Ordered, That Messrs. Sharp, Pintard, Templeton, and W. Ludlow, be a Committee to wait on Mr. Archer, said to be on board His Majesty’s ship-of-war the Asia, and make inquiry by what authority he propagated the report respecting the Resolve of the Continental Congress for a state of independence.

The Committee returned, and reported that the said Mr. Archer was not on board the Asia.

Whereas, a report has been industriously propagated in this City that the Continental Congress had passed a Resolve, that unless American grievances were redressed by the first of March, these Colonies should be independent of Great Britain: And whereas this Committee have made strict inquiry into the same, and find that one Mr. Archer, lately from Philadelphia, was the original publisher of the said report, and have endeavoured, by all means in their power, to procure the attendance of the said Mr. Archer before this Board, to declare by what authority he propagated the said report, but find that he is concealed in, or withdrawn from the City: And whereas this Committee are satisfied, from the best authority, that such report is false and groundless; therefore,

1. Resolved, That the author of such report is guilty of a malicious attempt to represent the Continental Congress as intending to cast off the connexion and dependance of the Colonies on Great Britain, and thereby to widen the unhappy breach already subsisting between them.

2. Resolved, That it appears to this Committee that the said false and malicious report was also calculated to create dissensions in the Colonies, and to weaken their confidence in the Continental Congress, and, therefore, that the author of it ought to be considered as an enemy to this Country.

Whereas, the Continental Congress, by their Resolve of the twenty-seventh May last, ordered that no Provisions of any kind be exported to the Island of Nantucket, except from the Colony of Massachusetts, from whence they were to be supplied with Provisions only for their internal use; and the said Congress deeming it of great importance to North America that the British Fishery should not be sup plied with Provisions from this Continent through Nantucket, did, by their said Resolve, earnestly recommend a vigilant execution thereof by all Committees: And where as it appears to this Committee, by the confession of Abraham H. Van Vleck, of this City, merchant, and the examination nation of George Coffin, that the said Abraham H. Van Vleck, being owner of the Sloop Henry, (whereof the said George Coffin was master) did, about the twenty-third of June last, send from this Port the said Sloop, laden with Provisions, to Nantucket, on account and risk of the said Abraham H. Van Vleck, and that the said George Coffin sold the same there for the use of the inhabitants: And whereas it also appears, on the said examination and confession, that the said Abraham H. Van Vleck hath again, during this present week, laden the said Sloop at New-York with Provisions for a like voyage to Nantucket, and that the said George Coffin was to proceed on the same as Master of the said Sloop, but was detected in such design, and the vessel and cargo detained by this Committee:

1. Resolved, That the Examination of the said George Coffin, and the Confession of the said Abraham H. Van Vleck, be published in the several Newspapers in this Colony.

2. Resolved, That the said Abraham H. Van Vleck, and George Coffin, have knowingly violated the before-mentioned Resolve of the Continental Congress, and the General Association entered into by the inhabitants of this City and County.

3. Resolved therefore, That the said Abraham H. Van Vleck, and George Coffin, have severally acted inimically to, and been guilty of a high infringement of the Associated American Colonies.

CONFESSION OF ABRAHAM H. VAN VLECK.

GENTLEMEN: I acknowledge to have bargained with George Coffin, about the latter end of May last, for the sloop Henry, of which I was owner; but as our agreement fell through, I then, by advice of the said George Coffin, concluded to load her for Nantucket with a cargo of provisions, and gave the command of the vessel to him. Soon after the resolve of the honourable Continental Congress was made publick, respecting the non-exportation of pro visions to said place, notwithstanding which, through ignorance of the consequences, and a strong imagination that it would not hurt the cause of America, I very imprudently proceeded to load the said sloop for Nantucket; for which place the said George Coffin immediately went, and on his arrival there was solicited by the inhabitants to go to New-York, and return as soon as possible with another load, as they were in great want of provisions; and she was nearly completed loading with a like cargo, on the same event as last voyage at this period. The vessel and both cargoes were owned entirely by me, and no person whatever, either directly or indirectly, had any share or part in the same. And I likewise most solemnly exculpate my father, Henry Van Vleck, (who has been out of Town a long time,) and every other person, from having any knowledge in the matter, and I will, if required, satisfy the same by an oath. Now, gentlemen, after having made this open confession, I throw myself on the mercy of my Country, hoping that every indulgence will be allowed me consistent with the interest of the publick. I can and do appeal to my fellow-citizens, that I never did, in any one instance, transgress against the liberties of America; and had I thought the provisions shipped by the aforementioned vessel would have fell into the hands of the King’s Troops, no consideration whatever could have induced me to have sent the same.

I again beg leave to crave the lenity of the publick; and am, Gentlemen, your and their most devoted servant,

ABRAHAM H. VAN VLECK.

I further certify that Capt. George Coffin, on his voyage to Nantucket, had orders to sail out of Sandy-Hook, and, on his voyage, to avoid all vessels he should happen to meet or see, and not to speak to any vessel whatever until he got to Nantucket, in order to avoid his falling in the way of any of the King’s vessels which might carry him into Boston.

ABRAHAM H. VAN VLECK.

EXAMINATION OF GEORGE COFFIN

George Coffin says, that after the account received of the Congress not to ship provisions to Nantucket, the examinant, being Master of the sloop Henry, did take on board the said sloop at New-York, a cargo, or part of a cargo of provisions for Nantucket, which belonged to Abraham H. Van Vleck of this City; that the said vessel also belonged to him, the said Van Vleck. That the examinant sailed with the said vessel and cargo to Nantucket, and there sold the cargo, but had liberty from said Van Vleck to go to the West-Indies if he thought fit. That the cargo of provisions now on board the said sloop also belongs to the said Abraham H. Van Vleck, and was shipped with intention to go to Nantucket. That the cargo first above mentioned was sold for the use of the inhabitants at Nantucket. That he thinks he was about three days taking in the first cargo, and thinks that the vessel was cleared out immediately, or very soon after the first cargo was taken on board, and thinks the vessel sailed the next day after she was cleared out. That when the vessel sailed on the said voyage, the examinant knew he was contravening the order of the Continental Congress.

GEORGE COFFIN.

SAMUEL MOTT TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Ticonderoga, August 4, 1775.

SIR: The Continental Congress, in their arrangement of the Army, have allotted for this Northern Army one chief Engineer, and two under Engineers, but the particular appointments of the persons is not yet come; if they should appoint me, I had determined if in my power to have Captain Noah Phelps for one of the two assistants; but this remains an uncertainty till we hear further from the Congress. I could wish that your Honour’s son, who is the good draftsman and picturer, was introduced into this branch of business.

’Tis to be feared that the enemy, having collected the chief of our strength at Boston, will make a sudden movement round this way, and overpower our little Army here, and penetrate the country; but I hope the Colonies will

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