Arden and James Arden, David Bewes Master, be permitted to sail subject to like instructions.

Resolved, That Colonel McDougall, Mr. Richard Yates, and Mr. Morris, be a Committee to report such Regulations as they conceive proper for the Owners and Masters of all Vessels sailing out of this Port, with any kind of Provisions on board.

Ordered, Mr. Thomas Smith to have leave of absence on Wednesday next.

The Congress adjourned till four o’clock.

4to ho. P. M., August 28, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

A Letter from James and Alexander Stewart, requesting permission to ship three thousand bushels of Rye, the proceeds of which, with what bills they shall ship, they mean to have brought back in articles that will be much wanted.

A Letter from Henry Remsen and John Read, requesting permission for the Sloop Charlotte, under the command of Captain Nathaniel Harriot, to depart for Kingston, in Jamaica, with a cargo of three hundred and eighty barrels of Flour and thirty barrels of Lamp Oil. And they mention that they had agreed to purchase a quantity of Ship Bread in tierces and barrels, and also some Lumber.

Ordered, That the Sloop Charlotte have leave to sail, with her cargo, of three hundred and thirty barrels of Flour, and such quantities of Lamp Oil, Ship Bread, and Lumber, as her owners have engaged or shall think proper to put on board, subject to such instructions as shall be given by the Committee of this Congress appointed for that purpose.

A Letter from V. Pearse Ashfield, bearing date this day, was read, setting forth that he has laden on board the Brig Patty, Bedford Ashfield Master, four thousand bushels of Indian Corn, and asking permission for the said Brig to complete her lading, and to depart for Madeira.

Ordered, That Samuel Burling have leave to ship Flour alone, for the use of the Town of Providence, in Rhode-Island.

Ordered, That G. W. Beekman, D. Beekman, and C. P. Low, be permitted to ship on board the Sloop Pennsylvania Farmer, William Newton Master, already cleared, and bound to the Island of St. Croix, a cargo, to consist of Indian Meal, Ship Bread, Staves, Heading, Hoops, and Boards; subject, however, to the instructions of the Committee of this Congress appointed for that purpose.

A Letter from Captain John Brown, of the British Army, dated the 26th instant, was read, setting forth that, in consequence of the indisposition of Mrs. Brown, he was prevented from embarking in the Ship Monimia, for Europe.

The Committee appointed for that purpose delivered in their Report, which was read and filed, and is in the words following:

Your Committee do report, that they conceive it will be proper that the Owners and Masters of all Vessels sailing out of this Port, with any kind of Provisions, should give security to this Congress that they will proceed to the place for which they shall report such Vessels to be destined, and that no security less than an oath of such Owners and Masters ought to be accepted of. Your Committee therefore do propose, for Vessels bound to Europe, the following Oath, to wit:

For the Owner.

“I, A B, do promise and declare that the . . ., now bound to . . . ., and laden with . . . ., shall proceed directly on her voyage to the said place of her destination; for which purpose I will strictly order the master of the said . . . . to sail from the Hook into the latitude of thirty-five degrees north, and keep in or to the southward of that latitude until she shall reach the fiftieth degree of west longitude from London, and thence proceed with all despatch to the said Port of . . . . ., thereby to avoid a caption by any of His Majesty’s Vessels of War; the unavoidable accidents of the seas only excepted. So help me God.”

For the Master.

“I, A B, Master of the . . ., do swear, promise, and declare, that I will proceed with the said . . . . ., now bound with God’s assistance to . . . . . ., immediately, and take every precaution in my power to prevent the said vessel from being taken by any Vessel of War in His Majesty’s service; and for this purpose I will use my utmost efforts to go so far to the southward, immediately after I shall leave the Hook, as to the thirty-fifth degree of north latitude, and keep to the southward of that latitude until I shall reach the fiftieth degree of west longitude from London, and thence to proceed to the said Port of . . . . with the utmost despatch in my power, the dangers of the seas only excepted; and as I keep this oath, promise, and declaration, so help me God.”

For Vessels bound to the West-Indies, the following Oath, to wit:

For the Owner.

“I, A B, do solemnly and sincerely swear and declare that I will take every precaution in my power to prevent the . . . ., now bound from New-York to . . ., from falling into the possession of or being taken by any Vessel of War belonging to His Majesty; and for this purpose I will direct . . . ., the Master of the said Vessel, to proceed immediately from the Hook to the aforesaid place of his destination, without delay, the danger of the seas only excepted. So help me God.”

For the Master.

“I, A B, do promise and swear that I, the Master of the . . ., now bound on a voyage to . . ., will immediately proceed with the said Vessel to the said place of destination, with the utmost despatch in my power, the danger of the seas only excepted, and will take every precaution in my power to prevent the said Vessel from being taken by any Armed Vessels belonging to His Majesty. So help me God.”

All which is humbly submitted.

Resolved, That the Owner or Owners and Master of each Vessel, for the lading and sailing whereof application has been made to this Congress, and a permit ordered, do respectively take such Oath as above directed, that is to say: the Master and Owners of such Vessels as are bound to the West-Indies, the Oath for that purpose directed; and the Master and Owners of the other Vessels the Oaths for that purpose abovementioned.

Mr. Morris, Mr. Kissam, and Mr. Thomas Smith, are appointed a Committee to report to this Congress the mode to supply the Ship Asia with Provisions, that will be least inconvenient to the inhabitants of this City.

Die Martis, 9 ho. A. M., August 29, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment. No prayers. Present:

Nathaniel Woodhull, Esq., President pro tem.

Ordered, That Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq., as Treasurer of this Congress, pay unto Captain Robert Johnson, of Colonel Clinton’s Regiment, the sum of one hundred Pounds, for the use of his Company; and that the said Robert Johnson do give a receipt to the said Peter V. B. Livingston, and an order on the Deputy Paymaster-General, for the repayment of the said sum.

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

“Oyster Ponds, August 27, 1775.

“SIR: Your favour of the 18th instant came duly to hand, and I should have sailed for Harlem without loss of time, had I not received the following important intelligence from General Washington, viz:

‘“August 23, 1775.—Yesterday I received advice from Boston, that a number of transports have sailed on a second expedition for fresh provisions. As they may pursue the same course, only advancing further, we think Montauk Point, on Long-Island, a very probable place of their landing. I have therefore thought it best to give you the earliest intelligence, but I do not mean to confine your attention or vigilance to that place. You will please to extend your views as far as the mischief may be probably extended.’