Letter from the Committee of Easthampton:Twenty sail of square-rigged Vessels off Montauk, on the 22d

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Die Lunae, 10 ho˙ A˙ M˙, March 25, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present:

FOR NEW-YORK. — Colonel Lott, Colonel McDougall, Colonel Brasher, Mr˙ Prince.
FOR ALBANY. — Colonel Peter R˙ Livingston.
FOR WESTCHESTER. — Mr˙ Paulding.
FOR ORANGE. — Mr˙ Cuyper.
FOR CUMBERLAND. — Colonel William Williams.
FOR ULSTER. — Mr˙ Cantine.
FOR KING' S. — Mr˙ Leffertse.
FOR TRYON. — Mr˙ Moore.
FOR SUFFOLK. — Mr˙ Tredwell.
FOR DUTCHESS. — General Petrus Ten Broeck, Mr˙ Everson.

The Letter from John Chatfield, Esq˙, Chairman of the Committee of Easthampton, received and read yesterday, was again read, and is in the words following, to wit:

"Easthampton, March 22, 1776.

"GENTLEMEN: This day, about ten o' clock in the forenoon, our guard stationed at Montauk saw twenty sail of square-rigged vessels (five of them appeared to be large) and two sloops, bearing about south-southeast from the point of Montauk, about nine or ten miles to sea, the wind south-southeast, the weather something thick and hazy, steering about northeast by north, and sailed to the eastward of Block-Island, and suppose, by the course they steered, that they were going into Rhode-Island. This, gentlemen, is all the information we can give you concerning them, as about one o' clock they disappeared behind Block-Island, and they saw them no more.

"As we are a frontier, at the east end of Long-Island, and are destitute of men to defend us, and have but little ammunition, should be very glad if the honourable House would use their endeavours that we may have some assistance.

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

"Signed by order of the Committee of Easthampton.

"JOHN CHATFIELD, Chairman."