defence of the Island. They looked for the reinforcement every day. Some say they are to land on Long-Island, and others that they are to run up by New-York. His pass is signed by C. Cuyler, aid-de-camp. General Howe suffered him, with his wife and children, to come off this morning. They have four fieldpieces at Decker's, and two more, with two howitzers, opposite Bergen-Point.

A boy and a Nantasket Indian were killed, and some wounded from Bergen shore; but the Captain was not killed, he having seen him since. He heard that both the boy and Indian were prisoners. The Indian had both his feet shot off. A person told him that a number of them on the Island had got together and burned forty pounds in Continental money, damning the Congress, and saying that they had nothing more to do with the Congress.

A man told him he was present when Governour Tryon offered one hundred dollars for Justice Mercereau, dead or alive. Richard Lawrence is made a collector, as he was told. The Governour told them, at a meeting in Cuckold's Town, that if they could not subdue New-York they would burn it, and never give them the liberty of building there again, but would build a city on Staten-Island; that he had liberty to go where he pleased, and found the men very thick along shore in every house, but no lines or breast-works anywhere, not even round the General's quarters.

COLONEL GALBRAITH TO LANCASTER COMMITTEE.

Elizabethtown, July 8, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: In pursuance of your resolve of the 5th instant, we do certify that William Hay was unanimously chosen (by the volunteers) Captain; Robert Clerk, First Lieutenant; Patrick Hays, Second Lieutenant; William Patterson, Third Lieutenant;—officers for the company draughted from our battalion to form, in part, the six thousand Militia Flying-Camp, whom we do recommend to you for their further appointment; and are, gentlemen, your humble servants,

BARTREM GALBRAITH, Colonel.

ALEXANDER LOWREY, Lieutenant-Colonel.

JAMES CUNNINGHAM, Major.

To the Standing Committee of Observation and Inspection, Lancaster.

LEWIS OGDEN TO JOHN JAY.

Newark, July 8, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I have just now received the order from our Congress, of which the enclosed is a copy; and inform you thereof, that we may correspond and cooperate, as the execution of the trust reposed in us may require.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

LEWIS OGDEN.

To John Jay and Gouverneur Morris, Esquires, at New-York.

GENERAL HOWE TO LORD GEORGE GERMAINE.

Staten-Island, July 8, 1776.

MY LORD: Having yesterday submitted to the Admiral's consideration the propriety of sending a naval force up the North River, above the town of New-York, with a view to distress the Rebels on that Island, by obstructing supplies coming down the river, and other good consequences dependent upon that measure, which meeting with his approbation, orders are given for two ships, (one of forty, and another of twenty guns,) to proceed upon that service the first favourable opportunity; and I flatter myself that these ships, more than which cannot be spared at present from the protection of the transports, will prove of sufficient force to support themselves against all attempts of the enemy from the upper river, and to answer the purposes for which they are intended.

Several men have come over to this Island, and to the ships, since my letter of yesterday; and, by a newspaper of the 6th, I learn that the Continental Congress, on the Tuesday preceding, had declared the United Colonies free and independent States. The same paper mentions, that thirty sail of transports, a fifty-gun ship, and several small ships-of-war, had got over Charlestown Bar, in South-Carolina, without specifying the time, or any circumstance in consequence, besides a summons for the town to surrender, which was rejected. Having no better authority for this intelligence than the newspaper, I decline making any observations upon it; and have the honour to be, &c.,

W. HOWE.

Admiralty-Office, August 10, 1776.

By a letter received this day from Vice-Admiral Lord Shuldham, dated Staten-Island, near New-York, the 8th of July last, it appears that his Lordship arrived there on the 3d of that month, with his Majesty's ships under his command, and the whole fleet of transports, victuallers, and store-ships, under his convoy, without any loss or separation; that his Majesty's troops, under the command of General Howe, were landed, on that day and the next, upon Staten-Island, without any opposition or interruption, the inhabitants having, immediately on the troops landing, surrendered, and put themselves under the protection of his Majesty's arms; that two hundred of the inhabitants were imbodied; that the whole Island had taken the oath of allegiance and fidelity to the King; and that a party of sixty men, with their arms, had made their escape from the Province of New-Jersey, and joined the King's troops.

The arrival of Lord Howe, and the reinforcement under Commodore Hotham, were daily expected at Staten-Island, Lord Shuldham having stationed his cruisers in the most proper manner to fall in with and direct them thither.

GOVERNOUR TRYON TO LORD GEORGE GERMAINE.

Dutchess of Gordon, off Staten-Island, July 8, 1776.

MY LORD: I have the satisfaction to acquaint your Lord-ship of the arrival of the fleet under the command of Admiral Shuldham in this port, on the 29th ultimo, and that General Howe disembarked the troops under his command on Staten-Island, the 2d instant, without opposition, on which occasion the inhabitants of the Island came down to welcome the arrival of their deliverers, and have since afforded the Army every supply and accommodation in their power.

On Saturday last I received the Militia of the Island at Richmond town, where near four hundred appeared, who cheerfully, on my recommendation, took the oath of allegiance and fidelity to his Majesty. To-morrow, I am to have another muster, for the inlistment of volunteers to form a Provincial Corps for the defence of the Island, as the General finds it an important quarter to hold against the Rebels. This testimony, given by the inhabitants of the Island, of loyalty to his Majesty, and attachment to his Government, I flatter myself will be general through the Province, as soon as the King's Army gets the main body of the Rebels between them and the sea, which will leave all the back country open to the command of the King's friends, and yield a plentiful resource of provisions for the Army, and place them in a better situation to cut off the Rebels' retreat, when forced from their stronghold.

In the promotion of general officers in America, I do not find it has been his Majesty's pleasure to employ me in this country in my military character. I shall, however, do everything in my power, in my civil capacity, to promote his Majesty's service.

The fortifications in and about New-York have, I am told, undergone little change since the enclosed observations were delivered. Every matter of further information I have laid before General Howe since his arrival, as they came to my knowledge.

I am, with great respect, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient servant,

WILLIAM TRYON.

To Lord George Germaine.

LORD GEORGE GERMAINE TO GOVERNOUR TRYON.

Whitehall, May 17, 1776.

SIR: Since my letter to you of the 28th March, I have not received any of your despatches, nor have I any commands of his Majesty to signify to you; but I have the satisfaction to acquaint you that the embarkation of the troops destined for the reinforcement of General Howe's Army have succeeded so happily, that the corps of Highlanders sailed from the Clyde the 29th of last month, and the first division of the Hessians were clear of the Channel on the 10th instant, and we are in hourly expectation of the arrival at