pounds of Feathers, 4000 Staves, 10 barrels of Cider, 40 barrels of Pork, 20 barrels of Flour, 2 gross of Corks, 1000 bunches of Onions, 30 barrels of Apples.

Ordered, That the sub-Committee of the General Committee of the City of New-York be at liberty to permit Captain Coffin to export the whole, or any part of the articles mentioned in the within Certificate, and for the purpose therein mentioned.

The Letter from Robert Treat Paine, Esquire, of the Committee of the Continental Congress, enclosing the Resolution of Congress relative to the erecting Works for the manufacturing Saltpetre, &c., was read and filed.

Ordered, That the said Letter and Resolves be taken into consideration on Wednesday next.

A Letter from the Honourable John Hancock, enclosing the Proceedings of the Continental Congress for issuing Letters of Marque, and commissioning private Armed Vessels, was read, as follows:

“Philadelphia, April 10, 1776.

“GENTLEMEN: It is necessary, in conducting the warlike operations on the part of America, to meet our enemy on every ground, and to defend ourselves in the best manner we can against all attempts, in whatever shape, to deprive us of either liberty or property. So far are the British Ministry from showing the least relaxation in their barbarous schemes of reducing the American Colonies to slavery, that they have passed an act to seize and confiscate our property wherever found on the high seas. In consequence of this measure, the Congress have come to a resolution of fitting out letters of marque and reprisal. The commissions, instructions, and bond preparatory to which, I have the honour to enclose you; and am, gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble servant,

“JOHN HANCOCK, President.

“To the Honourable the Convention of New-York.”

“In Congress, April 3, 1776.

“Resolved, That blank Commissions, for private Ships-of-War, and Letters of Marque and Reprisal, signed by the President, be sent to the General Assemblies, Conventions and Councils, or Committees of Safety of the United Colonies, to be by them filled up and delivered to the persons intending to fit out such private Ships-of-War for making captures of British vessels and cargoes, who shall apply for the same, and execute the Bonds which shall be sent with the said Commissions; which Bonds shall be returned to the Congress.

“By order of Congress:

“JOHN HANCOCK, President.”

“In Congress, April 3, 1776.

“Resolved, That every person intending to set forth and fit out a private Ship or Vessel of War, and applying for a Commission or Letters of Marque and Reprisal for that purpose, shall produce a writing, subscribed by him, containing the name and tonnage or burden of the ship or vessel, the number of her guns with their weight of metal, the name and place of residence of the owner or owners, the names of the commander and other officers, the number of the crew, and the quantity of provisions and warlike stores; which writing shall be delivered to the Secretary of Congress, or to the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Convention, or Council, or Committee of Safety of the Colony in which the ship or vessel shall be, to be transmitted to the said Secretary, and shall be registered by him; and that the commander of the ship or vessel, before the Commission or Letters of Marque and Reprisal may be granted, shall, together with sufficient sureties, seal and deliver a bond, in the penalty of five thousand dollars if the vessel be of one hundred tons or under, or ten thousand dollars if of greater burden, payable to the President of the Congress, in trust for the use of the United Colonies, with condition in the form following, to wit: The condition of this obligation is such; that if the above bounden......., who is commander of the.....called....., belonging to......, of......, in the Colony of ....., mounting.......carriage-guns, and navigated by ......men, and who hath applied for a Commission, or Letters of Marque and Reprisal, to arm, equip, and set forth to sea the said.......as a private ship-of-war, and to make captures of British vessels and cargoes, shall not exceed or transgress the powers and authorities which shall be contained in the said Commission, but shall, in all things, observe and conduct himself and govern his crew by and according to the same, and certain instructions therewith to be delivered, and such other instructions as may hereafter be given to him, and shall make reparation for all damages sustained by any misconduct or unwarrantable proceedings of himself, or the officers or crew of the said . . . . . . , then this obligation shall be void, or else remain in force.

“Sealed and delivered in presence of..........

“Which Bond shall be lodged with the said Secretary of Congress.

“By order of Congress:

“JOHN HANCOCK, President.”

“In Congress, Wednesday, April 3, 1776.

“Instructions to the Commanders of private Ships or Vessels of War, which shall have Commissions or Letters of Marque and Reprisal, authorizing them to make captures of British Vessels and Cargoes.

“I. You may, by force of arms, attack, subdue, and take all ships and other vessels belonging to the inhabitants of Great Britain on the high seas, or between high-water and low-water marks, except ships and vessels bringing persons who intend to settle and reside in the United Colonies, or bringing arms, ammunition, or warlike stores to the said Colonies, for the use of such inhabitants thereof as are friends to the American cause, which you shall suffer to pass unmolested, the commanders thereof permitting a peaceable search, and giving satisfactory information of the contents of the ladings and distinctions of the voyages.

“II. You may, by force of arms, attack, subdue, and take all ships and other vessels whatsoever, carrying soldiers, arms, gunpowder, ammunition, provisions, or any other contraband goods to any of the British armies or ships-of-war employed against these Colonies.

“III. You shall bring such ships and vessels as you shall take, with their guns, rigging, tackle, apparel, furniture and ladings, to some convenient port or ports of the United Colonies, that proceedings may thereupon be had in due form before the Courts which are, or shall be there appointed, to hear and determine causes civil and maritime.

“IV. You, or one of your chief officers, shall bring or send the Master and Pilot, and one or more principal person or persons of the company of every ship or vessel by you taken, as soon after the capture as may be, to the Judge or Judges of such Court as aforesaid, to be examined upon oath, and make answer to the interrogatories which may be propounded touching the interest or property of the ship or vessel and her lading; at the same time you shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Judge or Judges, all passes, sea-briefs, charter-parties, bills of lading, cockets, letters, and other documents and writings found on board, proving the said papers by the affidavit of yourself or some other person present at the capture, to be produced as they were received, without fraud, addition, subduction, or embezzlement.

“V. You shall keep and preserve every ship or vessel and cargo by you taken, until they shall, by sentence of a Court properly authorized, be adjudged lawful prize; not selling, spoiling, wasting, or diminishing the same, or breaking the bulk thereof, nor suffering any such thing to be done.

“VI. If you, or any of your officers or crew, shall, in cold blood, kill or maim, or by torture or otherwise cruelly, inhumanly, and contrary to common usage and the practice of civilized nations in war, treat any person or persons surprised in the ship or vessel you shall take, the offender shall be severely punished.

“VII. You shall, by all convenient opportunities, send to Congress written accounts of the captures you shall make, with the number and names of the Captains, copies of your Journal from time to time, and intelligence of what may occur or be discovered concerning the designs of the enemy, and the destinations, motions, and operations of their fleets and armies.

“VIII. One-third, at least, of your whole company shall be landsmen.

“IX. You shall not ransome any prisoners or Captains, but shall dispose of them in such manner as the Congress, or if that be not sitting in the Colony whither they shall be brought, as the General Assembly, Convention, or Council, or Committee of Safety of such Colony shall direct.

“X. You shall observe all such further, instructions as