If they become superior, I cannot conceive the propriety of erecting fortifications at Crown-Point. How can a garrison there be relieved, if the enemy can prevent supplies by water? I took the liberty of communicating my opinion on these subjects to General Arnold, by a letter from Saratoga, and if you think the sentiments of a gentleman not of the military, worthy of perusal, General Arnold will show it to you.

I am very anxious to know the real state of your Army, and to know what you think proper to be done by the Congress.

I am compelled to return to Maryland on the 8th of August. Farewell.

Your affectionate and obedient servant,

SAMUEL CHASE.

To General Gates.

LANCASTER (PENNSYLVANIA) COMMITTEE TO COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

In Committee, Lancaster, July 18, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: At the time the officers absconded from Lebanon, they were indebted to sundry persons there, particularly to one Matthew McHugh, for their diet, &c., about £100. After the confinement of Lieutenant Barrington in this jail, McHugh applied to him for payment of his quota of the debt, and obtained an order from this Committee for Mr. Barrington's baggage to be brought from Lebanon to this place, to be delivered to him on payment of his debts. Upon his baggage being brought here, Mr. Barrington proposed to McHugh to pay him his whole demand against all the officers, if the Committee would order all their baggage to this place, and give it into his custody, as his security for what he should advance for his brother officers. The Committee thought it best to have all their baggage secured in this place; therefore sent for it, and have it now deposited in a part of the new jail here, packed up in upwards of twenty trunks and boxes, besides some bales and portmanteaus. The keys to the trunks we likewise have; but have not yet opened them to examine their contents, neither have we delivered them to Mr. Barrington, choosing to have the sentiments of the Committee of Safety, or Congress, on the propriety of that measure. The members of the Committee of Lebanon have sent us an account of their expenses in advertising, pursuing, and endeavouring to retake those gentlemen, amounting to above £30, besides carriage of the goods.

Perhaps by selling a part of the goods at vendue, the whole moneys might be raised. The Committee of Lebanon are desirous to have their moneys refunded, Mr. McHugh mentions that he has gone to join the camp in the Jerseys, and wants his money to leave with his merchants in Philadelphia. We therefore beg the sentiments of the Committee of Safety, and their directions how to proceed in this matter; but should the Committee think the instructions ought more properly to issue from Congress, as those officers were Continental prisoners, we hope the Committee will not charge us with presumption in requesting the favour of them to obtain the directions of Congress for our government.

We also beg leave to mention to you, gentlemen, that we have now about seven hundred men, women, and children, prisoners in the Barracks here, over whom, agreeable to order of Congress of the 10th instant, we keep a strong guard, and are erecting a stockade fort round the Barracks. The number confined there we conceive full enough, and rather too many, for the building to contain at this warm season. It is rumoured here that a large number more of prisoners are intended for this place. Should any more arrive, it will be necessary to make some additional buildings to the Barracks, that these poof people may not suffer by being crowded; and that work might be best done at this time, when 'we have a number of tradesmen of different kinds employed at the place, and the whole work might be superintended at the same time. We beg the advice of the Committee of Safety therein. In placing the stockades, we shall place them at such a distance from the Barracks that there may be a free circulation of air, to keep them "as healthy as possible, and that there may be room for additional barracks, and are digging wells within the stockade to supply them with water.

Lieutenant Barrington now asks to be released from confinement, on his parole. We beg to know if his parole may be taken, and he sent to the place of residence of the other officers of his corps; and are, gentlemen, your most obedient humble servants.

By order of the Committee:

W. ATLEE, Chairman.

COLONEL BUED TO LANCASTER COMMITTEE.

Middletown, July 18, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I herewith send you, by the worthy Captain John Reed, who commands the first draught of my battalion, the returns of eight companies. The ninth company has rot yet come to my hand, owing to the resignation of Captain Robert Elder, but it shall be sent to you as soon as it comes to my hand. I also send you a certain John White, prisoner, with what information is come to my hand from the County of Northumberland; and I think he is guilty of the allegation, but this I leave to your better judgment; and I am, with much esteem, gentlemen, your most obedient and humble servant,

SAMUEL BURD.

To the Chairman of the Committee of the County of Lancaster.

[Endorsed: Letter and examinations relating to John White, a prisoner, charged with assisting the officers to escape from Lebanon. Read July 20, 1776.]

NEW-JERSEY ORDINANCE FOR PUNISHING TRAITORS AND COUNTERFEITERS.

In Convention of the State of New-Jersey,

Trenton, July 18, 1776.

Whereas it is necessary, in these times of danger, that crimes should receive their due punishment, and the safety of the people more especially requires that all persons who shall be found so wicked as to devise the destruction of good Government, or to aid or assist the avowed enemies of the State, be punished with death:

Therefore be it Resolved and Ordained by the Convention, and it is Resolved and Ordained by the authority of the same, That all persons abiding within this State of New-Jersey, and deriving protection from the laws thereof, do owe allegiance to the Government of this State, as of late established on the authority of the people, and are to be deemed as members of this State; and that all persons passing through, visiting, or making a temporary stay in this State, being entitled to the protection of the law during such passage, visitation, or temporary stay, during the same time owe allegiance to this Government.

And be it further Resolved and Ordained, That all and every person or persons, members of, or owing allegiance to this Government, as before described, who, from and after the date hereof, shall levy war against this State within the same, or be adherent to the King of Great Britain, or others, the enemies of this State, within the same, or to the enemies of the United States of North America, giving to him or them aid or comfort, shall be adjudged guilty of high treason, and suffer the pains or penalties thereof, in like manner as by the ancient laws of this State he or they should have suffered in cases of high treason.

And be it further Resolved and Ordained, That all and every person or persons, who, from and after the date hereof, shall be found guilty of reviling the Government of this State, as by this Convention established, or of other seditious speeches or practices, shall be punished in like manner as by the former laws of this State such person or persons might or ought to have been punished, for such seditious speeches and practices against the Government then in being.

And be it further Resolved and Ordained, That all and every person or persons, who, from and after the date hereof, shall be found guilty of counterfeiting or altering the Continental Bills of Credit, the Bills of Credit issued by the late Provincial Congress of this State, or the Assemblies, Conventions, or Congresses of any of the United States of North America, or uttering the same knowing them to be counterfeit or altered, shall be adjudged felons, and be punished with death, in like manner as persons found guilty of counterfeiting or knowingly uttering the former Bills of Credit of this State might or should have been: Provided always, That no person or persons shall suffer death, or other pain or penalty, for any of the offences aforesaid, until he or they shall have