As it is found difficult to make a Board of this Committee, and it is proper to proceed with despatch in the examinations recommended to us by the Provincial Congress, to be made for discovering the persons who destroyed the Boat lately built for His Majesty’s Ship Asia:

Resolved, on motion, That R. Ray, Abraham P. Lott, Cornelius P. Low, William Bedlow, John Berrian, John Lasher, and John Broome, or the major part of them, be a Sub-Committee for taking such examinations, and that they proceed therein with all convenient speed, and return the said examination to this Committee when finished. And,

Resolved, That the said Committee have full power to send for witnesses for the purpose aforesaid.

PETER T. CURTENIUS TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

New-York, August 10, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: I was yesterday informed by a member of the Continental Congress, that not a shilling of the Continental money would be paid, or even lent to pay, for the clothing or guns which I have purchased on the publick credit. If so, I shall be in a very disagreeable situation, because there is no fund established by the Provincial Congress as yet for that purpose. The goods I have purchased are all on the credit of the Provincial Congress, on Condition to pay for them as soon as the Continental money came in my hands. As soon as it arrives, I shall have about three hundred persons calling on me for their money. Those I have purchased clothing from must be sent back without money, the consequence of which will be, abuse for deceiving them. Figure to yourselves the situation I shall be in. I hope some plan will be fallen on to borrow the money to pay for the clothing and making, or else I must lock myself up. I have stopped the gunsmiths this morning from purchasing any more guns, because they can’t get any without the cash, and I have none to pay for them, having already advanced out of my pocket, in cash and goods, little short of one thousand Pounds.

My clerk is returned from Philadelphia, and informs me that he can get from Thomas and Isaac Wharton, blankets, Watch-coats, &c., to the amount of eleven hundred and thirty-five Pounds, ten Shillings, and three Pence, Pennsylvania currency, (particulars as per invoice enclosed,) upon condition that I take the whole and pay for them before they are delivered out of their store.

As to duck, none can be had; drillings he could get about twenty or thirty pieces, price two shillings and four pence cash, and three shillings per yard on the credit of the Congress. The merchants here made no such conditions or distinctions. Several have been so generous as to sell their goods under what they could get for them from individuals, and as to provisions and blacksmith’s work, I bought all at cash price.

I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

PETER T. CURTENIUS.

To the Members of the New-York Provincial Congress.

JOHN McKESON TO COLONEL PH1NEAS FANNING.

New-York, August 10, 1775.

SIR: The Provincial Congress is favoured with your letter of the 8th instant, and are much obliged by the intelligence. The Congress is sorry to inform you that any farther supply of gunpowder is not to be procured at present. The powder, ball, and flints, sent by Mr. Foster and Mr. Clarke, are at your disposal, in the whole, two hundred and thirty-three pounds and a half of powder, and six hundred pounds of ball. If you should think it necessary to put any of this ammunition into the hands of the Militia, please to take care that they pay for the same.

Wishing you success, I am, most respectfully, your most obedient humble servant,

JOHN MCKESSON.

To Colonel Phineas Fanning, Southold.

HENRY B. LIVINGSTON TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Claremont, August 10, 1775.

SIR: I wrote to you yesterday, in a great hurry, before I had notice of the arrival of the clothes for the Troops at this place, which, to my great surprise, I find to be only a regimental coat and a blanket for each man; no hat, shirt, waistcoat, breeches, stockings, or shoes. All these things we have been led to expect from the tenour of our instructions for enlisting men, wherein we are directed to observe, “ That the Troops raised by this Colony will be placed precisely upon the same footing, with respect to pay, clothing, &c., with other the Continental Troops now raised, or hereafter to be raised for the general defence.” We did not know, with certainty, how the Continental Forces were to be supplied, but conjectured that they were to be furnished with every necessary, till some of our late papers came to hand, in which we observed the Captains for New-York had placed an advertisement, setting forth that volunteers in this service would be allowed one shilling, eleven pence per day, and a suit of clothes, arms, &c., to be found them; this was not contradicted by the Congress. Can the gentlemen who compose it conceive no necessity for a supply of shoes to a body of men who are to march two hundred and fifty miles through a rough country, (how much farther I know not,) or can they think that a regimental coat will make them uniform, when some of them have waistcoats, others none; some trowsers, others none; some hats, others without; some ragged, others whole. Want of decent clothing, I fear, will oblige many to desert the service who have engaged in it from principle, and with the sole view of extricating this country from its present difficulties. However, if it be the sense of the Congress that the Troops are to be furnished with these necessaries from their pay, and they think proper to advance it for that purpose, I will endeavour to bring the men in my company to agree to it, though I can’t help thinking it will be a difficult task, as they are much displeased at the parsimony of the Congress; it has been very near creating a mutiny in my company already. This I have thought it my duty, as an officer, to mention to you, that if the Congress think it merits attention, they may have it in their power to apply a remedy in time.

Having thus fully laid before you the reasons for dissatisfaction among the men, I will now mention to you a circumstance that has given no little uneasiness to the officers of our Battalion. I have been offered the appointment of a Major to the Regiment to which I belong, and also of one other to the Third Battalion. I am much at a loss to account for the indignity that has been offered me in both these appointments, and fear that the Congress have imbibed some undeserved prejudices against me. By the Crown I was thought qualified, two years ago, for a majority, since which I have made it an object of some attention to fit myself for that station though I must confess that I by no means think myself equal to the task, and therefore should readily have acquiesced in the nomination of gentlemen more experienced than myself. But when persons that have had the advantage of no experience are advanced from a lieutenancy over the head of a Major, it carries either the highest compliment to their abilities, or the greatest reflection on his. To the first I am so far from objecting, that I rejoice at the early dawning of that superiour genius, in which the Congress see the want of experience so amply compensated, and the idea of the last excites a sensation which I do not care to express. I will only observe, that as a sense of duty, and a regard to the interests of this country, were the only motives that induced me to enter into the service, so the same principles will continue me in it till the Congress can with conveniency supply my place, when I shall rejoice in my dismissal. In the meanwhile, as I know myself superiour to little piques, I shall take care that they do not discover themselves in my conduct.

I remain, with all imaginable respect, your most obedient humble servant,

HENRY B. LIVINGSTON.

N.B. Lieutenant Paddock, my Second Lieutenant, has had my orders to be with me a fortnight ago. If he should not come, I should be glad to have John Banks, who is now with me as a common soldier, in his room. He is a man well qualified for a captaincy, and has seen a great deal of service last war.

GENERAL MONTGOMERY TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Albany, August 10, 1775.

SIR: The first division of the York Troops are arrived, but without powder; by accident it is in my power to furnish