Naval Documents of The American Revolution, Volume 1 ... - Ibiblio

AUGUST 1775 1233
[New York] Die Veneris, 9 HO. A.M. August 25th, 1775
Ordered, That the committee appointed to examine Capt. Melancton
Lawrence, have power to take such security of him as they shall think proper; and
also to take his declaration that he will not enter again into the ministerial service,
and discharge him.
The committee appointed yesterday to examine witnesses and take affidavits
relating to the attack made on this city by Capt. [George] Vandeput, delivered in
affidavits of eleven different persons in this city, proving that the first firing and
attack began from Captain Vandeput's boat from the ship Asia; which was read.
1. N.Y. Prov. Cong., I, 120.
WHITEHEAD HICKS, MAYOR OF NEW YORK, TO CAPTAIN GEORGE VANDEPUT,
R. N.'
( COPY ) New York 25th August 1775
Sir In answer to your two Letters of yesterday, relating to the firing upon
the Barge belonging to the Ship under your Command, and the taking away the
Cannon from the Battery, we are to acquaint you, that it appears from a great
Number of Affidavits that the People did not fire from the Battery till they
were first fired upon with a Musket from the Barge the Ball from which they
Swear passed very near several of them - As to the taking away the Cannon we
are to inform you, that the same were taken away by Permission of the Provincial
Congress, now sitting in this City, who the People have thought proper
to constitute to act for them, in this critical Situation of Publick Affairs. - Our
Duty now calls upon us to acquaint you that we are at a loss to account how
you could be obliged in duty to fire upon the City in defence of these Guns, in
the heart of the Seat of Civil Government, neither can we Account what inducement
there could be to fire a Broad Side upon the City at large, half an
hour after the Barge had returned to the Ship and the Cannon had been all
removed from the Battery - You may rest assured we shall take the necessary
Steps in our Power in the Affair agreable to Law.
We are Sir [&c]
Signed on behalf of ourselves and the Magistrates
Whitehead Hicks
N.B. Another Signature unintelligible
1. PRO, Admiralty 1/485, LC Transcript.
CAPTAIN GEORGE VANDEPUT, R.N., TO MAYOR WHITEHEAD HICKS
Sir, Asia, N. River, Aug. 25, 1775.
I have just now received yours; in return to which I am to acquaint you
that the Musket fired from our Boat, was fired as a Signal towards the Ship,
and not at the Battery, as the People in the Boat will likewise make their Affidavits
of. You say you are at a Loss to account how my Duty could oblige me
to fire upon the City, in defence of those Guns, in the Seat of civil Government;
and you add, that you can neither account for my Inducement, half an Hour
after the return of the Boats and the Removal of the Cannon, for firing a Broad-