Ordered, That the Doorkeeper summon Mr. Bache to attend this Committee immediately.

The Doorkeeper returned, and informed the Committee that Mr. Bache has gone out of Town.

The Committee adjourned until nine o’clock, to-morrow morning.

Friday, nine o’clock, A. M., September 8, 1775.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present:

John Haring, Esquire, Chairman, and Commissioner for Orange County.
For ALBANY, Mr. Yates.
For DUTCHESS, Mr. G. Livingston.
For KING’S, Mr. Williams, Mr. Polhemus.
For TRYON, Mr. Sears.
For ULSTER, Mr. Roosevelt.
For RICHMOND, Mr. Lawrence.
For WESTCHESTER, Mr. Paulding.
For CUMBERLAND, Major Williams.
For NEW-YORK, Mr. James Beekman, Mr. Sears, Mr. Roosevelt.

Ordered, That Mr. Gabriel W. Ludlow deliver to Mr. Samuel Tudor one quarter-cask of Gunpowder, for the purpose of proving the brass Field-Pieces made by order of the Provincial Congress, and charge the same to this Committee.

Ordered, That Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., as Treasurer of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, pay unto Lieutenant William Crane, of Captain Palmer’s Company, in Colonel Holmes’s Regiment, the sum of thirty Pounds, for the purpose of paying off the Billeting Money, and paying the men under his command, that he may be enabled to join his Regiment; and that the said William Crane do give a receipt to the said Peter Van Brugh Livingston, and an order on the Deputy Paymaster-General, for the repayment of the said sum.

Ordered, That Mr. Watkeys, Gunsmith, provide for William Marriner a Musket equal in value to and in lieu of the Musket lent to the Provincial Congress of this Colony by the said William Marriner, as a pattern Musket; and that the said Watkeys charge the same to this Committee or the Provincial Congress.

Ordered, That Mr. Hallelt be empowered to engage Mr. John Griffiths to go to the neighbourhood of Goshen, or any other part of this Colony, and examine into the nature of the Lead Mines there, and that he return and make report to this Committee with all convenient speed; and that this Committee will provide for the payment of his services.

A Memorial, signed by Peter Bogert, William Harden-brook, Charles Phillips, Guilliam Varick, Andrew Bell, Theodore Hardenbrook, George Stanton, Isaac Mead, and William J. Ellsworth, the officers or foremen of the Firemen of the City of New-York, praying that they may be excused from being drawn out in the military service, except in case of a general attack, was read and filed.

Ordered, That a copy of a Resolution of the Provincial Congress, which exempts the Firemen from certain military duty, be served on one of the memorialists.

A Letter from William Smith, Chairman of the Committee of Suffolk County, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

"Suffolk County, August 31, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: Your letter of the 25th of this instant we have received, wherein you recommend that we place two Companies of Minute-Men at Montauk, and one at or near Shelter-Island. There are no Companies of Minute-Men yet formed in this County; and, when formed, we on to be stationed at those places, as those persons at the are of opinion that such Companies cannot be prevailed east end of the County, who could be spared from their families, are already enlisted in the service of the Continent, and the western part of the County are unwilling that any persons should go from them, on account of the danger of the enemy and the people in an adjacent County. We are exceedingly sorry that we shall be unable to protect the stock at the east end from the ravages of our enemies, when the Troops are all gone from us. The stock is taken from Gardiner’s and Plumb Islands. The hay on Gardiner’s Island we judge will be of no service to General Gage, if they cannot get stock, as they took no more than just sufficient to keep the stock to Boston, and said they wanted no more. We beg leave to observe to you, that this County is under considerable disadvantages, on account of having no Post that rides through Long-Island, and should be exceedingly glad if a Post might be established, in such manner as your honourable House shall direct.

“We are, Gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble servants.

“By order:

WILLIAM SMITH, Chairman.

“To the Honourable P. V.B. Livingston, Esq., President of the Provincial Congress, New-York.”

Ordered, That the Prisoners now in Jail, and who were taken from on board the Sloop last Sunday, be brought to the bar of this Committee this afternoon.

The Committee adjourned until three o’clock, this afternoon.

Die Veneris, 3tia ho. P. M., September 8, 1775.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present:

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

For NEW-YORK, Joseph Hallett, Isaac Roosevelt, Isaac Sears, Abraham Brasher, James Beekman.
For ULSTER, Isaac Roosevelt.
For CUMBERLAND, Major Williams.
For KING’S, Mr. Polhemus.
For DUTCHESS, Gilbert Livingston.
For TRYON, Mr. Sears.
For WESTCHESTER, Mr. Paulding.
For RICHMOND, Richard Lawrence.
For QUEEN’S, Jonathan Lawrence.

A Letter from Joseph Johnson, an Indian Preacher, of the Mohegan Tribe, was read, setting forth his having been among the Western Indians, for the purpose of influencing them in favour of the cause of American liberty; that he is in necessitous circumstances, and praying some relief from this Committee; and that a Letter of safe conduct and Passport may be given to him.

Ordered, That a Passport and Letter of safe conduct be made and delivered to the said Joseph Johnson; and that an order be made on the Treasurer, for the sum of fifteen Pounds, to assist him to defray the expenses of his journey.

Ordered, That Colonel Lasher collect the Accounts of the expenses attending the watching for and taking of the Sloop from Dutchess County, which was lately taken near Speyt den Duyvel, and lay them before the Committee.

The Committee having, from the examinations of George Nicholson, good reasons to believe that George Bethune, now of Jamaica, in Queen’s County, late of Boston, in Massachusetts-Bay, has been carrying on a correspondence with His Majesty’s Army and Navy, against the liberties of America,

Ordered, therefore, That the said George Bethune, with such Letters and Papers as may be found in his house, be taken and brought before this Committee; and that the method of taking him, and direction of that matter, be committed to Mr. Sears.

Mr. Roosevelt dissents.

The Committee adjourned to nine o’clock, to-morrow morning.

Die Saturnii, 9 ho., September 9, 1775.

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

For NEW-YORK, James Beekman, Isaac Sears, Colonel McDougall.

For ULSTER, Isaac Roosevelt.

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