Building is necessary, but having had the Brick Store on the Hill recommended to us for this purpose, before your Letter came to hand, we had wrote to Col. Hubley to apply it accordingly. We are sorry to find the Quarter Master's Department in such a feeble Condition as to be unable to bear the slightest Expences, such as necessary Repairs and Wood. We must entreat you to apply to Col. Miles in the most earnest manner for some assistance, as it is absolutely out of our Power to give any hard money, as none has come in for Taxes, and the Inhabitants of this City have been frequently called upon heretofore. We cannot but think that such a Representation from Mr. Atlee and yourself, stating at the same time that the Government is not in a Condition to supply you, will bring round a Grant of at least a small Part of the £300,000 given lately by the King of France to Congress. We think your mode of getting Wood the cheapest and best, but we have never yet either here or elsewhere taken upon us the Payment of the Bills or Direction of the Quarter Master's Affairs in any part of the State; should we begin we do not know where it would end. So far as the Repair of the Barracks which belong to the State, and have been usually repaired by the Government formerly, we should not hesitate to do it if we had the money. We do assure you that Persons in office are obliged to live as well as they can till the new Taxes are levied. We hope every one will see the necessity of collecting them speedily, and that Lancaster County especially (which is so able,) will exert herself to recruit the Treasury. Such an exertion would be very reasonable and do great credit to the Commissioners and the County in general. There have been many Subscriptions, Loans, &c., in this City; we have never understood that our Friends in the Country have been called upon in this way. Such a flourishing Town as Lancaster we should hope might, and they will in a Case where Humanity and their own Comfort is concerned, advance a small Sum of money when the Repayment is now become so certain and expeditious. In addition to all former Loans and Subscriptions we have now a very considerable one for the distressed Inhabitants of South Carolina who are coming over in large numbers. These Contributions are much heavier upon us than all the Taxes. Surely it is reasonable to expect that those of our Friends who have never been disturbed by the Enemy and are of Ability will help a little at such a Time. If no such temporary supply can be had we can only advise the Application I have mentioned in the same Part of this Letter and that without Loss of Time. It is not with us a Question of Will but of Ability, as we should be glad to relieve you from your difficulty as well as ease the People of Lancaster in any Matter in our Power. I am, Sir, your obed. Hble. Ser. Pres. Reed to Lieutenants of Lancaster and York, 1781. SIR: By authentick Advices Congress have received from Virginia this Day, it seems almost certain, that a large Detachment of Cornwallis's Army have moved up the Bay, having Baltimore for their present apparent Object. We cannot, on this Occasion, but have Apprehensions on Account of the Prisoners, and therefore, have not only thought proper to give you the earliest Intelligence, but to request you will take all proper Precautions for their Security-and in case of a forward Movement by the Enemy, that everything should be in Readiness to remove them to a place of greater Safety. We would also recommend to you the falling immediately upon suitable Measures to have the best and earliest Intelligence of the Operations of the Enemy at the Head of the Bay. The Distance does not admit of a Surprise if proper Vigilance is used; and the Consequences are of so alarming a Nature, that nothing ought to be omitted to guard against it. Should the enemy not make any Movement in the County, it is probable that the Prisoners will desert largely if great Care is not taken. This, therefore, though a secondary, is an important Consideration. Indorsed August 6, 1781. In Council. I am, &c. Philadelphia, Thursday, June 27, 1782. PRESENT: His Excellency the President. The Honourable the Vice President. Mr. Gardner, Mr. Levan, Mr. Ewing, Mr. Van Campen, and "WHEREAS, It hath been represented to this Board that, under pretence of supplying British prisoners with clothing, a store of British merchandize is opened in or near the borough of Lancaster, within this State, whereby a clandestine traffic is carried on between the inhabitants of this county and those who reside within the garrisons and places therein, now in the possession of the enemy; a market is provided for British merchandize, the circulating specie is exported from the United States, the payment of taxes rendered more difficult and burthensome to the people at large, and great discouragement occasioned to honest and lawful commerce. Ordered, That William Henry, Esquire, of the said borough, taking to his assistance a Justice of the Peace of Lancaster, do enquire concerning, and inspect the store in the said borough which has been opened on the pretence aforesaid, and if it shall appear that any goods, wares, and merchandizes, shall be found therein other than made up uniforms for the said prisoners, to take possession of the said stores with all merchandize therein contained, and report to this Board; placing a sufficient guard to secure the same until further orders from this Board. And if any goods wares, and merchandize, other than made up uniforms, shall hereafter be brought into the said borough or county, under the pretence aforesaid, to seize and secure the same in like manner and report to this Board. Ordered, That all Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, and other peace officers of the State, be required to arrest all persons found hawking or peddling contrary to law, and more especially all British prisoners, whether natives of that country or foreigners; and the wives or agents of such British prisoners who shall be found selling or offering to sell or barter any goods, wares, or merchandizes, of any kind, under any pretence whatsoever, in order that they may be dealt with according to law." The subjoined documents speak well for the intelligent patriotism of the citizens of Lancaster County. The first is a circular of this tenor: DEAR SIR: The officers and representatives