“Clarkstown, September 21, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: By the bearer hereof, Mr. Fairchild, the Committee here have information that several of Captain Johnson’s men have deserted, and some of them have already returned here. The Committee will be glad of your advice how to proceed in apprehending them, and sending them again to Albany; and if any provision will be made to defray the expense that will accrue in so doing. I have furnished the bearer with a horse, and you may furnish the Committee with an answer when he returns again.

“I am, Gentlemen, in behalf of the Committee, your humble servant,

DAVID PYE.

“To the Committee of Safety, New-York.”

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

Die Sabbati, 9 ho. A. M., September 23, 1775.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present:

For NEW-YORK, Mr. Hallett, Mr. Van Zandt, Mr. Beekman, Mr. Lispenard, Colonel McDougall.
For ALBANY, Mr. Nicoll.
For DUTCHESS, Mr. Gilbert Livingston.
For KING’S, Mr. Henry Williams.
For QUEEN’S, Colonel Blackwell.
For SUFFOLK, Mr. Foster.
For CUMBERLAND, Major Williams.
For CHARLOTTE, MR. Watkins.

The Chairman being absent, Colonel Blackwell was unanimously elected Chairman pro tempore.

A Letter from the Hon. John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, dated the 20th instant, was read and filed.

Ordered, That Mrs. Hingston, now residing at Hallet’s Cove, on Nassau-Island, be permitted to depart this Colony, with her wearing apparel and household furniture, unmolested.

A Letter from the Delegates of this Colony at Continental Congress, dated the 20th instant, was read and filed.

A Letter from Thomas Johnson, Jun., Samuel Chase, and William Paca, Delegates for the Colony of Maryland, dated the 20th instant, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“Philadelphia, September 20, 1775.

“GENTLEMEN: George Nicholson came a stranger into Annapolis, in Maryland, about two years ago, in the character, we believe, of a doctor, in a ship which imported servants. He remained in Annapolis and its neighbourhood till lately; he was amongst the first to enrol himself into a Company of Militia last winter, and has uniformly, as far as we have ever understood, expressed himself friendly to the cause of American liberty. As to his veracity or moral character, though he is personally known to each of us, neither of us know of any thing remarkable or particular on either side.

“We are, Gentlemen, with the greatest respect, your most obedient servants,

“THOS. JOHNSON, JR.,
“SAMUEL CHASE,
“ WILLIAM PACA.

“P. S. Be pleased to have the enclosed letter delivered by a safe hand; it is an answer to his to Mr. Johnson.”

The Petition of Christian Bergh, Jun., Adam Bergh, David Dop, John Dop, and Timothy Doughty, praying to be discharged, was read and filed, and is in the following words, to wit:

“To the Gentlemen of the Committee of Safety.

“The humble Petition of CHRISTIAN BERGH, Jun., ADAM BERGH, DAVID DOP, JOHN DOP, and TIMOTHY DOUGHTY, sheweth:

“That the abovesaid petitioners have been confined almost these three weeks, upon their own expense, and their families at home being unable to maintain themselves, because of their infancy, and in consequence must suffer. Then their maintenance depends entirely upon your petitioners’ industry, whereof you cannot be entirely unacquainted. We, your petitioners, have likewise understood that the gentlemen of the Committee have waited for evidence from our parts, to prove a crime against us. But we are sensible none cannot be brought in truth; and, besides, it seems to us, if there was any, they might have been here before now, for which reason we pray to be discharged.

“Supposing we had committed a crime against your resolves, it was before the resolves came in force, and we were likewise unacquainted of it; and, also, we think we have been sufficiently punished for it, according to your resolves; for the first offence is three months’ imprisonment; and Dop’s sloop they have burned, and Bergh’s sloop the Esopus people fetched and sold at vendue, for the use of the Congress, as we have been credibly informed.

“New-York, September 22, 1775.”

William Deane, of this City, about to proceed to Williamsburgh, in Virginia, applied to this Committee for a Certificate for himself and John Newport, his assistant; whereupon, a Certificate was given to him, in the words following, to wit:

To all to whom these presents shall come or may concern:

These are to certify, that William Deane, the bearer hereof, who is about to proceed to Williamsburgh, in Virginia, is a citizen of New-York, of good character and reputation; that he was the first who signed the General Association in this Colony; and that he is generally esteemed amongst us a son of liberty, and a friend to the rights of this Country. The said William Deane proposes also to take with him, as an assistant in his present business, James Newport, who is a clerk to Mr. Richard Deane, of this City, distiller.

By order of the Committee of Safety.

A draught of a Letter to the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., was read and approved.

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

A Letter from David Pye, Esq., was read and filed.

Resolved, That any Soldier belonging to the Continental Army, who shall be absent from his corps in this Colony, without a furlough or discharge from the Commanding Officer of the Regiment or Company to which be belongs, shall be deemed a deserter. And the Committee of every County, City, Town, and Precinct, within this Colony, are hereby respectively directed to cause each and every such Soldier, who shall be found in their respective Districts, to be apprehended, and sent to his or their Regiment or Company. But if they cannot be informed to what Corps such Soldier belongs, they are to publish his name, and the place where he shall be apprehended, in the newspapers, to the end that the Captain from whom he deserted may be informed where he may be found; and the Committees abovementioned are also directed to transmit to the Congress, or the Committee of Safety of this Colony, without delay, an account of the expenses incurred in apprehending, securing, and sending such Soldier to his Corps.

Resolved, That if any person in this Colony shall knowingly harbour or conceal any Soldier, belonging to the Continental Army, without his having a furlough or discharge from his Commanding Officer, or neglect to inform the Committee of the District where he resides of the appearance of such Soldier in it, he shall be deemed and treated as an enemy to his Country, and be subject to pay all the expenses that shall accrue in apprehending and sending such Soldier to his Corps.

It being represented to this Committee, that Captain John Hulbert, of the Third Regiment of the Troops raised in this Colony, and Captain Daniel Griffin, of the said Regiment, with their respective subaltern officers, are all in the City of New-York, and unable to proceed to Ticonderoga, for want of money to defray their expenses,

Resolved and Ordered, That Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq., as Treasurer of this Congress, pay to Captain John Hulbert thirty-seven Pounds six Shillings and eight Pence, for two months’ pay, for himself, and John Davis and William Havens, his two subalterns, to enable them to proceed to Ticonderoga, or elsewhere, to join the Army under the command of General Schuyler; and that Mr.