Letter from John Page to the President of Congress

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In Council, Williamsburgh, July 20, 1776.

SIR: We had the honour to receive your letterof the 8th instant, enclosing the Declaration of Independence, and the resolve of Congress respecting the augmentation of the Rifle corps at New York. We shall take care to have the Declaration immediately published, so as that the people may be universally informed of it, who, we have the pleasure to inform you, have been impatiently expecting it, and will receive it with joy.

We are perfectly satisfied of the utility of riflemen, and wish it was in our power to assist in raising the number in our County voted by Congress for the support of New York, but the Convention has adjourned, and we are vested with no powers which can in any manner enforce or carry into execution that vote. If commissions could be sent to proper persons, they might raise companies which would have a right to march to New York, but we could not oblige them to do so.

It is with pleasure, sir, we observe that you say, in consequence of the Declaration, you are fully convinced that our affairs may take a more favourable turn; and we firmly rely on the protection and continuance of the powerful interposition of that Being whose power no creature is able to resist.

I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,
JOHN PAGE, President.

To Hon˙ John Hancock, President of Congress, Philadelphia.