of the Council of Safety, 1776. 477

the Land and by Implication that the States had none still not
answering expectation The Congress further resolved that
any resolutions that had passed should neither operate to
weaken or strengthen the Claim of the United States or any
of them to any Back land by which this point that has given
such uneasiness in our Province will be saved and be discussed
hereafter in our future Confederacy.
The second point they had in view was the point of Taxa-
tion which they thought unequal being rated on slaves as well
as whites. This has been expressly named as the mode as to
6 millions of Dollars. As to 14 more the same Declaration is
made as in the article of Land, that the proportion of sinking
it shall be adjusted hereafter on each State and that nothing
heretofore done shall strengthen or weaken such Inquiry or
Question.
Our Province having in some measure obtained a Satisfac-
tion on these two Heads, nothing now remaines but to con-
sider whether the Convention having impowered us to proceed
and inlist for and during the war on the 20 Dollars we can go
on the Terms of three years and the same Bounty being for a
less Term and in this Point we are pretty generally agreed to
depart from the Letter to preserve the Spirit.
Fort Lee has followed the same Fate as Fort Washington
except that our Powder and men with two 12. Pounders
escaped. We lost 1000 Barren's of Flour and 300 Tents
better than 400 of the Maryland Troops were taken in and
about fort Washington where Major Price writes our Brother
Comm^rs son fell as well as Col^o Williams of the Rifle Battalion
bravely fighting in his Country's cause.
I am greatly surprised that these Britons are so bent on
surprising and that we should be so often so surprised on
Long Island, York Island, White Plains, Fort Washington
and now Fort Lee tho' the enemy crossed at Dobb's Ferry
they became not visible 'till within sight of the Fort in short
there are so many of them that I shall be all wonder and sur-
prise or learn in the Poets Phrase Nil admirari. I am afraid
you have not sent Commissions enough.
24 Nov^r 1776 I am Sir,
Philad^a Your most Humble Serv^t
wrote in the midst Benjamin Rumsey.
of Company

Monday 25^th November 1776.

Council met. Present the same Members as on Saturday
except M^r Thomas.
The Council contract with John Cannon and Daniel Rich-

C.S.J.