PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE.

Committee Chamber, August 14, 1775.

Resolved, That this Committee recommend to the inhabitants to choose the new Committee for six months.

August 15.—It being represented to the Committee by the inhabitants of Southwark, that the mode of voting in a general ticket at the ensuing election, is disagreeable to them, it is now agreed and recommended that they vote for their Representatives in Committee in a separate ticket.

Resolved, That the Fourth Article of the Association of the General Congress be inserted in the publick prints; and that this Committee are of opinion, that by the said Resolution no Vessel can be permitted to sail for Great Britain, Ireland, or the West-Indies, after the 9th day of September next.

“Fourth. The earnest desire we have not to injure our fellow-subjects in Great Britain, Ireland, or the West-Indies, induces us to suspend a non-exportation until the 10th day of September, 1775; at which time, if the said Acts and parts of Acts of the British Parliament hereinafter mentioned, are not repealed, we will not, directly or indirectly, export any Merchandise; or commodity whatsoever to Great Britain, Ireland, or the West-Indies, except Rice to Europe.”

The Committee resumed the consideration of the conduct of Messrs. Blackburne, Ashton, and John Dobson, of Liverpool, in shipping a cargo of Salt, per Brig Polly, to America.

It appeared that those gentlemen, having a full knowledge of the Association of the American Congress, had knowingly and wilfully concurred in shipping the said Salt, in direct violation of the same; that recourse had been had to artifice and interest with the Captain, in behalf of his owner, to influence him to take the Salt on board; and that the Captain had been expressly, in writing, directed to inform himself of the names of such persons in America as should oppose or obstruct the landing of the Salt, and transmit the same to England, under the seal of the Governour of the Province, or, if that could not be procured, of a Notary Publick.

Resolved, That the above be made publick, in order that the conduct of those gentlemen may be known to the good people of America, and that the Resolves of the Congress with respect to such persons may be strictly and sacredly carried into execution.

R. B. SMITH, Secretary.

DECLARATION OF JOHN BERGUM.

Philadelphia, August 14, 1775.

Whereas, it has been made to appear by the evidences of several of my fellow-citizens, that I, John Bergum, have made use of sundry expressions derogatory to the liberty of this Country: I do hereby confess myself very much to blame for my behaviour, and do promise that I will, for the future, conduct myself as a true friend to America, and assist those of the inhabitants thereof who are now struggling against the encroachments of arbitrary power, by every means I am capable of, and do freely and without restraint agree that the above Declaration be published in the Newspapers of this City; as witness my hand this 14th day of August, 1775.

JOHN BERGUM,

Inn-Keeper, at the Sign of the Bull’s-Head, in Strawberry Alley, Philadelphia.

NEW-PALTZ COMMITTEE TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN: Agreeable to your order of the ninth August, 1775, the East District of New-Paltz assembled on the fourteenth of this instant, and chose, by plurality of voices, of the soldiers belonging to said District, the following officers for their Militia, viz:

Peleg Ransom, Captain; Nathaniel Potter, First Lieutenant; Hugh Cole, Second Lieutenant; William Danielson, Ensign.

We are, Gentlemen, your very humble servants,

EBENEZER PERKINS,     
ABRAHAM DONALDSON,
Two of the Committee of New-Paltz.

ULSTER COUNTY COMMITTEE TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Kingston, August 14, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: As our officers have made a promise to the men they have enlisted in the Continental service, that each soldier should have a coat, a drilling jacket, and breeches, two shirts, two pair of stockings, a pair of shoes, and a hat, over and above their monthly pay and subsistence:

Whereas Colonel Wynkoop has received orders to march the companies that are here raised, and has also received a resolve of your honourable Board, that each man is to have only a coat and blanket, which makes the soldiers almost in general very uneasy, and say they will not stir or march before they have received what is promised to them by the officers, or at least that the officers shall pass their word that they shall receive their full clothing in Albany, (then they are willing to march immediately;) we are at a loss how to act in this affair. We beg the favour of you to lay this matter before the Congress immediately, for their further orders and directions. In case the men shall not be allowed any more than a coat and a blanket, we are afraid the men almost in general will refuse to march. We beg of you to send us further directions, by this express, without fail. The Colonel has ordered the companies to march the latter end of this week.

We are, Gentlemen, your most obedient and most humble servants. By order of the Committee:

JOHANNES SLEGHT, Chairman.

GENERAL WOOSTER TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Oyster-Ponds, August 14, 1775.

SIR: Your favour of the 10th instant, with three hundred pounds of powder, per Captain Griffin, I received; and now acquaint your Honour, that last Friday morning a large sloop-of-war and twelve transports sailed round Plumb-Island. After they had got through the gut, I sent one hundred and twenty men in three boats, which were all the boats we then had, to said island, if possible to get off the stock, with orders to return immediately upon the first appearance of the enemy’s attempting to bring away any of their shipping between the island and Oyster-Pond Point, lest their retreat might be cut off, it being impossible to support them without boats. Before the last boat had got over, the sloop-of-war was observed to be returning, and wind and tide favouring her, our boats were obliged to put back again, the hindmost of which had several cannon fired at her, but at so great a distance they did no damage. A cutter came within fifteen or twenty rods of our last, but discovering there were armed men in the boat, stopped their pursuit. Our soldiers in the boat, and some others on the beach, then fired at them, but I fancy to little effect, as our boat was obliged to make all sail possible to keep out of the reach of the cannon from the ship-of-war, which was close behind them. The sloop-of-war then came to anchor between the point and the island, and that night took from the island nine cattle, and then joined the fleet, which came to very early on Saturday morning, and I suppose have gone to Boston.

I have since taken from Plumb-Island their cattle and sheep, and the inhabitants have engaged to thrash out their grain and convey it from the island as soon as possible. I shall to-morrow go to Gardiner’s Island, and make such dispositions as shall appear most conducive to the common good. I expect by Thursday to be able to embark for New-York.

I am informed Colonel Willart told the people on Gardiner’s Island that he intended to pay Long-Island a visit before fall; and also, that the King’s Troops had been invited to purchase provisions at Brookhaven and Flushing. In consequence of this intelligence, the Committee of Brookhaven, Smithtown, and the other adjacent Towns, have taken and sent to me the Reverend James Lyon, a Church of England Clergyman, a man of infamous character, but a pretty sensible fellow, who they say has corresponded with Henry Lloyd, of Boston. This Parson Lyon, by what I can learn, is the main spring of all the tones on that part of Long-Island. He has considerable money at interest in different hands among his neighbours, which gains him an ascendancy over them, and he has been indefatigable, both by writing and preaching, and in every other way, to

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