NEW-YORK COMMITTEE.

Tuesday, October 10, 1775.

The Committee met. Present: Henry Remsen, Deputy Chairman.

Ordered, That Captain Lasher be requested to give it in charge to the Captain or Commanding Officer of the Military City Guard of this night, and to the Captain or Commanding Officer of the said Guard in future, to be particularly careful that proper sentries be placed at the Barracks in which the stores returned this day were deposited, and not to permit any of the said stores to be removed without a written order from the Provincial Congress or this Committee.

The Petition of William Prince received and read, praying leave to ship off Fruit Trees.

Ordered, That leave be given accordingly.

A Letter, dated Camp at Cambridge, 8th August, 1775, from George Washington to the Provincial Congress, received and read, and is in the words following, viz:

“It must give great concern to every considerate mind, that when this whole Continent, at a vast expense of blood and treasure is endeavouring to establish its liberties on the most secure and solid foundations, not only by a laudable opposition of force to force, but denying itself the usual advantages of trade, there are men among us so basely sordid as to counteract all our exertions for the sake of a little gain. You cannot but have heard that the distresses of the Ministerial Troops, for fresh provisions and many other necessaries, at Boston, were very great. It is a policy justifiable by all the laws of war, to endeavour to increase them. Desertions, discouragement, and a dissatisfaction with the service, besides weakening their strength, are some of the natural consequences of such a situation, and, if continued, might afford the fairest hope of success, without further effusion of human blood. A vessel cleared lately out of New-York, for St. Croix, with fresh provisions and other articles, has just gone into Boston, instead of pursuing her voyage to the West-Indies. I have endeavoured to discover the name of the Captain or owner, but as yet without success. The owner, it is said, went to St. Croix before the vessel; from which, and her late arrival, I make no doubt you will be able to discover and expose the villain; and if you could fall upon some effectual measures to prevent the like in future, it will be doing a signal service to our common Country.”

“Resolved and Ordered, That the paragraph of General Washington’s Letter, relative to a Vessel that arrived at Boston with fresh Provisions and other necessaries, supposed to be from New-York, be sent to the General Committee of New-York, and that they be directed to make strict inquiry whether the said Vessel did sail from hence, and who are the owners and master of the said Vessel, and report the result thereof to this Congress.

“A true copy from the Minutes:

“ROBERT BENSON, Secretary.”

The Petition of James Light received and read, praying leave to resign his office of Ensign, in Captain Dean’s Company; which was granted accordingly.

NEW-YORK PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.

In Provincial Congress, New-York, October 10, 1775.

Whereas it is highly necessary, for the sake of liberty, that the duration of the power of all persons, intrusted with high authority, should be limited to a short period, and more especially when they are nominated by, and their authority delegated unto them from the body of the people:

Revolved, therefore, That this Congress shall be dissolved on Tuesday, the 14th day of November, next. And forasmuch as it appears to us highly necessary that a Provincial Congress should exist until the disputes between Great Britain and America shall be adjusted, and that the members of that Congress should be so proportioned as to give a due weight of representation to the several parts of the Colony, it is therefore recommended to the good people of this Colony, that those who are qualified to vote for Representatives in General Assembly do choose such persons as they can confide in to represent them, as Deputies of this Colony, in Provincial Congress, until the second Tuesday in May next, unless a reconciliation with Great Britain shall sooner take place; and that the Deputies, so chosen, meet at the City of New-York on the said 14th day of November next. And it is further recommended, that the election be held at the usual places for election of Representatives in General Assembly, in the several Counties, on Tuesday, the 7th day of November next, by the respective Committees of the several Counties, or at such other places as the said Committee shall previously appoint, and duly notify to their several Counties.

And in order to proportion the Members of each County, it is Resolved, That the City and County of New-York have twenty-one Members; the City and County of Albany, twelve Members; the County of Dutchess, nine Members; the County of Westchester, nine Members; the County of Ulster, eight Members; the County of Suffolk, eight Members; the County of Orange, six Members; the County of Queen’s, eight Members; the County of King’s, four Members; the County of Richmond, four Members; the County of Tryon, four Members; the County of Cumberland, three Members; the County of Gloucester, two Members; the County of Charlotte, two Members.

A true copy-from the Minutes:

ROBERT BENSON, Secretary.

LIEUTENANT GIBBS TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Ticonderoga, October 10, 1775.

HONOURED SIR: I being appointed to take down a number of sick people from this place to Connecticut, belonging to said Colony, and draw but two days' provisions from this place to Fort George, and when I came to Fort George, I could not get any provisions, salt nor fresh; and as I had no money, it put me and the sick soldiers into a very distressing situation; but had the good fortune to borrow a little money. I got to Albany; and had it not been for Captain Phelps, we must all have suffered; but he let us have some money, though he said it was without orders; and I understand the General will not allow him a farthing of it; and he says he cannot pay any more to any body, as he has no money nor orders. And as I know our Colony is humane, and would not have their friends die for want of provision and care, therefore think I could not discharge my duty if I did not let your Honour know the situation of our sick—many obliged to sell their blankets and shirts to get bread, and others begging on the road. I beg there may be some provision made; if not, we must expect never to raise any more men.,Our sick soldiers here are allowed four ounces of beef and one gill of rice per day.

Honoured Sir, forgive my freedom for letting you know the distress of the sick soldiers of our Colony. I shall be careful another year, and that is the universal say of all the officers.

I am, with respect, your Honour’s very obedient humble servant,

WARHAM GIBBS, Lieutenant.

Governour Trumbull.

MAJOR FRENCH TO GOVERNOUR TRUMBULL.

Hartford, October 10, 1775.

Major French, Twenty-Second Regiment, presents his compliments to Governour Trumbull, begs to inform him that there is no place of worship, according to the Church of England, in which he was educated, at Hartford. He requests he, and the gentlemen with him, who are of the same persuasion, may be removed to Middletown, or any other place not farther distant from Boston, where they may be permitted to hear the word of God according to their persuasion.

To his Honour Governour Trumbull.