LEWIS GORDON TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

In Committee, Easton, July 9, 1776.

HONOURABLE SIR: This Committee acknowledges the receipt of your letter of the 3d instant, by express; and being truly sensible of the critical and alarming state of our publick affairs, will most cordially comply with every resolve of the Continental Congress to sustain and promote the cause of liberty in America. This Committee, however, are entirely at a loss how to send any troops immediately out of this country, as no measures have hitherto been taken to raise men for forming a Flying-Camp; neither had we had the least intimation of such a requisition before we received your letter.

To remedy this defect as well, as possible, We propose instantly to take out of our four battalions a proportional number, so as in the whole to compose a body of three hundred and forty-six men, which appears by General Roberdeau's letter of the 6th instant to be our quota of Associators allotted by the late conference of Committees for this County; but we are at the same time utterly unprovided with money, nor have we so much gunpowder nor lead as to carry the men to New-Brunswick. As to the article of tin for kettles, we are told there is none in the country; and we pray that some proper steps may be taken to furnish us immediately with those articles, to avoid delay as much as possible.

By order of the Committee:

LEWIS GORDON, Chairman.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

P. S. We could not avoid detaining the express till this moment, being eleven o'clock in the forenoon.

COMMODORE HOPKINS TO CAPTAIN HACKER.

Philadelphia, July 9, 1776.

SIR: I received yours of the 5th instant, and think you are pretty well hemmed in. I think it best yon should keep your vessel in the best posture of defence you can, and assist the common cause all in your power with your sloop; but should it so happen that you can't help falling into the enemy's hands, you are to destroy the sloop, rather than let them get her. You will continue thereabouts, and do what service you can until further orders. You may draw for any supplies you may want.

I am, sir, your friend, &c.,

E. HOPKINS.

To Hoysted Hacker, Esq., Commander of the Fly, at Brunswick or Amboy.

ADVICES PROM THE INDIANS BY GEORGE MORGAN.

Philadelphia, August 15, 1776.

George Morgan, Esq., arrived in Philadelphia from the westward on Saturday, the 10th of August. On the 9th of July, whilst at one of the Shawanese towns on the Scioto, be received intelligence of three Six-Nation warriors having passed by there with two prisoners they had taken, sixteen days before, from Virginia. Mr. Morgan followed, and got to their own town before them, prevented the usual punishment of the prisoners on their entry, and insisted on their being immediately delivered up to them, unless they intended this breach of the peace as an open declaration of war. All the headmen of the Six Nations, Shawanese, and Delawares, who were called together on this occasion, behaved in a very friendly manner, and joined with Mr. Morgan in his demand made to the warriors, who soon complied there-with, and were promised forgiveness, on condition of future good behaviour. These warriors told Mr. Morgan they had done no other damage, except they killed a young man they shot at when they took these prisoners; but he made his escape, though they believed the ball entered his breast. The prisoners are twin sons of, Andrew McConnel, late of Pennsylvania, who removed last winter to Leestown, on Kentucky River, and were taken within a few hundred yards of the town. Mr. Morgan brought them to Pittsburgh, and delivered them to their uncle in Westmoreland County, in this Province.

Since then, a small party of Shawanese, in returning from the Cherokee country, killed and scalped two persons near the Big Bone Lick. They were pursued by a few of the neighbours, who killed and scalped two of the Indians; the others escaped. This breach is also likely to be settled to the satisfaction of all parties, as the headmen had expressed great concern at the conduct of their foolish young people, and promise to do all in their power to preserve our friendship. A treaty is to be held at Pittsburgh with the western Indians the beginning of October, when it is hoped they will listen to and follow their true interest, as they have promised to do.

The chiefs of the Six-Nations met in council at Onondaga, on the 18th, 19th, and 20th days of last June, promised Mr. Morgan to call all their warriors from Canada, and to listen to the Thirteen United States of America, being convinced that their advice was for their true interest, as they have no business to join either side in the present war between Great Britain and America. They accordingly sent off a party for the above purpose the 22d of June, and another party to Niagara, to insist on Colonel Butler's bringing all their people safe back immediately. They like-wise sent off two large belts to the Lake and other western Indians, to inform them of their determination, and to desire they will also sit still.

CAPTAIN CRAWFORD (PRISONER) TO JASPER YEATES.

Reading, July 9, 1776.

SIR: Mr. Nesbitt, of Philadelphia, was so kind as to give me the enclosed letter, which, if I could have got a passport from the Congress, should have delivered myself when I had the pleasure of seeing you at Lancaster. You will see by the contents it is to assist me in procuring money for the soldiers of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment who are prisoners at your town. I beg, therefore, if Captain Strong, of said regiment, should be in want some time hence, on account of my not being able to get over that you will be so obliging as to assist him, whose orders on me shall be punctually repaid at Messrs. Conynham & Nesbitt's, as I shall advise them. Being unknown to you, sir, I must beg your pardon most particularly for this intrusion; and remain, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

JOHN CRAWFORD,Captain and Paymaster to Twenty-Sixth Regiment.

To Jasper Yeates, Esq., Lancaster.

SAMUEL TUCKER TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read July 11, 1776.]

In Provincial Congress, Trenton, July 9, 1776.

SIR: By a letter this day received from General Livingston, enclosing a copy of one from General Washington, we seem to be called upon to make provision for the entire defence of our own shores against the British forces at Staten-Island.

As our funds are very inadequate to this purpose, it becomes absolutely necessary that we know immediately what we are to depend upon in this very important article, that we may set about providing money, provisions, and ammunition.

We had thought that Congress would provide for the defence of every part of the continent; that for this end our brigade was to be formed for the defence of New-York in part; that the Flying-Camp was to protect such parts of the Middle Department as was on this side of the North River. And when we heard that General Mercer was appointed to the command in New-Jersey, we hoped provision would be made by the Continental Congress for the necessary supplies of the Army in this Colony, as well as for their pay.

Our Militia from the eastern Counties have turned out in great numbers, but they are very destitute, General Livingston informs us, of everything except provisions. When their place shall be filled, as we hope it will be, by the Militia of Pennsylvania and the Flying-Camp; and our people discharged to attend their business at home, which is very pressing at this season, they will expect pay. Must we pay them ourselves? Must we supply them with ammunition, &c.? We have no other resources but an application to the Continental Congress for the latter and as to money. They are in the place of the Flying-Camp—we contribute to the general defence of the continent, to the defence of New-York, of Boston, of Virginia, of the Carolinas. When we are pressed by the stroke of war in our turn, are we alone