Abraham Lott to New-York Congress

v3:465

New-York, August 31, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: This morning I have seen a printed resolution of the honourable Board, dated the 29th instant, by which I am permitted in future (agreeable to former directions) to supply His Majesty' s ships "on this station with all necessaries, as well fresh as salt; and that such supplies be sent by me to the Governour' s Island, to be taken from thence on board of the said ships."

In pursuance of which, I propose to write a letter to Captain Vandeput, informing him of the leave given by the honourable Board. But as the beer and water for the King' s ships have been supplied from Brookland Ferry, and not from this City, as these articles are put on board of the ships in large heavy butts, which require a number of hands to hoist them in and out of the boats, and cannot be obtained any where else with the same ease and convenience, and as the inhabitants at the ferry have no objection to the man-of-war' s boat coming there to take off those articles, I humbly pray the honourable Congress will be pleased, prior to my writing Captain Vandeput, to signify whether the man-of-war' s boats may be permitted to go to the ferry for beer and water, and whether I may assure him they will not be molested and hurt in going on that business. I hope I may be permitted to add, that if this liberty is not granted, it will be a difficult matter for the ships to water, as they cannot get it on the Governour' s Island; nor do I conceive how it will be in my power to supply them with beer in any other mode.

I have the honour, with all due deference to your superiour judgments, to be, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

ABRAHAM LOTT.

To the Honourable the Provincial Congress for the Colony of New-York, in Congress convened.

P˙ S˙ Enclosed I send an account of what I have supplied and am to supply His Majesty' s Ship Asia with.

New-York, August 31, 1775.

Pursuant to the order of the honourable the Provincial Congress for the Colony of New-York of the 27th May, 1775, I have supplied His Majesty' s Ship Asia, between the 27th of July and 2d of August, with the following provisions, for her own use, viz: bread, 20,618 pounds; flour, 28 cwt˙ 3 qrs˙ 2 Ibs˙; butter, 1,195 pounds; beer, have not got the brewer' s account, and thus cannot ascertain the quantity. I have lately received another order for — bread, 10,000 pounds; butter, 10 firkins; peas, 84 bushels; oatmeal, 84 bushels; which propose to supply in a few days.

ABRAHAM LOTT.

To the Hon˙ P˙ V˙ B˙ Livingston, Esq˙, President of the Provincial Congress, New-York.