To George Washington from the New York Provincial Congress, 3 August 1775
From the New York Provincial Congress
In Provincial Congress New York Augt 3d 1775
Sir.
We are informed in a Letter from the Continental Congress that the General would make out the Commissions for our Regiments to such Persons as this Congress should recommend;1 but are at a loss to know whether You, or General Schuyler are to issue the Commissions.
We understand however that they have been transmitted to You. If this should be the Case, and the Commissions are to be filled up by General Schuyler, we beg you will send them to him or us without Delay. If they are to be filled up by Your Excellency, we submit it, whether, to prevent Delay, it would not be proper to send them in blank to General Schuyler, or to us; that the Names may be filled up agreable to the Arrangement made by this Congress. The Number of Commissions wanted will be about two hundred.2 We are with the greatest Respect Your Excellency’s Most Obedient humble servants
By Order.
P. V. B. Livingston President
LS, DLC:GW. Endorsed in Joseph Reed’s writing “Recd 9th & answd the 10th.” See GW to Peter Van Brugh Livingston, 10 Aug. 1775.
1. Hancock wrote similar letters, dated 27 June 1775, to the colonies of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire (, 1:547).
2. GW instructed Schuyler in June to apply directly to the Continental Congress for the commissions needed for the New York department, but Congress had not yet responded to Schuyler’s letter of 28 June on that subject. See Schuyler to GW, 1 July 1775, n.5, and GW to Schuyler, 10–11 July 1775.