PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL OF VIRGINIA TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

In Council, Williamsburgh, July 20, 1776.

SIR: We had the honour to receive your letter of the 8th instant, enclosing the Declaration of Independence, and the resolve of Congress respecting the augmentation of the Rifle corps at New-York. We shall take care to have the Declaration immediately published, so as that the people may be universally informed of it who, we have the pleasure to inform you, have been impatiently expecting it, and will receive it with joy.

We are perfectly satisfied of the utility of riflemen, and wish it was in our power to assist in raising the number in our County voted by Congress for the support of New-York, but the Convention has adjourned, and we are vested with no powers which can in any manner enforce or carry into execution that vote. If commissions could be sent to proper persons, they might raise companies which would have a right to march to New-York, but we could not oblige them to do so.

It is with pleasure, sir, we observe that you say, in consequence of the Declaration, you are fully convinced that our affairs may take a more favourable turn; and we firmly rely on the protection and continuance of the powerful interposition of that Being whose power no creature is able to resist.

I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

JOHN PAGE, President.

To Hon. John Hancock, President of Congress, Philadelphia

ELISHA WINTERS TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Chestertown, July 20, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Having been absent on business to Philadelphia, did not receive your much esteemed favour of the 12th instant till this day. I am willing to undertake the repairing the arms which may be borrowed or purchased on the Eastern-Shore for the Flying-Camp, with all convenient speed, though I am sorry to inform you there is no probability that Colonel Hollingsworth can answer your order in my favour for four hundred bayonets time enough to despatch the business equal to your wishes. I will use the utmost industry to procure them elsewhere, the Province to be chargeable with the extraordinary expense I may incur, unless you have any other means to furnish me with them. Ramrods and swivels fitted I can and would choose to furnish.

Holding, in view my contract, and assuring you I will exert every effort for your interest, I remain, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant,

ELISHA WINTERS.

CAPTAIN MARTIN TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

July 20, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Oxford being a place much exposed to danger, and from which a guard has been lately removed, should you think proper to place a small body of men there, my company is very convenient, and will engage to raise thirty for that purpose, under such officers as you may think proper, that are already officers in my company. I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

NICHOLAS MARTIN.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

GENERAL DENT TO MAHVLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

St. George's, Head-Quarters, July 20, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: From the accounts given me by several deserters, that the fleet entered up Potomack River to water, and from the motions of the Roebuck, five other ships and a sloop, I have the greatest reason to believe they are now on their way for that purpose. Nanjemoy we suppose to be the place of their destination. I have, by letter, informed the Committee of Correspondence of the motions of the above ships, and shall endeavour to watch their motions, and prevent their depredations, with all my might. There was a brisk and severe cannonade, from two or three tenders and a row-galley off Smith's Creck about six o'clock this morning, the consequence of which I have not yet heard.

I am, gentlemen, with much esteem, your most obedient servant,

JOHN DENT.

To the Honourable the Council of Safety of Maryland.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO MAJOR SHRYOCK.

SIR: We received yours of the 1st of July, by Captain Reynolds, and have no particular orders to give at present, more than to request you would forward the Militia of the Flying-Camp. Use your endeavours to have the men well armed, furnished with blankets and all necessaries. Colonel Williams, we are told, has declined. You stand in the way of promotion; therefore exert yourself to the utmost, and may you be crowned with success. We wish you health, and are yours, &c.

To Major Henry Shryock.

BALTIMORE COMMITTEE.

At a special meeting of the Committee, July 20, 1776:

Present: Samuel Purviance, Jr., Chairman; W. Lux, Vice Chairman; J. Calhoun, B. Griffith, J. Griest, T. Rutter, W. Aisquith, J. Boyd.

A Letter from John Andrews, Esquire, Chairman of the Committee of Caroline County, was received by express, informing that they had apprehended John Amos, who lately went away from Baltimore town; and, upon examining him, found a certificate from George Woolsey, of his having paid his fine of £10, as a Non-Associate, which had induced them to confine him till the further order of this Committee. An answer was accordingly returned, signifying that (the Convention haying, at their last meeting, resolved that the Committee should not hereafter take any further cognizance of Non-Associators or Non-Enrollers, and the Committee having no other charge against Mr. Amos,) he might be discharged.

Attested:

GEORGE LUX, Secretary.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Congress Chamber, 3o'clock, A. M., July 20, 1776.

SIR: I have only time to inform you that this moment your favour of the 19th is come to hand. Enclosed is this morning's paper, to which beg to refer you.

My best wishes attend you; and am, your most obedient servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM JOHN ADAMS, DATED PHILADELPHIA, JULY 20, 1776.

We had yesterday an express from General Lee, in Charles-town, South-Carolina, with an amount of a brilliant little action between the armament under Clinton and Cornwallis, and a battery on Sullivan's Island, which terminated very fortunately for America. I will endeavour to enclose, with this, a printed account of it. It has given us good spirits here, and will have a happy effect upon our armies at New-York and Ticonderoga. Surely our northern soldiers will not suffer themselves to be outdone by their brethren so nearly under the sun. I don't yet hear of any Massachusetts men at New-York. Our people must not flinch at this critical moment, when their country is in more danger than it ever will be again, perhaps. What will they say if the Howes prevail against our forces at so important a post as New-York, for want of a few thousand men from the Massachusetts?

I will likewise send you, by this post, Lord Howe's letter and Proclamation, which has let the cat out of the bag. These tricks deceive no longer. Gentlemen here, who either were, or pretended to be, deceived heretofore, now see or pretend to see through such artifices. I apprehend his Lordship is afraid of being attacked upon Staten-Island, and is throwing out his barrels to amuse Leviathan until his reinforcements shall arrive.

MONSIEUR PELISSIER TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read July 20, 1776, and referred to the Board of War.]

Philadelphia, July 20, 1776.

HONOURABLE SIRS: Anxious as I am to avoid giving trouble to this honourable House, I am, nevertheless, obliged to lay before you the following particulars of my situation. At the time the first address from Congress to the Canadians appeared in that country, I was among the foremost who sought to give it support; and, impressed with a strong desire to free this Western world from European tyranny, I