The Convention of New-York, in a letter of the 22d, advises me that they are unable to supply me with either arms, blankets, or clothing, for Colonel Van Schaack's Regiment. I hope I shall be able to equip them, although it will be very difficult to procure arms.

In a letter from the Committee appointed by the New York Convention to convey the heavy cannon destined for Quebeck, they ask me what shot there is at the posts above. I have answered, "none for the cannon they have in charge;" and as they have said nothing about carriages, I fear they have not attended to it. I have, therefore, wrote them on the subject, that the cannon may not be detained, on their arrival here, until the carriages are constructed. The best of the common carriages in the country are insufficient to transport the least of them.

There is scarcely pork sufficient to be got on the east side of Hudson's River to supply the small quantities intended to be stored near that river. What is gone to Canada, and remains at the posts above, will serve the Army but a very short lime; and no supplies of the meat kind can be had, even with hard cash, in Canada, from the beginning of April until the middle or latter end of September; hence, a very considerable quantity of provisions will be wanted. I shall, therefore, order the Coinmissary-General to send for one thousand barrels of pork to New Jersey; but, being apprehensive that the men-of-war will not suffer any vessels to pass, I have directed that it should be sent by water to Hackensack, from whence I believe the traverse to Hudson's River is short, and sloops may be sent down to transport it to this place. But as this will be far from being a sufficiency, I propose, if agreeable to Congress, and that they judge fresh meat cheaper than salt pork, (which is very doubtful with me, on account of the numbers lost in driving, extra waste in issuing, &c.) that a continued supply of cattle should be sent to Onion River, to be from thence conveyed in our vessels and row galleys to St. John's; but not to be put on board at Onion-River until there is a fair wind, lest they should suffer in the passage. I do not mean that the cattle should be sent before there is grass sufficient for their subsistence on the road, and sedge, or something, to be got to feed them during the passage.

Since writing the above, I have considered, that as Hudson's River is not yet open, the delay of laying the matter about the pork before Congress, for their determination, cannot be attended with any evil consequences, and they may probably adopt a better mode. If they can give orders to some person in Jersey to purchase the pork, and send it as above, Mr. Peter Zabriskie, of Hackensack, a real friend to our cause, might be employed to see it transported to Hudson's River.

Enclose the orders I have issued for regulating the issuing of provisions. These are, in a great measure, similar to those I made on the 20th of July last. An immediate punishment on the first offender, will, I hope, have the desired effect. I shall order a strict watch to be kept, and the first Commissary that breaks the orders I will cause to be turned out of the employ.

The best of the balteaumen may be got for three shillings a day, currency, which is cheaper than to employ soldiers; for, in thirty days, it amounts to only six shillings and eight pence more than a soldier's pay and fatigue-money, and they will transport nearly double the quantity of stores, in the same time, that a like number of men would do who are unaccustomed to the business; and they are employed as soon as raised, which will take only four or five days. If the Lakes should open before I can hear from Congress, I will venture to raise a company of one hundred, for I foresee that great quantities of provisions must be sent into Canada.

I am, sir, most respectfully, your obedient, humble servant,

PHILIP SCHUYLER.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esquire, &c.

GENERAL ORDERS.

Head.Quarters, Albany, February 27, 1776.

Whereas, great abuses have heretofore prevailed, as well in the returns made for drawing provisions, and in issuing the same, as by embezzlements of those employed in the transportation: In order to prevent which for the future, the following orders are strictly and minutely to be attended toand complied with: The Deputy Commissary-General, and his Deputies, to keep exnet accounts of all stores, ofwhat kind so ever, by him or them forwarded from one placeto another, specifying the particulars sent, the time when, the person, or persons, carrying them, delivering, at thesame time, a copy of such account to the person taking theprovision, or stores, in charge; upon the delivery whereof,such person shall receive a certificate from the Commissary, or person to whom the same was so to have been delivered; but, if there shall be a deficiency in any of thearticles, the Commissary, or person to whom the sameshall be delivered, shall mark such deficiency on the certificate, and charge the person to whose care the provision,or stores, had been delivered, with such deficiency, in abook to be kept for that purpose, and transmit a monthlyreturn thereof to the Deputy Commissary-General, whoshall immediately send a copy thereof to the Deputy Paymaster-General, that he may, and he is hereby required, todeduct the amount out of the pay of such person into whosecare the provisions and stores were delivered: provided,always, that if any provisions, or stores, shall be lost byunavoidable accidents, and the same can be proved to beso, by sworn witnesses, before any officer commanding atthe post where such provisions, or stores, were intended tobe sent to, such officer's certificate, with the proofs annexed, shall be a sufficient voucher to the Commissary to cancel such charge, by writing over against the charge, "Cancelled, by order of. . . . , commanding here." No provision to be issued to any troops, but upon the return,signed by the officer commanding a corps, or by the Quartermaster, or by the officer, or non-commissioned officer,commanding a party thereof, when detached. And whereas, it has frequently happened that troops, who had been victualled at one post to a certain time, and were ordered fromthence, and removed to another post, before the time towhich they were victualled was expired, and have, nevertheless, on their arrival at such post, drawn provisions asthough they were entitled to it; to prevent which, whenever any corps moves from one place to another, the commanding officer shall procure a certificate from the Commissary, signifying to what day, inclusive, such corps wasvictualled. The commanding officer of every party shalldo the same; and if a detachment is composed of men fromdifferent corps, and who may be victualled to different days,the return shall be made, and the certificate shall specifythe time to which each was victualled; and the Commissary at any post shall revictual such men, unless such certificate be produced; but lest, by the negligence of anyofficer in not procuring the certificates, the men should suffer for want of provisions, and the service be obstructed, theCommissary is permitted to victual the corps, or party, andto charge the officer commanding therewith, and make returns, that the same may he deducted out of his pay, as inthe preceding article: provided that, if such certificate beprocured and delivered within thirty days after the drawingof such provision without certificate, the Commissary shallcancel the charge, in manner before directed. Every Commissary to keep the accounts of provision issued to everycorps, or parts or detachments of corps, separately, that itmay be readily compared with the monthly returns, as acheck upon the provision returns. All provision returns,or orders to issue provisions, to be by the Commissary numbered and endorsed, with the date, and number of men victualled, and carefully filed, to be produced when called for.A weekly return to be made to the commander-in-chief ofthe Department, and to the General Officer commanding thetroops in Canada, of what provisions are in store at everyplace in the Northern Department. The Commissary toapply to the commanding officers at every post for workingparties, to assist in securing the provisions and stores; andsuch commanding officers are hereby required to give suchworking parties, and offer all kind of assistance in theirpower, to secure the provisions and publick stores. EveryCommissary in the Northern Department to keep their orders continually posted up in his issuing-store, that no person who may be concerned in the execution of them mayplead ignorance. The officers commanding at the differentposts to have copies of them posted up in one or morepublick places about their posts.

HENRY B. LIVINGSTON, Aid-de-camp.