Mr. Gilbert Livingston, Mr. Tom, and Mr. Hallett, appeared in Congress and took the General Oath of Secrecy. Colonel Lispenard, and Mr. Marston, Mr. Leffertse, Mr. Scott, Mr. Polhemus, Lewis Graham, and Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq., took the Particular Oath of Secrecy as to the examination of Melancton Laurence, and the letters taken in his custody.

The Committee appointed yesterday to examine Witnesses and take Affidavits relating to the attack made on this City by Captain Vandeput, delivered in Affidavits of eleven different persons in this City, proving that the first firing and attack began from Captain Vandeput’s Boat from the Ship Asia; which were read.

A Letter from Colonel James Clinton, of the 19th inst., was read and filed.

A Letter from Major Henry Livingston, Jun., of the 21st instant, was read and filed, and is in the words following:

“Poughkeepsio, August 21, 1775.

“SIR: I am desired by Colonel Clinton to inform the honourable the Provincial Congress, that drums are wanting for the respective Companies that compose his Regiment. He also desired me to mention our medicine chest; suppose, however, we shall find that and the drums at Albany. With respect to Dr. Samuel Cooke, the gentleman nominated Surgeon to our Regiment, I am authorized to inform your, Sir, that he attended several days in New-York for his examination, but at length by one contingency or other came away without it. He at first applied to Dr. Jones, who would not examine him unless Dr. Bard (who was out of Town) was present. The matter was stated to the Congress, who ordered that one of the members should wait on Dr. Jones, and inform him that an examination by him alone would satisfy them. Dr. Jones, however, declined. After Dr. Bard’s return, there was a day appointed for the business, but that day both Dr. Jones and Bard were called to Long-Island. Dr. Cooke, being very unwell at the time, could stay no longer, having attended several days to no purpose.

“Those officers and soldiers who are acquainted with Dr. Cooke and his practice, and good success both as physician and surgeon, are very desirous to have his appointment confirmed, and as we expect to march in two or three days, are exceedingly anxious that he may be acquainted with it, and follow us as soon as possible.

“I am, Sir, your obedient humble servant,

“HENRY LIVINGSTON, JUN.

“To the Hon. Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq.”

Ordered, That Dr. Samuel Cooke be appointed Surgeon, and be is hereby appointed Surgeon to the Third Regiment of Troops raised in this Colony, and at the request of Mr. Henry Livingston, Jun., the Major of the said Regiment, which he says is with the consent of a considerable number of the said Regiment.

Ordered, That the examination of Dr. Samuel Cooke be dispensed with, and that he be appointed Surgeon, notwithstanding he has neglected to be examined according to the standing order of this Congress, but that this shall not be a precedent in any other instance.

Mr. John Stephenson sent into Congress a certificate of Dr. John Jones and Dr. Bard, which was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“This is to certify that we, the subscribers, agreeable to an order of the Provincial Congress, have examined Mr. John Stephenson, respecting his knowledge in physick and surgery, and that we find him competently qualified to act as a Surgeon’s Mate.

“JOHN JONES, M. D.

“SAMUEL BARD, M. D.”

Ordered, That Mr. John Stephenson be appointed, and he is hereby appointed, Surgeon’s Mate to the Third Regiment of Troops now raised in this Colony; and Ordered, That he join his Regiment with all possible despatch.

Mr. Bedford Williams, who was on the 16th instant appointed Surgeon’s Mate to the Second Regiment, agreeable to a standing order of this House, produced a certificate of Dr. John Jones and Dr. Bard, which is in the words following, to wit:

“This is to certify that we, the subscribers, agreeable to an order of the Provincial Congress, have examined Mr. Bedford Williams, respecting his knowledge in physick and surgery, and that we find him competently qualified to act as a Surgeon’s Mate.

“JOHN JONES, M. D.

“SAMUEL BARD, M. D.”

Ordered, That Mr. Bedford Williams’s appointment of Surgeon’s Mate stand confirmed, and that he join his Regiment with all possible despatch.

A Letter from the Honourable Jonathan Trumbull, Esq., of the 21st instant, was read and filed, and is in the words following:

“Lebanon, August 21, 1775.

“SIR: I received your favour of the 28th last long since, and with pleasure noted the contents, and the noble forward disposition of your respectable Congress to promote a service of so great a necessity and importance as supplying the Northern Army, among many other necessaries, with tents, which I should not have asked of you for the Troops of this Colony, but from a sense that the cause is common, and that we are extremely exhausted of materials for tents, and that it was proposed to me by Major-General Schuyler, that you could probably do it with ease; and from your favourable assurances I hoped they were received at the camp before this, but am unhappy to find, by letters of the 14th instant, received this morning from General Schuyler and Colonel Hinman, that they have not received nor heard of any coining to them, and expressing fears that the proposed progress of the Army may be impeded, disappointed, or Colonel Hinman’s Regiment very greatly suffer for want of them.

“I must beg the favour of you, since you were pleased to undertake it, and in confidence thereof we have neglected any attempt to supply them and as it is of so great importance to the whole Continent, and very peculiarly so to your City and Province, that they should be supplied and succeed in their designs, that you will be pleased to forward those tents in the most speedy manner possible, the season being far advanced.

“You are pleased to mention our remitting the money for them; you may rely that if the expense is not seasonably defrayed by the Continental Congress, this Colony will not fail of doing it, although they have already without grudging advanced near one hundred and fifty thousand Pounds, this currency.

“On motion of Mr. Livingston, I lately gave Mr. Rensselaer a permit to purchase in and carry out of this Colony, for the use of said Northern Army, four hundred and fifty barrels of pork, although there is a scarcity of it among us; and in pursuance of an advisory caution from his Excellency General Washington, have since wrote and required of Mr. Rensselaer, not to suffer any of it to be water borne to New-York, lest it might fall into the hands of our enemies, but to transport it directly to the North River, almost as near as the Sound, to any place where it can be purchased. I doubt not you will approve of this precaution, and cause the same pork to be forwarded with all possible expedition to General Schuyler.

“I am, with esteem and regard, Sir, your obedient humble servant,

JONATHAN TRUMBULL.

“To the Hon. P. V. B. Livingston, Esq., President of the Honourable Provincial Congress, New-York.”

A draught of an Answer to Governour Trumbull was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, August 25, 1775.

SIR: We have been honoured with your favour of the 21st instant, and are very sorry to learn the apprehensions you express that the progress of the Army may be impeded, if not disappointed, for the want of tents.

The fact is, that all the tents we had, and all the materials that could be procured have been made up into tents, and forwarded with part of our own Troops, and General Schuyler has undoubtedly, ere now, disposed of them as circumstances or the necessity of the service may require. We can only add, on that subject, that we shall procure materials for more tents by every means in our power, and send them up to General Schuyler as soon as possible; but we see no probability of being able to provide, at any rate, a sufficient number for the Northern Army. If, therefore, materials can be collected in any due season in your Government, it will promote the general service to give the necessary orders for that purpose without delay.