until relieved by the Town-Watch, and that Captain Nicholas Power be appointed to hire the said two persons on the best terms he can, to be employed as the Officers of the Battery shall direct.

Voted, That the Great Guns be numbered, and each person’s name who belong to said Guns be wrote on a card and affixed to the Gun they may belong to, that they may know where to repair in case of an alarm.

Voted, That the Captain, Lieutenant, and Gunner of said Battery, have the care of preparing and keeping the Stores belonging thereto in good order.

Voted, That the Battery Company exercise their Cannon once in a month, or oftener, to perfect themselves in the use thereof.

Voted, That Captain Barnard Eddy and Mr. Paul Allen be a Committee to call upon all those persons who have received Cartridges, made of the Town’s stock of Powder and Lead, agreeable to a Vote of the Town made on the nineteenth day of June last; to examine if any of said Cartridges are missing, and, if they shall find that any person hath expended any of said Cartridges otherwise than in the publick defence, that they demand and receive the nine Pence promised by such person for each Cartridge so expended; and that they demand and receive all the Town’s Cartridges, delivered on the late alarm or otherwise, which any person may have in his possession, more than seventeen for every Fire-Arm he may have fit for use.

Whereas Mr. Moses Brown hath moved that the Town would instruct their Deputies to use their influence in the next General Assembly to procure a Bill, now lying before the House of Assembly, entitled “An Act prohibiting the importation of Negroes into this Colony, and asserting the right of Freedom of all those hereafter born or manumitted within the same,” a copy whereof hath now been read to the Town, to be passed into a law: And whereas the said Act contains matters of great importance, and will materially affect the property of individuals, therefore,

Voted, That the consideration of the same be referred to the next meeting, and that a warrant be issued, to warn the Freemen of the Town that the said motion will be considered and acted upon at the next meeting.

Voted, That this meeting be adjourned to the twelfth day of September next, at three o’clock, P. M.

GENERAL WOOSTER TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Oystor Ponds, Suffolk County, August 29, 1775.

SIR: I have with me at this place four hundred and fifty of my Regiment. I should before this time have returned to my station at Harlem, but Gen. Schuyler having ordered the three Companies, raised upon this end of Long-Island, for the conlinental service, to join their Regiment at Ticonderoga, the County Committee requested me to remain here till the return of an express, which they sent to New-York, to beg of their Congress, if possible, to prevent the three Companies from being removed. The express has now returned, with liberty for the Companies to remain here ten days from last Friday. It is thought best that I keep my station near New-York, though I shall not return there till I know the destination of the fleet, which I understand, from your Excellency’s information to Governour Trumbull, have sailed out of Boston. I hope and expect such measures will be pursued as will prevent their taking the stock from this or the adjacent islands.

The inhabitants here think that had General Schuyler known their very exposed situation, he would not have ordered the Companies away. The New-York Congress suppose they have no right to counteract his orders. They might indeed have sent to him, and received an answer in season; but they are so refined in their policy, have so many private views to answer, and take such infinite pains to keep out of the plain path, (conscious, perhaps, of their own superiour wisdom,) that they do nothing like other people. It is now loo late to send to General Schuyler; the Committee of Safety have therefore desired me to request your Excellency to continue their Troops upon their stations. I shall only say that I know of no place so much exposed to the ravages of the enemy; and if the Companies raised here, who have a great part of the good arms in the County, should be removed, and their places not supplied, I know of none so defenceless as this. It is my opinion, after all the soldiers are gone, that two hundred men might ravage the country, notwithstanding all the inhabitants could do to prevent it.

From this representation, I doubt not your Excellency will think proper to continue the Troops raised here upon this station, or order others in their room.

I am, with great truth and regard, your Excellency’s most obedient humble servant,

DAVID WOOSTER.

To his Excellency George Washington.

JEDEDIAH STRONG TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Litchfield, August 29, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOUR: On receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, respecting tow cloth, immediately made thorough inquiry in the County, and could find none of any consequence to be sold here; of which endeavoured to acquaint your Honour by letter, dated 21st, which hope is arrived. Since which, received your Honour’s of the 26th, on my return from Albany, where also had inquired for cloth, but find it scarce and dear. Could purchase, in various stores, some pieces and remnants of sheeting, dowlas, and osnaburgh, to amount perhaps of some hundred yards; but the cloth being high in price, remote, and of unsuitable quality, have purchased none. The Commissaries, in my absence last July, set to my share of the tools, to be provided for the Seventh and Eighth Regiments, a small number of spades, axes, and pickaxes, which I have accordingly procured to be made—the pickaxes by Captain Forbes, at Canaan, and other tools in this place; since have had no orders for disposition thereof, and am at a loss where to apply; therefore, hope your Honour will excuse me in giving the trouble of this information and return. Have also to report to your Honour, that after repeated and particular inquiries in and near Albany, by myself and others, for guns, &c., belonging to this Colony, and supposed to be left there at the close of the last war, can find none at all. It seems probable some numbers, were left with officers of the King’s Troops, forts, stores, &c., but that since the formation of the Minister’s oppressive plan of subjugating America, they have been removed off, together with every article of warlike apparatus, in command or reach of those creatures and their tools, from the fort, and every other magazine where they could find access; and that some of those very trustees are now employed against us in the Boston banditti, particularly George Uray, Clerk of Artillery Stores, &c.

I am, may it please your Honour, your Honour’s most obedient humble servant at command,

JEDEDIAH STRONG.

Governour Trumbull.

P. S. Albany swarms with painted Indians, seemingly disposed to friendship and neutrality. The Congress sitting last Monday began Friday. General Schuyler presides among the Commissioners. Major Hawley had not arrived Saturday evening. If the New-Yorkers were …, the prospect would be vastly agreeable.

JOSEPH MATHER TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Lyme, August 29, 1775.

HONOURED SIR: The distressed circumstances of the country in general fills us with anxiety, but especially our sea-coast at present seems more immediately to draw our attention, as there has lately been a fleet in our neighbourhood, ravaging the islands, and a larger fleet now sailed from Boston, which we apprehend is coming this way on the same errand. And as there is a great number of cattle, sheep, and swine, in this Town, within about the distance of one mile from the sea-shore, which we apprehend are exposed to be taken by such a fleet, if attempted; therefore, we, the Committee of Inspection for the Town, (at the request of a great number of the principal inhabitants of the Town,) beg leave to request of your Honour that you would order one or two companies of soldiers, that are now stationed at New-London, to be removed to this Town, for the purpose of guarding the sea-coast where this stock is situated; to take the advice of the authority in, or the Selectmen of the Town, or of this Committee, or any other man or set of men, with regard to the most convenient places to keep their guards, that your Honour in your wisdom shall think

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