to the people at large the nature of the unhappy disputes between Great Britain and the American Colonies; to endeavour to settle all political disputes with the people, to quiet their minds, and to enforce the necessity of a general union, in order to preserve themselves and their children from slavery:” And whereas the progress having been continued almost through the Colony, with success to the state, satisfaction to the people, and, upon the most perfect principles, tending to promote peace and good order, for the purposes of the progress aforesaid I did appoint that a meeting of the people should be held on Friday next, the first day of September, at the Ridge, in the District aforesaid: But whereas one Moses Kirkland having, without lawful authority, assembled men in arms in the District aforesaid, it is but too evident that to his treachery against this Colony he means to add crimes of a deeper dye, and by force of arms to violate the publick peace: wherefore, it is become inexpedient that the intended meeting of the people should be held as aforesaid, lest the meeting should furnish occasion for civil bloodshed, which it is our purpose to avoid as long as may be possible.

And whereas, by the arts, frauds, and misrepresentations of the said Moses Kirkland, some weak and ignorant people have been led into measures of so criminal a nature as, if persisted in, must inevitably involve them in destruction, from motives of humanity I therefore do hereby recommend to all such persons, that they forthwith desist from following the counsels of the said Moses Kirkland, in points tending to sedition and hostility; and I do hereby notify, that all such persons as, without lawful authority, shall assemble in arms, in company with or by instigation of the said Moses Kirkland, will be deemed publick enemies, to be suppressed by the sword.

Given under my hand, at Snow Hill, in the District aforesaid, this thirtieth of August, 1775.

WILLIAM HENRY DRAYTON.

COMMITTEE OF SAFETY OF NEW-JERSEY.

Princeton, Wednesday, August 30, 1775.

The Committee of Safety, taking into consideration the condition of several Companies in this Province, where vacancies have happened in consequence of the promolion of the Captain or other officers, are of opinion, that according to the Rules and Orders of the Continental and Provincial Congresses, such vacancy is to be filled up by the choice of a new officer, in the usual manner of election; but that no person can be turned out of office by his Company, without his consent being first obtained.

Thursday, August 31, 1775.

Whereas the Publick Roads of this Province are observed to abound with strollers and vagabonds, and many servants have run away from their masters, and horse stealing and other robberies are become very frequent; therefore it is

Resolved, That it be recommended to the good people of this Province, that they do strictly examine all suspicious persons passing to and fro through the different parts thereof; and if, upon such examination, they do not give a satisfactory account of themselves, they do proceed to deal with them according to the laws of this Province.

Resolved, That the several Officers and Privates who embody themselves as Minute-Men in this Province be, and they hereby are directed, for the sake of distinction and convenience, to adopt as their Uniform Hunting-Frocks, as near as may be similar to those of the Riflemen now in the Continental service.

Ordered, That this Committee be adjourned to Wednesday, the 13th day of September next, to meet at Princeton, unless sooner convened by the President or Vice-President.

WILLIAM PATERSON, Secretary.

P. DE WITT TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Witt’s Mount, August 30, 1775.

HONOURED SIR: I wrote you on the 8th instant, which Captain Radcliff tells me he has delivered to yourself; since that, I received none from you, which I do not impute to your disregard thereto, but to throng of business, and want of a safe opportunity. However, the regard I have for my native land, and the liberties thereof, concerns me to such a degree that I think myself in duty bound thereto to give you a further information.

Some time last week Timothy Doughty, Adam Bergh, and Christian Bergh, Jun., three of the persons I mentioned in my last, appeared at their houses and in this neighbourhood again publickly; carried their pistols with them; bid defiance to all, and threatened death if an attempt should be made to take them; endeavoured to obstruct the choice of officers that was making on the 25th instant in Captain Radcliff’s Company; threatened him; d——d the Congress; spoke ill of the new commissions the officers are to receive, and called them d——d rebels; after that, enlisted four men in the Ministerial service, probably more; they offered to enlist more, particularly a young man I hired a few months since; they would enlist him during the troubles in America, under the promise of four hundred acres of land that shall be conquered by the Ministerial Army; another they offered to enlist in the same manner; another they had enlisted, and his master persuaded him back. This they did all unmolested. On the 28th instant they went on board a sloop the said Berghs own, with the four enlisted men and others, and sailed down the river; last night the sloop returned. They are all gone on board a sloop belonging to John and David Dob, in order to go on board the man or ship of war; these Dobs carry wood to New-York, and commonly land it at the North River docks, where they and their sloop are well known. These proceedings seem to strike a terrour in this neighbourhood, although all are tories, only a few excepted. It is by some suspected they will in a few days return, and attempt by stealth to carry me or some other person or persons off to one of the ships of war. If it should so happen, I expect no assistance; and as to myself, I am not afraid; but if any mischief should be intended, I am more afraid to share the like fate of Walter Livingston, Esq.

The question might be asked me, how or in what manner shall a stop be put to these and such like proceedings, and alleged there are many tories in Dutchess; it is a dangerous attempt to quell, suppress, and bring them to reason by force; some of the Convention and Committee-Men in Dutchess County are false and treacherous; nothing can be concerted but it transpires to the Tories; Dutchess County has but two or three Companies of Minute-Men yet; New-York is in danger, and cannot spare any; and many other difficulties may be cast in the way—to which I answer, there is but little difficulty or danger. Cowardice should be removed first; the ringleaders should be advertised; a reward offered to those who take them; without any choice sent to the mines. I am creditably informed the Militia of Esopus are all Minute-Men, and want no better sport than to come over. Three hundred men from thence, with the Minute-Men in this County, or two or three hundred men of the Militia of Connecticut, which are next joining to this County, under proper officers to manage, as I proposed in my former letter, would do the job in a very little time. Subscribing the Association, or a recantation, should not be deemed sufficient, but an oath should be added. If such a method is not taken very soon, the breach will never be repaired, and the end miserable.

I cannot pass by to let you know that I am informed that Captain John Van Ness, who never had any other than a Captain’s commission one campaign the last war, is nominated Colonel of the Minute-Men here, and Major Robert G. Livingston, Jun., to be Major; which I think strange and wrong. The latter is already a Major in the Militia, and a gentleman that has all the qualifications of a commanding officer; who is engraved on the hearts of the Militia; admired almost to adoration; beloved by every one, the Tories not excepted. This must be a Hoffman’s trick; they are ever false.

Petrus Ten Broeck, by commission from the Governour, has been Colonel of a Regiment in this quarter; he is a man not fit for it. The men that were willing he regarded not; those that were unwilling he furnished not; trained at times the act forbid—by which he has brought the Regiment in confusion, and is the reason many turned