PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO PENNSYLVANIA COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Philadelphia, July 14, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I am directed by Congress most earnestly to request you will supply the Flying-Camp and Militia in the Jerseys with as many musket-cartridges, with balls therein, as you can possibly spare, and send them forward with the greatest despatch. The state of our affairs will not admit the least delay, nor need I use arguments to induce you to an immediate compliance with this requisition. I am likewise to request you will immediately order to the respective places of their destination all the British officers prisoners in this city. The ladies are not to go till the weather is fair.

The Committee of Congress are instructed to replace an equal quantity of powder to that delivered in cartridges.

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

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To the Hon. Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL MERCER.

Philadelphia, July 14, 1776.

SIR: The Congress having been informed by General Washington, that he had given the command of the Flying Camp and Militia in New-Jersey, to you, and for that purpose you were stationed in the Jerseys, I have it in charge from Congress to empower and direct you to march such of the Militia and Flying-Camp to Brunswick, or other places in the Jerseys, as you may on all occasions judge necessary and most conducive to the publick service, provided it does not interfere with any prior direction from General Washington.

Four tons of powder were sent off to you a few days ago; and a large parcel of cartridges, well balled, will be this day forwarded to you, for the use of the troops under your command. Colonel Biddle, the Quartermaster-General, has orders to furnish all necessaries. He will wait on you, and follow such directions as you may judge necessary to give him.

You will please to give me the earliest intelligence of every occurrence by express, that it may be laid before Congress.

I most heartily wish success to your arms, and have the honour to be, with much esteem, sir, your very humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To Brigadier-General Mercer, New-Jersey.

LETTER FROM THE COMMITTEE FOR LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

In Committee, Lancaster, July 14, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: The Committee have received orders from the Congress, to keep a guard over the prisoners at the barracks, and to have the barracks surrounded by a stockaded fort. One principal design in this order is, doubtless, to prevent the prisoners from straggling abroad, and making their escape. The Committee, therefore, request of you to have strict inquiry made throughout your township immediately, for such prisoners as may be there, and have them immediately sent in to the barracks in this place, under a proper guard; and the officers of the Militia in the District are requested to give you every necessary assistance in carrying this matter into execution.

By order of the Committee:

WILLIAM S. ATLEE, Chairman.

To the Members of the Committee in Township, and the Officers of the Militia there.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY (PENNSYLVANIA) COMMITTEE TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Carlisle, July 14, 1776.

HONOURABLE SIR: In obedience to your letter, by order of Congress, bearing date Philadelphia, the 3d instant, now before us, and of the resolve of the Conference of Delegates, &c., at the State-House, the 5th instant, approved in Congress, we sent circular letters to each battalion in this County, requesting their compliance. By the intelligence we have already received, we think ourselves warranted to say, that we shall be able to send five companies, viz: one from each battalion, to compose part of the Flying-Camp, provided so many good arms can be had, and three companies of Militia, for the present exigency—some of whom will march this week.

With pleasure we assure you that a noble spirit appears amongst the inhabitants here. We find great scarcity of cash, even amongst men of considerable property. We are, therefore, under the necessity of sending the bearer hereof, Mr. John Boyd, express to you, with our draft, bearing date herewith, for £1,000, without which, we find the men cannot be suitably fitted out; and, therefore, we make no doubt you will honour our order, more especially when we inform you that we have taken up money already upon our own credit.

The spirit of marching to the defence of our country is so prevalent in this town, that we shall not have men left sufficient to mount guard, which we think absolutely necessary for the safety of the inhabitants and ammunition, and as a watch over the ten English officers, with their ten servants, to keep their parole of honour; especially as their brethren lately at Lebanon, in Lancaster County, lost it. And as there will not be more left in town here for the above purpose, we shall be obliged to hire a guard of twelve men from the County, which we think ought to be at the publick expense.

Although we do not charge those gentlemen with such behaviour as would warrant us to confine them, yet we have reason to believe their conversation has influenced many weak and ignorant persons, as well in town as within the six miles around it which is the line of their confinement; and their servants are dressed with hunting-shirts and trowsers, the uniform of our people, which might facilitate their escape.

We are, sir, your most obedient humble servants.

Signed by order of the Committee:

JOHN MONTGOMERY, Chairman.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

GENERAL MERCER TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Perth Amboy, July 14, 1776.

SIR: This morning Lord Howe sent Lieutenant Reeve, of the Eagle man-of-war, with a flag of truce to this post. He delivered me the letters which accompany this.

Nothing worthy your attention has happened here since I had the honour to receive your instructions of the 11th inst., by Mr. Boss. The enemy's guards in our view continue without any new movement. From their number, it is probable that two regiments encamp near this end of Staten Island. We have been able, however, to procure no certain intelligence of their situation. No person has yet come over to us, nor is it easy to find one of our friends duly qualified or ready to undertake the business of a Spy on the Island. About four hundred of the Pennsylvania rifle battalion have joined us, and another party of the same regiment is on the way. From this last, I have ordered one hundred men to take post at the ferries of Passaick and Hackensack, and shall relieve all the Jersey Militia as soon as reinforcements arrive. When the two battalions of riflemen and one of musketry from Pennsylvania, are posted from hence to the ferries towards New-York, a favourable opportunity may probably offer to surprise the enemy's small posts. Boats may, I think, be procured; and the riflemen would be happy to be so employed. Such an enterprise is not suspected by the enemy, nor believed to be under consideration here.

I have the honour to be, sir, your Excellency's most obedient servant, H. MERCER.

PHILIP B. BRADLEY TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Bergen, July 14, 1776.

HONOURED SIR: I flatter myself that the continual hurry and multiplicity of business which I have had will apologize for not writing you sooner. The next day after my arrival at New-York, I was ordered, with General Wadsworth's brigade, to Bergen, in the Jerseys, nearly opposite to the enemy, besides which I have one battalion of the Jersey forces under my command.

The fleet, by small parties, are daily falling in. Vice-