Die Lunœ, June 19, 1775, 4to ho. P. M.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment, and adjourned to nine o’clock to-morrow morning.

Die Martis, 9 ho. A. M., June 20, 1775.

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

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

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, Melancton Smith, Nathaniel Sackett.

For Ulster County.—James Clinton, Christopher Tappen.

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

For Suffolk County.—Colonel Nathaniel Woodhull, John Sloss Hobart, Thomas Tredwell, John Foster, Ezra L’Hornmedieu, Thomas Wickham.

For Westchester County.—Gouverneur Morris, Lewis Graham, James Van Cortlandt, Stephen Ward, Philip Van Cortlandt, James Holmes, David Dayton, John Thomas, Jun.

For King’s County.—Henry Williams, Jeremiah Remsen, Theodorus Polhemus, John Leffertse.

For Richmond County.—Aaron Cortelyou, Richard Lawrence.

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

For Charlotte County.—John Williams.

TRYON COUNTY.—The Deputies from Tryon County attending at the door, were called in, and produced a Certificate signed by Nicholas Herkimer, Chairman pro tempore, and Andrew Finck, Junior, Clerk of a meeting of the Committee of Tryon County, held on the eleventh of June, instant, whereby it appears that Christopher P. Yates and John Marlett, Esquires, were appointed Deputies to attend this Provincial Congress without delay, and to act, in conjunction with the Members thereof, upon this very alarming and calamitous situation of British America.

The said Certificate being read and filed,

Ordered, That those gentlemen take their seats.

The President informed the Congress that he had received sundry Letters from Philadelphia, by a messenger returned from thence, and who had been sent there with despatches from this Congress by John Jay, Esquire.

Ordered, That Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esquire, the President, pay the said messenger. And it is further ordered, that the President, for the future, pay all messengers who shall be employed by this Congress, taking their respective receipts for the sums paid to them.

A Letter from James Duane, Esquire, on behalf of himself and the other Delegates from this Colony, dated Philadelphia, June 17, 1775, was read and filed.

The Resolution of the Continental Congress therein mentioned, of the 16th instant, was read, and is in the words following, to wit:

“In Congress, June 16, 1775.

“Resolved, That the Provincial Convention of New-York be desired immediately to apply to Governour Trumbull to order the Connecticut Troops now stationed at Greenwich, Stamford, and parts adjacent, to march towards New-York; and that part of them occupy such Posts upon that Island as the said Provincial Convention shall judge best adapted to prevent the communication between the town and country from being cut off; the remainder of the Troops to be employed in securing the navigation of Hudson’s River, by erecting Batteries at such places as the said Convention shall judge the most proper to answer that purpose.

“A true copy from the Minutes:

“CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.”

A Letter from Major-General Wooster, dated the 17th instant, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“Greenwich, June 17, 1775.

“SIR: Your favour of the 15th instant, in behalf of the Provincial Congress, with the enclosed order, I received yesterday morning, and immediately despatched the requisition to the Governour, who, together with the Council of War, are empowered by our Assembly to order the destination of the Troops. I shall hold myself in readiness to march whenever I receive the Governour’s orders.

“I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

“DAVID WOOSTER.

“To Peter V. B. Livingston, Esquire.”

Another Letter from Major-General Wooster, of the 18th instant, was also read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“Greenwich, June 18, 1775.

“SIR: Your favour, in behalf of your Congress, I have just received; a copy of which I have transmitted by express both to the Camp near Boston, and to our Governour. I should be very glad to hear that your proportion of men, for the defence of the Country, were raised and well equipped, as it is of the utmost importance that a place of such consequence as New-York should be put in the best posture of defence.

“I am, in haste, your most obedient humble servant,

“DAVID WOOSTER, Major-General.

“To Peter V. B. Livingston, Esquire.”

The President informed the Congress that about thirteen hundred weight of Gunpowder is brought to this City, and that the Congress may have it to purchase, if they think fit.

Ordered, That Mr. McDougall agree for and purchase the said Powder; and that he forward one thousand weight thereof to the Colony of Connecticut, for the use of the Provincial Army near Boston, with a Letter to Governour Trumbull, enclosing a copy of the Resolve of the Continental Congress of the 16th instant, and therein request of him to forward from their most easterly magazine the like quantity to the Camp of the Provincial Army of the Massachusetts-Bay.

And Ordered, That Mr. McDougall forward the remaining three hundred weight of the said Powder to the Agents at Albany, to be forwarded to Ticonderoga.

A draught of a Letter to Governour Trumbull, on the subjects above mentioned, was read, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, June 20, 1775.

SIR: We enclose you a letter forwarded from the Congress to our care, a part of the contents whereof we are made acquainted with. You will observe, Sir, that the resolutions of the Congress, on the subject of marching your Troops hither, are previous to the important intelligence communicated to General Wooster last Saturday. How the Congress would have determined if they had known that the Troops intended for this post were ordered to Boston, we know not. But we desire yon, Sir, to use your own good judgment upon the whole of the intelligence conveyed to you, and be confident that we shall heartily acquiesce. We have lately received a small supply of gunpowder, and shall very soon forward to General Wooster half a ton for the Provincial Army near Boston, that it may be despatched with the utmost speed. We pray you to send so much thither from your easternmost magazine.

We are, Sir, your most obedient servants.

By order and on behalf of the Congress.

To the Hon. Jonathan Trumbull, Esq., Governour of the Colony of Connecticut.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, signed by the President, and, together with a copy of the Resolve of the Continental Congress of the 16th instant, to be therein enclosed, sent by Mr. Bradford, who offers his service as a messenger for that purpose.

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