Mr. Robert R. Livingston reported the draft of a letter to General Putnam, in answer to his of the fourth instant, relative to the Continental ships and row galleys, which was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:

Sir — The Council has desired me, in answer to yours of the fourth instant, to inform you that the late Convention were sensible of the importance of equipping the Continental ships in Hudson's river, and repeatedly wrote to Congress and applied to His Excellency the General, on that subject. Had the means been in their hands, they would, without waiting any further directions, have employed them for that purpose. But such is the situation of this State, from the loss of its seaport, and the dispersion of its inhabitants, that it would be utterly impossible to procure seamen enough to man a single galley, or if even they could be obtained, the want of cannon and many other stores would be an insuperable obstacle to fitting out the ships. Many of the cannon that belong to or could be purchased in this State, have been lost or transported out of this State. We were obliged to borrow a few from the State of Connecticut for the forts in the Highlands.

The Council understood from Major-General Greene's letter, that His Excellency the General, would provide means for arming and manning the ships, and accordingly sent them down at his re­ quest. It gives them great pain to find from your favour, that any thing should be expected from this State, which their unfortunate situation puts it out of their power to procure.

They beg leave to suggest to you whether the most speedy and effectual means for equipping the ships would not be to obtain men and guns from one of the neighbouring States, or from the ships that are blocked up at Providence and are like to be useless for sometime. Marines might be furnished out of the Continental troops.

As, sir, you seem sensible of the importance of this business, the Council rely upon your endeavours to see it accomplished; in doing which, they will give you all the assistance which the slender means in their power enable them to afford.

As the Council are informed that the post at Peekskill is now strongly guarded, they flatter themselves that scouting parties in the county of Westchester will prevent any future depredations of the enemy, and deprive them of all supplies from that county.

I am, sir, &c.

Major-General Putnam.

Ordered, That a copy be signed by the President, and transmitted.

Die Veneris, 4 ho. P. M. June 6, 1777.

A letter from the Honourable Phil. Livingston and William Duer, Esqr. at Congress, dated the 31st May, enclosing a resolution of Congress, of the 23rd May, were read, and are in the words following, viz:

Philada. 31st May, 1777.

Sir — We transmit you the resolution of Congress, of 23rd May, 1777, relative to the manning and fitting out two galleys for the defence of the North River. We wish that Mr. [Lewis] Morris who was desired by Convention to write on this subject, had transmitted his letter to the board of war through us, as we then should have been able (in all probability) to have obtained a resolution for fitting those gallies at the Continental expense. For want of previous information, the resolution enclosed was passed without that attention which might otherwise have been paid to it.

We by no means are of opinion that there is any similarity betwixt the State of New-York and other States who have fitted out vessels of this nature.

The use of these vessels in Hudson's river is chiefly to protect the chain near the forts in the Highlands, and by that means keep up the communication betwixt the southern and eastern States. In other States they have been built for the purpose of protecting their own harbours and towns. The purpose, therefore, for which the vessels on Hudson's river are intended, being Continental, the expense ought, in our opinion, to be the same.

If the Council of Safety should be of the same opinion with us, and write to Congress on this subject, we shall procure a reconsideration of this resolution, and exert ourselves to make the fitting and manning these vessels a Continental charge. In the mean time, we think it will be for the interest and safety of the State to exert themselves in equipping and manning these vessels with the utmost despatch.

We are directed by Mr. [Francis] Lewis to inform you that the accounts of the sloop Montgomery will be forwarded in two or three days, together with the share of prize money due to the captors.

We are, sir, with great respect [&c.]

To the Honble Pierre Van Cortlandt,
President of the Council of Safety
of the State of New-York.

P.S. Capt. Cook having no money to carry him out of town, we have furnished him with a loan of seventy dollars, for which we enclose you his receipt.