be entered into or ordered by this Congress to be done in cases of the like nature, delivered in their Report, which was read and filed:

Whereas there is great reason to suspect that Vessels with Provisions, from some parts of this Continent, have been put in the way of some of His Majesty’s Armed Vessels, with design that they might be taken: to prevent any thing of the like kind from occurring,

Resolved, That no Vessel depart from this Colony with Provisions, unless the permit of this Congress or of their Committee of Safety be first had for that purpose.

Ordered, That this Resolution be published in the Newspapers and in Handbills.

Mr. Sears delivered in an inventory of all the articles by them taken from the Stores adjoining to Bowden’s house, in obedience to the orders of this Congress, which is as follows, to wit: one hundred and forty boxes of Candles, seven Blankets, eighty pair of Sheets, twenty-four Bedticks and twenty-six Bolsters, fourteen Halberts, five cartmen loads of Medicines; that the Medicines are in a room at the Barracks.

Ordered, That Doctor Treat and Doctor Thomas Jones be requested to have an inventory made of all those Medicines; and to examine their qualities, and set a valuation on them, and return a copy thereof, signed by them, to this Congress, that this Congress may be able to preserve testimony of the value of those Medicines.

Resolved, That the General Committee of the City and County of New-York be requested to meet every day, Sundays excepted, in order to expedite such business as falls in their department, which frequently arise in this exigency of the publick affairs.

Resolved, That the Congress having thought it expedient to remove some of the Cannon from the Battery to the place where they now are, they will again remove them, as they shall find it necessary for the defence of the inhabitants of this Colony.

Ordered, The Report of the Committee of Ways and Means, to discharge the Debts of this Colony, be taken into consideration on next Tuesday morning.

Die Lunae, August 28, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment. No prayers.

A Letter from P. V. B. Livingston, Esq., dated this day, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to Wit:

“New-York, August 28, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: It gives me great anxiety that I cannot attend your deliberations at this critical juncture; such is my present indisposition that I am unable to attend to any business whatever. With a continual slow fever, a reluctance to food, and a constant vigilance or want of sleep, I find myself reduced to the necessity of taking some measures to preserve life.

“I have yet a large sum of the Continental money which I received by your order. I earnestly entreat you to appoint some gentleman your Treasurer, to receive it of me, and to direct him to call on me this morning for the money. Be assured, Gentlemen, it will give me very great pleasure to return to Congress as soon as I am able to attend.

“I am, respectfully, Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,

PETER V. B. LIVINGSTON.

“To the Gentlemen of the Provincial Congress, New-York.”

Colonel Woodhull is elected President pro tem., until Mr. Livingston is able to attend.

A Letter from Joseph Trumbull, dated at Cambridge, on the 3d August, to his brother Jonathan Trumbull, Jun., was read. He thereby directs him to purchase large quantities of Flour, Beef, and Pork, for the use of the Army at Cambridge.

Another Letter, from Joseph Trumbull, of same date, to any Merchants in New-York or Philadelphia, as a letter of credit to his brother, Jonathan Trumbull, Jun., until the Continental Currency issues, was read.

A Letter from Nathaniel Shaw, Jun., dated at New-London, 7th instant, and directing Mr. Jonathan Trumbull, Jun., the safest way of transporting Flour, was read.

The Members generally sworn, were charged to keep secret the contents of those Letters, and Messrs. Vanderbilt, Woodhull, Lispenard, Polhemus, Ten Broeck, Hoffman, Kissam, Marston, Cuyler, Richard Yates, Roosevelt, Verplanck, Rensselaer, Dumond, Walton and Hornbeck, were sworn to secrecy in this particular matter.

Mr. Gouverneur Morris came into Congress and took the General Oath of Secrecy.

Richard Jenkins, late master of a vessel of Thomas Ludlow, came into Congress, and gave information: that relating to the vessel and cargo is on oath, and that relating to the state of Quebeck the best information he can give, but not on oath.

The application of Murray, Sansom, Murray & Co., and of Frederick Rhynlander, to permit the Ship Peggy and cargo of Wheat to sail for Falmouth, in England: the application of Charles McEvers & Co., to permit the Ship Albany and cargo of Wheat to sail for Lisbon: the application of Walter Buchannan & Co., to permit a Vessel and Cargo for Madeira, and another Vessel and Cargo for Barcelona, to sail: the application and affidavit of Thomas Arden, Jun., and David Bemus, Owner and Master of the Sloop Liberty, to obtain a permit for her to sail: and an application from Robert Bryson, of Bermuda, to Mr. Samuel Verplanck, for six dozen bottled Beer, a keg of Albany White Peas, half a barrel Mess Pork, and a good American Cheese, were severally read and filed.

A Letter from Nicholas Cooke, Chairman of the Committee of Inspection at Providence, and from John Smith and Daniel Tillinghast, Committee of Safety, bearing date the 21st instant, was read.

And they requesting that Messrs. Clarke and Nightingale might have leave to purchase and import at Providence a quantity of Flour and Provisions, for the use of the Town of Providence and the American Army,

Ordered, That the consideration thereof be postponed till the afternoon.

A Letter of this day, from Samuel Burling, requesting liberty to supply the Flour and Provisions desired at Providence, and to send the same by Captain Lindsay and Captain Whitney.

A Letter from William McAdam, requesting leave for the Sloop Jane, Captain Bascombe Master, to sail with her cargo for Kingston, in Jamaica, was read.

Resolved, That no Bread, Flour, Beef, or Pork, be shipped or laden after the publication hereof, without an express permission from this Congress or their Committee of Safety.

Mr. Walton and Mr. Kissam dissenting.

Ordered, That the Ship Peggy may have leave to sail with her cargo of Wheat completed, and that she be subject to such instructions as shall be given by the Committee of this Congress to be appointed for that purpose: Provided, That the present Captain or Master be not permitted to proceed in the said Vessel, and that she sail under such Captain or Master as shall be approved of by the said Committee.

Captain Sears dissented.

Ordered, That Charles McEvers & Co. have leave to complete the loading of the Ship Albany, James Bunyan Master, bound to Lisbon, with Wheat only, subject to such instructious as shall be given by the Committee of this Congress to be appointed for that purpose.

Captain Sears dissents.

Ordered, That Walter and Thomas Buchannan & Co. have leave to load the Vessel mentioned in their application to Congress of this day, and let her sail to Barcelona, with Wheat only, subject to such instructions as shall be given by the Committee of Congress to be appointed for that purpose.

Ordered, That Walter Buchannan & Co. have leave to load the Brigantine Catharine and Elizabeth, bound to Madeira, with Wheat, Corn, and Staves, thirty casks Rye Meal, Bees Wax, Spermaceti Candles, and Spruee, but not with any Flour and Leather; to sail subject to such instructions as shall be given by the Committee of this Congress to be appointed for that purpose.

Ordered, That the Sloop Liberty, belonging to Thomas