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of the cause, together with my own sincere desire to promote the weal of America, and her freedom from a state of vassalage, are considerations which by far outweigh personal interest or private embarrassments, and therefore, with gratitude and self-diffidence, I have concluded to undertake the services of that important trust, humbly imploring that wisdom and prudence which shall enable me to perform every duty with fidelity, and not to reflect dishonour upon this Colony. And as I have had but short notice to prepare, should take it as a favour if the time of my joining the Army might be for a few days postponed, circumstances admitting; however, shall wait your farther commands, and govern myself accordingly. With wishing that all your councils may be under the divine direction, and crowned with abundant success, I am, Sir, with all proper diffidence, your most obedient humble servant, STEPHEN PEABODY. To the Honourable Matthew Thornton, Esq., Chairman of the Committee of Safety, for the Colony of New-Hampshire, now sitting at Exeter. NEW-YORK COMMITTEE. The Committee met August 15,1775. Present: Henry Remsen, Chairman, and thirty-three Members. The Sub-Committee appointed to examine the evidences which were named by the Provincial Congress, made their Report, with the examinations, concerning the destruction of the Barge; which was accepted, and the Chairman, or his Deputy, ordered to sign the same, and deliver it to the President of the Provincial Congress. Ordered, That the following Members be a Committee to consider of the most expeditious and effectual method to carry into execution the Resolves of our Provincial Congress of the ninth instant, for dividing this City and County into Districts or Beats, and make a return of the names of the inhabitants that by said Resolves are to serve in the Militia, viz: Jacob Van Voorhies, Wm. Denning, George Janeway, Gabriel H. Ludlow, Frederick Jay, Hercules Mulligan, John Bcrrian, Comfort Sands, Peter Byvanck, Cornelius P. Low, William Bedlow, Abraham Brinkerhoff, Oliver Templeton, John Broome, Eleazer Miller, Nicholas Roosevelt, Theophilus Anthony, Wm. Gilbert, Gerret Kettletas. New-York, August 16, 1775. The Sub-Committee, appointed by the General Committee to divide the City and County of New-York into Beats or Districts for forming the Militia, agreeable to the Resolution of the Continental and Provincial Congresses, request that the Captains of Colonel Lasher’s Battalion, the Independent and Associated Companies, Captains of Light-Horse and Hussars, furnish their respective men forthwith, with certificates of their being enlisted in their said companies, the better to enable the Committee to form the said Beats agreeable to the said Resolution. WILLIAM BEDLOW, Chairman. WILLIAM DUER TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS. New-York, August 15, 1775. SIR: I had the honour of receiving by Col. Campbell your letter of the 20th of July last, enclosing me a commission as Deputy Adjutant-General to the Continental Army, with the rank of Colonel. As your honourable House has been pleased to confer this honour on me unanimously, and without my solicitation, I consider with respect and gratitude this mark of their confidence in my zeal for the publick service. I lament, extremely, that it has not been in my power to officiate immediately in this necessary department; but my appointment being totally unexpected, I have not been able to arrange my connexions with my brothers in the Island of Dominica, so as to prevent the risk of their fortune by my political conduct; were I to neglect this point, I should be insensible to honour, and consequently unworthy of the trust reposed in me. I have, therefore, proceeded to Town on the immediate receipt of your letter, in order to submit my engagements with my brothers to the opinion of such friends whose candour and judgment are most likely to assist me, and entreat the favour of your Convention to grant me an indulgence of three days, before I declare whether or not I can accept of the commission you have been pleased to nominate me for. Be assured, Sir, that my bosom glows with the warmest zeal for the cause of America, and that I will strenuously support it at the risk of every thing except honour and virtue. I am, with great respect, your obedient humble servant, W. DUER. Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq. JACOB WYNKOOP TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS. New-York, August 15, 1775. GENTLEMEN: It is with the utmost reluctance I am induced to trouble you with the mention of any private or personal discontent, and thereby to withdraw any part of your attention from the weightier publick matters with which it must be engaged; but I confide in your candour that the causes of it will appear to you so reasonable, as to be admitted a sufficient apology for my involuntary intrusion. I feel the difficulty of addressing you in a manner that may seem to carry the appearance of arrogating to myself a higher degree of merit than you have thought me possessed of, by placing me in the station you did; but as I have reason to think you were unacquainted with the circumstances from which arises my dissatisfaction with the appointment you have been pleased to honour me with, I hope it will not be esteemed improper or unbecoming, to lay them before you. I have served in the two last wars both by sea and by land, and have been in many engagements. I have a commission from General Shirley as Captain of a company of batteaumen; and in consequence of an action under Col. Broadstreet, in which we lost forty-nine men the first fire, I was honoured, with the command of His Excellency General Gage, to he called by the name of his company, to whom his baggage was always entrusted; and had likewise the offer of a commission in the “ Royal Americans.” I have a good deal of experience of cannon as well as small arms. To these circumstances let me add, I am now fifty-one years old. I confess I expected to have had an appointment in the First Battalion; but by arrangement lately published, I find I am postponed to the Fourth, and there hold only the rank of Eighth Captain. According to this adjustment, I am to receive the command from thirty-seven Captains who are made my superiors in rank and authority, which, considering my age and experience, and the youth and inexperience of most of those who are placed above me, not to disparage their intrinsick merit, appears to me to exhibit a very exceptionable and derogatory preference, which cannot fail being extremely unpleasant to any man tinctured with but a moderate share of emulation. With humble deference, therefore, I entreat you will condescend to take the matter under consideration, and if you conceive my complaint well founded, will be pleased to redress it; for in justice to myself I am compelled to declare, that though I am ready with alacrity to hazard my life in the cause of my Country, yet I cannot be satisfied to do it on terms which I must confess I look upon as somewhat degrading, since a perference is given to many, whose title to a superiority over me I am unable to discern the foundation of. I am, Gentlemen, with the utmost respect and regard, your most obedient and very humble servant, JACOBUS WYNKOOP. To the Honourable Provincial Congress of New-York. A Return of the names of the persons for the Officers of the Second Battalion in SUFFOLK County, taken according to the directions of the Provincial Congress by the Committees of EASTHAMPTON and SOUTHAMPTON. First Company; David How ell, Captain; Jeremiah Post, First Lientenant; Paul Jones, Second Lieutenant; Zephaniah Rogers, Ensign. Second Company: John Dayton, Jun., Captain; Isaac
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