[New York] Die Lunae, 10 HO. A.M. March 18th, 1776.
Elias Nixsen, the port master, showed a list of articles to be carried on board of the ships of war and, Governor Tryon's ship. He was informed that he might take them with him on board. He was also informed that he was permitted to bring on shore a list of all the letters on board in the mail for citizens of New-York, [and] any of the said letters which he-might be requested by the citizens to bring on shore; but that he must produce all such letters as he may bring on shore to Mr. [Joseph] Hallett and Mr. [Comfort] Sands, for their inspection, before he delivers them out.
The petition [of] Mr.Bernard Romans, attending anhe door, was read and filed, and he was called in. He assigns such reasons as he could give for his absence, and for the charges he had made in his account against this colony. After he was heard, he withdrew.
Ordered, That Mr.[John] Berrien be requested to attend here at 4 o'clock this afternoon. to give information as [to] the moneys by him charged as advanced for Bernard Romans.
A letter from John Chatfield,Esqr. chairman of the committee of East Hampton, was read in the words following, to wit:
Easthampton, March 11th, 1776.
Gent. ー On Wednesday, the 6th instant, the ship Sally (that belonged to Mr. Samuel Franklin, of New-York, and taken by the ,men ofwar at New-York and sent for Boston)was driven on shore , in agale of wind at Montauk .. The committee of Easthampton or" dered the tommander; vizt. Charles Srriith, mate of the Asia man of war, and Mr. Yo.ung, of Philadelphia, Mr. Elder, and Mr. 1 ' , McDermott, wh6 say they were passengers on board the ship, and that they were bound to Boston to procure a passage home to England; also Mr. Woolcomb, who was mate of a transport lately taken at Amboy, and served as mate of this ship, and ten seamen that belong to the Asia; all which persons we sent to New-York un-. der a guard commanded by Lieut. John Foster, in the minute service. We also send you by Lieut. Foster, all the letters and papers that we could procure from on board her. We have employed a number of men to endeavour to save as much of the sails, rigging, &c. as possible; her cargo, being salt, is all lost, and expect to save very little of the ship, as she lies upon rocks, with the surf continually breaking upon her. We are [&c.] Signed by order and in behalf of the committee of East Hampton.
The examinations of the prisoners, taken before the committee of East Hampton, were read, and are in the words following, to wit:
The examination of Mr. John Young, who saith that he was born in .Philadelphia, has been in New-York about a week, took a passage in the ship Sally for Boston, in order to get a passage to London, and there were only ten muskets put on board th~ ship Sally; and that Capt. [Charles] Smith hove a number of guns overboard after the ship got on shore, but don't know how many.
The examination of Mr. Wm. Elder, who saith, he was born in Scotland, and came.into this country about the first of May last, and that he had no recommendations to Rhode Island or Boston, and that he was on board the Asia about three weeks.
The examination of Mr. Wm. McDermott, who saith, he was born in Ireland, has been in America about five years; has been a lieutenant in the 47th regiment; had sold his commission about eighteen months agone; and that he was bound to Rhode Island or Boston to get a passage home.
The examination of Joseph Wolcomb, who saith, he was born in England; has been in this country about four years; came last mate of a transport taken at Amboy,
and had been on board the Asia about a fortnight.
Thomas Lambo, Willm Hatch, Robert Craw, Wm. Philips, Rowland Walter, Hugh Hall and Patrick Pendergrass all say that they belong to the ship Asia, Capt. Vandeput.
The above examinations were taken before the committee of Ea~thampton
Attest.
John Chatfield, Chairman.
A number of letters taken from on board of the ship Sally, some from Governor Tryon, Captain Parker and others, to Genl. How and other persons at Boston, were transmitted by the said committee with the prisoners taken from on board of the said ship, were filed.
Die Lunae, 4 HO. P.M. March 18,1776.
Mr. Oliver Templeton applied for liberty to go on board the ship Phoenix, to obtain leave of Capt. Parker for his vessel, laded by order of the Continental Congress, to go to sea.
An oath was administered to Mr. Templeton in the words following:
You do solemnly swear on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, that you will not give an intelligence or information whatever. to any person or persons on board of the ships of war in this harbour, or on board of Governour Tryon's ship, or the packet or any of them, relative to any fortifications erecting for. the defence of this city and Colony; and that you will not carry on board any or either of the said vessels, or deliver to any person on board of or belonging to the said vessels any letter or paper writing until you shall have read the same, and know that it does not contain any information relative to the said fortifications, or any of them: so help you God.
Ordered, That Mr. Oliver Templeton be, and he is hereby, permitted to go on bc:iard His Majestys ship Phoenix, with the port master, and to return, he having been previously sworn that he will not convey any intelligence relative to the fortifications tirecting for the defence of this city and Colony.
The committee took into consideration the case of John Young, brought from East Hampton, now a prisoner at the barracks, and the letters and examinations relating to him, and thereupon made the following order, to wit:
Ordered; That John Young, a native, and the son of a gentleman of Philadelphia, who; contrary to the will of his father, has entered as a volunteer into the ministerial service, and is now in custody in the barracks of this city, be safely conveyed to Philadelphia, together with certified copies of the several letters of recommendation found upon him in his passage to Boston; and the Right Honourable the Earl of Stirling is hereby requested to supply such guard and furnish such other necessary means for the safe conveyance of the said John Young to Philadelphia so as his Lordship shall think proper.
A draft of a letter to the committee at Philadelphia was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:
In Committee of Safety, New-York, March 18th, 1776.
Gentn. ー The unhappy excursions of the son of any gentleman friendly to the general interests of America give us great pain. Upon the subject of Mr. Young, we thought the best thing we could do, would be, to secure his conveyance to your committee, not doubting that the good sense of the parent, cooperating with filiai piety, will bring the young gentleman to a proper sense of his duty. We enclose the papers necessary to elucidate his case, and are [&c.]
By order of the Committee of Safety.
To the Genl. Committee of Assn.
Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the Chairman, and transmitted; and the Secretaries prepare and enclose therein copies of the sundry letters and papers brought from East Hampton, which relate to the said John Young.
Captain Wyncoop attended the Committee and informed that, in pursuance of the directions of the Provincial Congress, given to him on [March 16, 1776] last, he had called on Major [William] Douglass and delivered to him a copy of General Schuyler's letter of the [8th] instant, relating to the service on the lakes; that Major Douglass declined giving him any definite answer on that subject, and intimated that if he did undertake that service he would not be able to attend it sooner than two months hence.
Thereupon a draft of a letter to Major Douglass was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:
In Committee of Safety, New-York, March 18th,1776.
Sir ー A gentleman engaged in the public service should be always ready to determine upon any question of service submitted to his option. Mr. Wyncoop, we are, informed, communicated to you the copy of a letter from Major-General Schuyler; from which. it appears that the Continental Congress has reserved for you the of- fice of commodore on the lakes, and designated Capt. Wyncoop for service under you in that department. The General has recommended Mr. Wyncoop to that command, in case .of your refusal. . Lest you should have forgot the contents of the general's letter, we enclose you a copy of it. We request your immediate answer. If you accept of the appointment, we expect you will stand ready at a minute's notice for the execution of duty, whenever the service requires it. We are, sir [&c.]
By order of the Committee of Safety.
To Major Douglass.