our allegiance from him, and are willing to attribute all the cruel oppressions under which we labour to the baleful influence of certain men, who, unhappily, have gained the confidence of their Prince, and who are deadly enemies to his family, and would wish to see him driven from his throne. But whatever may be their design, and however basely we may be misrepresented by our enemies, we call God to witness for the purity of our intentions, look up to him as the all powerful protector of injured innocence, and firmly rely on him as a shield in the day of battle.

A VIRGINIAN.

NEW-YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY TO THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

[Read July 28, 1775.]

SIR: We have been honoured with your letter of the 19th instant, which informs us that you have an intimation that a quantity of gunpowder had lately arrived here. We are sorry to say, it is without foundation.

You may be assured, Sir, that should a quantity arrive, we shall be attentive to the wants of our brethren to the Eastward, and forward as much as possible that way.

We are, with great respect, Sir, your most obedient servants. By order of the Committee:

AB. BRASHER, Chairman pro tem.

To the Honourable, John Hancock, Esq., Philadelphia.

COL. VAN SCHAICK, TO NEW-YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Albany, July 24, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: I yesterday received yours of the 17th instant, and agreeable to your request, have made out a return, as near as I could, which you have on the other side.

The five first companies on this return, are those raised by the Committee of this City and County, who are now in actual service at Lake George, and the posts adjacent, from whence General Schuyler has ordered an officer out of each company down the country to complete the levies of those companies. The officers of the last five companies on this return have but lately received their warrants, and are now raising men in this and the neighbouring Counties.

I have sent orders to the recruiting officers, to send to me without delay, returns of the number of men they have enlisted; and shall, on receipt thereof, lay before the Congress a return of the state of my Regiment.

You will please to observe, that several of the officers appointed by the Provincial Congress refused to accept their warrants; in lieu of whom, the Committee of this City and County, at the request of General Schuyler, have appointed others, as the General conceived that waiting for the appointment of others by the Congress would create such a delay in the levying of the companies, as might be productive of ruinous consequences; so that the return cosists of those who have accepted their warrants from the Provincial Congress, and those appointed by the Committee in the room of those that declined serving.

It is Impossible for me at present to say when my Regiment will be ready to take the field, as I cannot determine with what success the recruiting officers will meet.

You may depend upon it, that nothing will be wanting on my part to expedite the completing of the Regiment, as I am convinced that the circumstances of the Country admit of no delay.

I am gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble servant,

GOOSE VAN SCHAICK.

To the committee of Safety for the Colony of New-York, during the recess of the Provincial Congress.

A Return of the Second Provincial Regiment in the Colony of NEW-YORK, whereof GOOSE VAN SCHAICK is Colonel. ALBANY, 24th JULY, 1775.

One Colonel, one Lieutenant-Colonel, one Major.

Captain John Visscher’s Company: one Captain, two Lieutenants, three Sergeants, fifty-nine rank and file.

Captian Cornelius Van Dyck’s Company: one Captain, two Lieutenants, three Sergeants, fifty-one rank and file.

Captain Hezekiah Balding’s Company: one Captain, two Lieutenants, three Sergeants, thirty-two rank and file.

Captain Joel Pratt’s Company: one Captain, two Lieutenants, three Sergeants, forty-three rank and file.

Captain George White’s Company: one Captain, two Lieutenants, three Sergeants, forty-eight rank and file.

Captain Barent J. Ten Eyck’s Company: one Captain, two Lieutenants.

Captain John Fryer’s Company: one Captain, two Lieu tenants.

Captain Elisha Benedict’s Company: one Captain, two Lieutenants.

Captain Joseph McKracken’s Company: one Captain, two Lieutenants.

Captain John Graham’s Company: one Captain, two Lieutenants.

Total: one Colonel, one Lieutenant-Colonel one Major, ten Captains, twenty Lieutenants, fifteen Sergeants, two hundred and thirty-three rank and file.

GOOSE VAN SCHAICK, Colonel.

COMMITTEE OF SAFETY FOR CONNECTICUT.

At a meeting of the Governour, &c., Monday, July 24, 1775, by adjournment. Present:

His Honour the Governour; the Hon. M. Griswold Esq., Jabez Huntington, Esq. Samuel Huntington, Esq., William Williams, Nathaniel Wales, Jedediah Elderkin, Joshua West, and Benjamin Huntington, Esq.

His Honour the Governour laid before us a large number of Letters received from various quarters, relating to the great subject matter of the unnatural civil war, &c. A Post (Judd) also, now came in with a Letter from General Schuyler at Ticonderoga, among other things informing that our Troops there were destitute of Tents, &c., and that they may be had at New-York.

On consideration thereof, and that they cannot be furnished without great difficulty and delay in this Colony, advised that his Honour the Governour be desired to write the Congress at New-York, to provide and send a suitable number of Tents for Colonel Hinman’s Regiment, and send them forward to Ticonderoga.

On motion, that there is about two thousand barrels of Flour at Norwich, sent by the Continental Congress for the use of the Army near Boston, for which the freight has been paid by Colonel Jedediah Huntington, &c., and is desired by General Washington to be sent forward for the use of said Army, &c.,

Voted, That the expense of the freight and transportation of said Flour, be paid and advanced out of the Colony Treasury; and that the Committee of the Pay Table be ordered to draw on the Treasurer in favour of such persons, and for such sums as shall be ordered by his Honour the Governour for the purposes aforesaid; keeping a proper account thereof.

The affair of the two armed Vessels, (being a principal occasion of this meeting,) was taken up and largely discussed. Letters received from a number of gentlemen, from New-Haven, Middletown, Wethersfield, &c., relating to it, read, &c. Captain Deshon, Mr. Shaw, and captain Giles Hall were present on that account, and discoursed with, &c., and they retired. And on further consideration, &c., this Council are of opinion and do resolve, that William Williams and Nathaniel Wales, Esqrs., together with Captain Deshon and Captain Hall, be a Committee to Norwich, New-London, and by the sea-coast to New-Haven, and to Middletown, Hartford, &c., to inquire after and find put proper and suitable Vessels for the purpose; the terms on which they may be had; the proper manning of them; the terms on which officers and men may be had, &c.; and give proper direction for preparing Carriages for the Cannon at New-Haven, which may be wanted, and what may be proper and necessary, &c.; and thereof to make report to this Council on Wednesday the 2d of August next, to which time this Council is to be adjourned.

On a request from General Washington, signified by his Letters, &c.,

Voted, That his Honour the Governour be desired and advised to give orders to the Colonels of the Seventh and Eighth Regiments, to march their Troops as soon as they