Whereas the Provincial Congress, in order that the duration of their power might be limited to a short period, did, by their Resolve, dated the 10th day of October last, and inserted in the publick Newspapers, signify to their constituents their determination to dissolve themselves on Tuesday, the 14th instant; and whereas the Congress, at the same time, did recommend to the good people of this Colony the choice of Deputies to represent them in a future Provincial Congress, to exist until the second Tuesday in May next, and the election to be held under the inspection of the several County Committees: In pursuance of the aforesaid Resolve and recommendation, the General Committee have thought it prudent to nominate twenty-one persons, to be proposed to the publick for their approbation, viz: Peter V. B. Livingston, Isaac Low, Alexander McDougall, Joseph Hallett, Abraham Walton, Abraham Brasher, Isaac Roosevelt, James Beekman, Benjamin Kissam, John M. Scott, John Van Cortlandt, Jacobus Van Zandt, John Marston, Isaac Sears, John Ray, Theodorus Van Wyck, Captain Anthony Rutgers, John Imlay, Gabriel H. Ludlow, Benjamin Helme, Comfort Sands.

The Committee, therefore, do hereby request the Freemen, Freeholders, and all Tenants possessed of lands or tenements of the value of eighty Pounds, within this City and County, to attend at the City Hall on Tuesday, the 7th instant, at ten o’clock in the forenoon, to declare for the abovenamed gentlemen, or for any others they may please to elect in their stead.

JOHN BROOME TO A COMMITTEE OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

New-York, November 3, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: I duly received your favour of the 18th ultimo, enclosing a resolution of the Continental Congress for ascertaining the damages sustained by the inhabitants of America, from the Ministerial Troops and Navy, since March last.

I have already taken the necessary steps towards carrying this Resolve into execution, as far forth as it respects this Province, and shall be careful to transmit you the vouchers as soon as they come to hand.

You may always rely upon my best services in the cause of liberty and my Country, in every department wherein I think myself competent.

I am, Sir, your most humble servant,

JOHN BROOME.

To Silas Deane, John Adams, and George Wythe, Esq’s.

JAMES LIVINGSTON TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL MONTGOMERY.

La Tours, November 3, 1775.

DEAR SIR: I have the pleasure to send you, prisoner, the Captain of La Tours, a notorious villain. After having sworn two or three times faithfully to assist our cause to the utmost of his power, hath forsworn himself, and joined the Regulars with his Company; hanging is too good for the rascal; hope you’ll secure him in irons immediately on his arrival. I am just setting out for Sorel; make no doubt we shall proceed with more caution than the unhappy Colonel Allen, who, I understand, is badly treated. I just learn the vessels are gone from Sorel; suppose they will go to Quebeck, if Colonel Arnold has not already taken it. Their fortifying there may be of great detriment; however, Montreal must undoubtedly yield to our arms. I sent off your two Indians to Colonel Arnold the day before yesterday—one of them appeared to be very lame—and advised them to take a canoe at Sorel. I was under the necessity of giving them a half johannes to defray their expenses, they having declared you gave them only six dollars. If you write soon, beg you will send your letters via Longeuil. You may depend upon it, we shall make the utmost expedition to join Warner’s party, where we will wait your further orders.

I am yours, with esteem,

JAMES LIVINGSTON.

To Brigadier-General Montgomery.

EXTRACT FROM A LETTER DATED LA PRAIRIE, NOVEMBER. 3, 1775.

Blessed be God, our arms are at length crowned with signal success. Yesterday evening the fortress of St. John’s surrendered to our Army, and this morning our people take possession. Our Army is scattered over the whole country—a small garrison at Chambly; Colonel Easton and Major Brown, with about three hundred Provincials, with Colonel James Livingston, and five or six hundred of his Canadians are drawn down at the mouth of the River Sorel, opposing one hundred and twenty Regulars and five hundred Canadians, who are intrenching there—at Longeuil (three leagues east of La Prairie, and two miles from Montreal, being nearly opposite) is Colonel Warner, with about three hundred of the Second Battalion and Green Mountain Boys; and I am posted at La Prairie, with one hundred men of our Regiment. I am three leagues from Montreal, which lies full in view, upon the bank of St. Lawrence, northwest from here. There are no troops to the westward of this post. Caughnawaga lies near three leagues west of this place, where there are about three hundred fighting men, and all in our interest; that is, (in the Indian style, ) strictly neutral.

There have been several attacks made from the enemy, in their boats, on Colonel Warner’s Regiment—a very serious one last Monday, in which General Carleton, with St. Luke La Corne and five or six hundred men, (mostly Canadians, ) and one hundred Indians, attacked our people with great resolution, but were at length repulsed, with the loss of fifty of their men killed and wounded, among whom were five Indians slain. We took three Canadians and two Indians prisoners; not one man on our side so much as wounded. As the whole Army are now coming down, I expect Mr. Carleton will suspend his operations on this side the water. He will have his hands full, I believe, in defending his own shores; indeed, it is expected by many, that as soon as the surrender of St. John’s is known among them, all opposition will vanish. However, Carleton is an intrepid old fellow, and may resist to the last; he has an armed brig and one or two small vessels riding near the Town, and as many more at the mouth of Sorel. The merchants’ vessels, with peltry, are near the Town.

The Canadians, in general, on this side St. Lawrence, are very friendly to us; almost unanimously so along the River Sorel; where they are actually embodied, and in arms, altogether to the number of more than one thousand. About this place they are not quite so active; though I think they will now be stirring, as they seem to be very anxious about the reduction of St. John’s, and could not think the Bostonians, as they call our troops, were really in earnest, until they saw St. John’s surrender. During the whole siege of St. John’s, our Army had but nine men killed and four or five wounded, I think; their preservation has been almost miraculous. More hospitable people I never saw; you cannot enter into a peasant’s house, at any time of day, but they immediately set a loaf of bread and a pan of milk before you. The whole country, as far as the eye can reach, is one entire low marshy plain, and covered with water after every rain; they are forced to plough their land in high ridges, to keep the grain from being flooded. They raise no winter wheat at all, or Indian corn; their gardens and vegetables are excellent, and their pasture most luxuriant.

A gentleman just arrived from Head-Quarters, at Cambridge, informs that, just as he came away, an express to General Washington arrived there from Colonel Arnold, with advice that he was safe arrived in Canada, and met with a cordial reception from the Canadians.