Letter from General Washington

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Die Jovis, 4 ho˙ P˙ M˙, August 8, 1776.

Convention met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Brigadier-General Woodhull, President.

NEW-YORK. — Colonel Broome, Mr˙ Bancker, Mr˙ Van Zandt, Mr˙ Roosevelt, Mr˙ Dunscombe, Mr˙ Beekman.

ALBANY. — Mr˙ Aim, Yates, Mr˙ Bleecker, Mr˙ Adgnte, Mr˙ P˙ R˙ Livingston.

SUFFOLK. — Mr˙ Woodhull, Mr˙ Smith, Mr˙ Tredwell.

DUTCHESS. — Mr˙ Sackett, Mr˙ Livingston, Mr˙ Henry Schenck.

CHARLOTTE. — Mr˙ Duer.

WESTCHESTER. — Mr˙ Morris.

TRYON. — Mr˙ Newkirk, Mr˙ Harper.

QUEEN' S. — Major Lawrence, Colonel Blackwell.

CUMBERLAND. — Colonel Marsh, Mr˙ Stevens.

A Letter from his Excellency General Washington, dated this day, giving the intelligence received by two deserters from the Solebay man-of-war, was read, and is hereinafter inserted, viz:

"New-York, August 13, 1776.

"SIR: By this I mean to communicate to your, honourable body the substance of the intelligence I received yesterday from two deserters that came from the Solebay man-of-war the evening before. They inform that they were in the engagement at Sullivan' s Island, and give nearly the same account that was transmitted by General Lee, which you would see published by Congress. They add that they left South-Carolina about three weeks ago, with General Clinton and his whole army, who are now arrived and landed on Staten-Island. They also say that part of Lord Howe' s fleet, with Hessian and Highland troops on board, have got in, and that the remainder, with a considerable body, is hourly expected, which those that have come in parted from in a gale of wind off the banks of Newfoundland.

"As the accounts given by those men are direct and circumstantial, and their authenticity corroborated by many other things that have occurred, it is not to be doubted but the number of the enemy' s army will greatly exceed ours. Their force, which was generally expected would be considerable of itself, the unexpected augmentation of General Clinton' s army, makes it more so. On the other hand, ours does not come up to the intended establishment. Under those circumstances, and as we may expect the period just, at hand when they will make their vigorous push, I submit it to the consideration of your honourable Body whether it may not be necessary for your exertions to be employed in calling in the most expeditious manner such rein forements as you can obtain to the aid of this Army.

"I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant,

"Go˙ WASHINGTON."