The precaution about the pork which you permitted Mr. Van Rensselaer to purchase may be a wise one; but unless proper orders are lodged at the different landings to which it may be carted, the purpose for which it is wanted may be in a great measure defeated. Permit us, therefore, to request the favour of you, to give such directions as you shall judge necessary, to prevent such inconveniences and disappointments.

We have the honour to remain, with much respect, Sir, yours, &c.        By order.

To the Honourable Jonathan Trumbull, Governour of the Colony of Connecticut.

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

A draught of a Letter to Charles Thomson, Esq., was read and filed, and is in the words following:

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

SIR: We are informed by our Delegates that the Continental Congress ordered a ton of their powder to be sent here, to replace what we had lent for the common service. As our defence may probably very soon require a supply of that article, we must beg the favour of you either to be at the trouble of forwarding it, or inform us without delay, by letter, where and to whom we are to apply for it.

We flatter ourselves that your zeal for the service will call your attention to this business; and are, Sir, your very humble servants.        By order.

Charles Thomson, Esquire, Secretary to the Continental Congress.

A Return of the Election of Militia Officers in the Borough of Westchester was filed.

A Return of the Election of Militia Officers in the Precinct of Mamacoting was read and filed.

A Return of the Election of Militia Officers in the South District of New-Marlborough was read and filed.

Johan Christian Drewidz, being brought before this Congress, and examined concerning his Vessel lately returned from sea to Sandy-Hook, or the watering place, and many suspicious circumstances appearing, which induce a belief that this Vessel has been to Boston,

Ordered, That Johan Christian Drewidz be committed to the care of Colonel McDougall, and that he take care that the said Johan Christian Drewidz be kept with the greatest safety.

A Letter from Francis Stephens, of the 12th of August instant, to General Gage, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“Office of Ordnance, New-York, August 12, 1775.

“SIR: Since my letter to your Excellency of the 31st July, I have been honoured with yours of the 18th preceding, which has given me much uneasiness, as it seems to imply a remissness on my part, in not getting more of the stores removed from hence, agreeable to your Excellency’s wishes. I must beg leave to observe, that I always used my utmost endeavours to comply with the orders I received, as far as circumstances would admit. But the multiplicity of bulky articles shipped on board the vessels, such as battering plank, boards, joists, brick, straw, and many other particulars, belonging to different departments, the want of which is as strongly urged to me, took up so much room as to render it entirely out of my power to forward a further quantity of ordnance stores. Had the shipping ordered for that service been in a proper condition to have received their full load, I am well persuaded there would not in that case have any thing remained; but as some of them, particularly the Ship Henry, had all their water, provisions, &c., on board, which the master refused to disembark, I was by that means prevented from sending many more articles which I should have otherwise certainly done. If your Excellency will be pleased to order the several bills of lading to be laid before you, or an account of the many articles which were shipped from hence on board the different vessels, exclusive of the ordnance stores, you will judge of the vast deal of room they must have necessarily taken up on board these vessels, and which, of course, prevented my forwarding those stores that have since, very unfortunately, fallen into the hands of the rebels. The Brig Countess of Darlington arrived in the Sound, a few miles above Turtle-Bay, on the 25th of April; and had I been permitted to have loaded her, should no doubt have sent to Boston every species of stores I stood charged with, the largest sizes of shot and shells only excepted; but the violent commotions which at that time prevailed amongst the people were such as to render it impossible, and the vessel was obliged, for safety, immediately to depart, without my being able to put the least article on board her.

“With respect to the saltpetre, it was at the time deposited at Turtle-Bay, where I conceived it to be equally secure with the rest of His Majesty’s property, and that moving it might excite the jealousy of the people, who assiduously watched that no supplies should be sent to Boston. At this period I had no idea of powder mills being erected, or that they would ever have the audacity to rob and plunder the storehouses in the manner they have since done. Their declared intention at the time being to prevent all supplies going to Boston, that might enable your Excellency to act with greater effect against their brethren and fellow-subjects in New-England. I entreat your Excellency, therefore, to believe me when I assure you that every thing was done which lay in my power towards expediting and otherwise forwarding the good of His Majesty’s service.

“I am, with the greatest respect, Sir, your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble servant,

“FRANCIS STEPHENS.

“To his Excellency the Hon. General Gage.”

A Letter from Joseph Allicock, of the 23d instant, to Henry Lloyd, Esq., was read and filed.

Another from Joseph Allicock, of the 23d instant, to Lieutenant Butricke, was read and filed.

Ordered, That Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq., pay to Joseph Hallett, Esq., the further sum of two thousand Pounds, on account, in addition to the sums he has already received, and take his receipt for the same.

The Congress adjourned to four o’clock. P. M.

4to ho. P. M., August 25, 1775.

Resolved and Ordered, That no more Cannon or Stores be removed from the Battery, until further orders from this Congress.

Mr. Scott, Mr. John Van Cortlandt, and Mr. Pye, severally dissented.

Resolved, That the Guard be strengthened this night by an additional Company, in order to prevent any insult being offered to his Excellency the Governour.

And Resolved, That Colonel Lasher be desired to strengthen the Guard intended for this evening, by adding the Grenadier Company to that Guard. That the whole Guard be under the command of Captain Brasher; and that, upon a message from his Excellency the Governour, they repair to his house and protect him from insults.

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

Die Sabbati, 9 ho. A. M., August 26, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment. No prayers.

Joseph Allicock, according to a direction from this Congress, attending at the door, was called in. He produced three Receipts, of one tenor and date, for Provisions lately delivered to Captain Melancton Lawrence, for the Armed Sloop then under his command, and acknowledged that he had, in the course of the business of the contractors for victualling the Army, supplied all the Armed Vessels except the Men-of-War. He had supplied such Provisions inadvertently, and without any design to injure the Country.

Captain De Kay, according to a direction from this Congress, attending at the door, was called in, and examined, and notes taken of his examination, which are filed, Captain De Kay gave an order, in writing, to the Pilot and Mate of the Vessel, to bring up his Vessel.

Ordered, That Col. McDougall take Captain Charles De Kay into custody, and keep him safely until the further order of this Congress.

The Committee appointed to report on the Letter from the Brookhaven Committee of the 3d instant, and to report such general resolutions or regulations as may be proper to