MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO COMMITTEE OF HARFORD.

GENTLEMEN: The publick service requires that all the arms purchased by you, or manufactured in Harford under your direction, be transmitted to Baltimore town, to Gerrard Hopkins, the Commissary, of whom you will be pleased to take a receipt, and transmit to us the number, quality, and value of the same.

We desire you will also furnish us with an account of the disposition of the four hundred pounds we heretofore sent you. We are, &c.

To the Committee of Harford.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO CAPTAIN TILLARD.

SIR: We are glad to hear you and your officers are so forward in raising your company, as our forces are at present much wanted. Though it will be difficult to procure firelocks for all the men, yet we cannot agree to give so great a price as six pounds currency apiece. We have got very good at four pounds and a crown, but would on this occasion willingly advance as far as four pounds ten for such as are good and serviceable, fixed with bayonets.

We are, &c.

To Captain Edward Tillard.

Annapolis, Maryland, July 11, 1776.

Yesterday evening six companies of the First Battalion of Maryland Troops, stationed in this city, and commanded by Colonel William Smallwood, embarked for the head of Elk, in high spirits, and three companies of the same battalion, stationed in Baltimore town, embarked yesterday morning for the same place; from thence they are to proceed to Philadelphia.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON

Philadelphia, July 10, 1776.

SIR: The enclosed letter from Mr. Ephraim Anderson, I am directed to transmit by order of Congress. As Mr. Anderson appears to be an ingenious man, and proposes to destroy the British fleet at New-York, the Congress are willing to give him an opportunity of trying the experiment, and have therefore thought proper to refer him to you. The event only can show whether his scheme is visionary or practicable.

Should it be attended with success, (and the very chance of it is sufficient to justify the attempt,) the infinite service to the Americun States arising therefrom cannot be described; or should it fail, our situation will be in every respect the same as before.

Many things seem highly probable in speculation which, however, cannot be reduced to practice. And on the other hand, experiment has shown that many things are extremely practicable which our most accurate reasonings had taught us to believe were impossible.

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

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To His Excellency General Washington, at New-York.

GENTLEMEN: Being anxiously desirous of being serviceable to my country (in an eminent degree) at this time of publick calamity, I am ready immediately to undertake the destruction of the British fleet now at New-York. If I may be honoured with such directions from this Congress, my plan of operation I will communicate to any of the Members of the House for their approbation, convinced of the probability of success, and the infinite service such an enterprise would be to these States, particularly at this time. Shall be glad to execute it at the hazard of my life. An enterprise of the same kind I undertook at Quebeck, and should undoubtedly have succeeded, had not the enemy had intelligence, and stretched a cable across the mouth of their harbour, and myself by accident much burnt; but, thank God, am recovered perfectly again, and ready to make the like attempt. This, or any other appointment I may be honoured with, shall be thankfully received. As men well acquainted with military discipline are much wanting in our armies, I would offer myself to the Congress for an appointment in that department. Having served in the British Army last war, have had greater opportunities of being acquainted with the military art than most of our officers are. I shall wait the order of the Congress at the Conestoga Wagon, in Market Street.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient and most humble servant,

EPHRAIM ANDERSON,Adjutant to 2d Jersey Battalion.

July 9, 1776.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO WILLIAM PALFREY.

Philadelphia, July 10, 1776.

SIR: I am to inform you that Congress, in consideration of your zeal and attachment to the liberties of America, have thought proper to give you the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Continental Army.

You will please to acquaint me whether General Washington has delivered a commission to Mr. Harrison or to Mr. Baylor, in consequence of their appointments. If he has, I will forward one to you; but if they have not received commissions, you will in that case, like them, take your rank without a commission.

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

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To William Palfrey, Esq., Paymaster-General, New-York.

PETITION OF BENJAMIN FLOWER.

[July 11, 1776, read, and referred to the Board of War.]

To the Honourable the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

The Petition of BENJAMIN FLOWER, Lieutenant in the First Battalion of the Associators of the City of PHILADELPHIA, showeth:

That your petitioner, animated with a just sense of the importance of the present contest, was among the first of the Associators in the Province of Pennsylvania; that he understands that the office of Conductor or Commissary of Stores for the Flying-Camp, is vacant; he therefore prays your Honours to appoint him to that office, and, as in duty bound, he will ever pray, &c,

BENJAMIN FLOWER.

Philadelphia, July 10, 1776.

PETITION OF MAJOR MELCHIOR.

[July 11, 1776, referred to the Board of War.]

To the Honourable the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

The Petition of ISAAC MELCHIOR, late Major of Brigade in CANADA, showeth:

That your petitioner is desirous of serving his country in the present alarming state of publick affairs, in any station to which your Honours may think fit to appoint him. That he understands that the offices of Paymaster and Adjutant to the Flying-Camp and Militia are both yet vacant; to either of which, if your Honours think proper to appoint him, he hopes to act in such a manner as to give the fullest satisfaction. For his conduct in the campaign in Canada, he begs leave to refer to the letters of the late General Montgomery and of General Schuyler.

And your petitioner will both fight and pray, &c.

ISAAC MELCHIOR.

Philadelphia, July 10, 1776.

MARINE COMMITTEE TO CAPTAIN PARKER.

Philadelphia, July 10, 1776.

SIR: The brig Despatch, of which you are hereby appointed the commander, in the service of the United States of America, being now ready for sea, you are to proceed immediately on board said brigantine for the port of Bordeaux, in France; and, on your arrival there, deliver the despatches given you herewith to Messrs. Samuel and J. H. Delap, merchants at that place. You are to consider these letters directed to those gentlemen as very important, and must deliver them yourself as soon as possible. You must have them hung at sea with a heavy weight, ready to throw overboard and sink them, in case you should be unfortunately taken by the enemy; but, to avoid that danger, you