A Letter from Stephen Ward and Joseph Drake, informing that Nehemiah Marshall, nominated a Second Lieutenant in Westchester County, had declined the service, and recommending Samuel Tredwell Pell in his stead, was read and filed, with the Warrant formerly issued.

Ordered, That a Warrant be made out for the said Samuel Tredwell Pell, in the place and stead of the said Nehemiah Marshall.

Colonel McDougall applied to the Committee for an order to Mr. Curtenius to furnish the following articles for the Armourers of the First Regiment, viz: one hundred and fifty Steel Rods; one hundred and fifty Bell Pipes; twelve pound of Sheet Brass; one pound of Borax; four dozen of different sorts of Files; six Rasps; four pound of Emory; six pound of Glue; twenty-five pound of Steel; two pound of Binding Wire; twenty-five pound of Iron; two pound of Spelter Solder; one Glue Pot; one Grindstone and one Oil-stone; two small Hand-Vices; six pound of coarse Wire; one small Screwplate and Taps.

Ordered, That Mr. Peter T. Curtenius purchase the before-mentioned articles, and furnish or deliver them to Colonel McDougall or his order.

A Letter from Hezekiah Howell, Chairman of the Committee of Cornwall Precinct, giving information that Stephen Howell, of that Precinct, who was appointed a Second Lieutenant, had declined the service, was read; and a Letter from the said Stephen Howell, declaring his resignation of his Warrant, was also read and filed. And the said Committee of Cornwall Precinct, by their Letter, having warmly recommended Jonas Bellows to be a Second Lieutenant in the place of the said Stephen Howell,

Resolved and Agreed, That a Warrant be signed by the President of this Congress and delivered to the said Jonas Bellows, for his use, as soon as the Warrant to Stephen Howell is returned.

A Letter from Walter Spooner, Chairman of a Committee at Springfield, Massachusetts-Bay, dated Springfield, July 3, 1775, was read.

A draft of a Letter to Major-General Schuyler, to cover a copy of Colonel Hinman’s Letter, was read and approved; and is in the words following, to wit:

SIR: We beg leave to enclose you a copy of a letter from Colonel Hinman, which was received yesterday. We have, in substance, by our answer, informed him that we would forward a copy of his letter to you, and that we have the highest confidence that, on his application, you will make every arrangement in stationing the Troops at the different posts mentioned in his letter, that would be for the general defence of the United Colonies.

We are, Sir, your obedient servants. By order, &c. To Major General Schuyler.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be signed by the Chairman, and, together with a copy of Colonel Hinman’s Letter, be transmitted by the first Conveyance.

Alderman Matthews and Alderman Brewerton applied to the Committee, and delivered a Letter from Captain Vandeput, of His Majesty’s Ship Asia, to Governour Tryon, complaining that one of his Boats is brought on shore, and the crew detained prisoners; and the Committee being informed that the boat’s crew are prisoners in Gen. Wooster’s camp, and also that His Majesty’s Store near Hudson’s River was broken open during last night, and divers effects carried away from thence by violence,

Ordered, That Samuel Verplanck, Isaac Low, and Gouverneur Morris, Esquires, be a Sub-Committee from this Committee to wait on Gen. Wooster, in order to make inquiry, and to receive information on those subjects; and also to give such directions therein as they shall think proper, that right may be done without delay.

Thereupon a draught of a Letter to General Wooster was read, and approved, and is as follows:

SIR: Complaint has been made to our Board that a boat belonging to His Majesty’s Ship Asia, has been drawn on shore, and the boat’s crew detained as prisoners at your camp; and also that His Majesty’s store-house near Hudson’s River was, during last night, broke open and divers effects carried away from thence by violence; it is alleged that some of the troops under your command have been concerned in both those acts. We have therefore appointed Samuel Verplanck, Isaac Low, and Gouverneur Morris, Esqrs., a Committee from our Board, to wait on you, in order to make inquiry, and receive information on those subjects, and also to give such directions therein as they shall think proper, that right may be done without delay.

We are, Sir, your humble servants. By order of the Committee.

To Major General Wooster.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be signed by the Chairman, and delivered to the Sub-Committee.

Doctor Samuel Bard, at his request, was admitted, and informed the Committee that he had received some disagreeable language from some of his fellow-citizens for receiving and attending the sick Mariners from His Majesty’s Ships, and requested to know whether it is the sense of this Committee that his acting as Physician for the sick Mariners is inconsistent with the conduct and duty of a good citizen under the present circumstances of this Colony. Doctor Bard further declared, that he had been particularly careful not to receive any patients from the Ships with any infectious disorders. But that if it is the sense of this Committee that he ought not to attend such sick Mariners, he is ready to resign his office.

Resolved, That Dr. Bard’s conduct is fully consistent with the conduct and duty of a good citizen; and he is requested not to suffer any patient to be brought into his Hospital with any infectious disorders, particularly the small-pox.

Mr. Low, from the Committee who waited on General Wooster, reported, that General Wooster informed them that the matter of complaint relating to the boat and boat’s crew belonging to the Ship Asia, had arose through some mistake of the master of the Connecticut armed Schooner. That he had ordered the Boat to be restored, and sent a party to put her in the water, and that the boat’s crew he had discharged as soon as he heard of their being detained. That as to the effects brought to his camp last night, he had ordered them to be taken care of, and that they, are preserved under a guard; that they were brought there by some persons without his knowledge or directions; that one Brasher informed him that Col. Ritzema had desired him to receive and protect those effects; and therefore he had set a guard over them, and they were ready to delivered to the owner, or to the order of this Committee.

The Recorder and Aldermen Brewerton and Matthews, were called in, and they informed the Committee that the Boat belonging to the Asia, man-of-war, is burnt.

Whereupon the Committee made the following Order:

Whereas, information bath been given to this Committee by some of the Civil Magistrates of the City of New-York, that an attack was made without provocation upon a Boat belonging to His Majesty’s Ship Asia, and the Boat wantonly destroyed; and also that the house and store of Mr. Francis Stephens have been violently broken open and robbed of private property, and military stores taken from thence; and whereas, the said Magistrates have requested the advice of this Committee in the premises,

Ordered, That it be recommended to the Civil Magistrates to examine strictly into the several matters and things above mentioned, and to punish all persons who are guilty of perpetrating the same, as the law directs; and that it be and hereby is recommended to all the citizens and others to aid and assist the Magistrates in the execution of their offices.

Ordered, That the foregoing Order be published in handbills, and distributed.

The Committee adjourned to to-morrow morning, nine o’clock.

Die Veneris, 9 ho. A. M., July 14, 1775.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present:

For KING’S COUNTY, Henry Williams, Esq., Chairman and Commissioner.

For NEW-YORK CITY AND COUNTY, Peter Van B. Livingston, Esquire, Col. Lispenard, Col. McDougall, Jacobus Van Zandt, Abraham Brasher.

For ALBANY CITY AND COUNTY, Gouverneur Morris.