men should be here till the new levies all arrive; but for the above reasons shall be necessitated to order their return, unless they can be persuaded to come on without their horses. I would not be supposed, by this, to discourage the troops of horse from being in constant readiness in the different States, as I am fully persuaded they will be much more useful than the militia to throw in succours to a place in an emergency. I am pleased to see with what cheerfulness and alacrity the troops from your Province step forward to the assistance of their countrymen, whenever called, and doubt not it will continue.

Major Starr will be able to inform you fully, from what I have mentioned to him, the absolute necessity for the men, and the utter impossibility of keeping the horses. Baggage-wagons may be hired to bring on baggage for your men, from any place they leave their horses.

I am, sir, your most humble servant,

GO. WASHINGTON.

To Colonel Seymour.

PROCEEDINGS OF A CONFERENCE OF GENERAL OFFICERS.

At a conference of General Officers and others, at Head-Quarters, July 8th, 1776:

Present, His Excellency General Washington; Major-General Putnam; Brigadiers-General Heath, Spencer, Greene, Scott, and Wadsworth; Colonel McDougall; and Messrs. Randolph, Green, Dennis, and Duer.

A proposition having been made to the General to sink hulks in the North River, at Tappan Bay, in order to stop the enemy's progress, it was fully discussed, and agreed that the same be carried into execution: Captain Grenell to sound the channel, and fix the buoys; Captain Dennis to take up the vessels; Captains Lawrence and Tudor to have them sunk in a proper manner; Captain Grenell to take notice of the commanding ground, so that, if works should be hereafter erected, they may be made in the most proper manner.

The General proposed to the General Officers, what should be done with the troop of Horse from Connecticut?

Agreed, That the men be detained until the new levies arrive, but the horses be sent home as soon as possible.

The Congress having referred to the General's determination the propriety of marching three Regiments of the Continental troops from Boston to the Northern Army, and, in case of need, substituting the Militia in their place,

Unanimously agreed, That the said three Regiments be immediately despatched to join the Northern Army.

GENERAL GREENE TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Camp on Long-Island, July 8, 1770.

SIR: The bearer, Doctor Senior, by whom this will be handed you, is a gentleman from Quebeck. He was surgeon of Colonel Church's regiment last year, and went from Boston to Canada in General Arnold's detachment. His merit and services render him worthy your notice; as such, I beg leave to recommend him to your acquaintance.

Believe me to be, with the greatest respect, your most obedient humble servant,

NATHANAEL GREENE.

ULSTER COUNTY (NEW-YORK) COMMITTEE TO PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.

Committee Chamber, Kingston, July 8, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: We beg leave once more to trouble you with a complaint which has now become general, which is, that notwithstanding our frequent applications, we are yet left destitute of powder." And, gentlemen, we have reason to believe that this is not owing to a scarcity of that necessary article, neither do we believe it to be a neglect of your honourable Board, as we have been informed that an order has been issued from thence for that purpose. But, gentlemen, whatever may be the reason, it is unknown to us. It is, however, a matter of fact, that we have received none as yet. It is also well known that our town has, for a long time, been crowded, and is yet, with a set of ministerial cutthroats, regular officers and soldiers, sent here as prisoners. A detachment of our Militia has been lately sent down to New-York; and although strictly charged to come with arms and ammunition, they were obliged to go without powder, for we had none. The southern and northern Ministerial armies are drawing near. Above all, the savages threaten slavery, death, and destruction, for us; and for aught we can see, it is likely that the whole Militia will be called upon to defend the dearest rights and liberties of our country. Considering these circumstances, how unaccountable is it that we, who stand foremost in defence of our invaded liberties, should be left destitute of the only means by which we can defend ourselves. This being the case, we most earnestly beg the favour of you to take this matter into your most serious consideration, and grant us such timely relief as you, in your wisdom, may think proper.

We are, gentlemen, your most obedient and most humble servants.

By order of the.Committee:

JOHANNES SLEGHT, Chairman.

To the President of the Provincial Congress of New-York.

P. S. We just now received a letter from a member of the Committee of Rochester, an extract whereof is in the words following:

"I yesterday spoke with Silas Bowker, from Papaconk. He informs me that an old savage (a friend of his) has advised him to abandon the place, without delay, with his family, to prevent their destruction. Alas! if they attempt, we are undone. We must fall piecemeal, without revenge, as the tenth man among us cannot produce a charge of powder. If the Congress can pass this unnoticed, then adieu America!"

JOHANNES HARDENBURGH TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Rosendall, Ulster County, July 8, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I think it my duty to lay the following before your honourable Board, by way of complaint against the proceedings of the County Committee, held at the house of Mrs. Ann Dubois, on or about the 13th day of June last, when there was laid before the Committee the order from your honourable Board for me to give my reasons why I had signed and delivered two credentials to our Delegates, dated on one and the same day: I happening to be there that day, to deliver some papers to that Committee, which were in my hands as chairman of the former County Committee, which I conceived necessary to be delivered to them—when I was there, in the latter part of the day, I was informed by the chairman of said Committee that there was an order from your honourable Board for me to give my reason why I had signed two credentials, on one and the same day; on which notice to me, I desired of the said Committee some days' time, to draw up and give in my reasons at their next meeting, which I was denied; but ordered to give my reasons on the next day, at eleven or twelve o'clock; which I thought impossible for me to do, being then twelve miles from home; and having none of my papers with me, was obliged to ride home that night, where I came at one o'clock in the morning, when I examined the proceedings of the County Committee of the 16th and 25th of April, as also of the 13th of May, and then drew my reasons, which I conceived would be satisfactory to your honourable Board, in the best manner the time I was allowed would admit of.

What follows the extraordinary proceeding of that admirable County Committee? On the 29th of June, I received a letter from the chairman, dated the 28th of June, to attend the said Committee on the 4th of July next, to account for the money in my hands, which I had received by an order of the former County Committee from your Treasurer, Mr. Van B. Livingston, in the presence of two of your members, (whereof, I think, Mr. Fan Zandt was one,) and then to deliver the remainder to such a person as they appointed to receive it; on which notice I attended on the Committee, and accounted for the money then in my hands. The balance then in my hands was two hundred and sixty-seven pounds, which balance I conceived I could not give out of my hands, as I stand accountable for the said sum of three hundred and sixty pounds at any time to the honourable Congress, when they, or any of them, shall be pleased to call me to account, or to answer such contingencies of the County as they shall think a proper County charge, or such allowances as have been made a contingent County charge.

Gentlemen, whereas I was, on the 13th day of May last, empowered by the then County Committee to receive the before-mentioned sum of money, to pay the contingencies