them touching the enlisting men for the Ministerial Army, and transmit the result thereof to our Congress by express. As we understand there are several of the Grants in your County, we think it will be proper to endeavour to designate the Grant herein mentioned from others of that name, and that two parties should be sent on this business—one to Grant’s, and the other to Campbell’s house. It will prevent suspicion and alarm, if they appoint a place of rendezvous near each of those houses, and not go in bodies along the road for some distance before they reach the houses. It will also ensure success, if those parties, when they get to their respective places of rendezvous, stop all the avenues leading to those houses, and prevent any person getting to them, to give notice of the approach of the party. Great care should be taken that no rudeness should be offered to the families of any person your party shall find it necessary to take.

“We submit it to you, and the friends of our common cause, to determine what number and who will be proper to carry the intentions of the Continental Congress into execution.

“We are Sir, with great truth and regard, your humble servants,

“To Zephaniah Platt, Poughkeepsie.”

The Congress approved of their proceedings, and confirmed the same.

The Congress then took into consideration the defenceless state of the Fortifications on the banks of Hudson’s River, in the Highlands. Thereupon,

Ordered, That Colonel McDougall, Captain Grennell, and Captain Ledyard, with their Companies, proceed up to the said Fortifications immediately, to be and remain until Matrosses are raised, or further orders.

Thereupon, a draught of a Letter to the Continental Congress was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, November 3, 1775.

SIR: AS the fort in the Highlands is at present in a defenceless state, for want of troops, and as it will take some time to raise the Company of Matrosses directed by the Congress, we have ordered two incomplete Companies, now here, of the Continental forces, from which draughts have been made, to that post, until the Company of Matrosses is raised.

We hope this step will meet with the approbation of the Congress; and are, Sir, your humble servants.

By order of the Congress:

The Honourable John Hancock, President.

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

A Certificate of Simon Cook and Lewis Delavergne, returning the Officers of the Second Minute Company in Amenia Precinct, in Dutchess County, was read and filed.

The Officers returned are: Roswell Kinne, Captain; Judah Burton, First Lieutenant; Ebenezer Carter, Second Lieutenant; Andrew Shaw, Ensign.

Ordered, That the Commissions to those Officers issue; which were issued accordingly.

The Congress then adjourned until ten o’clock, tomorrow morning.

Die Sabbati, 10 ho. A. M., November 4, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment. Present:

Abraham Yates, President.

Mr. Hallett produced two Bills of Exchange, drawn on Colonel Robinson, one of three hundred and fifty Dollars, and the other of one hundred and five Dollars, and a Letter from his Agent at Pensacola, of the 10th September last, informing that he took those Bills before he knew of the Resolve of Congress against the Bills of Military Officers, and cannot make demand for those Bills until they are returned protested. Debates arose thereon.

Ordered, That the Examinations of P. T. Curtenius and Thomas Pearsall be delivered to the Committee of the City of New-York; and that the said Committee be requested to call the said persons before them, and make proper inquiries therein, and to treat all such persons as they find offending against the Continental Resolves, agreeable to their demerits.

Ordered, That any three of the Auditors audit the Account of E. W. Kiers, amounting to twenty-seven Pounds eleven Shillings and two Pence, that it may be paid by the Treasurer.

And Ordered, That a Letter be wrote to Colonel James Clinton, covering a copy of this Account, and requesting him to stop the pay of the Deserters therein mentioned, and retain the amount thereof out of the pay of the said Deserters, to enable him to reimburse the same to this Congress, their Treasurer, or order.

Thereupon, a draught of a Letter to Colonel James Clinton was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, November 4, 1775.

SIR: Enclosed is a copy of an account of expenses paid and expended for apprehending and conveying to Albany thirteen deserters, belonging to Captain Johnston’s Company, of your Regiment. The Congress request that you will make an immediate stoppage in their pay, to reimburse the sum paid for that service, that you may be enabled to account to the Congress for the same.

We are, respectfully, Sir, your very humble servants. Colonel Clinton.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the President, and, together with a certified copy of the said Account and the above Order, be transmitted.

The Affidavit of Francis James, of this day, was read and filed.

Ordered, That Francis James be paid for one-half of the Pilot-Boat the Hampden, the sum of three hundred Pounds, and for one-half of the wages or hire of the said boat, and her Mariners, the sum of forty-five Pounds, on his executing a proper conveyance for one moiety of the boat, and delivering over the papers relating to the said boat to Mr. Jacobus Van Zandt, and entering into covenants to Mr. Van Zandt, that if any money should be allowed for the said boat, or for the service or detention of the said boat, while employed in His Majesty’s service, that he will pay a moiety thereof to Jacobus Van Zandt, and also a covenant, that if it shall hereafter appear that the said boat was taken by collusion or any deceit of the master or owners, or either of them, that then he will repay the said moneys to the said Jacobus Van Zandt.

And Ordered, That a copy thereof be a sufficient warrant to Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., as Treasurer of this Congress, to pay the said moneys.

Ordered, That the Pilots of this City do not go on board of any Vessels with Troops on board; but that any Pilot who may discover any Vessel with Troops on board do immediately give intelligence thereof to this Congress or to the Committees of the City of New-York, and to the Inhabitants, with the utmost expedition; and that Mr. Beekman and Mr. Yates be a Committee to give directions to the Pilots for that purpose, and direct the Pilots to keep this order secret.

Henry Glenn, Esq., produced to this Congress the Note of Abraham Ten Broeck, Esq., dated the 2d of June last, to Abraham Lott, Esq., or his order, for the sum of seven hundred Pounds, with a receipt endorsed thereon for the whole amount, received of the said Henry Glenn, dated this day, and signed Andrew Lott, Deputy Treasurer. The said Note is given to Mr. Glenn, for the use of Abraham Ten Broeck.

Christopher Tappen, Esq., produced to this Congress the Note of Egbert Dumond, Esq., dated the 12th July last, to Abraham Lott, Esq., or his order, for four hundred and twenty-eight Pounds, received in an order on the Loan Officers of Ulster County, with a receipt endorsed thereon, signed by Andrew Lott, Deputy-Treasurer, for the amount of the said Note, this day received of the said Christopher Tappen. The said Note is given to Mr. Tappen, for the use of Egbert Dumond.