A letter from Major Douglass as to the 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 the Continental Congress, or the General, if his health will permit; and, in the meantime, will serve his country; and desires the Committee would assist and forward Mr. 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 23, 1776.
    GENTLEMEN: 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 sent for Captain 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, Captain Wynkoop informed the Committee of Safety that he had called on Major Douglass, (who is in Colonel Ward's Regiment, in Kings County,) and delivered him a copy of the General's letter; that Major 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 thereupon wrote to Major Douglass, and on the 21st received his answer, of which we enclose your copies, (Nos. 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 Captain Wynkoop, by this reason only, to engage seamen, and proceed to the General, with all possible despatch. We beg leave, through you, to inform Congress that Captain Wynkoop was bred a mariner; has frequently been master of mercantile vessels; and served with reputation during the 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 Lakes. 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 Captain Wynkoop's services on Congress in this command, if it is not perfectly agreeable to them; and if the Congress think proper to order Major Douglass, or any other gentleman, to go up to take that command, we pray their determination may be speedy, that the service may not suffer, as Captain Wynkoop will not continue in that service under Major Douglass.
    We are, gentlemen, &c.
To the New-York Delegates in Continental Congress.

Source:

Force, Peter, American Archives: Consisting of a collection of authentick records, state papers, debates, and letters and other notices of publick affairs, the whole forming a documentary history of the origin and progress of the North American colonies; of the causes and accomplishment of the American revolution; and of the Constitution of government for the United States, to the final ratification thereof., 4th Series, M. St. Clair Clarke and Peter Force, 1837-46, Volume 5, p. 1397