MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO MATTHEW TTLGHMAN.

SIR: We are very apprehensive that we should incur the censure of the honourable Continental Congress and of the Islanders who have stock, should we make the order you request. The resolve of Congress is full and explicit, without any exception. Should we extend our powers to answer your request, others would expect indulgence, and we know not where the exceptions would stop. Our powers are extensive but not large enough to control the orders of Congress. Your application may well lie over till the meeting of the Convention, which will be in a short time.

We shall take particular notice of your application for an armed boat, and give directions to our armed vessels as soon as they can be got ready. The Defence is going down the bay, and will be a good security against tenders, for the present.

Perhaps it would be prudent to sell some of your cattle. If you want a market, our contractor will probably take off some of your superfluous numbers. We are, &c.

To the Honourable Matthew Tilghman, Esq.

MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY TO COLONEL BARNES.

SIR: Before your letter and papers therein enclosed came to hand, we had received a letter from Major Price, in which Mr. Wolstenholme's affair was mentioned. The Council of Safety thereupon passed a general order to all the Committees of Observation and military commanders, not to suffer any person whatever to go out of the Province for the present. A copy of this order was enclosed to Major Price and your Committee.

All intercourse with the Fowey has been heretofore expressly forbidden by the Convention. Besides, times are so much altered since Mr. Wolstenholme's passport, and the men-of-war have so openly invaded this Province, that we could not discharge our duty without passing such order; at least, we thought so. Mr. Wolstenholme's case may be attended with particular circumstances; he must, however, submit to the times.

We hope both General Dent and yourself, on reflection, will be of opinion that we have done right. The suffering gentlemen to go off on board the men-of-war or tenders, or any other vessel that may have communication with them, is attended with great danger to the Colony. Every means of intelligence must be cut off, if possible. We are, &c.

To Colonel Richard Barnes.

JOHN ADAMS TO MASSACHUSETTS ASSEMBLY.

Philadelphia, July 25, 1776.

SIR: I find myself under a necessity of applying to the honourable the General Court for leave to return home. I have attended here so long and so constantly, that I feel myself necessitated to ask the favour on account of my health, as well as on many other accounts. I beg leave to propose to the honourable Court an alteration in their plan of delegation in Congress, which, it appears to me, would be more agreeable to the health and convenience of the members, and much more conducive to the publick good, than the present. No gentleman can possibly attend to an incessant round of thinking, speaking, and writing, upon the most intricate, as well as important concerns of human society, from one end of the year to another, without trying both his mental and bodily strength. I would therefore humbly propose, that the honourable Court would be pleased to appoint nine members to attend in Congress—three or five at a time. In this case, four or six might be at home at a time, and every member might be relieved once in three or lour months. In this way you would always have members in Congress who would have in their minds a complete chain of the proceedings here, as well as in the General Court; both kinds of which knowledge are necessary for a proper conduct here. In this way, the lives and health, and, indeed, the sound minds, of the delegates here, would be in less danger than they are at present, and, in my humble opinion, the publick business would be much better done. This proposal, however, is only submitted to the honourable body, whose sole right it is to judge of it. For myself, I must entreat the General Court to give me leave to resign, and immediately to appoint some other gentleman in my room. The consideration of my own health, and circumstances of my family and private affairs, would have little weight with me, if the sacrifice of these was necessary for the publick; but it is not, because those parts of the business of Congress for which (if for any) I have my qualifications being now nearly completed, and the business that remains being chiefly military and commercial, of which I know but very little, there are multitudes of gentlemen in the Province much fitter for the publick service here than I am.

With great respect to the General Court, I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

JOHN ADAMS.

To the Deputy Secretary.

ROBERT MORRIS TO GENERAL GATES.

Philadelphia, July 25, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I ought to have written you a fortnight ago that Mrs. Gates, with your son Bob, had gone for Virginia, after about two weeks stay with us, during which you had the misfortune to lose a horse. I believe he had been too hard driven, at least Bob thought that was the cause of his death, although the servant would not allow it. Mrs. Gates bought another from Mr. Hancock, for which I am to pay him forty pounds, and shall charge it to your account. Mrs. Gates did not take the money she wanted at home, but is to draw on me for it.

I hope you will be able to put our affairs at the Lakes on a more respectable footing than they have ever been since the days of poor Montgomery. Certainly there has been great mismanagement in that department, and I find some people attributing this to a source I never should have suspected. Is it possible for a man who writes so well, and expresses such an anxiety for the cause of his country, as General Schuyler does—I say is it possible that he can be sacrificing the interest of that country to his ambition or avarice? I sincerely hope it is not so; but such insinuations are dropped.

I beg leave to recommend Major Wood to your patronage; you'll find him a bold, intrepid officer; and as Lieutenant-Colonel Allen has resigned, I shall push for the Major to have that vacancy.

You'll be pleased with Lee's success at Carolina; the enemy were mauled greatly, and I think the repulse disgraces them; consequently reflects great honour on our people.

You are no doubt well informed of what passes at New-York; and as I have full employment for my whole time, I shall only assure you of the esteem and regard with which I am, dear sir, your affectionate, humble servant,

ROBERT MORRIS.

LANCASTER COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Committee of Inspection and Observation, held at the house of Adam Reigart, on the 25th July, 1776:

Present: Edward Shippen, William Atlee, William Bowsman, Lodwick Lowman, Jacob Krug, Henry Dehuff, Christopher Crawford, Michael Musser, Eberhart Gruber, Adam Reigart.

William Atlee in the chair.

John Purick, of the Seventh Regiment, is permitted to work with Basoran Wolf, at the Saltpetre business, he here in Committee engaging to be answerable for him, agreeable to the resolves of this Committee.

A Letter from Colonel Philip Greenwalt, dated the 24th of July instant, mentions that the Ninth Battalion of this County is to march for Trenton, in the Jerseys, next Monday; that the men stand in need of Muskets, Cartridge-Boxes, Field-Kettles, Canteens, and other necessary accoutrements, and requests this Committee to let him know when to send for them, and how many of each; which Letter being read, the Chairman is desired to inform Colonel Greenwalt that the Committee have already distributed the whole of the Muskets and Cartridge-Boxes which can possibly be spared from the guard here, and that there are neither Kettles nor Canteens to be had here, nor tin to make them of; and that, were it in our power, we should cheerfully comply with the request.

Edward Shippen took the chair, and William Atlee, in behalf of Colonel Atlee, motioned that Colonel Atlee, upon entering into the service, had employed and hired a certain John Hamilton to take care of his farm; that there is no other man about the house or farm than the said John Hamilton; that Mrs. Atlee hath a number of young chil-