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sent for, attended, and acknowledged that he was informed by authority from his Majesty, that he was so appointed, and that he did expect to receive his commission and instructions for that purpose. And it being highly imprudent at this critical juncture, to permit any gentleman under the influence of the British Ministry to proceed to that post to exercise those offices, who might prejudice the Indians against the inhabitants of the United Colonies, Resolved, That the said Captain Patrick Sinclair shall not be at present permitted to proceed to Missilimacana. And Ordered, That the said Patrick Sinclair go to any part of Suffolk County, on Nassau Island, and reside there, on his giving his promise parole on his honour that he will not take any part in the present unhappy controversy between Great Britain and the United Colonies; and that he will not depart from, or go out of such part of the said County of Suffolk, without permission of the Continental Congress, or of this or some future Provincial Congress, until the present unhappy controversy between Great Britain and the Colonies shall be determined. Captain Patrick Sinclair declared on his honour, that he will not take any part in the present controversy between Great Britain and the Colonies, and that he will not depart the limits above mentioned, without such permission as above mentioned. Ordered, That the consideration of the state of the Militia of the Colony, be postponed until Monday next. Ordered, That Colonel Philip Cortlandt have leave to borrow as much money on the credit of this Congress, (and give his obligation for the same,) as will enable him to pay two Companies of the men enlisted in the Fourth Regiment, until the first day of August next. The Congress adjourned to nine o’clock, to-morrow morning. Die Veneris, 9 ho. A. M., August 4, 1775. The Congress met pursuant to adjournment. Opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Bowden. Mr. Harper, of Harpersfield, near Cherry Valley, having represented the defenceless state of that part of the County of Tryon, for want of a small quantity of Gunpowder, and requested that he may be permitted to purchase one hundred weight of Powder at the Powder-Mill of the Honourable Robert R. Livingston, Esq., on his paying the money for the same, Ordered, That Mr. Harper have leave to purchase one hundred weight of Gunpowder accordingly, for the use of the inhabitants of that part of Tryon County; and the gentleman who has direction of the said Powder-Mill is requested to sell one hundred weight of Gunpowder to the said Mr. Harper, on his paying the cash for the same. Mr. Walton came into Congress, and informed the Congress that Captain Patrick Sinclair alleges, that Lord Darimouth’s card does not warrant the inserting the words “of Indian Affairs “in the state of his appointment as it stands on the Minutes of this Congress; and the same being compared with the copy of Lord Dartmouth’s card, as it appears in the Letter of Sir Charles Thompson to Captain Sinclair, is found not to be warranted thereby, Ordered, therefore, That the words “of Indian Affairs,” be struckout of the Minutes in the recital of his appointment, and also in the certified copies thereof, and that the said, certified copies be redelivered to Mr. Walton. Mr. Walton soon after came into Congress, and informed that he had shown the amended copy of the Minutes to Captain Patrick Sinclair, and informed him that the Minutes were amended accordingly. That Captain Sinclair declared, that he could not consent to the general tenour of that part of the Minutes concerning him which related to Indian Affairs, and could not sign it, and that the Congress may do as they please with him. Mr. Walton being asked whether he had desired Captain Sinclair to sign one of those copies, declared on his honour that he had not asked or desired him to sign it. Thereupon, Ordered, That Colonel McDougall send a Guard to take the said Patrick Sinclair into custody. Captain Patrick Sinclair being taken into custody, and brought into Congress, declared he never had solicited to be Superintendent of Indian Affairs. Ordered, That he withdraw unto the next room, and remain there under guard. Mr. Sears (seconded by Mr. Beckman) moved in the words following, to wit: That the Order of yesterday for sending Captain Sinclair to Suffolk, be reconsidered. The same being agreed to nemine con., Ordered, That the said Order of yesterday for sending Captain Sinclair to Suffolk County, be reconsidered. Mr. Sears then moved and was seconded, that the Order of yesterday relating to Capt. Patrick Sinclair, be amended, by obliterating therein the words “any part of Suffolk County, on Nassau Island,” and inserting instead thereof the words “Hartford, in Connecticut;” and debates arising thereon, it was carried against the amendment in the manner following, to wit:
Ordered, therefore, That the proposed Amendment be rejected. Captain Patrick Sinclair, at his request, being then admitted into Congress, alleged that he had misapprehended part of the order of this Congress of yesterday; and having received a certified copy thereof, and perused and examined the same, he, on his honour, in publick Congress, declared that he would comply with and strictly obey the injunctions therein contained. A Letter from Philip Livingston and George Clinton, Esquires, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit: “Philadelphia, August 2, 1775. “SIR: We received your letter by express this morning, in answer to which we beg leave to inform you that we have obtained an order of Congress on the Continental Treasury, in your favour, for one hundred and seventy-five thousand Dollars; but as there is not yet a sufficient number of the bills signed to answer the most pressing occasions, we imagine your draft cannot be answered before the latter end of the next week. We have, however, been able to borrow about eight thousand Pounds for you, which we will bring with us, expecting to set out for New-York this afternoon, the Congress having adjourned this morning till the 5th of September next. “We are, Sir, your most obedient servants, “PHIL. LIVINGSTON, “To Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq.” A Letter from John Hulbert, of the 27th ultimo, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit: “Southampton, July 27, 1775. “GENTLEMEN ”: I wrote to you the 20th inst., informing you that I had enlisted forty-nine men. I would now acquaint you that I have added to that number, so that this day sixty-eight have passed muster. In a day or two I hope to make return of the whole. I am, Gentlemen, your humble servant, JOHN HULBERT. “To the Provincial Congress at New-York.” A Letter from Abraham Yates, Jun., Esq., Chairman of the Committee of Albany, relative to George Sullivan, and covering a copy of a letter from General Wooster to Colonel Waterbury, relating to the same person, was read and filed. The copy of General Wooster’s letter was also read and filed. Whereas, those Counties which are now represented in this Congress by a majority of the Delegates sent hither for that purpose, may be deprived of their weight of representation, by the absence of Members upon the publick service: Resolved, therefore, That all Members who are absent by the order of this House, or of the Continental Congress, shall be counted with those who actually appear, and when a majority shall appear upon such counting, then those Members actually present shall give their vote for the said County, as if a real majority were personally at this Board.
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