“In Provincial Congress. Watertown, June 13, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: Considering the exposed state of the frontiers of some of the Colonies; the danger that the inhabitants of Canada may possibly have disagreeable apprehensions from the military preparations making in some of the other Colonies; and the rumours that there are some appearances of their getting themselves in readiness to act in a bostile way, this Congress have made application to the honourable Continental Congress, desiring them to take such measures as to them shall appear proper, to quiet and conciliate the minds of the Canadians, and to prevent such alarming apprehensions.

“We also have had the disagreeable accounts of methods taken to fill the minds of the Indian tribes, adjacent to those Colonies, with sentiments very injurious to us; particularly we have been informed that Colonel Guy Johnson has taken great pains with the Six Nations, in order to bring them into a belief that it is designed by the Colonies to fall upon them and cut them off. We have therefore desired the honourable Continental Congress, that they would, with all convenient speed, use their influence in guarding against the evil intended by this malevolent misrepresentation. And we desire you to join with us in such application.

JOSEPH WARREN, President.

“Attest:

SAMUEL FREEMAN, Secretary.

“To the Honourable Delegates of the Congress of the Province of New-York.”

A Letter from the Committee at Albany was read, and is in the words following, to wit:

“Albany, June 17, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: You have enclosed, by order of the Committee, a request of Adonijah Strong (Deputy Commissary) to the Committee of this City and County.

“I am, gentlemen, your humble servant,

“JOHN BAY, Secretary p. t.”

The request of Adonijah Strong, mentioned and enclosed in Mr. Bay’s Letter, being read,

Ordered, That the same be put on file.

A Letter from the Committee at Albany was read, and is in the words following, to wit:

“Albany Committee Chamber, June 21, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: Mr. Dirck Swart, a member of this Board, who is just returned from Crown Point, brings us the following intelligence: “That one Mr. Kay, who lives about forty miles up Lake Champlain, came down to Crown Point, who told Colonel Benedict Arnold and others, that he had been at Montreal for some flour; that Governour Carleton had him seized and confined for several days; that by the interposition of the English merchants of that place, he received liberty to return home, and that the merchants who procured him the pass from the Lieutenant-Govern-our, desired him to go down to Crown Point and Ticonderoga, with all speed, and communicate to the commander of those fortresses, that the French Caughnewaga Indians had taken up the hatchet, but that they refused to go out upon any scouts until nine of their men, who were then out, returned, and that Governour Carleton was giving them presents daily.

“We are very sorry to inform you that, from a number of corroborating circumstances, we have but too much reason to believe the above information to be true; and more especially as the Troops, which amount to about six hundred men, suffer no persons coming up the lake to pass St. John’s if they can avoid it, where they are building floating batteries and boats. Mr. Swart also acquaints us that Mr. Kay said, that Governour Carleton had asked the English merchants to take up arms against the Yankees, (to make use of his own phraseology,) and that the merchants refused,; upon which he told them he would set the town on fire, which the merchants said he was welcome to do; and added, that they could carry as much fire as himself. Mr. Kay also desired Mr. Swart if he should happen to meet Mr. Price, he should request him not to proceed, as the English merchants in Canada conceive it unsafe for him.

“The forces above are in no proper state of defence, principally owing to the scarcity of powder, of which article we have not been able to send up more (with the supply we have received from you) than three hundred and fifty pounds; which quantity is altogether insufficient to answer the purpose intended, and of little service in case of an attack. We can further inform you, this City is not half supplied, nor have the frontier inhabitants either powder or arms, for which application have been and daily are making to us; we must therefore beg you will afford us all the assistance in your power, and send us, per the first opportunity, such an additional quantity as you can conveniently spare.

“We must also beg of you to send seventy-eight blankets for so many of the men enlisted in this County who are now at Fort George without any, as also some money to pay the companies, as they are very uneasy, and threaten to desert. Two of their officers are now in Town, and declare they dare not return without some cash to satisfy their men.

“We thought it our indispensable duty to inform you of these matters, therefore send them to you per express. By order of the Committee.

“We are, gentlemen, your very humble servants.

“SAMUEL STRINGER, Chairman.

“To the Gentlemen of the Provincial Congress of the Colony of New-York.”

Ordered, That Mr. Peter T. Curtenius purchase seventy-eight Blankets, and forward the same to the Committee at Albany with all possible despatch. And

Ordered, That Mr. Abraham Yates write a private Letter to the Committee in answer to their Letter.

A Petition from William A. Forbes and John Hoogland was received and read, and is in the words following, to wit:

“To the Honourable the Provincial Congress of the Colony of NEW-YORK: The Petition of Wm. A. Forbes and John Hoogland, of the City of NEW-YORK, Saddlers, humbly sheweth:

“That your petitioners have been informed that the Congress hath in contemplation the ordering of making a number of cartridge-boxes, slings, and belts, for the use of the Provincial Troops. That your petitioners are well able to make the same, in as cheap and workmanlike a manner as any of their calling in this City, and willing to do the same with the utmost expedition. Your petitioners therefore humbly pray this honourable Board to be employed in this work; and your petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.

“WILLIAM A. FORBES,
“JOHN HOOGLAND.

“New-York, June 24, 1775.”

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

Die Lunae, 9 ho. A. M., June 26, 1775.

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

For the City and County of New-York.—Peter V. B. Livingston, Esquire, President; Isaac Low, Alexander McDougall, Leonard Lispenard, Joseph Hallett, Abraham Walton, Abraham Brasher, Isaac Roosevelt, John De Lancey, Jas. Beekman; Samuel Verplanck, Richard Yates, David Clarkson, Thos. Smith, John Morin Scott, John Van Cortlandt, and Jacobus Van Zandt.

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

For Dutchess County.— Zephaniah Platt, Richard Montgomerie, Gilbert Livingston, Jonathan Landon, Melancton Smith, and Nathaniel Sackett.

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

For Orange County.—John Coe and Benjamin Tusteen.

For Suffolk County.—Nathaniel Woodhull, John Sloss Hobart, John Foster, Thomas Wickham, and Selah Strong.

For Westchester County.—Gouverneur Morris, Stephen Ward, Philip Van Cortlandt, James Holmes, David Dayton, John Thomas, Junior, and William Paulding.

For King’s County.—Henry Williams, Jeremiah Remsen,