Ordered, That the Report of the Committee of Ways and Means be recommitted to the same Committee.

Whereas, agreeable to a Resolution of this Congress, the Mayor and Magistrates of this City have been requested to procure a Barge to be built for His Majesty’s Ship Asia, to replace the one lately destroyed; and this Congress being informed that the Carpenters in this City decline undertaking to build the said Barge, being apprehensive, by threats given out by some persons, if they should undertake to build the said Barge, that the same may not only be destroyed, but that their persons or property may be injured or insulted:

Resolved, That all persons who have given such obstruction, by threats, to the execution of the aforesaid order, or shall hereafter by threats or violence oppose the same, ought to be considered as factious, disorderly members of the community, and as guilty of a dangerous attempt to destroy the authority of this Congress, and to render them contemptible.

Resolved, That for the purpose of effectually carrying into execution the said order, and to defeat the malicious designs of such as dare to condemn or oppose the authority and orders of this House, Mr. Henry Sheaf be ordered immediately to set about building a proper Barge for the said Ship Asia, and to finish her with all possible despatch. And that Colonel Lasher be ordered to furnish a sufficient guard, who are to be relieved at the discretion of the Colonel, to protect the said Barge while building, and to see her safely delivered for the use of the said Ship. And the Magistrates as well as the other inhabitants of this City are requested to give all necessary aid in this business, that it may be known whether a few rash and restless individuals out of doors, or the representative body of the Colony in this Congress, are to direct the measures for our publick safety at this dangerous and critical juncture.

Resolved, That if any person or persons shall be found threatening or attempting to destroy the said Barge, they be taken into custody by the said guard, and detained till the order of this Congress shall be made respecting them.

Ordered, That these Resolutions be published in Holt’s and Rivington’s Newspapers to-morrow.

Die Jovis, 9 ho. A. M., August 17, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment. No prayers.

A Letter from General Washington was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“Camp at Cambridge, August 10, 1775.

“SIR: Your favour of the 2d instant is duly received, but it is out of my power to comply with the request it contains, of forwarding commissions. All those I have yet received from the honourable Continental Congress are far short of the number required in this Army; for which reason, when at New-York, and by letter from this, I directed General Schuyler to apply to the Congress at Philadelphia for those of his department, as the shortest and easiest mode; to which I must also now refer you.

“We have had no occurrence in the camp, for several days, worthy of notice; but, by some advices from Boston, and several concurring circumstances, we have great reason to suspect a part or the whole of the Ministerial Troops are about to remove. New-York is the place generally talked of as their destination. I give you the intelligence as it came to me, but do not vouch for its authenticity.

“I am, with the most respectful regard to yourself and the body over whom you preside, Sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

“GEORGE WASHINGTON

“The Hon. Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq., President of the Provincial Congress, New-York.”

Ordered, That a copy of General Washington’s Letter be sent to General Schuyler.

A draught of a Letter to Major-General Schuyler was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, August 17, 1775.

SIR: We have received your favour dated the 31st of July last, covering the proceedings of the Green Mountain Boys in their choice of officers, and, agreeable to your request, enclose you twenty-one blank warrants, to be filled up agreeable to their choice. The Field-Officers were to be recommended jointly with you by this Congress; but as we are ignorant of the merits and qualifications of those among them who would be equal to the appointment, we have therefore concluded to leave the appointment to you. The disputes already subsisting amongst their chiefs, the principles whereof we are strangers to, are an additional inducement in determining us to this reference. Your acquaintance with them we hope will enable you to fix the choice on such persons as may be least exceptionable, and who will most effectually promote the service.

The appointing officers and supplying necessaries for an hospital is a Continental expense, for which this Congress are not competent; but at the same time are of opinion that you, as Commander-in-Chief, are fully authorized to order all matters necessary for that purpose; and be assured that we shall gladly give you all the assistance in our power. We enclose you a copy of our resolves entered into on the 15th instant, which we expect will fully answer the remaining particulars of your letter; as, also, a copy of a letter we received of General Washington, dated the 10th instant.

With respect, your humble servants. By order.

Major-General Schuyler.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the President, and transmitted, together with copies of the Minutes of this Congress on the 15th instant, in pursuance of the requisitions in General Schuyler’s Letter.

Colonel McDougall moved, and was seconded by Colonel Lispenard, that two Brass Kettles, to contain ten gallons each, be provided for each Company of the Troops raised in this Colony, agreeable to the arrangement of the Colony of Connecticut. Objections being made to the said motion, and the question put thereon, it was carried in the negative, in the manner following, to wit:

Ordered, That the following Gentlemen be of the Committee to form an arrangement of the Militia, to wit: Colonel Woodhull in the place of Mr. Hobart, Mr. Jackson in the place of Mr. Herring, and Mr. Covenhoven in the place of Henry Williams.

A Certificate of Doctor John Jones and Doctor Bard, bearing date this day, was read and filed. They thereby certify that they have examined Edward Sands, respecting his knowledge and qualifications for Surgeon’s Mate in one of the New-York Regiments, and that they admit him as competent to the office.

Ordered, That the said Edward Sands be appointed Surgeon’s Mate of the Fourth Regiment of Troops raised in this Colony.

A draught of a Letter to Benjamin Franklin, Esq., and the Secret Committee at Philadelphia, and also to the Committee of Elizabethtown, was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, August 17, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: You will easily see the propriety of enclosing to you a paragraph of General Washington’s Letter of the 10th instant, and you will not need the hint, which we take the liberty to give you, that the intelligence ought to be communicated to the several Committees of your Colony.

We are Gentlemen, very respectfully, your most obedient and humble servants.

Ordered, That two copies thereof be engrossed, and signed by the President, one to be directed to Benjamin Franklin, Esq., and the Secret Committee at Philadelphia, and the other to be directed to the Committee of Elizabeth-town; and that a copy of the paragraph of General Washington’s Letter, which mentions General Gage’s removal, be enclosed in each of them.

Adjourned to nine o’clock, to-morrow morning.

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