A Certificate of Doctor John Jones and Doctor Bard was read and filed. They thereby certify that they have examined Mr. Joseph Marvin, respecting his knowledge in physick and surgery, and find him well qualified for the office of a First Mate to a Provincial Regiment.

One Mate having heretofore been appointed to each Regiment, Ordered, That Mr. Joseph Marvin be appointed an additional Surgeon’s Mate to the First Regiment of Troops raised in this Colony.

The Congress then took into consideration the Report of the Committee appointed to report the ways and means best adapted to discharge the Debts of this Congress, in the present exigencies of this Colony. The same was read, and being again read by paragraphs, the first paragraph is in the words following, to wit:

Your Committee, in obedience to the directions of the Congress, do report, that they are of opinion that the Moneys requisite to defray the expense incurred by this Congress ought to be raised by a tax; that at least Fifteen Thousand Pounds is required for that purpose.

Which being read, Mr. Gilbert Livingston moved, and was seconded, that the following amendment should be made, viz: that all that part of the Report which is from the word Moneys to the word purpose be obliterated, and the following words there inserted, viz: “Means requisite to defray the expenses incurred by this Congress, and to be incurred by the Colony, be supplied by an emission of Forty-Five Thousand Pounds, to be sunk in manner following, viz: one third part on the first of March, 1776; one other third part on the first of March, 1777; and the remaining third part on the first of March, 1778.”

And debates arising on the said amendment, and the question being put thereon, it was carried in the affirmative in the manner following, to wit:

Resolved, therefore, That that part of the Report which is from the word Moneys to the word purpose be obliterated, and the following words there inserted, viz: “Means requisite to defray the expenses incurred by this Congress, and to be incurred by the Colony, be supplied by an emission of Forty-Five Thousand Pounds, to be sunk in the manner following, viz: one third part on the first of March, 1776; one third part on the first of March, 1777; and the remaining third part on the first of March, 1778.”

Dissentients: Messrs. Roosevelt, Verplanck, Walton, Low, Kissam, Lispenard, Richard Yates, and De Lancey.

Adjourned to four o’clock, P. M.

4to ho. P. M., August 30, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment. Present:

Nathaniel Woodhull, Esq., President pro tem.

Ordered, That Mr. John Hanson be appointed, and he is hereby appointed, one of the Commissioners to erect Fortifications on the banks of Hudson’s River, in the Highlands.

Ordered, That Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq., pay to the said Commissioners, or any three or more of them, one hundred Pounds, to be expended in the necessary business of preparing for and erecting the said Fortifications on the banks of Hudson’s River, in the Highlands.

Ordered, That Mr. Peter T. Curtenius be requested to forward to Albany, immediately, a sufficient number of Tents for Col. Hinman’s Regiment at Ticonderoga.

A draught of a Letter to Jonathan Trumbull, Esq., was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, August 30, 1775.

SIR: Since writing you the 25th instant, we have been agreeably surprised to learn from our Commissary that he had purchased materials for a much larger number of tents than we imagined. We have therefore the pleasure to acquaint you that he has our orders to forward, with all possible expedition, the number of tents required for Col. Hinman’s Regiment, so that you need give yourself no further trouble to provide materials for that purpose.

We are, Sir, most respectfully, your humble servants. By order of the Congress.

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

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

Mr. Sears moved, and was seconded, that the Company of Artillery, under the command of Captain John Lamb, should have the same Pay as the Rhode-Island Company of Artillery; and debates arising thereon, and the question being put, it was carried in the affirmative, in the manner following, to wit:

Resolved, therefore, That so many of the Artillery Company, under the command of Captain John, Lamb, as are now enlisted, shall have the same Pay as the Rhode-Island Company of Artillery, until the time for which they were enlisted does expire, in December next, but no longer. That the said John Lamb be directed and enjoined, and he is hereby enjoined, not to enlist any more men in his Company at that rate; but if he enlist any other man or men than those he has already enlisted, that they shall have or be entitled to such pay only as is agreeable to the arrangement of pay established by the Continental Congress.

The Congress then proceeded to hear the residue of the Report of the Committee of Ways and Means to discharge the Debts of this Congress, in the present exigencies of this Colony; after some time spent therein,

Ordered, That the residue of the said Report be recommitted; and that Mr. Scott, Colonel Hoffman, Mr. Gilbert Livingston, and Mr. Tredwell, be a Committee for that purpose; and that they report thereon with all convenient speed.

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

Die Jovis, 9 ho. A. M., August 31, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment. Present:

Nathaniel Woodhull, Esq., President pro tempore.

A Letter from Benjamin Franklin, of the 26th August, was read and filed. He thereby informs, that the Committee at Philadelphia have, at the request of this Congress, sent them a ton of Powder, which is forwarded.

A Letter from Benjamin Franklin, Esq., dated at Perth-Amboy, 29th instant, was read and filed. He thereby informs, that having information at Brunswick that Powder had arrived and passed through that place for this Colony, he had countermanded the Powder, and sent it back.

Ordered, That Colonel McDougall have leave to agree with Thomas Oakes, Jun., a Tinman, on the best terms he can, to proceed to Ticonderoga, to be employed there in the Army under the command of General Schuyler; and that Colonel McDougall also have leave to purchase such Tin and other materials as he shall think necessary to send, and forward the same to Ticonderoga.

Ordered, That Captain Patrick Sinclair be at liberty to go to Lloyd’s Neck, in Queen’s County, on Nassau-Island, at his pleasure, in addition to his former limits in Suffolk County, on his former promise parole on his honour pledged and given to this Congress.

Messrs. Leonard Lispenard, Isaac Roosevelt, and Jacobus Van Zandt, brought into Congress a contract by them made, on behalf of this Congress, with Joseph Hallett, Jun., for the importing of fifteen tons of Gunpowder, and fourteen hundred stand of Arms, and for any quantity of Saltpetre which he may import in lieu of the said Gunpowder.