A letter from Major [William] Douglas, as to service at the lakes, and which was received yesterday, was read and filed. He says he will proceed to the lakes when [he] receives the command of

Continental Congress, or the General, if his health will permit, and in the mean [time] will serve his country, and desires the Committee would assist and forward Mr. [Jacobus] Wynkoop. A draft of a letter to the Delegates of this Colony, relative to the command on the lakes, and recommending Captain Wynkoop, was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Committee of Safety,

New-York, March 23d, 1776. Gentlemen ー On the 16th instant, the Provincial Congress, then about to adjourn, received a letter from Major-General Schuyler respecting Major Douglass and Captain Wynkoop, of which we enclose a copy, No. 1.

The Provincial Congress immediately send for Capt. Wynkoop, read the General's letter to him, delivered him a copy; desired him to call on Major Douglass with it, and return an answer the speediest possible.

On the 18th Capt. Wynkoop informed the Committee of Safety that he had called on Major Douglass, (who is in Colo. Ward's regiment in Kings county,) and delivered him a copy of the General's letter. That Mr. Douglass had intimated that he was now in service, that it would be at least two months before he could attend at the lakes if his health would then permit. The Committee therefore wrote to Major Douglass, and on the 2ls~ received his answer, of which we enclose you copies No. 2 and 3.

The season is so far advanced that the service must suffer if the vessels on the lakes are not immediately employed. We have prevailed on Capt. Wynkoop by this reason only, to engage seamen and proceed to the General with all possible despatch. We beg leave through you, to inform [the Continental] Congress that Capt. Wynkoop was bred a mariner, has frequently been master of mercantile vessels; served with reputation last war, both in the land and marine departments; we think him an officer of merit, and we have heard his conduct in the last campaign highly applauded. We have promised to recommend Mr. Wynkoop to Congress for the command of the vessels on the lake. This we do with the greatest cheerfulness, as we think him equal to the command and worthy of the trust; and from General Schuyler's letter, we are induced to believe it would not be disagreeable to him. We do not wish to impose Capt. Wynkoop's services on Congress in this command if it is not perfectly agreeable to them; and should the Congress think proper to order Major Douglass or any other gentleman to' go up to take the command, we pray their determination my be speedy, that the service may not suffer, as Capt. Wynkoop will not continue in that service under Major Douglass. We are, gent. &c. To the New-York Delegates in Continental Congress.