, who should form a plan of the fortifications necessary to be made, and the expense that would attend the erection of them. I have written to Mr. Harnett twice on this subject; but as I have reason to believe many letters miscarry, I now mention the matter to you in hopes you will endeavour to prevail on the Council of Safety to get the matter done as early as possible. I find a disposition in most of the Members of Congress to grant to our Province all that can be reasonably expected. It is not in their power to assist us at present with cannon; but as several forges are beginning to cast twelve and eighteen-pounders, I hope towards winter they will not only have it in their power, but be heartily disposed to assist us with some heavy pieces to put into such places as may be thought most advisable. This is all you can expect—it is all that is done in the like cases. The work must be done at your own expense, or by such Continental troops as may be in the Province for the time being. I give you this as my opinion. Perhaps they may do more for our Province: it stands high in rank and high in estimation. I wish it may be able to support its good character in future.

A hellish plot has been lately discovered at New-York to murder General Washington and some other officers of the first rank, blow up the magazine, and spike up the cannon. The persons employed had it in charge, and have actually inlisted a number of men for the King's Army. It was to have been put in execution on the first arrival of the Army from Halifax. One of General Washington's guards has been put to death for being concerned in it. The Mayor of the city, and some others, are confined. I believe many of them are guilty. It is said the matter has been traced up to Governour Tryon.

What has become of my friend Hooper? I expected to have seen him here erenow; otherwise I should have written to him respecting some of his conations at Boston, who are like to suffer by having property in the hands of Tories who have fled from that country.

My friend Penn came time enough to give his vote for Independence. I send you the Declaration of Independence enclosed. All the Colonies voted for it, except New-York. That Colony was prevented from joining in it by an old instruction. Their Convention meets this day, and it is expected they will follow the example of the other Colonies.

I had the weight of North-Carolina on my shoulders within a day or two of three months. The service was too severe. I have set some days from six in the morning till five and sometimes six in the afternoon, without eating or drinking. My health was bad; such close attention made it worse. I nevertheless obstinately persisted in doing my duty to the best of my judgment and abilities, and attended Congress the whole time, one day only excepted. This I did contrary to the repeated solicitations of my friends, some of whom I believe thought I should not be able to keep soul and body together to this time. Duty, inclination, and self-preservation call on me now to make a little excursion into the country to see my mother. This is a duty which I have not allowed myself time to perform during almost nine months that I have been here.

General Howe and his Army are in the neighbourhood of New-York, sometimes on shore on Staten-Island, and sometimes on board the fleet. It is thought that he has not more than seven or eight thousand men with him. He is waiting for Lord Howe's fleet to arrive, when he expects to be joined by twenty thousand men. All the regiments in Continental pay, that were raised in this Province, are now at New-York and on the lakes. Six thousand Militia from this Province, and three thousand four hundred from Maryland, will march in a few days towards New-York. The Jersey Militia are all in motion. I fear these Colonies will suffer greatly for want of labourers to get in the harvest. Some people are of opinion that many fields of wheat will remain unreaped, and be totally lost. Our northern Army has left Canada and retreated to Ticonderoga and Crown-Point. The small-pox has made great havock among them. Several regiments had not well men enough to row the sick over the lakes. Men were drafted from other regiments to do that service. In short, that army has melted away in as little time as if the destroying angel had been sent on purpose to demolish them, as he did the children of Israel.

We are endeavouring to get the lakes fortified in the best manner we can, to prevent Burgoyne from passing them and entering the Colonies on that side.

A paper has been privately laid on the Congress table, importing that some dark designs were forming for our destruction, and advising us to fake care of ourselves. Some were for examining the cellars under the room where we sit. I was against it, and urged that we ought to treat such information with contempt, and not show any mark of fear or jealousy. I told some of them 1 had almost as soon be blown up, as to discover to the world that I thought myself in danger. No notice has been taken of this piece of information, which I think is right.

I enclose you a resolve of Congress, which please to forward to your Council of Safety. I also enclose a letter to Mr. Burke. If you can do anything for the gentlemen who subscribe it, I hope you will do it. They are my friends, and friends to America. I sent you a commission of this kind some time ago; you have not mentioned it in any of your letters.

I will trespass no longer on your patience. Remember me to your family and connexions; and be assured I am, with affection and regard, dear sir, your most obedient servant,

JOSEPH HEWES.

To Samuel Johnston, Esq.

P. S. I copy no letters—take them with all their imperfections.

THOMAS JEFFERSON TO RICHARD HENRY LEE.

Philadelphia, July 8, 1776.

DEAR SIR: For news I refer you to your brother, who writes on that head. I enclose you a copy of the Declaration of Independence, as agreed to by the House, and also as originally framed. You will judge whether it is the better or worse for the criticks. I shall return to Virginia after the 11th of August. I wish my successor may be certain to come before that time; in that case I shall hope to see you, and not Wythe, in Convention, that the business of Government, which is of everlasting concern., may receive your aid.

Adieu, and believe me to be your friend and servant,

THOMAS JEFFERSON.

To Richard Henry Lee, Esq.

WILLIAM WHIPPLE TO JOHN LANGDON.

Philadelphia, July 8, 177G.

MY DEAR SIR: Yours of the 24th ultimo I have received. It grieved me that the frigates cannot be got to sea, which I