To the Honourable the Provincial Congress of the Colony of NEW-YORK: The Memorial of the Vestry of the City and County of NEW-YORK, humbly showeth:

That we have been elected to the office of Assessors, to lay the tax for the maintenance and support of the Poor of this City and County for the current year.

That the money annually raised for several years past for that purpose, amounted to five thousand pounds, a sum scarcely sufficient for the purpose, and in some years inadequate to the end.

That there are now at least near four hundred poor in the Aims-House in this city and the buildings adjoining, which number will, in all probability, be increased from the calamitous circumstances of the times.

That as great numbers of the inhabitants, and generally those who are most opulent, have retired to the country, we deem it impracticable (should we proceed to the execution of our office) for the collectors to raise a sum in any degree adequate to the exigencies of the poor under our care; that these poor consist of the blind and the lame, numerous helpless orphans, tender distressed infants, foundlings, and decrepid old age in its last stage, the sick in body, and distempered in mind; many of whom have, by various means, fallen into this city, as well from different parts of this Colony, as from other Colonies and countries.

Prompted, therefore, by the feelings of humanity, we have thought fit to lay before you the present difficulties and our apparent inability to procure a support for so great a number of poor; hoping that, in your wisdom, some means may be found to secure these unhappy objects from all the wretchedness of poverty and disease.

Your Memorialists, therefore, pray that, by order or resolve of this honourable Congress, the sum of five thousand pounds may be advanced or lent to the City of New-York, for the support of the poor; or such other relief granted in the premises as may be adequate to the present distress.

And your Memorialists shall ever pray, &c.,

The Congress taking into consideration the dangers to which this City and Colony will be exposed should the Ministerial Troops speedily arrive,

Resolved, That two Battalions be taken into the pay and service of this Colony for three months; and

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to take into consideration, and report to this Congress their opinion of the number of which the said Battalions shall consist; what pay shall be given; whence they shall be procured, and by what regulations governed; together with such other matters relative to the same as they may think proper and necessary; and

Ordered, That Mr. James Livingston, Mr. Cuyler, Mr. Jay, Mr. Morris, and Mr. Samuel Townshend, be the Committee.

Extracts from the Minutes:

JOHN MCKESSON, Secretary.

In the course of the business recommended to us by the Congress, as members of the said Committee, we did hold a meeting with the officers of the first Independent Battalion of the City of New-York, and, together with others the members of the said Committee, did propose to them to enter into the service of the said Congress, for the immediate defence of the Colony of New-York, and did give them assurances that, in case the said Battalion did enter into the said service, they should not be compelled by their inlistment to go above twenty miles out of the said Colony; and, further, that it was the opinion of the said Committee that the Congress aforesaid would not probably order the said Battalion to leave the said City unless in cases of necessity; but we cannot remember that any contract whatsoever was made with the said Battalion, and are confident that none was made by the said Committee; nor did the Committee make report to the House, the propriety being superseded by a resolution of the honourable the Continental Congress, in consequence of which the said Battalion hath since been taken into Continental pay.

Return of the state of the Minute Regiment raised in SUFFOLK County, NEW-YORK.

Lieut. Colonel, John Hulbert. Majors—Isaac Reeves, First; Isaac Overton, Second. Adjutant, Ephraim Marvin. Quartermaster, Ebenezer Dayton.

I do hereby certify that the above is a true state of my regiment agreeable to returns made by the respective Captains.

JOSIAH SMITH, Colonel.

Meritches Patent, May 30, 1776.

N. B. The drums, fifes, and colours, are all deficient.

GENERAL THOMPSON TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Chambly, May 30, 1776.

SIR: Since my last letter to your Excellency, I have been stationed at the mouth of the Sorel River, which will in a few days be fortified as well as the situation of the place will admit of. The havock made amongst the New-England troops by the small-pox, and our want of ammunition, especially lead, have prevented anything being done below Sorel. That place I do not think by any means tenable; but your Excellency may be assured I shall not abandon it, unless I can give satisfactory reasons for my procedure. The unfortunate retreat from Quebeck, and the late unguarded truce and convention at the Cedars, has involved us in many difficulties, though I hope we shall yet be able to surmount them.

By the honourable Commissioners of Congress, I transmit a return of the troops that came with me from New-York, and likewise of those now under my command at Sorel.

I am your Excellency’s most obedient and very humble servant,

WILLIAM THOMPSON.

At a Council of War, held at Chambly, May 30, 1776:

1st. Resolved, That orders be immediately transmitted to the commanding officer at St. Ann’s, to attack the enemy at Quinze Chiens as soon as the time fixed for cessation of hostilities is expired.

2d. Resolved, That it is necessary a General officer should take the command of the forces sent to Quinze Chiens.

3d. Resolved, That five hundred men, including those ordered this morning, be immediately sent from Montreal to St. Ann’s, and that their places be immediately supplied by the troops at St. Johns.

4th. Resolved, That, if practicable, it will be for the interest of the Colonies to keep Canada.

5th. Resolved, That it is not practicable or prudent, under our present circumstances, to take or keep possession of Des-chambault.

6th. Resolved, That the post now occupied at Sorel, be kept for the present by the main body of the Army.