Letter from the Council of Massachusetts to the President of Congress

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[Read July 29, 1776.]

Council Chamber, Watertown, July 23, 1776.

SIR: Your favour of the 16th instant is now before us, and in answer thereto we have little to say in addition to what this Board wrote you in their letter of the 19th instant. Marching orders were issued some time ago to the commanding officers of the regiments ordered to be raised for Canada and New York, and we have now the pleasure to inform you that many of the men have already marched for their several destinations, and we expect the whole will be gone in a few days.

The fifteen hundred men last ordered for the Northern Department are now raising with all possible expedition, and the necessary preparations are already made for their marching, so that we hope that Army will soon receive such reinforcements as will enable them to prevent the enemy from making any further advances upon us in that quarter. And we again assure you, that we will still continue to exert ourselves zealously for the publick good, hoping shortly to hear matters have taken another turn, and that our publick affairs will soon wear a more favourable aspect.

In the name, and by order of the Council, I have the honour to be your most obedient servant,
RICHARD DERBY, Jun˙, President.

To the Hon˙ John Hancock, Esq.