•420 HISTORY OF 



and Colonel Hartly, which are well clothed ; most of the 

 others are in a wretched condition. 



I am your excellency's humble servant, 



Ant'y Wayne. 



Fearful their deliberations might be interrupted, while 

 in session at Philadelphia, Congress resolved to remove 

 from Philadelphia. " On the 18th of September, 1777^ 

 Congress sat as usual, and after having fulfilled the regu- 

 lar hours of daily service, adjourned to 10 o'clock the 

 next morning, but during the adjournment the president 

 received a letter from Colonel Hamilton, one of General 

 Washington's aids, which intimated the necessity of Con- 

 gress leaving their place of deliberation. The members 

 resolved at once to repair to Lancaster, where they 

 arrived on the 27th of September, the very day when 

 Sir William Howe entered Philadelphia, and took peace- 

 able possession of it. 



The treasury books, papers, money, &c. v/ere carried 

 from Philadelphia to Bristol, ihence by Receding to Lan- 

 caster. This circuitous route was to avoid faiUng into 

 the hands of the enen:iy, who were at that time still in 

 Chester county, where, a few days previous, the battle of 

 Bxandy wine had been fought. 



Congress met, but fearful tliat Lancaster was too easily 

 accessible to the enemy, they determined the broad Sus- 

 quehanna should flow between them and the enemy. — 

 They adjourned the same day of their first meeting to 

 York. The first day of their session at York was the 

 30th September, 1777 ; here Congress remained till June 

 27, 1778, when they adjourned to meet at the State House 

 in Philadelphia."-'^ 



Though the conflict continued long, the ardor of the 

 citizens of Lancaster county did not abate in opposing 



*His. Yurk county. 



