probability at present of borrowing or purchasing any guns, well fixed, in this County, at the price of £4 10s., or of collecting any blankets; but if any such should hereafter be got, the Committee will send them to the Council as soon as they, may be obtained. Also, I am to inform you, that the collectors appointed some time past to receive fire-arms from Non Associates have not as yet made any return thereof.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

J. CONTEE.

To the Honourable Council of Safety, Annapolis.

PRESIDENT OF. CONGRESS. TO GOVERNOUR RUTLEDGE.

Philadelphia, July 24, 1776.

SIR: The Congress being of opinion that the service of the United Slates will be promoted by taking into pay a number of troops in the State of South-Carolina, who are to act either as Infantry or Lighthorse, as occasion may require, have come to the enclosed resolves, which I do myself the honour of transmitting in obedience to their commands. In consideration that these troops will go through more than ordinary duty, and be put to greater expense than others, the Congress have augmented their pay in proportion. I have delivered blank commissions to the Delegates of your State.

With most hearty and sincere wishes for your health and happiness, and the prosperity of the State over which you preside, I have the honour to be, with great respect, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To Governour Rutledge, of South-Carolina.

[Same to the Convention of Georgia.]

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Philadelphia, July 24, 1776.

SIR: I do myself the honour to enclose sundry resolves, to which I must entreat your attention. The Congress, you will there find, reposing the most entire confidence in your judgment, have left the disposition of the troops at New-York, the Flying-Camp, and Ticonderoga, wholly with you, being fully assured you will make such an arrangement as in your opinion will conduce most to the publick good.

The Commissioners appointed to audit the accounts of the Army in the York department have been with me. They are preparing to set out as soon as possible, and I expect will be at New-York in a few days.

You will observe that the Congress have empowered the Commander-in-Chief in each department to negotiate an exchange of prisoners, which you will please to conduct agreeably to the enclosed system.

I have written to General Schuyler, and forwarded a copy of the enclosed resolves.

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

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To His Excellency General Washington.

PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Philadelphia, July 24, 1776.

SIR: The enclosed resolves, which I do myself the honour of transmitting, are so explicit that I need only refer your attention to them. The Congress are extremely concerned to find there should be a necessity of recommending harmony to the officers and troops of different States under your command. At a time like this, when the greatest confidence is so essentially required, nothing can show greater weakness or wickedness than to throw provincial reflections on one another, which must have a direct tendency to impede the publick service, and to weaken the union of the American States. I am, therefore, to request that you will discountenance and suppress, by every means in your power, such ungenerous and base practices, and promote discipline, order, and zeal, in the Army, as much as possible.

The Commissioners appointed to audit the accounts of the Army in the Northern Department have been with me. They are preparing to set out immediately, and I expect will be in New-York in a few days.

The Congress having empowered the Commander-in-Chief in each department to negotiate an exchange of prisoners, you will please to conduct the business agreeably to the enclosed system.

In consequence of a flag from Lord Howe, with a letter directed "To George Washington, Esq.," which he declined receiving, as an improper direction, considering his rank and station, the Congress came to a resolution, not only expressing their approbation of his conduct, but ordering for the future that no Commander-in-Chief, or other the commanders of the American Army, should receive any letters from the enemy but such as are directed to them in the characters they sustain.

You will please to inquire into the complaints of the soldiers as soon as possible, and give strict orders that the goods furnished them shall not be charged at a higher price than the first cost of them, and an allowance of five per cent, for charges.

I have the honour to be, with every sentiment of esteem and respect, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

To General Schuyler, Albany, or elsewhere.

THOMAS STONE TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Philadelphia, July 24, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I send you herewith forty barrels of powder and fifty-four boxes of arms, the arrival of which I informed you by the post. I have agreed with the wagoners for 30s. per day, each, going and returning. They are to travel twenty miles per day going and twenty-five returning. This seems to be the usual practice, though I think it very exorbitant. I have paid them £12 each, and have informed them they will receive the balance from you upon delivery of their charges, or if it be more agreeable to you, they may be paid here on your certificate. I have paid £15 2s. for cartage from Egg-Harbour, and shall settle the freight to-morrow, which, according to agreement with Harrison & Vanbibber, is ten per cent, on the gross sales here; and powder which came with ours has sold by the quantity for £25 per hundred weight, which, I suppose, will ascertain the rule for the freight. The guns came loose, and are hurt by it; I had them put into boxes, to prevent their being further damaged. Two are left out to guard the powder. Others, &c., will be delivered you. I have thought it advisable to send two men to guard the powder and arms, at 5s. per day each. My brother Delegates think this mode of conveying these very necessary articles to you right, and I hope it will also meet with your approbation.

Nothing since ours by the post. The wagons to be paid from this day.

I am, with great respect, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

T. STONE.

To the Hon. Council of Safety of Maryland, at Annapolis.

JOHN COVENHOVEN TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

In Convention of the State of New-Jersey,

Brunswick, July 24, 1776.

SIR: In answer to your letter of the 21st instant, we can inform you that a considerable number of the levies required from this State by Congress are now on their march to New-York. We have written to General Heard to make return as soon as possible of the deficiencies in each County, and you may rest assured we shall use our utmost efforts, at this critical period, to complete the brigade ordered for the reinforcement of the Army at New-York, and also to afford you all such other assistance as the weal of the United States shall require and the condition of this State admit of.

We are, sir, with great respect, your obedient humble servants.

By order of Convention:

JOHN COVENHOVEN, Vice-President.

To His Excellency General Washington, New-York.

GENERAL MERCER TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Perth-Amboy, July 24, 1776.

SIR: Enclosed is a return of the troops in this Colony. Two battalions joined yesterday. We are told of numbers being on the way from Philadelphia. In a few days the