Letter from President Hancock, enclosing Resolutions of the Continental Congress of the 26th instant

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A Letter from the honourable John Hancock, Esq˙, of the 26th instant, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

"Philadelphia, June 26, 1776.

"GENTLEMEN: You will perceive from the enclosed Resolves, which I do myself the honour of transmitting, in obedience to the commands of Congress, that they have appointed not only the Field Officers in the Regiment to be raised in your Colony, but likewise a number of subalterns.

"The reasons that induced Congress to take this step, as it is a deviation from rule, should be particularly mentioned. I am therefore directed to inform you that, in consequence of their being furnished with a list of the officers who had served in Canada, they have been enabled to appoint, and in fact have only appointed, such as were originally recommended and appointed by the Provincial Congress of your Colony, and have served faithfully both the last summer campaign and through the winter. It is apprehended, therefore, the Congress have only prevented you in their appointments, and that the same gentlemen would have met with your approbation for their services to their country; added to this, the last intelligence from Canada, showing our affairs to be in the, most imminent danger, rendered the utmost despatch necessary, that not a moment of time might be lost. The other officers of the battalion, I am to request you will be pleased to appoint, and exert every nerve to equip the battalion as soon as possible. As an additional encouragement, the Congress have resolved that a bounty of ten dollars be given every soldier who shall inlist for three years.

"I have the Honour to be, gentlemen, your most obedient very humble servant,

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

"To the Honourable Convention of New-York, now sitting in New-York."

The Resolutions of the Continental Congress of the 26th instant, referred to in the Letter above-mentioned from the Honourable John Hancock, commissioning Major Dubois as Colonel, with instructions forthwith to raise a Regiment to serve for three years, or during the war, and also appointing several Officers in said Regiment, were also read and filed.