EXTRACT OF A LETTER DATED NEW-YORK, MAY 31, 1776.

I do not learn that a word has been said in our Convention upon the subject of a Declaration of Independence; but a new mode of Government has been talked of, and you may expect to see in next Monday’s paper a call from the Convention to the people, either to give them proper powers for the purpose, or to add to their number, and give the increased body powers, or to choose a new Convention, and give the powers to them.

COLONEL RITZEMA TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

New-York, May 31, 1776.

SIR: Yesterday it was given out, in general orders, that General Putnam had received a letter from General Washington, requesting the Colonels in the Army here immediately to provide colours for their several regiments. I shall be glad, sir, you would be pleased to mention it to the Congress, and that direction may be given to Mr. Cur-tenius to provide a pair for my regiment of such a colour and with such devices as shall be deemed proper by the Congress.

I am, sir, your very humble servant,

RUD. RITZEMA.

GENERAL PUTNAM TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Head-Quarters, New-York, May 31, 1776.

I had the pleasure of receiving your Excellency’s letter of the 28th instant, per post, and shall forward on the enclosed to General Ward, by the first safe conveyance. Soon after our troops left the Plains of Abraham, Sir John Johnson pushed off at the head of his Scotch gang. General Schuyler immediately ordered the officers that were at Albany on their parole, to be sent to this place. I have sent them on this morning for Philadelphia. Lieutenant McLean behaved so ill General Wooster sent him to Albany in irons; for particulars, I must refer your Excellency to Lieutenant Vanwaggenen, who has the care of them.

In my last I mentioned Captain McKay’s desertion from Hartford; he was taken last week in the habit of a clergyman, on his way for Canada. He, with Governour Skene, are both committed to Hartford jail, the latter for refusing to sign his parole.

The signals on Staten-Island, Green Bluff, and Go-vernour’s Island, are complete. Our troops have taken a small sloop for going on board the Asia. There were ten men on board, seven of whom have escaped, the others are under examination. The vessels I mentioned are out cruising on the back of the Island. I think they will be of great use to us. I am driving on the works with all possible despatch, and shall pay particular attention to your Excellency’s directions in regard to sending an express in case of a fleet appearing on the coast. I shall write Captain Putnam, to see the things forwarded from Boston to New-London as soon as possible.

I have the honour to be your Excellency’s most obedient, humble servant,

ISRAEL PUTNAM.

To His Excellency General Washington.

GENERAL ORDERS.

Head-Quarters, New-York, May 22, 1776.

The following are the names of the different Batteries in and about this City: The Battery at the south part of the town, the Grand Battery; the one immediately above it, Fort George; the one on the left of the Grand Battery, Whitehall Battery; that behind his Excellency General Washington’s Head-Quarters, the Oyster Battery; the Circular Battery, near the Brew-house, on the North-River, (he Grenadier Battery; that on the left of the Grenadier Battery, the Jersey Battery; the one on Bayard’s Hill, Bayard’s Hill Redoubt; the one on the Hill where General Spencer’s Brigade is encamped, Spencer’s Redoubt; below this hill, on a wharf, is a Fascine Battery called Wa-lerbury’s Battery; on the hill directly above it is a Redoubt, near the Jews’ Burying-ground, by the name of Badlam’s Redoubt.

Andrew O’Brien, Sergeant, and William Welch, Corporal, both of Captain O’Hara’s Company, in Colonel Wyn-koop’s Regiment, tried by a late General Court-Martial, whereof Colonel Ritzema was President, for “assaulting, beating, and dangerously wounding, one William Irvine,” are both acquitted by the Court.

The General approves the sentence, and orders the prisoners to be released immediately.

Head-Quarters, New-York, May 23, 1776.

The Sailmakers in the different Regiments are all to parade in front of the General’s Quarters to-morrow morning, at six o’clock.

A reinforcement to be immediately made to the main guard at the lower barracks of one Subaltern, two Sergeants, two Corporals, one Drummer, and thirty Privates.

The order for doubling the sentries at night to be strictly attended to.

All those men of the following Regiments, viz: Colonel Parsons’s, Webb’s, Baldwin’s, Nixon’s, Willy’s, and Read’s, who have agreed to serve in the whaling-boats with Lieutenant-Colonel Tupper, are to repair immediately to him, and take their orders from him.

Head-Quarters, New-York, May 24, 1776.

The Brigadier-Generals will settle the mode and hours for going the rounds at night, every morning on the general parade, at guard mounting.

The following Sailmakers are to embark this day on board a vessel, in order to proceed to Albany, and from thence to General Schuyler, and receive his further orders, viz: Francis Howard, Samuel Holmes, Ebenezer Durkee, Daniel Vanderpool, of Colonel Ward’s Regiment; Lewis Lamb, of Colonel Little’s Regiment; George Lemot, of Colonel Bailey’s Regiment. They are to be furnished with ten days’ provision a man. Captain Harwood’s Company is to join Lieutenant-Colonel Tupper, and do duty on board the whaling-boats, &c., &c.

Mr. Livingston, who has hitherto supplied Colonel Mc-Dougall’s Regiment with provisions, having declined doing it any longer, he is to order his Quartermaster to apply to the Commissary-General for provision for the future, who is desired to supply all those Corps, which were hitherto supplied by Mr. Abraham Livingston.

The removal of General Washington’s guard from his Head-Quarters in town, occasions the following alterations in the detail of guards, viz: the seven men lately added to the Provost, to be taken from it, and a guard of one Sergeant, one Corporal, and fifteen men, to mount at the place where General Washington’s guard was kept; who are to relieve the sentries at his door, General Gates’s, Paymaster-General’s, &c.

Head-Quarters, New-York, May 25, 1776.

Captain Butler, of Colonel Niton’s Regiment, tried at a late General Court-Martial on the several charges exhibited against him by Lieutenant Walker, viz: “Defrauding his Company, defrauding the publick, absenting himself from his Company when on their march, and inlisting a man unfit for the service,” is acquitted of the several charges against him.

The General approves of the sentence of the above Court-Martial, and orders that Captain Butler be released from his arrest.

John Moore and Joshua Smith, both of Colonel Ritzema’s Regiment, tried by the above Court-Martial for “absenting themselves from Camp without leave, and forging a pass,” are found guilty, and sentenced to receive corporal punishment, viz: Moore thirty-nine lashes, Smith twenty lashes, and both to be kept seven days confined on bread and water.

The General approves of part of the above sentence, and orders the corporal punishment to be put in execution tomorrow morning, at the head of the Regiment, at guard mounting; but for several reasons thinks proper to disapprove of the latter part of the sentence.

A working party, consisting of nine hundred men, to be ordered to-morrow morning, from the different Brigades and Regiments, viz:

General Heath’s: Colonel Learned:’s, Colonel Bailey’s, Colonel Read’s, and Colonel Baldwin’s, to go to Paulus Hook.