The President having also received a Letter from the Continental Congress, desired that the contents and subject-matter thereof be kept a profound secret. And the same was read, and is in the words following, to wit:

“Philadelphia, June 10, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: The enclosed resolution of this Congress I am directed to transmit you, and to desire you will order it to be executed in as expeditious and secret a manner as possible, referring to your judgment the most suitable places for landing it, and where there will be the least risk of interruption from the ships-of-war. You will please to consign it to the Committee of Correspondence in each place, with a direction to forward the flour to the Army as soon as possible.

“I have it also in charge to recommend to you that the flour be transported in small quantities, as there may be danger of the enemy. I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,      JOHN HANCOCK, President.

“To the Honourable Members of the Provincial Congress of New-York.”

The Resolutions mentioned in the above Letter from the Congress being also read, are in the words following, to wit:

“In Congress, June 9, 1775.

“Resolved, That the Provincial Convention of New-York be requested to convey, as soon as possible, to Providence, in Rhode-Island, or to any port in the Government of Massachusetts-Bay, five thousand barrels of Flour, for the use of the Continental Army.

“Resolved, That the Committee of Correspondence at Providence, and in the Government of Massachusetts-Bay, where the said Flour may be carried, be desired to receive and forward it to the camp before Boston, as soon as may be, and to lodge such part thereof as cannot be immediately sent thither, in places of security.

“Resolved, That this Congress will make provision for defraying any expense incurred for this service.

“A true copy from the Minutes.:

“CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.”

A Letter from Robert Boyd, at New-Windsor, dated the 10th instant, on the subject of making Muskets, was read and filed.

William Ustick, attending at the door, sent in a Bill of Exchange, appearing by its date to be drawn at Boston, on the 14th ultimo, May, on the said William Ustick, by John Montreson, in favour of Jonathan Hampton, for thirty Pounds, New-York currency, endorsed by Jonathan Hampton to Jonathan Blake, and appearing to be accepted by the said William Ustick, on the 3d day of June instant. And the said William Ustick desired the sense of this Congress, whether he could pay the said Bill consistent with the Resolve of the Continental Congress of the 2d of June instants.

And the said Resolve of the Continental Congress being read, it is declared to be the sense and opinion of this Congress, that the said Bill comes within the intent and meaning of the said Resolve.

The Congress then proceeded to the consideration of ways and means to carry into execution the Resolution, Request, and Order of the Continental Congress of the 9th instant, for supplying five thousand barrels of Flour for the use of the Continental Army, and forwarding the same towards the camp before Boston: And, thereupon,

Ordered, That Messrs. Isaac Sears, Abraham Walton, and Joseph Hallett, be a Committee to purchase the said quantity of Flour for the purpose aforesaid, or so much thereof as they can obtain, and to ship and forward the same agreeable to the said Resolution.

And it is now Resolved and Agreed, nem con., That every Member of this Congress will be responsible to Messrs. Sears, Walton, and Hallett, for their respective proportion; of all moneys that they may disburse, or hereafter be obliged to pay, by means of the purchase of the said Flour, or of their appointment, to comply with the said Resolution and Request of the Continental Congress.

Ordered, That Mr. Peter T. Curtenius, as Commissary of this Congress, be directed to purchase, and he is hereby directed to purchase three hundred barrels of Pork of such persons as will sell the same, on the credit of this Congress, and to forward the same to Albany, in parcels, with all possible dispatch.

Mr. Scott, from the Committee appointed to confer with Mr. Price, of Montreal, reported a draught of a Letter to the Merchants of Canada; which was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, June 12, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Mr. Price, one of the inhabitants of your Province, has signified to us the absolute necessity of keeping up a communication between New-York and Canada, by the establishment of a regular post. The friendly sentiments which we feel for our brethren in the northern parts of this Continent, commanded our ready acquiescence in those reasons which that gentleman assigned in favour of such a communication as the necessary commercial intercourse between you and the rest of the world seems evidently to require. You may easily conceive that our ability is equal to our wishes, to support that communication up to Crown Point. To establish that place or Ticonderoga for the exchange of the mails between your country and ours, is the most proper expedient to obtain the end proposed; and the means of communication between Montreal and the place to be agreed on for exchange of the mails, rest entirely with you. Upon the first information you may be pleased to afford us of an establishment in your quarter, we shall not fail in conspiring with you by a similar establishment on our part.

We should be extremely sorry should the misrepresentations of the enemies of America impress our brethren in Canada with an opinion that the Confederated Colonies on this Continent aim at independence. Our allegiance to our Prince, and our attachment to the illustrious House of Hanover, we rank among our most singular blessings. A due subordination to Parliament, in matters for which they alone are competent, we wish firmly to maintain. Our resistance to Ministerial measures proceeds not either from a desire to oppose the rightful authority of our Sovereign, or the constitutional acts of the supreme Legislature of the British Empire. But while we are contented that Great Britain should enjoy that pre-eminence alone which properly belongs to the parent State, as individuals we are resolved to stand on the same secure basis of liberty with our fellow-subjects on the other side of the Atlantick, which can never be obtained under taxations by authority of Parliament. In prosecuting this idea of freedom, we include our brethren the inhabitants of the Province of Quebeck, as far as will consist with the utmost of their wishes.

For a further evidence of the sincerity of our intentions, we beg leave to refer you to Mr. Price, and to assure you that we are, gentlemen and brethren, with the most undissembled friendship, your very humble servants.

By order and on behalf of the Congress.

To the Gentlemen Merchants of the Province of Quebeck.

Ordered, That two copies of the said Letter be engrossed, signed by the President, and delivered to Mr. Price unsealed, to be by him sealed at such time and place as he shall think most prudent.

Ordered, That one half of the printed Letters to the inhabitants of Quebeck be delivered to Mr. Price, and that he be requested to have them distributed in the most advantageous manner.

The Congress adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o’clock.

Die Martis, 9 ho. A. M., June 13, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment. Opened with prayers by the Rev. Mr. Gano. Present:

For the City and County of New-York.—Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., President; Isaac Low, Alexander McDougall, Leonard Lispenard, Joseph Hallett, Abraham Walton, Abraham Brasher, Isaac Roosevelt, John De Lancey, James Beekman, Samuel Verplanck, Richard Yates, David Clarkson, Thomas Smith, John Morin Scott, John Van Cortlandt, and Isaac Sears.

For the City and County of Albany.—Volkert P. Douw, Esq., Vice-President; Robert Yates, Abraham Yates, Jacob Cuyler, Peter Silvester, Walter Livingston, Robert Van Rensselaer, and Henry Glenn.

For Dutchess County.—Dirck Brinckerhoff, Anthony Hoffman,