must make a standing rule to run from every vessel you see at sea. The Despatch is well found with plenty of sails, rigging, stores, and materials. You will therefore make good use of them, and endeavour to make a short passage by a diligent attention to winds and weather, carrying at all times as much sail as is proper.

The goods we have caused to be shipped on board this brig are consigned to Messrs. Delap, to whom you are to deliver the same; and when this is done, you must immediately set about arming the brig with eight or ten four-pounder cannon, as many swivels, blunderbusses, cohorns, howitzers, and muskets, as you think proper; but take care that the cannon, &c., are of the best and handsomest fit for ship's use. You may, if you think proper, fit her with close quarters, and mount some guns in the cabin, steerage, and forecastle, or you may mount the whole on deck; and if she will bear more than ten cannon, you may buy them. You must procure a suitable quantity of powder and ball for the cannon, arms, &c., with cartridges, cartridge-paper, and all necessary apparatus thereto. You will complete this business with expedition, and procure the best advice and assistance in doing it. Messrs. Delap will recommend you to proper people for this purpose, and they will supply you with money to pay the cost. You must ship as many seamen as you can possibly get, especially American seamen, or those that have been much Connected in this country; but you are not to confine yourself to these alone. We are in want of seamen, and you may bring people of all countries or nations that are willing to enter into the American service. You must make it known, in the best manner you can, that great wages and encouragement is now given to seamen in every part of America, both for the publick and for merchant service. You are therefore to bring over not only sufficient for your own complement, which, as an armed vessel, might be thirty to forty, but as many as you can conveniently give ship-room to, and you may contract with them for such reasonable wages as may be satisfactory to them. If any masters or mates want passages home, you are to accommodate them, free of any charge to them. You must lay in sufficient of provisions, and allow each man plenty, but suffer no waste. You are to receive from Messrs. Delap any goods they may desire to ship, or from any other persons goods that Messrs. Delap approve of being shipped on board; and when you are ready for departure, you are to wait on those gentlemen for their despatches; and when you receive the same, with their approbation for your departure, you are then to make the best of your way back for this coast. You know how it is lined with British men-of-war at present, and it is not possible for us to say what port may be safest by the time you return; but as we expect you will be well armed and manned, you need not fear small vessels; and by keeping constantly a hand at each masthead to look out, we think you may avoid all large ones, especially as we expect the Despatch will be a flyer, and in France you may get another complete suit of sails for her; you must therefore put into the first safe port you can, anywhere in the United States of America, and by the time you return you may expect to meet with some of our own frigates, galleys, and cruisers. Little Egg-Harbour or Cape May will probably be as secure as any other places.

We deliver you herewith a commission, a list of agents for prizes, and the resolves of Congress respecting captures, by which you will learn how to conduct yourself in this respect; your business, however, is not to cruise, but to make quick passages; but if you meet any prizes on your return, so much the better, provided you do not lose time in seeking them; and in case of capture, you must send them in to some of the agents, who will do the needful for all concerned. We expect you will be careful of the brig, her stores, and materials, diligent in making despatch, both at sea and in port, faithful in the discharge of your duty, and the moment you reach any port in America, come, or send the despatches express to the Committee of Secret Correspondence.

We are, sir, your humble servants.

To Captain Peter Parker.

P. S. Should you meet Silas Deane, Esq., who lately went from this place for Bordeaux, you may consult with and be advised and directed by him in all things relative to your business with the brig Despatch.

MARINE COMMITTEE TO MESSRS DELAP.

Philadelphia, July 10, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: You will receive this by the brigantine Despatch, Captain Peter Parker, and with it some letters for Silas Deane, Esq., which, being of considerable consequence, we beg you will cause them to be sent or delivered to him with the utmost expedition; and we make no doubt he has left his address with you, should he have left Bordeaux.

You will find herein an invoice and bill of lading for some goods we have shipped on board this brig, consigned to you for sale. These goods you will please to receive, and make the most advantageous sale of them that your market will admit.

Captain Parker has orders to arm and fit out the Despatch in a warlike manner, and we hope you will advise and assist him in doing it. You will please to procure him the assistance of the most skilful persons, tradesmen, &c., for doing that business, and supply him with money to purchase cannon, swivels, howitzers, muskets, powder, ball, &c. He must fit her in a very complete manner, and must have plenty of those kinds of stores. He is also to procure as many seamen as he possibly can, to come with him in this brigantine, in which we also pray for your assistance, and that you will furnish him with money to pay advance wages for provisions and a new suit of sails; all which we hope he will soon get completed with your assistance. When you have paid all charges and expenses relative to this vessel, whatever balance remains from the sale of her cargo, you will please to invest in the purchase of some brass field-pieces, six and four-pounders, if you can procure them; good soldiers' muskets, gunlocks, powder, or saltpetre; or, if you cannot ship such articles, you may then invest the said balance in blankets, and other woollen goods, suitable for wear in a cold climate; and whatever you buy, ship on board the said brigantine Despatch, for address of the Committee of Secret Correspondence, on account and risk of the United States of America, and enclose to them an invoice and bill of lading for the same.

It is necessary that Captain Parker make despatch in fitting the brigantine and getting her ready for sea, and that you also complete your business for her as soon as you can; but she is not to sail until Mr. Deane sends his despatches; for those are the most immediate object of the present voyage. Therefore, if Mr. Deane is not at Bordeaux, you will please to keep him well informed when the brigantine will be ready to return, and the moment his despatches come to your hands, deliver them to Captain Parker, with an injunction to sail immediately for this coast, agreeable to his orders. Should Mr. Deane be in Bordeaux, Captain Parker must be directed by him entirely in all his proceedings; and if Mr. Deane desires any goods to be shipped on board the Despatch, they must be received on board. In short, the Captain is ordered to receive on board all goods you recommend. Therefore, you will please to ship any you may have, or that Mr. Deane may order Mr. John Daniel Schweighauser, of Nantz, that he may ship any he has for account of this Continent.

We hope you will assist in making it known that great wages and encouragement are given to seamen in America, and the seamen of every country will be alike welcome. We shall have frequent opportunities of addressing you; and remain, gentlemen, your obedient servants.

To Messrs. Samuel and J. H. Delap.

CAPITULATION AT THE CEDARS.

In Congress, July 10, 1776.

The Committee to whom the cartel between Brigadier-General Arnold and Captain Forster, and the several papers thereto relating, were committed, having had the same under their consideration, and made diligent inquiry into the facts, have agreed to the following Report:

They find that a party of three hundred and ninety Continental troops, under the command of Colonel Bedel, was posted at the Cedars, about forty-three miles above Montreal; that they had there formed some works of defence, the greater part of them picketed lines, the rest a breastwork, with two field-pieces mounted.

That on Wednesday, the 15th of May, Colonel Bedel received intelligence that a party of the enemy, consisting