been first found guilty of the same offence or offences whereof he or they shall be charged and accused, in a due course of law, and by the verdict of a jury. Provided also, That nothing in this Ordinance contained shall be construed to divest any Committee of the power they now possess of examining and committing any offenders, so that they do not proceed to the infliction of punishments for any of the offences in this Ordinance contained, but leave the same to be deter-mined in due course of law, in manner aforesaid.

By order of Convention:

SAMUEL TUCKER, President.

GENERAL MERCER TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Elizabethtown, July 18, 1776.

SIR: If nothing unlooked for intervenes, I intend to prosecute the plan mentioned in my letter by Major Putnam, tonight. We hope to defer the attack till break of day, but if discovered before that time our operations will commence sooner. From our being able to discover no unusual movements in the enemy's quarter, it is presumable they have no hint of being surprised. Our men are drawing together near this place. Some guides are provided, on whom I hope we may depend, and doubt not but our officers and soldiers will with alacrity execute this service.

Your Excellency's most obedient,

HUGH MERCER.

GENERAL MERCER TO MAJOR KNOWLTON.

Elizabethtown, July 18, 1776.

SIR: You are to march your party of three hundred men to attack the enemy's post at New Blazing-Star. If possible, have your men near the enemy before break of day. While you attempt to surprise the enemy, be careful that you are not discovered. Have a small guard advanced, and if they come unexpectedly on a sentinel, endeavour to seize his arms and prevent giving an alarm by firing, unless the enemy is prepared and formidable. Let a prolound silence be observed during the march, and keep your men in Indian file, about one pace asunder. If obliged to appear openly against the enemy, have some of your best Riflemen on your flanks, with orders to gain, if possible, the flanks of the enemy. If they have artillery, a sudden push is necessary to gain possession of them. Should you be successful enough to take any of the British troops prisoners, secure them well and treat them with humanity. Use the people on the Island with civility, unless they appear in arms. As soon as it is light, send out flanking parties to secure you from surprise.

I am, sir, your most humble servant,

HUGH MERCER.

To Major Knowlton.

SAMUEL B. WEBB TO GENERAL WARD.

Head-Quarters, New-York, July 18, 1776.

SIR: His Excellency General Washington, having occasion to ride out early this morning, has dictated and ordered me to acknowledge and answer your two letters of the 11th instant, which came safe to hand by yesterday's post. He is not a little displeased at the Agent's taking the liberty of removing, or rather disposing of the cargoes of, the prizes, without your knowledge, and begs you immediately to forbid anything of the kind again. He is surprised that, out of upwards of four hundred prisoners, only seventy-three arms have been sent on, as he supposed every man must have had his arms with him. He begs your attention in collecting, from the Agents and others, all the arms that have been taken, and forward them immediately to this place, where they are much wanted. Enclosed is a list of articles he has taken from the invoices, and would have you send on as soon as may be.

By express, yesterday, we learn of the arrival of the northern Army at Crown-Point, where those infected with the small-pox will be immediately sent to a distant Hospital, so that the troops from your State bound that way need not be under any apprehension of danger from that disorder. The enemy on Staten-Island remain as when I last wrote.

I have the honour to be, with respect and esteem, your Honour's most obedient, humble servant,

SAMUEL B. WEBB, A. D. C.

To General Ward.

List of articles, taken in the Transports, which his Excellency General Washington requests General Ward to forward from Boston to New-York as soon as possible:

From ship GEORGE: All the fusees, small-arms, and bayonets, shoulder-straps, gun-straps, leather bullet-pouches, hair knapsacks, canvass knapsacks, belts, flints, markees, and soldiers' tents, common tent poles, tin canteens, camp-kettles, blankets, watch-coats, soldiers' clothing, stockings, black plumes.

From ship ANNE: All the checked and striped Hollands, check shirts, writing paper, thread stockings, check trowsers, men's shoes, ticking trowsers, men's hats.

From ship LORD HOWE: All the small-arms, bayonets, and car-touch-boxes, part of canteens and kettles, soldiers blankets, cutlasses, canvass knapsacks, markees.

From brig ANNABELLA: All the small-arms, shoes, soldiers' tents, sheet lead, packsaddles, car-touch-boxes, leather bullet-pouches, shoulder-straps, gun-straps, cutlasses, bayonets, and belts.

By order of His Excellency General Washington:

SAMUEL B. WEBB, A. D. C.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Head-Quarters, New-York, July 18, 1776.

SIR: The General has rode out this morning, and directed me to acquaint your Honour, that on the arrival of the Light-horse, under the command of Colonel Seymour, he acquainted them that they could not be of use as horsemen; on which they concluded to stay and do duty as foot, till the arrival of the new levies. The latter part of the time they grew uneasy, and refused their duty as soldiers, though their services were much wanted, pleading, in excuse, that there was an express law of the Colony which exempts them from doing duty separate from their horses. It was only requested that they should mount guard, which they refused; on which the General was obliged to discharge them yesterday, although but a small proportion of the new levies had arrived.

I have the honour to be, yours, &c.,

S. B. WEBB, A. B. C.

To Governour Trumbull, Connecticut.

TO MALCOM MCEWEN AND DANIEL GREEN.—INSTRUCTIONS TO SUPERINTEND EAST-RIVER FERRIES.

It is General Washington's orders, that Malcom McEwen and Daniel Green do daily attend, from sunrise to dark in the evening, at the East-River Ferry to Long-Island, and Peck's Slip, at which, or between which places, all boats coming to the east of the town are to land, where they, in the first place, are to examine all passengers going from town, and to see that they have genuine passes from the Committee, or one of the General Officers.

In the next place, they are to be particularly attentive to the passengers who arrive in town. If they are travellers, such as they can have no suspicion of, they are only to require their names, and the places where they intend to lodge, and report them to the General at noon, and in the evening. If they are, in any manner, of suspicious characters, they are to detain them at some convenient house, to be appointed for that purpose in the neighbourhood, until they can send their report, which is to be done immediately, to Head-Quarters, and the General's determination be had thereon.

They are also to examine the passengers of all other boats, besides the ferry-boats, which may arrive, and report in like manner.

And, in order the better to enable Malcom McEwen and Daniel Green to carry these instructions into execution, the commanding officer of the East-River Guard is to give them every necessary aid in his power.

The said McEwen and Green are to communicate these instructions to the Committee appointed to give passes.

By the General's orders, at Head-Quarters:

STIRLING, Brigadier-General.

July 18, 1776.

If officers or soldiers of the corps posted on Long-Island should come to town with passes from their commanding officer, the same are to be sufficient to pass them out of