“Resolved, That the damages and forfeitures, as well as the costs of suit by such trials, shall be recovered by distraining goods and chattels, in manner as provided in the acts of Assembly; but in want of goods and chattels, the transgressor shall be brought before the Committee of his District, where and by whom he shall be sentenced.

“A true copy:     JOHN EISENLORD, Committee Clerk.”

A draught of a Letter to the Committee of Tryon County was read and approved of, in the words following, viz:

GENTLEMEN: We have received your letter of the 26th ult., together with the enclosed resolves, and list of the officers of the Militia in your County, agreeable to which we shall expedite commissions for those officers. By the directions of the Continental Congress, two Majors and a Quartermaster are to be appointed to each Regiment or Battalion. As you have only recommended one to each of your Battalions, and no Quartermaster, you will therefore with all convenient speed recommend to us four additional Majors and Quartermasters.

The Congress of this Colony have hitherto avoided interfering in the administration of justice in civil matters, or arresting the cognizance from the officers of justice; we cannot, therefore, approve of the resolve by you entered into respecting the trial of civil causes in your County, and find it highly expedient to recommend to you its repeal.

We are, Gentlemen, your humble servants. By order of the Committee of Safety.

To Nicholas Herckheimer, Chairman, and the Committee of Tryon County.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the Chairman, and transmitted.

Ordered, That the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the General Committee of the City and County of New-York be requested to cause an account of all the Moneys borrowed by them for the use of this Colony to be laid before this Committee, together with an account of the manner in which the several sums have been disposed of.

The Committee having ordered the Commanding Officer at the Barracks to cause the following persons, viz: Daniel Rivers, Abraham Freligh, Henry Acker, and Peter Dop, all taken on board the Sloop seized last Sunday, by Colonel Lasher, to be brought before this Committee to be examined; also, James Hicks and Thomas Carnes, who were taken by the City Guard last night, as they were landing from on board the Packet. Peter Dop, a lad of about fourteen years of age, was examined; Henry Acker, Abraham Freligh, and Daniel Rivers, were duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists, by Alderman Blagge, who came into the Committee for that purpose; and their examinations being taken in writing, they were discharged; and thereupon an order was made to Captain Beanman, requesting him to deliver one chest and one bed, belonging to him, which were taken out of a Sloop on last Sunday.

Ordered, That John Conner, now a prisoner in the Guard-Room in the Upper Barracks, be committed to the Jail set apart for the Prisoners of this Congress.

The Report of the Officer of the City Guard, who took James Hicks and Thomas Carnes, was read and filed.

James Hicks and Thomas Carnes, after they were examined by two of the Members, were ordered to be discharged.

A Letter from Samuel Van Vechten, dated the 17th ult., resigning his Warrant as a Lieutenant, was read and filed.

A Letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Cortlandt, of the 31st of August, was read and filed. He therein encloses Samuel Van Vechten’s Warrant, returned, and requests some person may be appointed in his stead.

Die Mercurii, 4to ho. P. M., September 6, 1775.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present:

John Haring, Esq., Chairman, and Commissioner for Orange County.

For NEW-YORK, Isaac Sears, Isaac Roosevelt, and James Beekman.
For DUTCHESS, Gilbert Livingston.
For ULSTER, Isaac Roosevelt.
For QUEEN’S, Jonathan Lawrence.
For RICHMOND, Richard Lawrence.
For TRYON, Isaac Sears.
For CUMBERLAND, John Williams.

Martin Simeon and Christian Deel were respectively examined, and after a severe reprimand from the Chair, and also particular advice from many of the Members, were respectively discharged.

A Letter from Samuel Bayard, Esq., Deputy Secretary of this Colony, was read and filed, and is in the words following, viz:

“New-York, Secretary’s Office, September 6, 1775.

“SIR: I received the favour of your letter upon the subject of the publick records under my care, and am, with you, duly sensible of the great importance of them to the Province, and the fatal consequence to private property which would arise from their destruction.

“How far any such event may be probable at this time I cannot form any judgment; and you must be sensible, Sir, of the difficulty of my situation, when, if I should, in the exercise of my discretion, depart from the line of my duty, I might subject myself to very disagreeable consequences.

“Whenever the removal of the records is absolutely necessary, I shall not fail to continue my care of them, and hope my attention to their security will evince my desire to discharge the trust reposed in me with the strictest fidelity; and with respect to the place where they should in that case be deposited, I can only say, that as it is out of my power to tell from what quarter danger may arise, so it is impossible for me to assign any place where they will be free from danger.

“I have not the least preference for one place above another, but shall, at all times and at all places, use my best endeavours to preserve them from injury; and, that nothing on my part may be wanting, I shall provide proper boxes for the most important parts of the records, to be ready on any emergency.

“I am, Sir, your most obedient and humble servant,

“SAMUEL BAYARD, JR.

“To Nathaniel Woodhull, Esq.”

Ordered, That Mr. Bayard’s Letter be deferred for further consideration.

Die Jovis, 9 ho. A. M., September 7, 1775.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present: John Haring, Esq., Chairman, and Commissioner for Orange County.

For NEW-YORK, Mr. Joseph Hallett, Mr. Abraham Brasher, Mr. Isaac Roosevelt, Mr. Isaac Sears, and Mr. John Morin Scott.

For ALBANY, Mr. Robert Yates.
For DUTCHESS, Mr. Gilbert Livingston.
For QUEEN’S, Mr. Jonathan Lawrence.
For KING’S, Mr. Polhemus and Mr. Henry Williams.
For CUMBERLAND, Major John Williams.
For RICHMOND, Mr. Lawrence.
For SUFFOLK, Mr. Abraham Brasher.
For WESTCHESTER, Mr. Drake and Mr. William Paulding.
For ULSTER, Mr. Isaac Roosevelt.
For TRYON, Mr. Isaac Sears.

Mr. James Beekman brought into the Committee a Certificate, signed by Isaac Stoutenburgh, certifying that five hundred and twenty-two Muskets, belonging to the Corporation of this City, were taken out of the City-Hall, and twenty-eight Muskets left at Mr. Isaac Stoutenburgh’s were also taken by sundry persons, at the time of receiving the account of Lexington battle. That each of the said Muskets, with their Accoutrements, were well worth three Pounds five Shillings. Also, that six iron Bullet Moulds were taken away at the same time.

A Letter from the Commissioners for erecting Fortifications in the Highlands, requesting the instructions of this Committee with regard to the plan and expense of the said Fortifications.

Mr. Bedlow, one of the Commissioners, attending at the