Benjamin Franklin to New-York Congress

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Perth-Amboy, August 29, 1775.

SIR: The Committee of Safety acquainted you, by a letter dated the 26th inst˙, that we had ordered a ton of gun-powder to be sent you, agreeable to your request. It left Philadelphia early on Sunday morning, and yesterday I overtook the wagon on the road at Trenton, and left it proceeding on the journey. But being informed this morning at Brunswick that four wagon loads of powder had passed through that place on Friday evening, for your City, and supposing it to be the powder which you mentioned as having been expected, but not arrived, which occasioned your sending to us, and as we have still too little at Philadelphia, I thought it best to stop that powder, and send it back again, and wrote accordingly to the wagoner by a person just setting out for Trenton. I write this, therefore, that you may not expect it at Newark in consequence of our letter.

With great respect and esteem, I am, Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

B˙ FRANKLIN.

Honourable P˙ V˙ B˙ Livingston, Esq.