COMMITTEE OF NEW-YORK CONVENTION TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Fort Montgomery, July 18, 1776.

SIR: We informed your Excellency of our appointment, in consequence of which we took a survey of the fortresses in the Highlands. We are extremely sorry to say that, not-withstanding their importance and advantageous situation, they are by no means in a proper posture of defence. Part of the few cannon at Fort Constitution were sent away, and the whole number now there, and at Fort Montgomery, are not sufficient; this want, we suppose, your Excellency will be unable to supply; we have, therefore, sent for those that were designed for the ships that are building at Poughkeepsie; but if we should obtain them, they will be of little use unless some Matrosses can be spared from New-York, since there are only fourteen at both forts. If your Excellency could spare a few howitzers, they might be of singular use at this place. A skilful engineer could be at no place more serviceable than here, as many small posts which command this ought to be fortified. We cannot think the garrison by any means proportioned to the extent of the works or the importance of the place. We know the difficulty that your Excellency will find in supplying these wants; yet we cannot but suggest them, since we are satisfied that even if the enemy should be defeated at New-York, they might take such posts here as we should find it impossible to dispossess them of.

We remain, with the greatest respect, your Excellency's most obedient, humble servants,

ROBERT YATES,

JOHN JAY,

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON,

CHRISTOPHER TAPPEN,

GILBERT LIVINGSTON.

To His Excellency George Washington, Esq., at New-York.

P. S. Since writing the above, we have been informed that the Salisbury furnace, at which place the cannon are cast, is under the direction of the Government of Connecticut; so that we have some doubt whether we can procure those for which we wrote, unless your Excellency will be pleased to lend us your assistance, by writing to Governour Trumbull on the subject.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO GENERAL GATES.

German-Flats, July 18, 1776.

DEAR SIR: General Washington has enclosed me the Declaration of Congress of the 4th instant, declaring the American Colonies free and independent States; and directed that it should be proclaimed throughout the Northern Army; for which purpose I do myself the honour to enclose it to you.

Fifty carpenters from Connecticut I hope have reached Skenesborough by this time, and a like number from Philadelphia are, I hope, on the point of arriving. Fifty more are to come from the Massachusetts, and as many from Rhode Island. To employ all these to advantage will require great exertions. I wish, therefore, that General Arnold should pay a visit to Skenesborough, and arrange matters there.

General Washington has ordered three of the fullest regiments from Boston to join you; these, with the Militia, will, I hope, give us a superiority, and enable us to prevent the enemy from doing anything decisive in that quarter.

I have ordered all the lead at Albany to be cast into balls of various sizes, and into buckshot.

General Washington writes me that Congress "have determined the matter between Mr. Trumbull and Mr. Livingston, and decided the right of supplying the Northern Army, and appointing persons for that purpose, to be in the former." I mention this that you may conduct yourself accordingly upon any application in the Commissary-General's branch.

I have assured Congress and General Washington that the difference in opinion between you and me had not caused the least ill will, or interrupted that harmony which is so essentially necessary to subsist between their officers; and I have entreated them not to entertain an uneasy thought on that account, for that a good understanding will be carefully cultivated between us.

Adieu, my dear sir; and believe me, with unfeigned regard, most sincerely yours, &c., &c, &c,

PH. SCHUYLER.

To the Honourable General Gates.

GENERAL WATERBURY TO GENERAL GATES.

Skenesborough, July 18, 1776.

DEAR SIR: I received your favour of the 16th, and your Honour may be assured I shall execute your orders as far as lies in my power. I would inform your Honour there are no troops arrived yet. I have had intelligence of their being on their march to this place, and hope they will soon arrive. I have a small party now clearing out. Wood Creek, and a small party building a place proper to keep a guard on the hill east of the mill, and the rest are employed in getting timber for the carpenters, and mills, and on guard. I have not men sufficient to begin the fortification on the west side of the mills. Your Honour will see by the return, that there are but few men here; but what there are I shall endeavour to keep well employed; and as soon as others come in, I shall do the same by them. I have picked up all the axes, and the blacksmiths have overhaled them. But there are but very few here in the whole. I shall stand in great need of tools at the arrival of the troops.

Sir, I shall with pleasure receive your orders as you see cause to send them, and hope I shall be able to put them into execution, agreeable to your Honour's expectation; and am, with the greatest esteem, your Honour's most obedient, humble servant,

DAVID WATERBURY, Jun.

P. S. Would acquaint your Honour there were thirteen carpenters at work at the galley, separate from Colonel Schuyler's company, who were not included in the return, by not knowing of the same when the return was made out.

The saw-mill is not yet got at work on account of a mistake in the irons, and I was obliged to send them here to get them done. They are now altered and returned. It is expected the mill will soon get at work, as I have used my utmost endeavours to forward the thing. I have this moment received your favour, per Doctor Ely, and everything shall be complied with, so far as lies in my power.

Still remain yours, &c.

RESOLUTIONS FOR ARREST OF SUSPECTED PERSONS IN CONNECTICUT.

At a meeting of the Governour and Committee of Safety of the Colony of Connecticut, held at Lebanon, on the 18th day of July, A. D. 1776;

Whereas many persons inimical to the United States of America, do wander from place to place, with intent to spy out the state of the Colonies, and give intelligence to their enemies, whereby confederacies may be formed and strengthened, and other great inconveniences may ensue therefrom: Which to prevent,

Resolved, That no person or persons unknown or suspected, whether they appear in the character of gentlemen, expresses, travellers, or common beggars, be permitted to travel or pass from town to town in this Colony, unless he or they can and do produce a certificate from some Congress, Committee of Safety or Inspection, some Magistrate, Justice of the Peace, or General, or Field-Officer in the Army, therein mentioning from whence and to what place the person producing the same is travelling, and that he is friendly to the liberties of the American States, unless he be a person well known, and friendly as aforesaid.

And all officers, civil and military, Selectmen, Committees of Inspection, Sheriffs, Grand Jurors, and Tythingmen in this Colony, are directed to require every person travelling as aforesaid, to produce such certificate, and to stop and examine such persons travelling without such certificate as aforesaid; and unless he or they can give full satisfaction that he or they are pursuing their lawful business, and are friendly to the liberties and interests of the United American States, and has no design to hurt or injure them in his or their journey, that they apprehend such person or persons, and him or them carry before the civil authority, Selectmen, or Committee of Inspection of the town in which he or they shall be found, to be further examined and dealt with as the nature of the case, in his or their opinion, may require.

And it is further recommended to the civil authority and Selectmen of the larger towns in this Colony, that proper watches and wards be kept in suitable places in said towns, by night, to apprehend any such persons as aforesaid, that may travel from place to place, and practise mischief against this or the rest of the United Colonies, and bring them