29th ultimo. We have given the necessary orders in this City to collect all the arms that can be got; but we are sorry to inform you that there is no probability of receiving a supply sufficient to answer immediately the demand of the Companies of the Third and Fourth Regiments, now at Albany. No other expedient, therefore, remains to obtain a sufficient quantity, than by endeavouring to purchase or hire them.

Mr. Curtenius informs us that all the necessaries for those Companies are sent, or will be sent by the first opportunity. He will also forward to-morrow, by Captain Cooper, for Albany, most of the other necessary accoutrements for Colonel Holmes’s Companies, now with you, arms excepted.

Your letter directed to Mr. Trumbull, we have delivered to him, and you will receive his answer by this opportunity. If General Schuyler has left no directions to Mr. Trumbull to pay the men at Albany, it may be necessary for you to send an express to Ticonderoga, in order to procure such an order by the time he comes up, as it is probable he will not conceive himself authorized to pay them without such an order.

To Colonel Goose Van Schaick, at Albany.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the President pro tempore, and transmitted by the Messenger from Albany.

The Congress then resumed the consideration of the Report of the Committee appointed to report on the Letter of the 3d instant, from the Committee of Brookhaven, and what is proper to be done with persons whose conduct is inimical to this Country; which Report, being corrected and amended, was adopted, as follows, to wit:

Whereas attempts have been made to promote discord among the inhabitants of this Colony, and to assist and aid the Ministerial Army and Navy in their endeavours to carry into execution the cruel and oppressive acts of Parliament against the rights and liberties of the inhabitants of this Continent; and as the immutable laws of self-defence and preservation justify every reasonable measure entered into to counteract or frustrate such attempts: Therefore,

Resolved, That if any person or persons shall be found guilty, before the Committee of any City or County, of attempting (after the date of this Resolution) to furnish the Ministerial Army or Navy with Provisions or other necessaries, contrary to the Resolutions of the Continental or of this Congress, or of holding a correspondence, by letter or otherwise, for the purpose of giving information to the said Army or Navy of the measures pursued by the United Colonies, or any of them, or of advising expedients which the said Army or Navy might or ought to pursue against the said Colonies, or any of them, such person or persons so found guilty, shall be punished at the discretion of the Committee before whom he or they shall be so found guilty, or at the discretion of the Congress or Committee of Safety of this Colony, so as the punishment by them, at their discretion inflicted, shall not exceed three months’ imprisonment, or other the punishments hereinafter mentioned, for the first offence.

Resolved, That if any person or persons shall be found guilty, before the Committee of any City or County in this Colony, of having furnished the Ministerial Army or Navy (after the date of this Resolution) with Provisions or other necessaries, contrary to any Resolution of the Continental or of this Congress, such person or persons, so found guilty thereof, upon due proof thereof, shall be disarmed, and forfeit double the value of the Provisions or other necessaries so furnished; to be applied to the publick exigencies of this Colony, in such manner as the Congress or Committee of Safety of this Colony for the time being shall order and direct. And that such person or persons, so found guilty, shall be put into and detained in close confinement, at his or their own expense and charge, until three months after he or they, respectively, shall have paid such forfeiture. And that every such person or persons, who shall be found guilty of a second offence of the same kind, shall be banished from this Colony for the term of seven years from the time of such second conviction.

Although this Congress have a tender regard to the freedom of speech, the rights of conscience, and personal liberty, as far as an indulgence in these particulars may be consistent with our general security, yet, for the publick safety, be it

Resolved, That if any person or persons shall hereafter oppose or deny the authority of the Continental or of this Congress, or the Committee of Safety, or the Committees of the respective Counties, Cities, Towns, Manors, Precincts, or Districts, in this Colony, or dissuade any person or persons from obeying the recommendations of the Continental or this Congress, or the Committee of Safety, or the Committees aforesaid, and be thereof convicted, before the Committee of the County, or any thirteen or more of their number, who shall or may meet upon a general call of the Chairman of such Committee, where such person or persons may reside, that such Committee shall cause such offenders to be disarmed; and for the second offence they shall be committed to close confinement, at their respective expense. And in case any of the said Committees are unable to carry this or any resolution into execution, they are hereby directed to apply to the next County Committee, or Commanding Officer of the Militia, or to the Congress or the Committee of Safety of this Colony, for necessary assistance, as the case may require. But if it shall so happen that any violators of this Resolution shall reside in a County where there is no Committee of the County, in that case the matter shall be triable before the Committee of the next County: Provided, That no person shall be tried before the General Committee of the City and County of New-York, upon the Resolutions herein contained, unless the stated quorum be present; and in the City and County of Albany, unless there are present twenty-five members.

Resolved, further, That the respective Committees and the Militia of the several Counties, by order of the respective Committees or of the Commissioned Officer of the Militia then nearest, are hereby expressly enjoined to apprehend every inhabitant or resident of this Colony, who now is or shall hereafter be discovered to be enlisted or in arms against the liberties of America, and to confine such offender or offenders in safe custody; and his or their punishment is reserved to the determination of this or some future Provincial Congress. And the Committee nearest to any person who shall be so enlisted, or have taken up arms against the liberties of America, are hereby directed to appoint some discreet person to take the charge of the estate, both real and personal, of any such person or persons; which person, so appointed, shall be invested with such estate, and render, on oath, a just and true account thereof to this or some future Congress, or to Commissioners by them to be appointed, and pay the issues and profits thereof to the Treasurer appointed by this Congress, for the use of the associated Colonies.

Resolved, That if any person be taken up on suspicion of any of the crimes in the above Resolutions specified, he shall immediately be taken before the Committee of the City, Town, Manor, Precinct, or District, where the offender shall have been taken up; and if upon examination the suspicion shall appear to the said Committee to be groundless, that he be discharged: Provided, also, That no person charged to be an offender shall be tried upon any of the foregoing Resolves, until the persons to be judges of the offence be first severally sworn to try and adjudge the person so charged, without partiality, favour or affection, or hope of reward, according to evidence, and that every witness who shall be examined on such trial, shall have the charge distinctly and clearly stated to him, and be thereupon sworn to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Die Sabbati, 9 ho. A. M., September 2, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment. No prayers. Present:

Nathaniel Woodhull, Esq., President pro tempore.

Ordered, That Mr. Samuel Verplanck advance to John Mason, a soldier taken prisoner at Ticonderoga, and now on his way to Philadelphia with his wife and two children, the sum of twenty-four Shillings, and bring in an account to the Treasurer of this Congress for payment of the same: the said John Mason and his family having permission to proceed to Philadelphia, from Ezekiel Williams, Samuel