therein, General Ten Broeck moved, and was seconded, that as this Congress is not properly informed what promotions have taken place in Canada, without which we may greatly err and do injustice to, or neglect gentlemen of character and merit who have served during the last campaign, that the further consideration thereof be postponed for the present, and that a Letter be written to the Delegates of this Colony at Continental Congress, and another Letter to General Schuyler, requesting to know what gentlemen are provided for.

Thereupon, a draft of a Letter to the Delegates of this Colony at the Continental Congress was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, February 22, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: This Congress, earnestly solicitous to do the strictest justice to those worthy gentlemen who so readily turned out in the service of their country the last campaign, and being entirely uncertain what promotions have been made by the Continental Congress, or any acting under their orders, among the officers who served in the troops raised by this Colony, take the liberty to enclose to you the rank-roll of our four regiments, requesting that you, by the first post, will inform us what promotions have been made, that we may be in a capacity to nominate to the Congress two gentlemen for each Field-Officer of the four battalions ordered to be raised by this Colony. You will easily perceive that, unless we are furnished with such account, we may neglect some gentlemen whose services may be of the utmost importance to their country.

We are, gentlemen, with the greatest esteem, your very humble servants. By order.

To the New-York Delegates in Continental Congress.

A draft of a Letter to Major-General Schuyler was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, February 22, 1776.

SIR: We are ordered by the Continental Congress to provide for the officers who served in Canada the last campaign; and understanding that some of those officers have been provided for by that honourable body, we should take it as a favour that you would inform us who those persons are, that we may be enabled to make a proper arrangement of the officers to command the regiments we are to raise.

We are sorry to inform you, in answer to your letter of the 15th instant, that we are unable to supply Colonel Van Schaick’s Regiment with any arms, blankets, or clothing, having by no means a sufficiency for the equipment of those troops we are to raise. We highly approve of your application to the Committee of Albany for the nomination of officers for Colonel Van Schaick’s Regiment; at the same time shall give you every assistance in our power. We concluded that there was a large number of arms lodged at Albany, as but few of our soldiers have brought back their arms, many of which belonged to this city; and we expected to have them to put into the hands of the troops to be raised in this Colony, and should be glad to know what is become of those arms.

As soon as we can procure the necessary information of the officers provided for in Canada, we shall nominate the Field-Officers for the regiments we raise, when the nomination of the young gentleman you mention will be taken under consideration.

We are, sir, with the greatest esteem, your very humble servants. By order.

To Major-General Schuyler.

Ordered, That copies of those Letters, respectively, be engrossed, and signed by the President, and transmitted.

A Return of the Officers of Captain Smith’s Company, in Colonel Van Ness’s Regiment, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“These are to certify that the following persons were duly elected officers in a Minute Company in Charlotte Precinct, Dutchess County, in Colonel Van Ness’s Regiment, viz: Melancton Smith, Captain; Isaac Bloom, First Lieutenant; William Mead, Second Lieutenant; and William Tremper, Ensign.

“JACOBUS SWARTWOUT, “PETER TAPPEN, “REUBEN HOPKINS,

}

Committeemen.

“February 22, 1776.”

Ordered, That Commissions issue for Melancton Smith, as Captain; Isaac Bloom, First Lieutenant; William Mead, Second Lieutenant; and William Tremper, Ensign.

The Barrackmaster of this City, attending at the door, was admitted. He informed the Congress that he has not any covers for Straw Beds, having delivered out Straw Beds to all Troops indiscriminately, as they have arrived.

Ordered, That Colonel Curtenins, as Commissary of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, purchase immediately as much Crocus, or any other coarse Cloth fit for covering Straw Beds, as will make five hundred Beds; and that he have the same made, or deliver the Cloth to the Barrackmaster, to have them made; and that the Barrackmaster deliver out those Beds to the Troops of this Colony only.

And Ordered, That the Barrackmaster take receipts for those Beds, and all other Barrack stores delivered out by him; and that he bring in to this Congress an account of all the Barrack stores or utensils which he has purchased, and of all stores which he has delivered out.

A Letter from Major-General Lee was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“New-York, February 22, 1776.

“SIR: As the carpenters must be constantly employed in various works for the publick service, I take the liberty to desire the Congress will furnish, or order to be furnished, about three thousand feet of boards, to construct a shed, which may enable them to work in all kinds of weather. A considerable quantity of oak timber is likewise requisite for platforms and other works,—five hundred loads will not be an over quantity. The regiments here from Connecticut can turn out many carpenters, who consent to work upon much more reasonable terms than the artificers of the city. It would, I imagine, be worth while to provide, if possible, a sufficient number of tools. When the present work is done, these tools cannot be considered as an idle purchase; they will always be useful.

“I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

“CHARLES LEE.,

“To Colonel Woodhull, President of the Congress.”

Ordered, That General Lee be informed that he may direct his Engineer to furnish a bill of Scantling, of the Boards and Timber mentioned in his said Letter, and that this Congress will direct the same to be procured; and that the Committee of War wait on General Lee, and confer with him on the other part of his Letter, and report thereon to this Congress to-morrow.

Mr. Hobart informed the Congress that there are several Soldiers, of the different corps, now here, who ought to be put into an Hospital.

Ordered, That Dr. Treat be requested to take the trouble to procure some proper place in the suburbs for their reception, and inform this Congress, or some of the Members thereof.

Colonel Humphreys informed the Congress that the Minute-men of his Regiment in particular, and the greater part of those of the other Dutchess and Westchester Regiments, inlisted in full confidence that their pay would be fifty-three shillings and four pence per month—the Continental pay of last year; that though many of them were lately inlisted, yet they knew not of the change of the Continental pay at the time of their inlistment; that they have, since the publication of the present Continental establishment, been very uneasy; and that if their pay is reduced to forty shillings per month, many of them will return from the service.

Ordered, That Thomas Smith draw a Letter on that subject, stating their case to the Delegates of this Congress, and requesting them to procure the pay of last year’s establishment for those Troops.

A Letter from Colonel Samuel Drake, requesting that Dr. Benjamin Miller might be examined, and, if found properly qualified, be appointed Surgeon to his Regiment, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“Horne’s Hook, February 20, 1776.

“SIR: Dr. Benjamin Miller, at my request, has marched and is now with my regiment as Surgeon. He has already taken care of some that are sick. Would be much obliged to the honourable Congress to have him examined; and, if found properly qualified, appointed Surgeon of my regiment.