New-York Delegates to New-York Congress

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Philadelphia, June 10, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: We are now to acknowledge the honour of your despatches of the 7th instant.

We have long foreseen the difficulties you must be reduced to for want of money. They will not be lessened by the resolutions of the Congress of yesterday, recommending it to you to procure and forward five thousand barrels of flour for the use of the Army at Boston.

We communicated the paragraph of your letter, in which you complain, that unless the Congress shall make some speedy order with relation to the levying of money, it will be impossible for you to comply with their farther requests.

They, however, seem persuaded that their note of credit, which accompanies the order for the supply, will remove every obstruction; and relying on your zeal for the common cause, they hope you will be able to throw in this provision, which we are apprehensive will soon become highly necessary.

We may venture to hint to you, that the emission of paper money will be discussed on Monday, and we expect in the course of next week to be able to present you with a determination of this important business, which will free us from much anxiety.

We shall not fail to attend to what you suggest concerning the Indians. This is an object to our Colony of the highest moment, and we hope in due time will be considered by the Congress. We think the Indians will not be disposed to engage in this unhappy quarrel, unless deceived and deluded by misrepresentations, and this, with vigilance and care on our part, can be prevented. As one step towards it, which we much applaud, are the assurances you have given the Superintendent of his safety. From the temper and customs of the Indians, they would illy brook the extinguishing of their council fire; and had it been damped by any violence to Colonel Johnson' s person or property, they must have been alarmed and very probably excited to extremities.

It is much to be lamented that we are still destitute of ammunition. The Government of Connecticut have been more provident, or more fortunate, and will be able to supply the forces at Ticonderoga with powder.

We commend your caution in directing two letters to us upon the subject of general officers to command our Troops.

What we wrote to you was in the character of your own immediate Delegates, and with a view to discover the sense of our Colony, that we might, when this matter came to be debated in Congress, be fortified with your opinion and arguments, which, having obtained, we shall, to the utmost of our power, enforce your recommendations.

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Your remarks on the resolution of the Continental Congress relative to taking post at King' s Bridge appear to us to be conclusive; we shall, however, lay them before our body as soon as the other important matters under consideration shall be determined.

We have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, gentlemen, your most obedient humble servants,

PHILIP LIVINGSTON,
WILLIAM FLOYD,
JAMES DUANE,
JOHN ALSOP,
FRANCIS LEWIS,

To the Provincial Congress at New-York.