Letter from General Washington

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Die Jovis, 9 ho˙ A˙ M˙, August 17, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment. No prayers.

A Letter from General Washington was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

"Camp at Cambridge, August 10, 1775.

"SIR: Your favour of the 2d instant is duly received, but it is out of my power to comply with the request it contains, of forwarding commissions. All those I have yet received from the honourable Continental Congress are far short of the number required in this Army; for which reason, when at New-York, and by letter from this, I directed General Schuyler to apply to the Congress at Philadelphia for those of his department, as the shortest and easiest mode; to which I must also now refer you.

"We have had no occurrence in the camp, for several days, worthy of notice; but, by some advices from Boston, and several concurring circumstances, we have great reason to suspect a part or the whole of the Ministerial Troops are about to remove. New-York is the place generally talked of as their destination. I give you the intelligence as it came to me, but do not vouch for its authenticity.

"I am, with the most respectful regard to yourself and the body over whom you preside, Sir, your most obedient and very humble servant,

"GEORGE WASHINGTON.

"The Hon˙ Peter V˙ B˙ Livingston, Esq˙, President of the Provincial Congress, New-York."

Ordered, That a copy of General Washington' s Letter be sent to General Schuyler.