It being suggested, that divers persons in the Province are attempting to raise Companies of Light-Infantry, which may have a tendency to break other Companies that have been formed by Committees, pursuant to the former Militia Ordinance of this Congress: Resolved therefore, That no person whatever do presume to raise any Light-Infantry, or Independent Company, without the consent of the Field-Officers to whom they belong, and the approbation of the County or Township Committee, where there is no County Committee, be first obtained; and that all Companies formed before the 20th day of June last shall remain as they were formed, unless on such consent and approbation as aforesaid, such only excepted as have been constituted by permission from this Congress.

Thursday, August 17, 1775.

Resolved, That as there are a number of people within this Province, whose peculiar religious principles will not allow them in any case to bear arms—this Congress intend no violence to conscience; and therefore would earnestly recommend it to all such persons to contribute the more liberally, in these, times of universal calamity, to the relief of their distressed brethren in the several Colonies; and to do all other services to their oppressed Country, consistent with their religious profession.

Resolved, That before any person shall receive a military commission, agreeable to the Militia Ordinance of this Congress, he shall sign the Association formed and recommended by the same; and if he hold a commission under the late Militia Act of Assembly, that he first resign such commission to the Governour of this Province.

Resolved, That Jonathan D. Sergeant, Esq., be and he is hereby appointed Provincial Treasurer to this Congress: and it is ordered, that the balance of Moneys in his hands, which he received towards paying the expenses of the Delegates of this Colony in the Continental Congress, together with such as may hereafter come into his bands, be applied to such uses as shall be directed by this Congress, or, during its recess, by the Committee of Safety. And that be do immediately call in the several sums yet due from any of the Counties; and in case of further neglect in them to discharge the same, that the said Treasurer do make report thereof to the next Provincial Congress.

The Congress taking into consideration the Remonstrance from the County Committee of Sussex, relative to the raising the prices of shop goods within the said County, occasioned by the advanced price in New-York and Philadelphia, do resolve that the said Committee are the proper persons to inquire into the complaint mentioned in the said Remonstrance; and if, on examination, they find it to be well founded, do then recommend that the said Committee make application to the Committees of New-York and Philadelphia, and represent the conduct of such traders in the said Provinces as shall appear to them to be culpable.

Ordered, That the several County Committees do appoint one Surgeon to each Regiment and Battalion belonging to their respective Counties; and certify the name of such Surgeon to the next Congress, or to the Committee of Safety, in order to his being properly commissioned.

Resolved, That this Congress do recommend to the several County Committees in this Colony, that they immediately employ Gunsmiths to make such a number of Arms as they shall judge to be necessary and wanting in their respective Counties; and that, in the manufactory of the said Arms, particular attention be paid to the directions of the Continental Congress.

Ordered, That Hendrick Fisher, Samuel Tucker, Isaac Pearson, John Hart, Jonathan D. Sergeant, Azariah Dunham, Peter Schenck, Enos Kelsey, Joseph Borden, Frederick Frelinghuysen, and John Schurman, be a Committee of Safety during the recess of this Congress.

The Congress adjourned to the 20th day of September next, unless sooner convened by the Committee of Safety.

PHILIP VAN RENSSELAER TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

New-York, August 5, 1775.

Whereas, I, the underwritten, Philip Van Rensselaer, of the City of Albany, and Province of New-York, merchant, being appointed by Walter Livingston, Esquire, for supplying the Troops under the command of General Schuyler: and as a large quantity of barrelled pork will be wanted for supplying the said Troops, and at present finding a great scarcity of that article in this Province, and am informed, cannot possibly be supplied with a sufficient quantity requisite and necessary for said Troops, without having assistance from the Province of Connecticut; in consequence of which begs leave to request, that the honourable Provincial Congress, or Committee now sitting for the said Province of New-York, would be pleased to take the same into their consideration; and humbly conceives, that were they to write to Governour Trumbull, or any other person or persons, which they may think proper, requesting that leave may be given to ship four hundred and fifty barrels good merchantable pork, they might be supplied, and consign the same to the care of Messrs. Dennis and Dawson of said City of New-York, merchants, who have my particular directions to receive the said pork on my account, provided leave can be obtained.

PHILIP VAN RENSSELAER.

In Provincial Congress, New-York, August 8, 1775.

Ordered, That Governour Trumbull be requested, and he is hereby requested, by this Congress, to permit the quantity of four hundred and fifty barrels of good merchantable Pork to be sent to New-York, to the care of Messrs. Dennis and Dawson, to be forwarded for the use of the Continental Army in the northern parts of this Colony.

A true copy from the Minutes:

JOHN MCKESSON, Secretary.

DAVID WELSH TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Ticonderoga, August 5, 1775.

SIR: The men at this place, belonging to the Colony of Connecticut, think they are not well used, as they were promised several things, they don’t think there are any steps taken to fulfil it, our Commissaries being superseded by Commissaries in New-York Government; and they avow the principles, that if soldiers have bread and pork, it is enough; and Captain Phelps has wrote to the Colonel, that they tell him expressly that he has no business to buy any thing, but only to forward provisions. I heard a few days ago, that he is dismissed, but I don’t know the certainty of that.

Several of the companies have no brass kettles to this day. About a week ago I got one for my company, and don’t think I shall have any more this year. Pails and bottles we can’t get as yet; and not more than one tenth part of the bowls that we were to have.

Some things commanded in the act of Assembly for the soldiers can’t all be got here, but the chief of them might be got as well here as at Boston, but they would cost something more; and if some things can’t be had, there is the more reason for having others; and if there had not been a shifting of Commissaries, I believe we should have been better provided. Several companies have no frying-pans. I have afore notified our Commissaries and them at Albany, that we want these things.

Our water here is very bad and unwholesome, and great part of the time there is nothing else for the Troops. At the present we have some beer, but it wont last long, and if our Commissaries do not get some, I don’t think any body else will. Rum and molasses are wanted. The rum that comes, as far as I have seen, is worse than none. We expected to have had books and paper, but have not had one book, and but four quires of paper. I think there has not been one pound of soap bought for the Army. A small matter of coffee and chocolate was bought about two weeks ago, so that the sick have a small matter, but none for them that can keep about. Only one barrel of vinegar here and one at Crown Point has arrived, and that, all said, was not worth any thing. One barrel of sugar came here, and one to Crown Point, and that goes only to the sick. Since the Troops arrived here, it would take about half of their wages to make them live as well as they were to be provided by the act of the Assembly.

There are five companies from York Government at Lake George, and they have their complement of officers. They were to have forty or fifty men each, but I am well informed that they have not above eighty men on the ground.