LANCASTER COMMITTEE

At a meeting of the Committee of Observation, Inspection, and Correspondence, at the house of Adam Reigart, the 12th July, 1776:

Present: Matthias Slough, William Atlee, William Bowsman, Lodwick Lowman, Jacob Klatz, Michael Musser, John Miller.

WILLIAM ATLEE in the Chair.

Colonel Ross laid before the Committee a Letter from Colonel Porter, directed to him, complaining of the ill behaviour of some of the Associators in his neighbourhood, who had seized the Arms which had been collected by his directions from Non-Associators and others, together with an answer written by him (Colonel Ross) to Colonel Porter; which answer, being read, is approved of, and ordered to be forwarded to Colonel Porter by his express.

And it is Resolved, That it be recommended to the Members of Committees in the several Townships from which Colonel Porter's Battalion is drawn, to give their best assistance to Colonel Porter in procuring Arms and necessaries for the Militia, to enable them to march.

The Committee think it will be best and most for the general good for Colonel Porter to march his Militia by Companies, as he can arm them, immediately to Philadelphia, or across the country to Trenton, where they stand the best chance of being supplied with camp-kettles and other necessaries, which are not to be procured in the country.

It being represented by Jacob Erb that the persons who were chosen Collectors of Arms in the Township of Warwick have neglected their duty, this Committee do therefore appoint Christian Hollinger, Matthias Hagey, and John Huber, Collectors of Arms in the said Township of Warwick, who are to do the duty required of Collectors of Arms by the resolves of Assembly.

Captain Zantzinger's Accoun of Rifles purchased from Jacob Dickert, for the use of his Company, to enable them to march to the Camp in the Jerseys, to the amount of £31 7s. 6d., was produced to the Committee, approved of, and Mr. Dickert referred to the Committee of Safety or Congress for payment.

Peter Bollinger, the Committee's Messenger, being now about to march with Colonel Slough's Battalion, produces his Account for services and expenses to this time, amounting to £8 16s. 4d., which being examined, is approved of and allowed; and it is recommended to the Commissioners of the County to pay the said Bollinger moneys of the County, as he may have immediate occasion for it to provide himself with necessaries for his march.

ASSOCIATION OF INHABITANTS OF DONEGAL, LANCASTER

COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

We, part of the inhabitants of the Township of Donegal, having associated into a Company, and signed an agreement for the regulation of the said Company, as well Officers as Soldiers, understanding that the Committee for this County is to meet in Lancaster, in order to adjust and settle grievances, we conceive the greatest grievance is, that numbers of people, of different persuasions, will not join in the said Association; some for scruple of conscience, some for the loss of time and expenses, and others being disaffected at the cause which we associate for. Some of the said people are the wealthiest and best seated in the County. We imagine that there, should be none of the inhabitants of this County exempted from joining the said Association, or paying in proportion for the finding of arms and other necessaries to those who are willing to do it, who are not of ability to provide themselves with such. We request of you that it be allowed that all the landholders and farmers in the County of Lancaster be obliged to find at least one good gun each, and that every other person, who is judged by the Committee to be of ability, likewise find a good gun, whether they be joined in Association or not. This will put the County in a state of defence. We request of you that such a sum as is thought reasonable by you be laid upon each and every person who will not join the said Association, exclusive of finding the arms aforesaid, in restitution of the time which the people that have joined the said Association have and will expend, learning exercise and other duties necessary; and that such sums of money and arms be paid and received into the hands of the Committee of the different Townships in the said County, or into the hands of any other persons which you shall appoint, to be laid for the use and support of the Associators of the Townships such sums and arms will be received in. If the said proposals be not put in execution by you, we, for our part, do intend to continue no longer in the said Association, as it will be entirely useless for the greatest number of our Company to continue in the same, who are not of ability to find themselves in arms or other necessaries. But, on the contrary, if no partiality is or will be shown by you, or indulgence to the enemies of the cause, but to have all persons in the said County equally concerned therein, according to their several abilities, we will, as we always have done, defend and protect the cause of our country, to the extremity of our power and ability.

Signed by part, and by order of said Company, by

YORK COUNTY (PENNSYLVANIA) COMMITTEE.

In Committee of Inspection and Observation for the County of York, July 12, 1776.

Resolved, That in case Mr. James Rankin make suitable concessions, (as he proposes,) and give sufficient surety for his good behaviour in future, he shall be restored to his liberty and the confidence of his countrymen.

"As I have, in several instances, injured the Committee of York County, by sundry publick misrepresentations, as well as by personal insults, thereby obstructing the publick measures now so necessary for the safety of our country, but being convinced of the bad tendency of my past conduct, and desirous of being restored to a good understanding and friendship with my countrymen, I do thus publickly ask forgiveness of them, and do promise, on the faith and honour of an honest man, that I will in future pay due regard to the rules and regulations of the honourable Continental Congress, and behave, in all respects,, as becomes a good citizen of the United States of America.

"JAMES RANKIN.

"July 13, 1776."

BRITISH OFFICERS (PRISONERS) TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Yorktown, Pennsylvania, July 12, 1776.

SIR: We have long suffered, without complaint, a series of ill treatment which our characters as British officers, and our conduct since the fate of war threw us in your power, has not merited. Should we continue silent under this usage, we might be esteemed by the world either deserving of it or afraid to complain, in neither of which predicaments would we choose to appear.

When an order of Congress, about four months ago, separated us from our men, we complained of the hardships that would accrue from it in as decent terms as circumstances would admit of, but without redress. We were brought to this town and a parole tendered us to sign, with the alternative of going to jail if we refused. Conscious that a compliance could not in the smallest degree be prejudicial to His