GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

New-York, April 24, 1776.

SIR: I have this day granted a warrant unto Captain Jacobus Wynkoop for two hundred and seventy-six and two-thirds dollars, being for a month’s advance to him, his officers and men, who are to serve on the lakes at the rates following:

Which you will please to take notice of in adjusting the accounts of this Captain and his crew.

Brigadier-General Thompson, with four battalions and one company, sailed from hence last Sunday. I hope they will have reached Albany long before this, and I doubt not your forwarding them on with all possible expedition.

We have accounts of the British troops, under General Howe, being arrived at Halifax. A part of them, if not the whole, will probably attempt the relief of Quebeck, as soon as the navigation up the St. Lawrence is practicable.

I am, with great esteem, dear sir, your most assured, humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

To Major-General Schuyler, Northern Department.

HENRY WISNER, JUN., TO THE NEW-YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Wallkill, April 24, 1776.

SIR: In consequence of a resolve of Congress for a number of powder-mills to be built in this Province, Major Moses Phillips and myself applied to the County Committee for a recommendation, which we obtained, and herewith send you, hoping, as we have made great improvements in the more expeditiously manufacturing gunpowder, you will indulge us with the benefit of said resolve. I should have been down to make a contract, but my father being sick, I could not leave the powder-mill without great inconvenience, and hope this application will answer till the first Tuesday in May, at which time I expect to attend Congress, and then will make such contract as the Congress, or Committee, shall reasonably require. If it is necessary for me to come down before the first of May, should take it as a favour to be informed by the bearer. We have got timber and framed a powder-mill, which will be constructed in such a manner as will make much faster than the one belonging to my father and self, in which we make one thousand pounds per week. The weather being very changeable, we are much troubled to get it dry; but have above three tons made, which we shall send to Fart Constitution as soon as dry.

Your answer relative to the powder-mill will oblige, sir, your humble servant,

HENRY WISNER, JUN.

To the Chairman of the Committee of Safety of the Colony of New-York.

N. B. Have sent a small horn of our powder, which I hope will meet with approbation.

CORNELIUS D. WYNKOOP TO DIRK WYNKOOP.

Kingston, April 24, 1776.

SIR: AS a Surgeon and Mate is allowed to every regiment in the United service, I have been applied to by Mr. George Graham, from the Wallkill, to act in the capacity of Surgeon’s Mate of my Regiment. He is a young man, who, I am told, is capable for that purpose, and as appears by the within certificate of two reputable persons, he is also accounted very skilful. If anything should be wanting from my recommendation, please to apply to Mr. Jones, who, I believe, at present is in New-York, who can give you a satisfactory account thereof; and if your honourable Board will commission him as a Surgeon’s Mate, I could wish it was done by the first opportunity, as he would make the necessary preparations.

Should you commission him, please to send it to him, directed to the Wallkill, as soon as possible. If it is in your power to let me know where my destination should be, I should take it as a favour to acquaint me thereof, and what time.

I am your friend to serve,

CORNELIUS D. WYNKOOP.

To Dirk Wynkoop, Esquire, Member of the Provincial Congress.

PROVIDENCE (RHODE-ISLAND) TOWN-MEETING.

At a Town-Meeting, of the Town of Providence, held on the third Wednesday of April, Anno Domini 1776:

The Honourable Nicholas Cooke, Esq., Moderator.

Instructions to the Deputies of the Town of PROVIDENCE:

GENTLEMEN: At a time when the very being of American liberty is at stake, through the machinations of our most unnatural and implacable enemies, by whom every effort is made to distress us, and to force to compliance with the most arbitrary, oppressive, and tyrannical measures, the virtuous inhabitants of the Thirteen United Colonies; and who have, by their most cruel edicts, absolutely prohibited that mutual and friendly intercourse with Britain and other foreign countries, which heretofore had amply supplied, to their great advantage and emolument, such necessary articles as this happy country, in its infant state, could not so readily afford; it becomes the wisdom, and is the highest policy of the said Colonies, to promote, by every measure, arts and manufactures, as well as arms, being equally and alike necessary to our comfort, support, and defence.

In consideration whereof, (as we suppose,) the honourable Continental Congress have afforded to several of the Southern Colonies such protection as the necessity of the case required, by passing the following resolution, January 30, 1776: “That no apprentice whatsoever be inlisted within the Colonies of New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Lower Counties on Delaware, and Maryland, as a soldier in the Army and Navy of the United Colonies, without the consent of his master or mistress first obtained in writing; and that all apprentices now inlisted as soldiers in said Army and Navy, without such consent, be immediately discharged from the service, on the application of his master or mistress, upon payment of all just and reasonable charges of their inlistment;” and having the fullest confidence in their justice and equal regards to each of the United Colonies, and knowing, from the most obvious reasons, (arising from the peculiar situation of this small frontier Colony,) that the present mode of raising recruits for the Army gives the most fatal discouragements to arts and manufactures therein:

We, the Freemen of the Town of Providence, in Town-meeting assembled, do recommend to you to use your endeavours that the General Assembly of this Colony, as soon as may be, apply to the honourable Continental Congress, that this Colony, and the inhabitants thereof, may have the afore-recited resolution extended to them in the same manner as to the Colonies therein particularly mentioned.

And we further recommend, that you endeavour to procure an act of the General Assembly of this Colony, in substance nearly the same with the said recited resolve, and which shall operate as to any standing troops to be hereafter raised within and for the immediate defence of this Colony.

Gentlemen, it is not from the least doubt of your cheerful readiness to urge and support every measure calculated to promote, in subservience to the publick good, the prosperity of this Colony; nor that we have the most distant wish to preclude the right of private judgment, that we thus publickly and unitedly recommend the foregoing to your care; but from the purest motives of regard to the welfare of our country.

Voted, That the foregoing be Instructions for the Deputies of this Town.

Witness:

THEODORE FOSTER, Town-Clerk.

COLONEL KNOX TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

New-London, April 24, 1776.

SIR: In consequence of your Excellency’s directions, I am employed in looking at and getting the necessary information