ELIZABETHTOWN (NEW-JERSEY) COMMITTEE TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read February 14, 1776.]

Elizabethtown, February 10, 1776.

SIR: I am ordered by the Committee of Elizabethtown, to acquaint the Congress of the capture and state of the ship Blue-Mountain-Valley, now lying at Elizabethtown Point, and to desire particular directions from the Congress, what is to be done with the said ship, cargo, officers and seamen.

On Monday, the 22d of January, between eleven and twelve o'clock, Lord Stirling, with about thirty men of his regiment, being near all that were then armed at this place, the rest being at Long-Island, set out for Amboy on a serious enterprise. In the evening of the same day, an express arrived in this town, with a letter directed to Lord Stirling, and, in his absence, to the Chairman of the Committee of this place, informing that an armed vessel, with a detachment of marines and seamen, was sent off from New-York that day from the ships-of-war in New-York, to the transport-ship.

On the Chairman's receipt of this letter, he immediately called the Committee; which met about six o'clock in the evening, and from the letter and express, collected and concluded, that Lord Stirling left this place with an intention to procure a vessel at Amboy, and go in quest of the transport-ship, which he then thought was in a defenceless condition, not knowing of the reinforcement sent from New-York, and that if the intelligence should reach him that night, he would not be able to procure vessels and assistance in season at Amboy to secure success, and might be repulsed with loss. On which the Committee resolved to send a detachment of one hundred volunteers, in three or four boats, by the way of the Narrows, to lake, or assist Lord Stirling to take, the aimed vessel or transport, of which they immediately notified Lord Stirling by an ex-press; and to encourage volunteers to enter, assured them they should share of the prize, or prizes, according to the regulations that were, or should be made by the Continental Congress. Volunteers were soon procured, and furnished by the Committee with ammunition, provision, and what arms were wanting; of the townsmen, about eighty, and of the Continental troops, about thirty. The Committee also procured three boats, and fitted them in the best manner the night and hurry would admit of. Between twelve and one o'clock at night, the armament was ready to sail, but on account of the tide and ice, they could not proceed by the way of the Narrows; they, therefore, set out with a fair wind by the way of Amboy, where they stopped, and called upon Lord Stirling, who, with a boat by him procured for the purpose, and about forty of his regiment, set out with them in quest of the ship and armed vessel. At sunrise, from the mast-head they descried the ship at sea, stood for, met and boarded her, without opposition, at ten o'clock in the morning; they found her to be a transport from London, with coals, porter, potatoes, bogs, and horse-beans, designed for the Ministerial troops at Boston, commanded by John H. Dempster, brother to George Dempster, member of Parliament for Dundee, &c., in Scotland. But the armed vessel, by great good fortune, saved herself by returning to New-York, not having discovered the ship, to the great disappointment of our people Lord Stirling gave the command of the ship to Mr. Rogers, a sea-captain, with orders to proceed for this place, but being detained by tide and contrary winds on Wednesday near Amboy, the Committee being apprehensive of an at-tempt by the man-of-war to retake her, on Wednesday evening sent a reinforcement, of about eighty men, to secure her against any such attempt, and on Friday she arrived in safety at Elizabethtown Point, where she remained under the care of Lord Stirling, guarded by some of the troops under his command until Tuesday last, when he and his troops were ordered to New-York, since which time she hath been, and now is under the care of the Committee. By order of Lord Stirling, and the Committee, the porter and beans are stored, the sails and rigging are taken on shore. The potatoes, which are chiefly rotten, and coal, remain on board the ship. The Captain and seamen remain prisoners at large in this town. The Committee expected Lord Stirling would have, before this time, procured the particular directions of the Congress for the disposition of the ship and cargo, but in this they are disappointed, and every thing respecting the ship is in suspense. The hogs remaining, being only seven, (out of eighty,) and the remaining potatoes, they have concluded to sell. The coal is in great demand for making of arms, and is liable to be destroyed with the ship, by an armed force which may be despatched privately in the night from New-York, which is but about fourteen miles distance. The seamen, who are boarded out by the Committee, are uneasy, and soliciting the Committee for their wages, which, they say, were promised by Lord Stirling. The Captain is anxious to know how long he is to be detained, and the Committee are desirous that he may be soon dismissed, and be at liberty to return home and inform his friends and country-men of the usage he has received from the Americans. This, sir, is the state of affairs relating to the store-ship called the Blue-Mountain-Valley, taken and brought to this place.

The Committee earnestly request that the Congress will immediately take the same into consideration, and will fully determine in what manner the said ship and cargo shall be disposed of, and that they will very speedily give directions particularly for the same. That if the Congress shall determine that the ship and cargo, or any part thereof, shall be distributed among the captors, that they will order very particularly the manner and proportion of such distribution, for which purpose a list of the officers and men, as near as the Committee can find, is enclosed. The Committee are also desirous, that the Congress will determine what is to be clone with the Captain, officers, and seamen, belonging to the said ship, and also, respecting their private property due. A bill of the wages is enclosed. The Committee are informed, and believe, that Lord Stirling, soon after taking the ship, assured the Captain and men, that their property, then on board, should be restored to them, and that they should receive all their wages that were then due. The Captain's adventure amounts to about one hundred and1 twenty pounds sterling, sixty pounds of which are insured. The Committee do not know whether that sum should be allowed him, or whether he should be referred for the same to the insurers in England. They desire direction from the Congress. Here is also enclosed a copy of the bill of lading of the ship's cargo, which, among other things, proves the ship's destination.

The Committee desire you will be pleased to lay this matter before the Congress immediately, and hasten an answer as soon as possible.

I am, with the greatest esteem, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

ROBERT OGDEN,

Chairman of the Committee of Elizabethtown.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq., Chairman of the Congress.

P. S. Since writing the above, the Committee have received from Lord Stirling a copy of the resolves of Congress, of the 29th of January last, relating to the ship Blue-Mountain-Valley; but, as they then did not fully deter-mine the matter, they, therefore, beg the Congress will now resume the consideration, and send their particular determinations on each head, which will be cheerfully submitted to, and give full satisfaction to all concerned.

An Account of Wages due to the Captain, Officers, Sea-men, &c, of the BLUE-MOUNTAIN-VALLEY, from the time of their coming on board, in the river THAMES, until the arrival of the Ship at ELIZABETHTOWN.