WILLIAM MACLAY TO RICHARD PETERS.

Sunbury, July 23, 1776.

SIR: On notification from the War Office that flints were wanted, I immediately determined to examine what could be produced in that way in this country, my former general acquaintance with the country, in the practice of surveying, enabling me to prosecute such an inquiry with the greater advantage. The bearer, Mr. Ball, will produce you specimens of our success. Some of our gunsmiths, who have tried them in firearms, do not hesitate to pronounce them superior to imported flints, I will, however, be sufficiently happy, if, on general experience, they are found only equal. The vein or quarry appears inexhaustible, situate along the banks of Penn's Creek, down which and Susque-hannah there is a safe and expeditious navigation for boats and canoes great part of the year; the distance from Sunbury about ten miles. I will only add, that if it is thought advisable to establish a manufacture of flints at this place, I will cheerfully render every assistance in my power.

And am, sir, with the greatest respect, your most obedient and very humble servant,

WM. MACLAY.

To Richard Peters, Esq., Secretary of the War Office at Philadelphia.

G. NOARTT5 TO RICHARD PETERS.

Sunbury, July 23, 1776.

DEAR SIR: In consequence of an advertisement put out of the War Office, a number of gentlemen of this County have taken pains to discover a quantity of flint-stone, and have sent Mr. Thermond Ball to you with some of it. If, from the specimen which will be delivered to you, it should be found necessary to establish any kind of manufacture of them, I am desired to acquaint you that the gentlemen here are ready to give any assistance in their power.

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

G. NOARTTS.

To Richard Peters, Esq., Secretary at War, Philadelphia.

WILLIAM ALLEN TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

July 23, 1776.

SIR: Since I had the honour of receiving a commission of Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army of the honourable Continental Congress, several circumstances have intervened, which render it extremely inconvenient, and indeed impossible, for me any longer to execute the duties of the said commission; wherefore, with the greatest sense of gratitude for your past favours, I humbly beg leave to resign it into your hands.

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

WILL. ALLEN.

To the Hon. John Hancock, Esq.

LANCASTER COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Committee of Observation, Inspection, and Correspondence, at the house of Adam Reigart, the 23d day of July, 1776:

Present: William Atlee, William Bowsman, Lodwick Lowman, Jacob King, Henry Dehuff, Michael Mussen, Adam Reigart, Edward Ship-pen, John Miller, and Christopher Crawford.

William Atlee in the chair.

The Chairman handed the Committee two packets, received last night, between ten and eleven o'clock, by express; one containing Ordinances of Convention for disarming the Non-Associators; and the other containing Circular Letters from the Convention to the different Colonels and Commanding Officers of the Battalions in this County; which Circular Letters and Ordinances are sent off by expresses, as directed by the honourable the Convention.

The Chairman read to the Committee copies of two Letters: one from the Committee to Richard Peters, Esq., Secretary of the Board of War, acknowledging the arrival of the Prisoners sent here under the conduct of Captain Sterling, from Burlington; and the other of them to the Honourable Benjamin Franklin, Esq., the President of the Convention of this Province; which being read, are approved of, and ordered to be transcribed and forwarded as expeditiously as possible.

It is Ordered by the Committee, That John Leggit, of Captain Watson's Flying-Camp, do deliver to Captain Paxton, of Colonel Porter's Battalion, the Gun which Captain Paxton sometime ago intrusted him with; and if the said Gun should be in the hands of any other of Captain Watson's Company, he is desired to direct the same to be delivered to Captain Paxton, who hath engaged, in a Company now forming, to join the Camp in the Jerseys.

A number of the reputable inhabitants of Earl Township represent to the Committee, that the Militia in that district are about to march in a few days, under Colonel Peter Grubb, for the Camp in the Jerseys; that several families of the Associators who are obliged to march, will in a short time be in a suffering condition; and request this Committee to appoint such persons as may be proper to take charge of such as may be found not of ability to maintain themselves; and they, at the same time, recommend Mr. Gabriel Davis as a person that may be confided in.

The Committee, taking the same into consideration, do, by virtue of the authority to them given by the Resolve of the Committee of Safety of the 15th of July instant, nominate and appoint the said Gabriel Davis to take care of, and distribute to such distressed families in that district the allowance he shall judge reasonable; and he is requested to undertake this duty, and keep an account of his disbursements, that this Committee may draw on the Committee of Safety for the necessary sums of money, and return the proper account to that Board of his expenditures.

Joseph Park, of the Seventh Regiment, and John Lang-ford, of the Seventh Regiment, are permitted to work with Ernest Born, Weaver—Mr. Michael Musser and Mr. Lewis Peters, here in Committee, engaging to be answerable for them, agreeable to the Resolves of this Committee.

William Craig, of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment, is permitted to work with William Tanner, Weaver—he, here in Committee, engaging to be answerable for him, agreeable to the Resolves of this Committee.

Robert Borreas, of the Seventh Regiment, is permitted to work with John Jordon—James Bickmqn, Esq., engaging for his good behaviour, &c.

Thomas Matchin, of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment, and John Jack, of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment, are permitted to work with Jacob Curry, Weaver—he here in Committee engaging to be answerable for them, agreeable to the Resolves of this Committee.

John Dare, of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment, is permitted to work with Joseph Simons, at the Silversmith's business—he here in Committee engaging to be answerable for him, agreeable to the Resolves of this Committee.

WILLIAM ATLEE TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

In Committee, Lancaster, July 23, 1776.

SIR: Your express arrived here last night between ten and eleven o'clock, with the Ordinance of Convention for disarming the Non-Associators, and the Circular Letters to the Commanding Officers of the Battalions of Associators in this County; and this morning, about eight o'clock, we despatched three expresses to different parts of this County, with a Circular Letter and Ordinance to each of the Commanding Officers of the Battalions, agreeably to the orders of Convention; so that by twelve or one o'clock, to-day, we expect those officers will be possessed of them, and have no doubt will do everything in their power to forward the march of the Militia.

We shall, with great cheerfulness, agreeably to the requisition of Convention, aid and assist them, as far as in our power, to carry the recommendation of Congress into the most immediate and effectual execution, by providing them with every necessary which we possibly can. We have assisted such Captains as have had companies ready, or nearly so, with cash, camp-kettles, and a few muskets and bayonets, and our gunsmiths have been busy for a few days past in repairing their arms. But we think it our duty to mention to the Convention that our stores are nearly exhausted. We have distributed our muskets and bayonets, so that we have hardly sufficient in good order to relieve our necessary guards. Our tin-workers are out of tin, so that no more camp-kettles can be expected from them; and we have taken up the chief part of the cash to be found amongst our moneyed men, which we have distributed amongst the officers, to