and do what they shall think proper in so important a matter. We are, Sir, your most humble servants.

By order of the Committee:

GILBERT DRAKE, Chairman.

To Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., President of the Provincial Congress.

KINGSTON COMMITTEE TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Kingston, July 7, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: We received with great pleasure the resolves of your honourable Board respecting the Militia of this Colony, being well persuaded that the putting it under due regulations and discipline will afford the Colony the greatest security in this time of publick calamity. We are sensible of the necessity, therefore, of complying with the measures recommended in your resolve, while we are extremely sorry that for want of being a little more particular and explicit, people differ in their sentiments about the mode they are to pursue, which has already occasioned much warmth, and we fear, unless prevented by an explanatory resolve by your honourable body, may create still greater confusion and trouble, to the injury of the common cause. In order that you may understand wherein we differ in the construction of your said resolve, we beg leave to propose the following queries, the solving of which we would fain hope will give general satisfaction, and restore us to our former harmony, to wit:

1. Is it intended by the advice to the inhabitants to form themselves into companies if necessary, that they should elect their officers, or continue to serve under the officers appointed by Government, if they are well affected to the common cause?

2. If the inhabitants are to elect their officers up to a Captain, how are the Field-Officers to be appointed—at the election of the companies at large, or by the subaltern officers?

We are, gentlemen, your most obedient servants.

By order of the Committee of the Town of Kingston:

JOHANNES SLEGHT, Chairman.

To Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., President of the Provincial Congress.

ELISHA PHELPS TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Albany, July 7, 1775.

HONOURED SIR: Received your favour, dated June 29, 1775, on the 6th day of July instant. I also received the stores of provisions in place of Mr. Bleecker, who I was in hopes might have been ordered to purchase provisions, and deliver to me to forward. Sir, flour is very scarce in this City, or cannot be purchased without money. I have been through the City with the assistance of Esquire Palmer, and could not get but twenty barrels; also, have been to Schenectady, and could not get but ten barrels there. I am much afraid the Troops will suffer if they cannot be immediately supplied. I wrote by the post to one of the gentlemen Committee for two or three hundred barrels of flour. Should be glad your Honour would see and order as you think proper. Colonel Hinman has wrote orders to me for hospital stores, and they cannot all be got in this City. Captain Mott will inform you more particularly. Sir, should be glad to know who in particular to write to for provisions, &c., at New-York, that is and will be wanted.

I am, with esteem, Sir, your most humble servant at command,

ELISHA PHELPS.

To his Honour P. V. B. Livingston, President of the Provincial Congress, New-York.

COLONEL HINMAN TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Ticonderoga, July 7, 1775.

SIR: Yours of 29th June I have received, by which I have the pleasure of being informed of your appointment to the command of the troops in this quarter. Agreeable to your request, I have made as minute a return of the forces, guns, ammunition, and stores, as I am capable of under our present unsettled circumstances.

As to Governour Carleton’s motions, I can say but little with regard to them. It is said that there are at St. John’s about three hundred and fifty Regulars, a few Canadians, and a small number of Indians at the other posts. By what intelligence I can get, there are about two hundred and fifty of the King’s Troops, or thereabout, at St. John’s; they are fortifying and building some water craft, by what I can learn, but with what intent we cannot yet determine. You may be assured of my taking every opportunity of informing the Canadians of our friendly intentions towards them; but they are so very cautious, and the passes are so guarded, that it is almost impossible to get any information to them. I have lately sent a Committee to Skenesborough to inquire into the state of affairs there, and find they want to be put under some new regulations. The place at present is kept by some men who Mr. Arnold put there. But as I expected you would be up in a short time, I have not given any orders respecting the management of things there; but shall wait for your orders relative thereto.

I am, Sir, your most humble servant,

BENJAMIN HINMAN.

To Major-General Schuyler.

P. S. I wait, Sir, with impatience for your arrival, as I find myself very unable to steer in this stormy situation. Sometimes we have no flour, and a constant cry for rum, and want of molasses for beer, which was engaged to our people; the failure of those who provide give great uneasiness to the men; hope for better times on your arrival.

GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL TO JOHN HANCOCK, PRESIDENT.

[Read July 17, 1775]

Hartford, July 7, 1775.

HONOURED SIR: I have the honour of your favour of the 27th of June, acquainting me with the requisition made by the Congress upon this Colony in favour of General Schuyler, which I immediately laid before the General Assembly, and am directed to acquaint you, that it would have given them great pleasure to have found themselves able to have complied fully with the demand; but such is the exhausted state of our Treasury, in consequence of the very vigorous efforts the Colony have made and are still making in the common cause, that we could only furnish fifteen thousand Pounds, which is preparing with all possible despatch, and will be forwarded in a few days to the General at Albany. With respect to the other most important article, it is with much concern that we acknowledge that we could do but little, having already much exhausted our stock by the supplies furnished to the camp at Cambridge. However, all that we could do we have done, and sent forward to the General forty half-barrels; which we hope he will receive in a few days. We doubt not proper care will be taken, as speedily as possible to reimburse the Colony these expenses, that we may be enabled to continue our exertions in the common cause of American liberty. I am also to inform you, that the Assembly have come to a resolution, at the earnest request of the Provincial Congress of the Massachusetts-Bay, to augment our troops in the publick service with two Regiments of seven hundred men each, exclusive of commissioned officers. We should have been happy, if possible, to have received the directions of the honourable Congress before we adopted this measure; but such appeared to us to be the critical situation of our affairs, great part, of our troops being employed in the Province of New-York under the orders of the Congress, that it would not be prudent to delay it so long a time as would be necessary to obtain their directions upon the subject. We hope, nevertheless, it will meet with their approbation, and that the Continental currency may be in such forwardness as to be applied to the equipping and furnishing of these regiments; which will be raised with all possible despatch, and the sooner we are supplied with the Continental bills the better.

With respect to Major Skene, we could have wished that he might still have been continued at Philadelphia; and if he is not actually set out for Hartford, we beg his destination may be changed; however, if he arrives here we shall do the best we can with him.

I am, with great truth and regard, in behalf of the Governour and Company, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

JONATHAN TRUMBULL.

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