[New York] Jany. 4th, 1776.
Die Jovis, 10 HO. A.M.
Mr. Thomas. Mcfarren attending was called in. The Committee conversed with him on the subject of shipping flaxseed to Ireland, to obtain gunpowder.
Thereupon, a draft of a letter to the Continental Congress was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:
In Committee of Safety for the Colony of New-York,
During the recess of Congress.
January 4th, 1776
Gentlemen ー
We have engaged two vessels to despatch with produce to Europe, for the purpose of procuring arms and ammunition, but the season of the year has prevented wheat from coming to market to expedite them so early as we could wish, to have a return in a proper time. In these difficulties we are unable to get bills of exchange, or gold or silver to despatch those vessels, which we fear will totally defeat our design. We have therefore been led to cast our attention on flaxseed, as the only commodity in our power which will rid us of our difficulties, but find that the resolution of Congress permitting the exportation of produce for ammunition, is confined to the foreign islands. As our safety depends upon the country being well supplied with powder, we submit it to you whether the sense of Congress, should not be taken without delay, on our exporting two cargoes of flaxseed to purchase powder. The measure recommends itself by several considerations; there is the highest probability of procuring powder in Ireland at a moderate rate. If this should not be the case, the flaxseed will sell at an advanced price there, and be a fund upon which he can draw from any quarter of the world. And if the enemy should take the vessels, the supply will not be so prejudical to us, or beneficial to them, as the loss of provision vessels. We request you to get a speedy answer on this point, and transmit it to us by express for our government.
We are, with great truth and regard, Gentlemen [&c.]
By order of the Committee of Safety.
To the President of the Continental Congress, Philadelphia
Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the Chairman, and transmitted.