Theodorus Polhemus, Nicholas Covenhoven, and John Vanderbilt.

For Richmond County.—John Journey and Richard Conner.

For Queen’s County.—Jacob Blackwell and Joseph Robinson.

For Charlotte County.—John Williams.

For Tryon County.—Christopher P. Yates and John Marlett.

For Cumberland County.—Paul Spooner and William Williams.

The Committee appointed to contract with Robert Boyd and Henry Watkeys, reported the draughts of Contracts with the said Robert Boyd and Henry Watkeys, which were read and approved of by the Congress. Whereupon

It is Resolved and Ordered, That Leonard Lispenard, Richard Montgomerie, James Clinton, and Thomas Smith, Esquires, execute the same on behalf of this Congress, and that this Congress will provide the money necessary to discharge the said Contract.

Ordered, That Mr. McDougall apply to Mr. Gabriel W. Ludlow for fifty Pounds of the Money raised by the Committee of the City of New-York, and that he deliver the said fifty Pounds to the Committee appointed to agree with Henry Watkeys, for his use, in pursuance of the said agreement.

Mr. McDougall then informed the Congress that he had received of Gabriel W. Ludlow the said fifty Pounds, and by order of the Congress delivered one hundred Pounds to the said Committee, to be given to Robert Boyd agreeable to an order of the thirteenth instant, and delivered to the said Committee the said fifty Pounds, for the use of Henry Watkeys.

Ordered, That the Letter from Joseph Warren, Esq., President of the Provincial Congress at Watertown of the thirteenth instant; also the Letter from the Committee at Albany, of the twenty-first instant, be referred to the Committee of this Congress, appointed for Indian affairs on the twenty-first instant.

A draught of an Address to his Excellency General Washington, was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

To His Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON, Generalissimo of all the Forces raised and to be raised in the confederated Colonies of AMERICA: The Address of the Provincial Congress of the Colony of NEW-YORK:

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR. EXCELLENCY: At a time when the most loyal of His Majesty’s subjects, from a regard to the laws and constitution by which he sits on the throne, feel themselves reduced to the unhappy necessity of taking up arms to defend their dearest rights and privileges, while we deplore the calamities of this divided Empire, we rejoice in the appointment of a gentleman from whose abilities and virtue we are taught to expect both security and peace. Confiding in you, Sir, and in the worthy Generals immediately under your command, we have the most flattering hopes of success in the glorious struggle for American liberty, and the fullest assurance, that whenever this important contest shall be decided by (that fondest wish of each American soul) an accommodation with our Mother Country, you will cheerfully resign the important deposit committed into your hands, and resume the character of our worthiest citizen.

June 26, 1775.

Ordered, That Mr. Morris and Mr. Low be a Committee to wait on General Washington, and know when he will be waited on by this Congress with their Address.

Messrs. Morris and Low returned, and informed the Congress that General Washington would be ready to receive this Congress, with their Address, at half an hour past two this afternoon.

Ordered, That a copy of the Address be engrossed to deliver.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the Report of the Committee of Arrangement, and proceeded to the examination of the three first columns of the arrangement of officers, and approved of many gentlemen for officers, whose names are marked on the margins of the columns.

The Congress being informed by sundry Members, that they have viewed the ground about five miles from this City, where it was first intended that General Wooster’s Troops should encamp, and find that the ground is damp and unfit for the purpose.

Colonel Lispenard, Mr. McDougall, and Mr. Beekman, informed the Congress, that they have viewed an orchard, part of the estate late of Elbert Herring, deceased, which they conceive to be a proper place for an encampment, and that the owner is willing that General Wooster’s Troops may encamp there.

Ordered, That Mr. Beekman wait on General Wooster, or any other officer that he may appoint for that purpose, to shew him the ground in the orchard above mentioned.

The Congress then adjourned to five o’clock, and went to wait on General Washington with their Address.

5 ho. P. M., June 26, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment. Present:

For the City and County of New-York.—Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esquire, President; Isaac Low, Alexander McDougall, Leonard Lispenard, Abraham Walton, Isaac Roosevelt, Samuel Verplanck, David Clarkson, Thomas 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, 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.—Lewis Graham, Stephen Ward, David Dayton, John Thomas, Jun., and William Paulding.

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

For Richmond County.—John Journey, Aaron Cortelyou, and Richard Conner.

For Queen’s County.—Jacob Blackwell, Jonathan Lawrence, and Nathaniel Tom.

For Tryon County.—Christopher P. Yates.

For Cumberland County.—Paul Spooner and William Williams.

The President informed the Congress, that to prevent mistakes, he had obtained a copy of the answer of General Washington to the Address of this Congress. The same was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

GENTLEMEN: At the same time that, with you, I deplore the unhappy necessity of such an appointment as that with which I am now honoured, I cannot but feel sentiments of the highest gratitude for this affecting instance of distinction and regard.

May your warmest wishes be realized in the success of America at this important and interesting period; and be assured that every exertion of my worthy colleagues and myself will be equally extended to the re-establishment of peace and harmony between the Mother Country and these Colonies, as to the fatal but necessary operations of war. When we assumed the soldier we did not lay aside the citizen; and we shall most sincerely rejoice with you in that happy hour when the establishment of American liberty, on the most firm and solid foundations, shall enable us to return to our private stations in the bosom of a free, peaceful, and happy Country.

GEO. WASHINGTON.

June 26, 1775.

Ordered, That the Address and Answer be published.

The Congress then resumed the consideration of the Report of the Committee of Arrangement, and proceeded to the consideration of the fourth column, and approved of such gentlemen as are marked on the Report for that purpose.

Mr. McDougall had leave to withdraw.