[New York] Thursday, 9 ho. A.M. July 13, 1775.
Alderman [David] Matthews and Alderman [George] Brewerton, applied to the committee and delivered a letter from Captain [George] VanDeput of His Majesty's ship Asia to Governor [William] Tryon, complaining that one of his boats is brought on shore and the crew detained prisoners; and the committee being informed that the boat's crew are prisoners in Gen. [David] Wooster's camp; and also, that His Majesty's store near Hudson's river was broken open during last night, and divers effects carried away from thence by violence;
Ordered, That Samuel Verplanck, Isaac Low, and Governeur Morris, Esqs. be a sub-committee from this committee to wait on Gen. Wooster, in order to make inquiry and to receive information on those subjects, and also to give such directions therein as they shall think proper, that right may be done without delay. Thereupon a draft of a letter to General Wooster was read and approved, and is as follows:
Committee of Safety, for the Colony of New-York, July 13th, 1775.
Sir ー Complaint has been made to our board that a boat belonging to His Majesty's Ship Asia has been drawn on shore, and the boat's crew detained as prisoners, at your camp; and also, that His Majesty's store house near Hudson's River was, during last night broken open and divers effects carried away from thence by violence. It is alleged that some of the troops under your command, have been concerned in both those acts.
We have, therefore, appointed Samuel Verplanck, Isaac Low, and Governeur Morris, Esqs. a committee from our Board, to wait on you, in order to make inquiry and receive information on those subjects; and also, to give such directions therein as they shall think proper, that right might be done without delay.
We are Sir, [&c.] By order of the Committee.
Major-General Wooster.
Ordered, That a copy thereof signed by the Chairman, be delivered to the sub-committee.
Mr. Low, from the committee who waited on Gen. Wooster, reported that General Wooster informed them that the matter of complaint relating to the boat and boat's crew belonging to the ship Asia, had arose through some mistake. of the master of the Connecticut armed Schooner. That he had ordered the boat to be restored, and sent a party to put her in the water, and that the boat's crew he had discharged as soon as he heard of their being detained.
That as to the effects brought to his camp last night, he had ordered them to be taken care of, and that they are preserved under a guard.; that they were brought there by some persons without his knowledge or directions; that one Brasher informed him that Col. [Rudolphus] Ritzema had desired him to receive and protect those effects; and, therefore, he had set a guard over them, and they were ready to be delivered to the owner, or to the order of this committee.
The Recorder and Alderman Brewerton and Matthews were called in, and they informed the committee that the boat belonging to the Asia man of war is burnt.
Whereupon the committee made the following order:
Whereas, Information hath been given to this committee by some of the civil magistrates of the city of New York, that an attack was made without provocation, upon a boat belonging to His Majesty's Ship Asia, and that boat wantonly destroyed; and also that the house and stores of Mr. Francis Stevens, have been violently broken open and robbed of private property, and military stores taken from thence: AND WHEREAS, the said magistrates have requested the advice of this committee in the premises,
Ordered, That it be recommended to the civil magistrates to examine strictly into the several matters and things above mentioned, and to punish all persons who are guilty of perpetrating the same, as the law directs; and that it be and hereby is, recommended to all the citizens and others to aid and assist the magistrates in the execution of their offices.
Ordered, That the foregoing order be published in handbills, and distributed.
