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worthy man for this office of a Sheriff, to the almost unanimous approbation of our freeholders and inhabitants. We recommend, and leave entirely to your discretion, the further necessary addresses to the behoof of our County’s wishes and desire, not doubting that you will endeavour to interfere therein, as much as it lies in your power, to the confirmation of the aforesaid new chosen Sheriff.

It is a general complaint in our County against the whole situation of our court and other publick houses, and alike against the rule therein appointed, as we have been under remarkable grievances suffering during their authority, and hardly could get justice done, especially such persons not having their partial interests. But we will rely on your favourable advice, regarding the alteration in this grievous matter, when and where to apply for.

We have to annex and to enclose you another affidavit of consequence, against the said Sheriff White, to your serious consideration; and it is to be feared that if said White will not soon be delivered to your care and determination, he, with the secret schemes of his concealed friends in Albany, might get his escape, to a consequential hurt of our County in particular, and generally of our American cause.

There is another great number of approved enemies against our Association, and regulations thereof, proceeding in and about Johnstown, at Kingsborough, under the direction and orders of Sir John Johnson, being Highlanders, amounting to about two hundred men, according to intelligence. We are daily scandalized by them, provoked, and threatened, and we must surely expect a ravage of them in our families, if we should be required and called else where for the defence of our Country’s cause.

We cannot suffer much longer their behaviour against us, without blame and consequential damage; and therefore we thought proper to lay this in particular before you, with an humble request that you will consider this matter seriously, and delay not to favour us with your resolve therein, or on the contrary, by the daily rumour of the people in our side of the County, an uproar against indulgent proceedings of our Committee must be expected.

We remain, with great esteem, honourable Gentlemen, your obedient humble servants.

By order of the Committee:

NICHOLAS HERCHKEIMER, Chairman.

To the Honourable Provincial Congress at New-York.

N.B. We have great suspicion, and are almost assured, that Sir John has a continual correspondence with Colonel Guy Johnson and his inimical party.


PROVIDENCE (RHODE-ISLAND) TOWN-MEETING.

At a Town-Meeting of the Town of Providence, especially called by warrant, and held according to law, in Providence, on the 7th day of September, A. D. 1775,

COL. BARZILLAI RICHMOND, Moderator.

Notwithstanding the time limited by the honourable Continental Congress for exportation to Great Britain, Ireland, and the West-Indies, is not yet fully expired, yet it is apprehended by this Town that the exporting Flaxseed from this Continent at this time, in large quantities, to any part of Europe, fully to the 10th of this instant, (the memorable day when all exportation from the United Colonies ceases,) militates directly against the spirit and design of the Continental Association. And whereas, upon the presumption that exportation would be continued by the other Colonies to the 10th of September, a quantity of Flaxseed has lately been brought into this Town, the exportation whereof, under the present circumstances, may counteract the good of our Country, and give grounds for jealousy and uneasiness to our brethren in the other Colonies, who we find have determined not to export any Flaxseed of this year’s produce; and as we are desirous of the most firm union with our brethren on the Continent, and wish that every cause of uneasiness may be removed, it is therefore

Voted and Resolved, That this Town highly disapprove of the exportation of any Flaxseed, at any time hereafter, by any persons in this Town, until a general exportation of that article takes place throughout the United Colonies of America; and that this Vote or Resolve be published in the next Providence Gazette.

Dissentient:

Because the aforesaid Vote or Resolve, under the pretext of amending, is an actual violation of the regulations of the Continental Congress, and deprives the subjects of those privileges they are entitled to, not only agreeable to the plain construction of the Fourth Article in their printed Resolves, but also the full sense and determination of the Members of said Congress, on a late motion, to alter the said Article.

As such a Vote or Resolve is very inconsistent with the well known principles of justice and prudence, as it withholds the benefit of supplies and trade from our real friends, while the same are allowed to those that are violently pursuing the subversion of all rights and privileges. As such a measure, adopted by a number of individuals or small corporations, has a direct tendency to supersede, or render ineffectual and of no validity, the united regulations of the Continental Congress, and to reduce every matter to a state of uncertainly and confusion.

SAMUEL NIGHTINGALE.

The foregoing Protest, signed by Mr. Nightingale, was delivered to the Town Clerk, by him to be entered on record.

The meeting dissolved.


PROVIDENCE (RHODE-ISLAND) COUNTY COMMITTEE.

Providence, September 7, 1775.

Whereas there have been many complaints of such as are venders of goods and merchandise in this County, for selling them at a higher price than settled by the Association Agreement of the Continental Congress, under pretence of buying them at a higher rate, which we deem a breach and violation of said Association: We do hereby forewarn all persons from selling any goods at a higher price than they were usually sold at, before said Association took place, on any pretence whatever, as they will thereby incur the just censure of this Committee, and their names will be published to the world accordingly.

Published by order:

CALEB HARRIS, Clerk.


GENERAL WASHINGTON TO CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

[Read September 21, 1775.]

Camp at Cambridge, September 7, 1775.

SIR: I do myself the honour of addressing you, in consequence of an application from the Commissary-General, who is by my direction taking all proper precautions on the approach of winter. I desired him to commit to writing such proposals as his experience and knowledge of the country might entitle him to make, which he has done in the paper which I have the honour to enclose, The difficulty of procuring a sufficient quantity of salt, which I objected to him, he has fully obviated by assuring me that there is so much now actually in store, in this and the neighbouring Towns, as will remove all possibility of a disappointment.

I propose to do myself the honour of writing in a few days fully and particularly on several heads, to which I must now refer. In the mean time, I have only to inform the honourable Congress, that I have received a small supply of seven thousand pounds of powder this week, from Rhode-Island, and in a few days expect seven tons of lead and five hundred stand of arms, a part of the same importation, and to request that more money may be forwarded with all expedition, the military chest being nearly exhausted.

I am, with the greatest respect, Sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.


Cambridge, September 6, 1775.

The Commissary-General proposes to General Washington the expediency of purchasing in Philadelphia, for the use of the Continental Army, ten or fifteen thousand barrels of flour. He supposes flour may be purchased, after the 10th of September, at Philadelphia, at thirteen Shillings, currency, per hundred weight, or under; that he can have it freighted to Newbury at one Shilling and three Pence per hundred weight, he risking the vessels against the enemy’s cruisers only, and can have the whole interest

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