Ordered, That Mr. Peter T. Curtenius, as Commissary of this Congress, be desired to purchase the following quantities of Ravens Duck, Ticking, and Bell Tents, of such persons as will sell the same on the publick credit, to wit: 427 pieces of good Ravens Duck; 182 yards of Ticking, fit to make Bell Tents; and twenty-six Bell Tents, which are at Hayman Levy’s, if they are of a proper fashion, good, and of a cheap or reasonable price.

And Ordered, That Mr. Curtenius examine a number of Haversacks which are at Hayman Levy’s; that if he find them of good quality and proper shape, and cheap, that he purchase them if to be sold on the publick credit.

Ordered, That Captain Montgomerie, Mr. Van Zandt, Mr. Beekman, and Mr. Brasher, be a Committee to get as many Tents as they shall think necessary made with all possible despatch.

Mr. Payne and Mr. Platt have obtained leave of absence.

Ordered, That Colonel Hoffman, Mr. Glenn, Mr. McDougall, and Mr. Paulding, be a Committee to inquire into the depth of water in Hudson’s River, from the City of New-York to New-Windsor.

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

Die Saturnii, 9 ho. A. M., June 17, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment, and opened with prayers by the Rev. Dr. Livingston. Present:

For the City and County of New-York.—Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esquire, President; Isaac Low, Alexander McDougall, Leonard Lispenard, Joseph Hallett, Isaac Roosevelt, John De Lancey, James Beekman, Samuel Verplanck, Richard Yates, Benjamin Kissam, Jacobus Van Zandt.

For the City and County of Albany.—Abraham Yates, Peter Silvester, Walter Livingston, Robert Van Rensselaer, Henry Glenn.

For Dutchess County.—Anthony Hoffman, Zephaniah Platt, Richard Montgomerie, Jonathan Landon, Gysbert Schenck, Melancton Smith, Nathaniel Sackett.

For Ulster County.—James Clinton, Christopher Tappen, John Nicholson.

For Orange County.—David Pye, Benjamin Tusteen, John Herring, Jeremiah Clarke.

For Suffolk County.—Thomas Tredwell, John Foster, Ezra L’Hommedieu.

For Westchester County.—Gouverneur Morris, Lewis Graham, James Van Cortlandt, James Holmes, Robert Graham.

For King’s County.—Johannes E. Lott, Henry Williams, John Leffertse, Nicholas Covenhoven.

For Richmond County.—Paul Micheau, John Journey, Aaron Cortelyou, Richard Conner, Richard Lawrence.

For Queen’s County.—Jonathan Lawrence, Zebulon Williams, Samuel Townshend.

For Charlotte County.—John Williams.

The President mentioned that a gentleman who is a member of a Committee in New-Jersey, and a Delegate to New-Jersey Congress, has informed him that he conceives it will be of great use in some parts of the Colony of New-Jersey, to let him have a copy of the Affidavit of Angus McDonald.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be delivered to that gentleman by the President.

Mr. Van Zandt, from the Committee appointed to get as many Tents made as they shall think necessary, reported, that they had agreed with sundry Upholsterers to make two hundred and fifty Tents, and to furnish all materials (Duck excepted) for making the said Tents, with Tent Poles, Mallets, and other necessaries for the said Tents, at the rate of fifteen Shillings for each Tent. That the said Upholsterers have agreed with them to have the said two hundred and fifty Tents finished by the latter end of next week; and some of them will be finished fit for use by next Wednesday or Thursday.

Mr. McDougall informed the President in publick Congress, that, in pursuance of the order of this Congress, of the ninth instant, he had applied to the Committee of the City of New-York; and received of the said Committee the sum of Two Hundred Pounds; and Mr. McDougall immediately paid One Hundred Pounds of the said money to Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., the President, and took his receipt for the same.

A Letter received from Major-General Wooster, dated Camp at Greenwich, June 15, 1775, was read and filed.

Doctor Graham and Mr. Van Vleeck delivered in the Proposals of Messrs. Van Vleeck and Kip for undertaking Saltpetre works in this City.

Ordered, That the said Proposals lay for further consideration.

Captain Jeffrey, the captain of the Packet, being requested to attend this Congress, and attending at the door, was called in; and, in substance, informed the Congress, that on Tuesday last, about thirty leagues to the southeast of Sandy-Hook he saw the Spry, man-of-war, now a transport, with part of the Forty-Fourth Regiment on board. That he was informed by some of the officers of the Troops on board the Spry, that the Mercury, man-of-war, had ordered the Spry transport to Boston, and was cruising thereabout to order all the transports with Troops, which were destined to New-York, to proceed to Boston; that he has also had the like information from some of the officers of the Mercury.

Thereupon, a draught of a Letter to Major-General Wooster was read, and approved of; and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, June 17, 1775.

SIR: Being well informed that four Regiments, containing near three thousand effective men, were sailed in transports for this City, we took the liberty to request the assistance of those brave sons of freedom who are under your command. We are this instant further informed that the Mercury, ship-of-war, was cruising upon our coast, and is now at Sandy-Hook, to order those transports to Boston immediately; and did, on Tuesday last, thirty leagues to the southeast of the Hook, deliver his orders to the Old Spry, man-of-war, now a transport, with part of the Forty-Fourth Regiment on board, which immediately altered her course. From hence we conclude that a very capital stroke is meditated against our brethren of the Massachusetts-Bay. You best can determine, Sir, whether it is proper on this occasion for the forces under your command to march westward; but we are led to believe that it is of more important consequence to secure the several passes with which nature hath bounteously fortified the eastern country; that if some unexpected chance of war should prove fatal to us in the first contest, the enemy may, by such means, receive a check in his career of vengeance.

We beg you to transmit this intelligence to the Provincial Camp with the utmost despatch. We are, Sir, your most obedient humble servants.

By order and on behalf of the Provincial Congress.

To Major-General Wooster.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, signed by the President, and transmitted by Jacob Shafer as a messenger for that purpose.

A draught of a Letter to the Delegates from this Colony at the Continental Congress, was also read and approved.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the President; and that a copy of the Resolve and Order of this Congress of the 15th instant, for introducing the Connecticut Forces, under the command of General Wooster; a copy of the Letter to General Wooster from this Congress of the same date; and the before written Letter to General Wooster of this day, be enclosed to the said Delegates; and that the same be forwarded by the messenger from the Massachusetts-Bay now on his way to Philadelphia.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to prepare a Plan of Accommodation between Great Britain and the Colonies, in order to be prepared to give the sentiments of this Congress thereon to the Delegates of this Colony, bring in their Report on Wednesday next.

The Congress then adjourned to Monday next, at four o’clock, P. M.