month, out of my pay as Adjutant to the Third Regiment of the New-York Forces, in the Army of the United Colonies, and charge the same to my account; this being the first order of this tenor and date.

“ANDREW MOODIE.

“To the Paymaster-General of the Continental Forces, his Deputy, or the Paymaster of the said Third Regiment.”

Ordered, That Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., as Treasurer of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, advance to Andrew Moodie, on account of pay, the sum of ten Pounds; and that the said Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., pay to Margaret Moodie, the wife of the said Andrew Moodie, five Pounds per month, as part of his pay as Adjutant of the Third Regiment, computing his pay to commence on the 25th instant; and that the said ten Pounds, now to be advanced to him, be considered as the advance, or five Pounds per month, hereby ordered, for two months.

And Ordered, That the Colonel, or whoever else shall be Paymaster of the said Third Regiment, take care to retain five Pounds per month, of the pay of the said Andrew Moodie, such manner as that the same may be accounted for and repaid to the said Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq.; and that a copy of this Order be forwarded to the Colonel of the said Third Regiment, and that Andrew Moodie inform his Colonel of this Order.

Mr. Bernard Romans, attending at the door, was called in. The Committee conversed with him on the subject of his being an Engineer at the Fortifications on the banks of Hudson’s River, in the Highlands; and Mr. Romans withdrew. After some time spent therein, Mr. Romans was called in, and the Chairman, by order of the Committee, informed Mr. Romans that the Committee would not contract with him for building the said Fortifications; that he should be paid for his services as an Engineer; that as the Continental Congress was sitting, and the Provincial Congress to meet in a few days, the Committee could not make any proposal of, or any answer to establishing him as an Engineer, during the unhappy controversy in America; but that if his merits in the present business should appear to be such as to recommend him, it would be an advantage to his reputation; and that, should the controversy unfortunately continue long, it was probable his future services might be wanted. That the Committee had been informed that twelve Shillings a day, sterling, and not twenty Shillings sterling, (as he alleged,) was the value of the pay and perquisites of an Engineer on the British establishment; but that the infancy and present circumstances of the Country will not admit of allowing pay equal to that given in old settled States. That the Committee could not encourage him to expect more than the pay of a Colonel in Continental Army, and that only for the present; but that this proposal shall not stand in the way of any better provision for him, if the Continental Congress should think proper to make any better; and that, as he stood in need of cash, be should have an order on the Treasurer of the Congress of this Colony for some money. Thereupon,

Ordered, That Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esquire, Treasurer of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, advance to Bernard Romans, as Engineer at the Fortifications in the Highlands, the sum of twenty Pounds on account.

A draught of a Letter to the Agents for erecting the Fortifications in the Highlands was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

GENTLEMEN: We are favoured with yours of the 25th instant. In answer thereto, we beg leave to observe, that Mr. Romans was brought to assist in planning and directing the fortifications by your advice and request. The estimate and plans he delivered to us we sent to the Continental Congress, with a letter mentioning, that at least fifteen hundred Pounds, beyond the estimate, might be necessary for incidental charges, exclusive of cannon. Mr. Romans is now to proceed to you, and give you his best advice and assistance, as an engineer. The Congress of this Colony will meet next week; we also soon expect directions from the Continental Congress, and, in the mean time, we hope the works may be carried on with all your joint wisdom, advice, and assistance.

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

To Messrs. Samuel Bayard, William Bedlow, and John Hanson, at the Highlands.

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

Die Lunee, October 2, 1775.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present:

For ORANGE, John Haring, Esq., Chairman.
For NEW-YORK, James Beekman, Richard Yates, Col. McDougall, Mr. Van Zandt.
For ALBANY, Francis Nicoll.
For DUTCHESS, Gilbert Livingston.
For WESTCHESTER, William Paulding.
For RICHMOND, Richard Lawrence, Colonel Cortelyou.
For SUFFOLK, Mr. Foster.
For TRYON, Isaac Sears.
For CUMBERLAND, William Williams.
For CHARLOTTE, David Watkins.

Thomas Henderson, attending at the door, was called in and examined, relating to the Snow Georgia; says, that Captain Cole and another gentleman, who came to this port with the said Captain Cole, informed him that a letter, for the Captain of the Asia, was sent on board of the Brig Juno, the vessel they were in, from the Snow Georgia; that a boat from the Asia afterwards came near, and then the letter was sent for on board of the Georgia; that soon after some trunks were taken out of the Snow Georgia, and sent off in the Asia’s barge; that he, the examinant, has interrogated Captain Bolton, of the Snow Georgia, who, after some conversation, acknowledged that he had brought over a gentleman, who went from his vessel on board a boat from the Asia, with his baggage; and that Captain Bolton said that he believed that passenger belonged to the Army, and that he did not know his name.

Miss Janet Clark, being also examined, says, that she was a passenger in the Snow Georgia; that she understood that John Buchanan, Jun., of Greenock, was owner of the Snow; that she paid her passage to him; that from hearsay she understood that Walter & Thomas Buchanan were owners, but does not certainly know it; that a man-of-war’s barge came on board of the Snow Georgia; that she did not see any passenger leave the Snow Georgia in that barge; she understood that John Buchanan, Junior, was owner of part of vessel and cargo; that a passenger came in the Snow, who was called Captain—his name is Thomas Peters; she supposes he is in the King’s service; that Mr. Archibald Lunde and Mr. Spence were cabin passengers, and one Mr. Campbell and one Mr. Gordon, a parson; heard in Greenock that Mr. Lunde owned part of the cargo of the Snow Georgia, and that they were to be landed in Georgia; she understood that Spence was a merchant, and Mr. Campbell a lawyer.

A Letter from David Pye, Esq., of the 30th ultimo, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“Charlestown, September 30, 1775.

“SIR: Enclosed is the account of the expenses attending the taking up deserters belonging to Captain Johnson’s Company; the money, when paid, is best to be sent to the Committee, as it is to be paid to several persons; the pay of the Officers and Minute-Men is not charged that matter to be left to the Committee of Safety, or the Congress.

“Sir, your most humble servant,

“DAVID PYE.

“To John Haring, Esq.”

The Account of expenses of apprehending Deserters, therein enclosed, was also read and filed.

Ordered, That Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq., as Treasurer of this Congress, pay to Colonel McDougall the sum of two hundred and seventy-seven Pounds one Shilling and nine Pence, to enable him to pay off the two Companies of the First Regiment, now here.

And Ordered, That the said Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq., as Treasurer as aforesaid, pay to Colonel McDougall the farther sum of one hundred Pounds, to enable him to advance money, as part of their husbands’ pay, to