of the ninth battalion of Lancaster county Militia, upon consultation have concluded, from the complexion of the present House of Assembly, that the Constitution and Liberty of the State are at stake in some measure; and sensible of the importance of what has cost us so much blood and treasure, we have thought it incumbent upon us to exert ourselves for their preservation as far as our influence extends, and to warn all who would wish to be free from the dangers that seem to impend, not doubting at the same time, but you are ready to take the alarm, as you must be sensible of the same danger. We do not think it necessary to multiply words, tending to inspire your spirit, for we are of opinion that you possess the same, and have been only waiting to know the sentiments of your fellow friends to Liberty. Let us not then coolly and simply suffer any of our rights to be taken from us by any men, especially as our Constitution invests us with full power to oppose any such attempt. Perhaps our fears are groundless; but in case of apparent danger, which undoubtedly is our present case, a wise man will be on his guard; and therefore let such a number of persons as you will please to appoint meet us at Manheim, on the 15th day of January next, in order that we may mutually contrive such measures as may have a tendency to preserve our good and inestimable Constitution and our dear Independence and sweet Liberty. Be active and do not fail to fulfil our request. By order of the whole. Hanover, November 28th, 1782. JOHN RODGERS, Colonel. To the Colonels of the Lancaster County Militia. MILITIA MEETING. Present-Colonel Thomas Edwards. Colonel Ziegler, Colonel Lowry. Majors Cook, Kelley, Hays and Hare. Colonel Ross. Mr. Chambers, Captain Ewing, Captain J. Hubley. Mr. Clark, Captain Laird. Colonel Elder. On motion, Colonel Rodgers was unanimously chosen Chairman, and Captain Joseph Hubley, Secretary. Colonel Rodgers made a neat and appropriate speech explaining the objects of the meeting, that a rumor was in circulation calculated to do much injury, "that the President of the State of Pennsylvania was hostile to the Independence of America." On motion, this question was put to each battalion: Is it the opinion of the members present that they approve of the appointment of John Dickinson, Esq., as President of the State of Pennsylvania, or not? Answer. The members of the Second Battalion are unanimously of opinion that a better choice of a President could not be made. Colonel Ziegler-Same opinion. Seventh Battalion-Same. Eighth Battalion-Same. Ninth Battalion-We hope the Assembly have made a good choice, and if they have we thank them. Colonel Elder agrees in opinion with the Ninth. Resolved, unanimously, That the People have a right to assemble together for their common good, to instruct our Representatives, and to apply to the Legislature for redress of grievances, by address, petition, or remonstrance. Resolved, unanimously, That in the opinion of the deputies from the different battalions now met, that the complexion of the present House of Assembly is such that we have no reason to doubt that the Independence and Constitution of this State are safe, and that we highly approve of the appointment of his Excellency John Dickinson, Esq. as President. Resolved, unanimously, That we approve of Colonel Rodgers' calling this meeting, as it has tended to remove doubts and unjust charges that were in circulation to the disadvantage of his Excellency the President of this State, and two of our Members of Congress, James Wilson and John Montgomery, Esquires; and we conceive such meetings have a tendency to suppress false and malicious reports, and that thereby virtue may meet with its just reward and vice be depicted in its true deformity. Signed, JOHN RODGERS, Chairman. J. HUBLEY, Secretary. John Hubley to Pres. Dickinson. Court House Burned, 1784. Lancaster, June 11th, 1784. HONORED SIR: It is likely before now you have heard that the Court House in this place has been entirely consumed by Fire. I received this disagreeable account on my way to Lancaster from your City, and from anything that I can collect here, I find that all is guess-work how this affair happened. The House underwent some repairs this summer, and the Plaisterers were at work; a quantity of Lime was put up in the inside for that purpose, to secure it from the weather-some suppose the Lime set it on Fire others suppose that a Clock-maker, who was conducting the weights of the Clock in a different channel from that they formerly run in, used some Fire and was negligent. The Clock-maker denies he used any Fire in his work-and many conjectured that it was wickedly set Fire to by some unknown villain, so that the affair remains as yet in the dark. Happy it is for this place that the mischief has ended with the loss of the Court House only, as a strong south-west wind was blowing, and carried the Fire in great quantities over great part of the North-East part of the Town; and though the Calvinist Meeting House, which stands at a considerable distance from the Court House, and several other buildings, took Fire, yet it was happily extinguished without much damage. I thought that this affair might be confusedly Reported in the City, therefore have given you such information as I could collect in the few hours I have arrived here. Directed, I am, sir, with the utmost respect, Your very hble. servant, His Excellency John Dickinson, Esq., President of the State of Penn'a.. Philadelphia.. Many prisoners of war were confined at Lancaster; the following narrative furnishes a graphic account of prison life, and, as an interesting fragment of the history of Lancaster during the Revolution, will prove acceptable to the reader: "The American authorities found much difficulty in disposing of their prisoners. They had no posts regularly fitted for the purpose, and they could suggest no better means for securing them than to place them under guard in a thickly settled part of the country, where the inhabitants were most decidedly hostile to the English. The town of Lancas ter in Pennsylvania, was of those selected for this purpose. The prisoners were confined in barracks, enclosed with a stockade and vigilantly guarded. But, in spite of all precaution, they often disappeared in an unaccountable manner, and nothing was heard of them till they had resumed their |