Die Veneris, 9 ho. A. M., August 18, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment. Opened with prayers by the Rev. Mr. Mason. Present:

Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq., President.

The Report of the Committee of the City and County of New-York, of their inquiry relating to the destroying of the Boat lately ordered to be built for His Majesty’s Ship Asia, was read and filed. The said Committee reports the names of a number of witnesses by them examined, and the substance of the examinations of the said witnesses, whereby it appears that the said Committee could not discover any of the persons who were concerned in destroying the said Boat.

A Muster-Roil of Capt. John Hulbert’s Company, dated the 9th instant, and certified by David Mulford, one of the Muster-Masters in Suffolk County, was brought in and filed.

That part of General Washington’s Letter which informs that he has not any Blank Commissions being read,

Ordered, That a Letter be wrote to Charles Thomson, Esq., at Philadelphia, requesting him to send Blank Commissions for the Troops raised in this Colony.

Thereupon, a draught of a Letter to Charles Thomson, Esq., was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress at New-York, August 18, 1775.

SIR: We applied to General Washington for commissions for the officers of the Troops raised by this Colony. He has informed us that the commissions he received are far short of the number required for the Army at Cambridge, and that when at New-York, he directed General Schuyler to apply to the Continental Congress for those of his department, and refers us there.

We imagine General Schuyler has not received the commissions. If they have not been sent to him, and you have blank commissions, we request you to send us about two hundred.

We are, respectfully, Sir, your very humble servants.

By order.

To Charles Thomson, Esq., at Philadelphia.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the President, and transmitted.

Resolved and Ordered, That the Fortifications formerly ordered by the Continental Congress, and reported by a Committee of this Congress, as proper to be built on the banks of Hudson’s River, in the Highlands, be immediately erected.

Mr. Walton dissents.

And that Mr. Isaac Sears, Mr. John Berrien, Colonel Edward Flemming, Mr. Anthony Rutgers, and Mr. Christopher Miller, be Commissioners to manage the erecting and finishing the said Fortifications. That any three or more of them be empowered to act, manage, and direct the building and finishing thereof.

David Pye Esq., informed the Congress that Mr. Martinus Goetschius declines the service, and has returned his Warrant.

At the request of Mr. Pye, Ordered, That Philip Du Bois Bevier be appointed First Lieutenant in Robert Johnson’s Company, in the place of Martinus Goetschius, who has declined; and that William Martin be appointed Second Lieutenant, in the place of Philip Du Bois Bevier. ’That a copy of this Minute be made on Mr. Bevier’s Warrant; and that a Warrant be issued to William Martin, as Second Lieutenant.

A draught of a Letter to the Honourable Robert R. Livingston, Esq., requesting him to forward all the Gunpowder from the Powder Mill at Rhinebeck, under the care of Major Zedtwitz, was read and approved, and is in the words following:

In Provincial Congress, August 18, 1775.

SIR: In consequence of a Letter from General Schuyler for that purpose, we request that all the powder at the Powder Mill at Rhinebeck may be forwarded to General Schuyler as soon as possible. Such powder as can be delivered into the care of Major Zedtwitz he will take with him into Ticonderoga. We are, respectfully, Sir, &c.

To the Hon. Robert R. Livingston, Esq., at Clermont,

Manor of Livingston.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the President, and transmitted.

A draught of a Letter to the Committee of Easthampton and Southold was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, August 18, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: The recent transactions of the Ministerial Army and Navy within your District will sufficiently apprize you of the absolute necessity of taking such precautions as will prevent the ill effects of their future piratical descents on our coasts. The most probable and effectual means for this purpose we conceive will be to remove the cattle and sheep from Gardiner’s and Plumb Islands; and we therefore recommend that you will take proper steps for their removal with all possible despatch.

We are, Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servants.

By order:

To the Committee of Easthampton and Southold.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the President, and transmitted.

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

In Provincial Congress, New-York, August 18, 1775.

SIR: We enclose you a copy of a paragraph in General Washington’s Letter of the 10th instant, in consequence of which we desire you to return to your camp at Harlem with the utmost speed, to assist in the defence of this City and Province. We are, Sir, yours, &c.

To Brigadier-General Wooster.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the President, and transmitted by Mr. L’Hommedieu.

Ordered, That Mr. Peter T. Curtenius deliver to Colonel Holmes, for the use of his Regiment, all the Arms he has already got or shall speedily procure, except fifty, which he is to reserve, to complete the Arms of seven Companies of Colonel McDongall’s Regiment.

A draught of a Letter to Dr. Franklin, and to the Committee of Elizabethtown, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, August 18, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Upon reconsidering that paragraph of General Washington’s Letter, a copy of which we sent you yesterday, we have too much reason to believe that the Troops which are about to remove from Boston are destined for this City. Considering how important the security of this post is to the common cause, we conceive that no pains should be spared to render it as secure as possible, in case of the arrival of the Ministerial Troops. We therefore earnestly request you to keep your Militia properly arrayed, to march at a moment’s warning, as we shall be obliged to call on you for your immediate assistance as soon as we can be well informed of the destination of those Troops for this City.

P. S. We did not know that your Provincial Congress were sitting when we wrote you yesterday. Therefore, if they are still sitting, please to forward this, with our letter of yesterday, and General Washington’s intelligence, to them immediately.

Ordered, That Mr. Van Zandt and Mr. Sears employ two prime sailing Boats, with proper persons, to go to the eastward, to observe if they can discover any Fleet steering towards the westward. That Mr. Van Zandt and Mr. Scars direct the Masters of such Boats as they may employ to give the speediest intelligence to this Congress of any Fleet they may discover, and give them such other directions as they may think proper.

The Congress then adjourned to nine o’clock, to-morrow morning.

Die Sabbati, 9 ho. A. M., August 19, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment. Opened with prayers by the Rev. Mr. Bowden. Present:

Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq., President.

A Letter from General Washington, of the 8th instant, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit: