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A Letter received from John Hancock, Esq˙, dated the 15th instant, was read, and is in the words following, viz:
"Philadelphia, March 15, 1776.
"GENTLEMEN: As it is now apparent that our enemies mean to prosecute this cruel and unjust war with unrelenting fury, and as every intelligence assures us that they mean to bend their force against your Colony, I would not do you the injustice to suppose there will be any occasion to use arguments to stimulate you to exert your most strenuous endeavours to expedite the raising and arming the Battalions ordered to be raised in your Colony for its defence. Enclosed I send you the commissions for the Field-Officers.
"Lost our enemies should come upon you before the Continental Troops can be in readiness to receive them, or in case they should come with superior force, the Congress have thought proper to empower the Continental commander at New-York to call to his assistance the Militia of your Colony and that of Connecticut and New-Jersey, agreeable to the enclosed resolves; and I have it in command to request you to hold your Militia in readiness to march in such numbers and at such times as he may desire.
"The Congress have ordered five tons of powder for the use of the Troops employed in your defence, which will be forwarded with the utmost expedition.
"I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your very humble
servant,
"JOHN HANCOCK, President.
"The Honourable the Convention of New-York.
"The Colonel of the Third Battalion is not appointed, for reasons that will be mentioned by your Delegates, to whose letter I beg leave to refer you."
"IN CONGRESS, March 15, 1776. — Resolved, That the Governour of Connecticut, the Conventions or Councils, or Committees of Safety of New-York and New-Jersey, be requested to hold their Militia in readiness to march in such numbers, and at such times, for the defence of New-York, as the Continental Commander at New-York shall desire;
and that the pay of the Militia called to the defence of New-York be the same as that of the Continental Troops raised and employed in the Middle Department, to commence from the time they begin their march.
"Extract from the Minutes:
"CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
"Transmitted to the honourable Convention of New-York, by order of Congress.
"JOHN HANCOCK, President.
"To the Convention or Committee of Safety, New-York."
Letter from the President of Congress: An attack upon New-York may be expected;every preparation should be made for its defence
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If any of them are provided for in Canada, they are to continue there, and others will be elected in their room. Such of them as are in Canada, and unprovided for, have orders immediately to repair to their respective Regiments.