of the favors conferred on
himself, as well as those shown to many of his countrymen when in
great distress after their arrival into this once happy city, is
moved by a voluntary spirit of liberty to offer himself in the manner
and form following, viz: That your said petitioner understands that a
great many Companies are now on foot to be raised for the defence of
our liberties in this once happy land, which he thinks to be a very
proper maxim for the furtherance of our rights and liberty; that your
said petitioner (although he has nothing to recommend himself but the
variety of calling himself a Highlander, from North-Britain) flatters
himself that if this honorable Committee were to grant him a
commission, under their hand and seal, that he could, without
difficulty, raise one hundred Scotch Highlanders in this City and the
neighboring Provinces, provided they were to be put in the Highland
dress, and under pay during their service in defence of our
liberties. Therefore, may it please your Honors to take this petition
under your serious consideration; and should your Honors think proper
to confer the honor upon him as to have the command of a Highland
Company, under the circumstances proposed, your petitioner assures
you that no person shall or will be more willing to accept of the
offer than your humble petitioner."

On the following day Donald McLeod sent a petition, couched in the
following language to the Congress for the Colony of New York:

"That yesterday your said petitioner presented a petition before this
honorable body, and as to the contents of which he begs leave to give
reference. That since, a ship arrived from Scotland, with a number of
Highlanders passengers. That your petitioner talked to them this
morning, and after informing them of the present state of this as
well as the neighboring Colonies, they all seemed to be very desirous
to form themselves into companies, with the proviso of having liberty
to wear their own country dress, commonly called the Highland habit,
and moreover to be under pay for the time they are in the service for
the protection of the liberties of this once happy country, but by
all means to be under the command of Highland officers, as some of
them cannot speak the English language. That the said Highlanders are
already furnished with guns, swords, pistols, and Highland dirks,