than can be fitted off in, firearms. They now call upon you for their part of the publick guns, which I put no doubt you will get for them as soon as possible, as the want of guns is the only thing that hinders their marching according lo orders.

I remain, with due respect, your most humble servant,

ROBERT THOMPSON.

To the Standing Committee for Lancaster County.

GENERAL MERCER TO JOHN HANCOCK.

Head-Quarters, Perth-Amboy, July 22, 1776.

SIR: The declaration enclosed in the letter to Captain Morgan was brought to me yesterday evening. It was found in the fork of a road leading from South-Amboy ferry. We have no reason to suspect the integrity of Morgan, or his attachment to the American cause. He is Captain of Militia in South-Amboy, and a very intimate acquaintance of Cortlandt Skinner. Morgan, on reading the letter, told me he was ready, as soon as I pleased, to pass over to Staten-Island, with all his company, and would convince Skinner lie had mistaken his man.

Some ships have appeared within a few days coming in from sea. The enemy seem a little alarmed at the number of troops assembled here, but have not changed their position along the shore of Staten-Island. Three battalions of Provincial Regulars and three of Militia from Pennsylvania, together with one company of Artillery and two field-pieces, are now on duty here, stationed from Bergen Neck to South-Amboy, to the great relief of the New-Jersey Militia.

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

HUGH MERCER.

To the Hon. John Hancock, Esq.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM AN OFFICER IN THE 2D PHILADELPHIA BATTALION, DATED AMBOY, JULY 22, 1776.

We arrived here Saturday morning, from Woodbridge, with all our battalion, except Captain Wilcock's company, who are stationed at Smith's farm, on Woodbridge Neck. We are now in full view of the enemy, only separated by the Sound, which is about as wide as Schuylkill. Our men are in high spirits, and longing for an opportunity to have a skirmish with them.

Yesterday Colonel Atlee's battalion came in, and marched along the beach. They made a good appearance, and I think alarmed the enemy not a little. We could distinctly see a number of the officers observing with glasses, and their men, drawn up in a line, appeared greatly surprised. We have here Colonel Miles, Colonel Atlee, the Second Battalion, Captain Moulder's company, and a Jersey company of Artillery: in all about fifteen hundred men. It is supposed the enemy have about one thousand men opposite us. When our numbers are a little more augmented, it is expected we shall do something. Today our encampment will be marked out, and to-morrow I expect the battalion will pitch their tents.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read July 29, 1776, and referred to the Board of War.]

New-York, July 22, 1776.

SIR: Congress having been pleased to appoint Mr. Wilpen to the command of a company in the German battalion now raising, I have directed him to repair to Philadelphia for their orders. From my acquaintance with him, 1 am persuaded his conduct as an officer will meet their approbation; and, thanking them for their kind attention to my recommendation of him, I have the honour to be, with sentiments of the highest respect, their most obedient servant,

Go. WASHINGTON.

To the Hon. John Hancock, President of Congress.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Received and read July 23, 1776.]

New-York, July 22, 1776.

SIR: Your favours of the 18th and 19th, with which you have been pleased to honour me, have been duly received, with the several resolves alluded to.

When the letter and declaration from Lord Howe to Mr. Franklin and the other late Governours come to be published, I should suppose the warmest advocates for dependence on the British Crown must be silent, and be convinced, beyond all possibility of doubt, that all that has been said about the Commissioners was illusory, and calculated expressly to deceive and unguard, not only the good people of our own country, but those of the English nation that were averse to the proceedings of the King and Ministry. Hence we see the cause why a specification of their powers was not given to the Mayor and City of London on their address requesting it. That would have been dangerous, because it would then have been manifest that the line of conduct they were to pursue would be variant from that they had industriously propagated and amused the publick with. The uniting the military and civil offices in the same persons, too, must be conclusive to every thinking one, that there is to be but little negotiation of the civil kind.

I have enclosed, for the satisfaction of Congress, the substance of what passed between myself and Lieutenant-Colonel Patterson, Adjutant-General, at an interview had yesterday, in consequence of a request from General Howe the day before; to which I beg leave to refer them for particulars.

Colonel Knox, of the Train, having often mentioned to me the necessity of having a much more numerous body of Artillerists than what there now is, in case the present contest should continue longer, and knowing the deficiency in this instance, and their extreme usefulness, I desired him to commit his ideas upon the subject to writing, in order that I might transmit them to Congress for their consideration. Agreeable to my request, he has done it; and the propriety of his plan is now submitted for their decision. It is certain that we have not more at this time than are sufficient for the several extensive posts we have, including the draughts which he speaks of, and which, I presume, not only from what he has informed me, but from the nature of the thing, can never be qualified to render the same service as if they were regularly appointed and formed into a corps for that particular purpose.

I beg leave to remind Congress that some time ago I laid before them the proposals of some persons here for forming a company of Lighthorse, and of the President's answer a little time after, intimating that the plan seemed to be approved of. As those who wanted to make up the troop are frequently pressing me for an answer, I could wish to be favoured with the decision of Congress upon the subject.

By a letter from General Schuyhr of the 14th instant, dated at Albany, he informs me that the day before some desperate designs of the Tories in that quarter had been discovered, the particulars of which he could not divulge, being under an oath of secrecy; however, that such measures had been taken as to promise a prevention of the intended mischief; and that four of the conspirators, among them a ringleader, were apprehended about one o'clock that morning not far from the town. What the plot was, or who were concerned in it, is a matter I am ignorant of as yet.

With my best regards to Congress, I have the honour to be your and their most obedient servant,

Go. WASHINGTON.

P. S. Congress will please to observe what was proposed respecting the exchange of Mr. Lovell, and signify their pleasure in your next. The last week's Return is also enclosed.

Memorandum of what passed at the interview between His Excellency General WASHINGTON arid Colonel PATTERSON. Adjutant-General of the Army under General HOWE, JULY 20, 1776.

After usual compliments, in which, as well as through the whole conversation, Colonel P. addressed General Washington by the title of Excellency, Colonel Patterson entered upon the business by saying: That General Howe much regretted the difficulties which had arisen respecting the address of the letters to General W; that it was deemed consistent with propriety, and founded upon precedents of the like nature by Ambassadors and Plenipotentiaries where disputes or difficulties of rank had arisen; that General W.; might recollect he had last summer addressed a letter to General Howe To the Hon. William Howe, Esq.; that Lord