them down. It gives us concern to hear that Captain Beall is wounded, but hope it is not dangerous; and as we understand you have several Surgeons with you, trust he will soon do well. We are, &c.

To the Commanding Officer, St. Mary's.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO COLONEL SOMEB VILLE.

SIR; Your letter of yesterday we have received, and approve of the disposition you are making. By Mr. Hopewell we send you £50. We are, &c.

To Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Somerville.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO CHARLES RIDGELY, SEN.

SIR: We are in immediate want of a number of round shot, of the different sizes, particularly eighteen, nine, six, and three; also, some grape, and request you will immediately send them down to Baltimore, and write to your correspondent there, as soon as he receives them, to apprise Captain Nathaniel Smyth of it, that he may forward them to Annapolis. We are, &c.

To Mr. Charles Ridgely, Sen.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO CAPTAIN SMYTH.

SIR: We have written to Captain Ridgely, with whom we have contracted to supply us with cannon-shot, immediately to send down a quantity to Baltimore; and as we are in immediate want of them, we desire as soon as they arrive there, that you will forward them to Annapolis.

We are, &c.

To Captain Nathaniel Smyth.

BALTIMORE COMMITTEE.

At a special meeting of the Committee, July 18, 1776:

Present: Samuel Purviance, Jun., Chairman; James Calhoun, William Buchanan, Edward Talbot, Isaac Griest, Thomas Sollers, William Aisquith, John Cockey, Darby Lux, and Benjamin Griffith.

The gentlemen appointed by the Committee at the last meeting, to examine a situation near Armstrong's to build a Magazine, report several places which they examined suitable for the purpose. On consideration of which, it was agreed, that Messrs. Benjamin Griffith, James Calhoun, John Cockey, and Edward Talbot, be directed to bargain with Captain Charles Ridgely &Co., for one acre of Land, which was thought most convenient, near to the spring at Armstrong's.

Ordered, That Mr. Darby Lux, with the gentlemen above mentioned, be a Committee to agree with the Workmen for constructing the Magazine for the publick use, and that they make a report of their proceedings at the next meeting of this Committee.

It is agreed that the dimensions of said Magazine shall be forty feet long, and eleven feet wide, in the clear, and arched over with brick or stone, and covered with a shingled roof.

GEO. LUX, Secretary.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Philadelphia, July 18, 1776.

SIR: Mr. Griffin delivered me your letter of the 15th, with the packets, which I have laid before Congress. No resolution is taken in consequence thereof, nor has anything new occurred since my last, except the enclosed resolves.

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

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To General Washington,

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION.

Philadelphia, July 18, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I have it in charge from Congress to inform you, that they have come to a resolution of raising a battalion in the Counties of Westmoreland and Bedford, in Pennsylvania, for the defence of the western parts of that State.

I am, therefore, to request you will immediately recommend proper persons to Congress for Field-Officers of said battalion.

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

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To the Convention of Pennsylvania, now sitting.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Philadelphia, July 18, 1776.

SIR: In consequence of the resolve of Congress respecting the petition of Captain Benedict, I am most earnestly to recommend to you to give attention to the subject-matter of it, and to desire that the proper payments may be made, so far as they appear just and well supported, or that the objections to the adjustment of the accounts, as set forth by the petitioner, may be explicitly stated to Congress, to prevent any prejudice arising to the general service.

I am, with respect, sir, your very humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To General Schuyler.

WILLIAM ALLIBONE'S REPORT ON FLINT QUARRIES.

Memoranda.

Tuesday, July 16, 1776.—Left Philadelphia; arrived at Wright's Park.

Wednesday, July 17.—In search of flint-stone near the Delaware, in Upper Makefield, Bucks County, on the plantation of John Knowls, in a gully made by former inundations of the Delaware, I find the black flint-stone, but not in an entire bed, as I supposed, but mixed with other stone and sand, the best of which, that had lain near the surface, carried away for domestic use; but find the low lands near the river; for two or three miles, (which is, in general, stony,) to be mixed with the same kind of black flint-stone, but nowhere in separate quantities. I went as far up as Pitcock's Creek, in the lower part of Salisbury township.

Thursday, July 18.—Like for rain. Made what inquiries I could in the neighbourhood.

Friday, July 19.—At John Lacey's, in the lower part of Buckingham township, about three miles from Wright's Town Meetinghouse, from former digging in a bank, rind the earth and other stone mixed with black and bluish flint, as per samples. The same day find the white and the gray, as per sample. In a ridge of land about three-quarters of a mile, on the Bristol road, from a place known by the name of the Four Lane Ends, great quantity of the white, and a little gray. Find one single small piece of yellow flint, which I think much superior to any other in this County, and has been much used formerly by the natives to head their arrows, the heads being frequently found in the fields to this day; also some black and white ones. I have no doubt but some quantity of the yellow lies in the neighbourhood of the Delaware; but cannot as yet discover where, and hope some more successful hand has been employed.

Saturday, July 20.—Find the dark flint in scattered stones on land of Mr. Denormandie, Bristol road, eighteen miles from Philadelphia; and, fifteen miles from Philadelphia, on the post road, great quantities of the white; and, at sides of Perryfork Creek, one hundred and seven miles from Philadelphia, considerable quantities of light gray flint mixed with other stone.

A sample.

W. ALLIBONE.

SAMUEL CHASE TO GENERAL GATES.

Philadelphia, July 18, 1776.

DEAR GATES: I wrote to you from this city immediately on my arrival. I was obliged to return to Maryland on account of Mrs. Chase's illness. Every moment of my stay there was engrossed by my attendance on my lady and our Convention. On yesterday, I came to Congress with Mr. Carroll.

I am extremely concerned for the very disagreeable situation of our affairs with you. I am apprehensive, unless some effectual and speedy measures are taken, we shall lose the command of the lakes. While we are masters of Lake Champlain, the enemy cannot penetrate into the Colonies.