New-York, August 8, 1774.

The Committee met, by adjournment, this evening: Present,

Copy of a Letter to the Committee of Correspondence, at Boston:

New-York, August 9, 1774.

GENTLEMEN: It gives us pain to be informed that you have the least reason to impute our silence to any but the true cause, viz: our having had nothing of importance to communicate, even in point of ceremony, which at such a juncture might be dispensed with. We do not think we have been deficient. When all depends on mutual confidence, and harmony, much is it to be lamented that the letters or whisperings of individuals should become the foundation of jealousy for the rectitude of our intentions, and our sincere desire of supporting the general cause. We can cheerfully appeal to our acts, our letters, our resolves, and the unreserved and open declarations which we have frequently and publicly made of our sentiments, in the present alarming state of our Colonies; and by these alone we ought to be judged. Permit us to add, that whatever grounds you have to question the patriotism of the order of Merchants, which is so strongly implied in your letter to our Committee of Mechanics, it is a debt of justice to affirm that the spirited and disinterested conduct of the commercial part of this city, ought to place them above the reach of suspicion, since at all times, and upon every occasion, they have proved themselves the unshaken friends of constitutional liberty, and have virtuously sacrificed the advantages of their profession to the public good.

To justify ourselves to you and to the world, far from declining, we think it our indispensable duty, and therefore must demand, as a right, that you will candidly furnish us with copies of the letters, and the dates of the newspapers, in which they were published, and a detail of the facts which have given rise to your uneasiness; and you may be assured that they shall become the subject of serious consideration. In times like these it is highly necessary that the foes to truth and liberty should be known and detected; and if they cannot be reformed, at least that a period may be put to their power of sowing the seeds of discord, one of the most fatal evils which can befall our country.

We have the pleasure to acquaint you that we have at length chosen five Delegates to represent this city in Congress, viz: Philip Livingston, John Ahop, Isaac Low, James Duane, and John Jay. They were elected by the people, without one dissenting voice. Circular letters have been sent to the counties informing them of it, and requesting them either to signify their acquiescence in our Delegates, or immediately appoint others to represent them. Enclosed you have a copy of our Resolves, which have been generally adopted in this metropolis.

The distresses of the poor of your town, and ways and means for their relief, have engaged the earnest attention of our Committee; and for this necessary and benevolent purpose, we have agreed that a subscription shall be set on foot throughout the Colony, which we do not doubt will meet with the wished for success. On our parts, we beg leave To assure you that nothing shall be omitted which we shall think conducive to your welfare and redress, or which may have a tendency to promote the restoration and establishment of OUT common rights and privileges.

We are, gentlemen, &c.

Copy of a Letter to the several Counties of this Province:

New-York, August 9, 1774.

GENTLEMEN: The distresses of the poor of the town of Boston, now sinking under the hand of power, and exposed to all the miseries which must attend so fatal a calamity, call aloud for our tender and compassionate concern. Every motive of policy and humanity should excite us to contribute with a liberal hand to their immediate redress. They are our countrymen and brethren, suffering in the common cause of liberty, and their hard condition may one day be our own, and we stand in need of that bounty which it now becomes our duty cheerfully to dispense.

From considerations so interesting, this Committee of Correspondence have unanimously recommended to their constituents a generous subscription for the support of the indigent inhabitants of that oppressed town, and entertain no doubt but it will meet with all the success to be expected from, a people equally distinguished for their charity and benevolence, and their unshaken zeal for constitutional liberty. All the collections are appointed to be paid into the hands of Messrs. Gerard William Beekman, Gerardus Duyckinck; and Peter T. Curtenius, of this city, merchants, and to be expended under the direction of this Committee, for such necessaries as the condition of the poor inhabitants, require.

After laying before you this example, we earnestly recommend it to the imitation of your county. Perhaps, in some instances, it may be most convenient to the inhabitants to contribute in wheat or flour, which will be equally serviceable. Permit us, gentlemen, to submit this salutary measure to your immediate patronage. The interest and welfare of a whole Continent require that a provision should be made for all who become sufferers in our common cause, and the immediate honour and reputation of this Colony must animate us to distinguish ourselves on so patriotic and benevolent an occasion.

We are, gentlemen, your obedient humble servants.

By order, &c.

The Committee adjourned to Monday evening, the 22d instant, at 6 o'clock, in the evening.

New-York, August 22, 1774.

The Committee met, by adjournment, at the Exchange, this evening: * Present,

A Letter, dated Suffolk County, 11th August, 1774, received and read.

Copy of a Letter to William Floyd, Esq., Suffolk County:

New-York, August 23, 1774.

SIR: Your favour of the 11th instant, acquainting that Colonel William Floyd is appointed a Delegate to represent your county at the ensuing general Congress at Philadelphia, has been communicated to the Committee of Correspondence in this city.

I am, sir, your most humble servant.

Copy of a Letter to Zephaniah Plait, Esquire, Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County:

SIR: We received your favour of the 20th instant, enclosing the Resolves of the inhabitants of your precinct, and acquainting that you confide in the Delegates chosen by our citizens to represent them in the general Congress. What good can be effected time must discover, but we are

* On Monday evening, August 22d, the Committee of Correspondence mot, according to adjournment; and as this was the last time of their assembling before the departure of our Delegates, the business of the ensuing Congress was discussed with a manly firmness, and a becoming freedom of sentiment. There of the Delegates were present, and paid great attention to the opinions of their fellow-citizens, declaring themselves happy to receive information on those important points that were shortly to come before them; the whole scope, extension, and consequences of which, they were unable, as yet, to comprehend. The points mostly insisted upon in those debates, were, that if it was recommended to the Bostonians to pay for the tea, as an act of justice, their port would soon be opened, and then we should stand upon our former ground of importing no goods liable to a duty. That nothing but "dire necessity," according to our own resolves, should induce us to break off our connections with the parent country; and that whenever we should be reduced to the parent country; and that whenever we should be reduced to the last and alternative of entering into a non-importation agreement, it ought not to be a partial one, like the last, when some men made fortunes by the ruin of others, but that it should include and suspend the importation of every European commodity from all parts of the world.