Sir:—

The Bearer, Mr. Robert Hays, is the young man that I recommended to your Excellency for an Ensign's commission in the 4th Battalion. He was a stranger to me, until he joined the Regiment about six weeks ago: since which time, he has behaved himself as active zealous friend to his country, and has been very vigilant in the service. In my last I acquainted you with my success in the recruiting service, which would have been much greater, had he received money for that purpose. He waits on your Excellency to know if he can obtain a Commission. By a Gentleman directly from Philadelphia we are informed that seventy sail of the enemie's ships appear'd in Delaware River, and that Gen. Washington was crossing the Delaware at Cowell's Ferry Wednesday the 30th July, on his way to Philadelphia, with eighteen thousand men, and that Gen. Putnam remains to the Northward with six thousand.