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as well as the neighbouring 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 seem very desirous of being commanded by your petitioner, provided an answer shall be given them very soon, as their intention is not to stay here any considerable time. That the said Highlanders are already furnished with guns, swords, pistols, and High-land dirks, which, in case of occasion, is very necessary, as all the above articles are at this time very difficult to be had. Therefore, may it please your Honours to take all and singular the premises under your serious and immediate consideration; and as your petitioner wants an answer as soon as possible, he further prays that as soon as they think it meet, he may be advised. And your petitioner, as in duty bound, shall ever pray. DONALD MCLEOD. City of New-York, June 8, 1775. NEW-YORK COMMITTEE. The Committee met, by adjournment, 8th June, 1775. Present:
In pursuance of an order of this Committee at their last meeting, a poll was this day opened at the City-Hall, for the electing a Deputy to represent this City and County in Provincial Congress, in the place of Mr. George Folliott, who declined serving; and also of two members to serve in this Committee, in the room of the said George Folliolt, and of Samuel Jones, who never has attended. And by a return of the said poll, it appears that Mr. Isaac Sears was elected by a large majority as a Deputy, and Mr. William Bedlow and Mr. John Woodward as members of this Committee. Ordered, That the Chairman of this Board grant no certificates for licensing the exportation of Goods from this City and County to any port or place out of this Colony, unless due proof, in writing, on oath, be produced to him, that the said Goods were not imported contrary to the tenour or true intent and meaning of the General Continental Association. Ordered, That John Imlay, John Berrian, Thomas Buchannan, William Goforth, Joseph Bull, Abraham P. Lott, Cornelius Clopper, and Evert Banker, be a Sub-Committee to inspect and examine into the Cargoes of any vessels which may arrive in this Port, suspected of having goods on board not admissible. Ordered, That Daniel Phenix, Captain Bedlow, William Denning, and John Woodward be added to the above Committee. BROOKHAVEN (NEW-YORK) COMMITTEE. At a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitants of the Town of Brookhaven, in the County of Suffolk, and in the Province of New-York, on the 8th day of June, 1775: Then by a large majority of votes, were chosen and elected sixteen persons as a Committee of Observation, to represent said Town, and to deliberate on other matters relative to our present political welfare. Agreed that the last Tuesday in June be appointed as a day for the above named Committee to meet. The Committee met, pursuant to appointment, at Coram, on the 27th of June, 1775. Present: John Woodhull, Esquire, Thomas Helme, Esq., Mr. John Robinson, Mr. Thomas Fanning, Lieut. William Brewster, Mr. Noah Hallock, Mr. Joseph Brown, Mr. John Woodhull, Jun., Mr. Nathaniel Roe, Jun., Captain Jonathan Baker, Mr. Daniel Roe, and Mr. Samuel Thompson, of the Manor of St. Georges; Mr. William Smith and Mr. Jonah Hulse, of the Patentship of Moriches; Capt. Josiah Smith. Then proceeded, and chose John Woodhull, Esquire, Chairman, and Mr. Samuel Thompson Clerk, and entered into the following Votes and Resolutions: First. Resolved, nemine contradicente, That, we express our loyalty to His Majesty King George the Third, and acknowledge him as our rightful Lord and Sovereign, as settled on Revolution principles, being of legal descent from the illustrious house of Brunswick, to the utter exclusion of the family of the Stuarts, who, by their despotick and tyrannical principles, were deservedly banished and rendered unfit to sway the British sceptre. Second. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee that the above Resolution was the opinion of the Continental Congress that set last year; and is also the opinion of the Continental Congress and our Provincial Congress now sitting; and that it is also the opinion of very far the greater part of the English inhabitants of this most extensive Continent. Third. Resolved, unanimously, That it is the opinion of this Committee that the several acts passed in the British Parliament for the express purpose of raising a revenue in America; also, the acts for stopping the Port of Boston; for altering their Charter and Government; for establishing the Roman Catholick religion, and abolishing the equitable system of English laws, and erecting in their stead French despotick Government, in Canada;as also the act for restraining the New-England fishery, and many other acts of a similar nature; and further declaring they have power vested in them to make laws binding on us in all cases whatsoever, are contrary to the Constitution, and subversive of our legal rights as English freemen and British subjects. Fourth. Resolved, nemine contradicente, That we will use our utmost endeavours, as far as in us lies, and we will earnestly recommend it to our constituents, strictly and invariably to abide by and adhere to the determinations and resolutions of the honourable the Continental Congress, and also strictly to comply with the injunctions of our Provincial Convention, which (under God) we hope is the most effectual means to obtain a redress of our present publick grievances, and save us from impending ruin. Fifth. We do unanimously make this our apology to the respectable publick, and to our several Congresses in particular, that we have come so late into Congressional measures, and hope a veil may be cast over our past conduct, for we can assure the publick in general that our remissness was not for want of a patriotick spirit in a number of our individuals, but because that opposition ran so high in some parts of this Town, that an attempt of this kind would perhaps have answered no valuable purpose, but we verily believe that the past opposition arose in a great measure from want of better information. Sixth. It is unanimously resolved by us at this meeting, that we will keep a strict watch that no Provisions or necessaries be transported from within the bounds of our constituents, so as designedly or accidentally to fall into the hands of those we have just cause to esteem and treat as our enemies. Seventh. Ordered, That the resolves and proceedings of this Committee be printed by Mr. John Holt. Signed by order of the Committee: JOHN WOODHULL, Chairman. CUMBERLAND COUNTY (NEW-YORK) COMMITTEE TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS. Westminster, June 8, 1775. HONOURED SIR: Having received certain advice from Mr. Isaac Low, Chairman of the honourable Committee of Correspondence at New-York, that it is the desire of the said Committee that this County of Cumberland should send Delegates to the City of New-York, to consult with the very respectable members of the Provincial Congress, what measures are best to be pursued in this distressing and very alarming situation of this Province; we hereby inform your Honour that the inhabitants of the several Towns in said County of Cumberland immediately assembled, (at *
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