of a breach of the Resolves entered into by he Provincial Congress, September 1, 1775.

Friday, November 24, 1775.

At a meeting of the General Committee for the City and County of New-York. Present: John Broome, Chairman.

The Committee re-assuming the consideration of Mr. Burling’s motion of last night, Mr. Burling agreed to withdraw the same.

Information having been given to the Committee that a number of barrels of Pork was brought down to this City on board of Michael Crow’s Boat, the property of one Webb, of Westchester, which was suggested Webb intended to convey on board of the Asia, Man-of-War, to be sent round from thence, to Boston: Upon examining into the matter this evening, it did not appear that Webb intended his Pork for the purposes above suggested; and, therefore,

Ordered, That the persons who had taken possession thereof re-deliver the same to said Webb.

The Committee then resuming the consideration of Mr. Thomas Gardner’s conduct as to the sale of sundry of his Goods at an exorbitant price, contrary to the ninth article of the General Association, and also as to the information given to the Committee, of his having purchased Pins, &c., from on board the Packet, &c.: upon examining Mr. Isaac Mott, touching the above charges, he declares that Gardner bought of a Packet’s man (as this examinant was informed by the Packet’s man) a number of packs of Pins, enough to pay for four hogsheads of Rum; that the day before the sale of the Pins to Gardner, they had been offered for sale to this examinant by the said Packet’s man, and that this examinant refused to purchase them; that the said Packet’s man informed the examinant that the voyage before the last he had sold to Gardner Pins at four Shillings and six Pence per pound, and about a month ago he sold Gardner a quantity of Pins at ten Shillings per pound.

Ordered, That the consideration of the subject-matters relating to Mr. Gardner be deferred to the next meeting of this Committee.

Ordered, also, That Mr. William Ludlow, who attended here this night, according to the request of this Committee of last night, be further requested to give his attendance here again at the next meeting of this Committee.

Mr. De Peyster, from the Sub-Committee appointed on the evening of the 22d instant, to draw a draught of an advertisement respecting Robinson & Price, reported a draught accordingly; which, being read, was approved of.

Ordered, therefore, That a fair copy be made thereof, and signed by the Chairman, and that the same be advertised in Mr. Gaine’s next Monday’s Gazette.

James Taylor, who declares that he belongs to Captain Benson’s Company; that Mr. Leonard, Sergeant in said Company, sent him, John Kelley, and Leonard’s apprentice boy, with some others, to guard the prisoners at Mr. Foster Lewis’s last night, between twelve and one o’clock; that after they had been at Lewis’s a little while, he, this examinant, desired the said John Kelley and the others to take their muskets, (which they had placed, when they first came to Lewis’s, in one of the corners of the room,) and do their duty; that he, this examinant, took his, and stood sentry, but that the others refused to do any thing; that this examinant and the others of the guard at Lewis’s differed very much in opinion; that they differed and disputed the whole time they were there together; That between two and three o’clock in the morning the examinant left Lewis’s, and went home, without waiting to be relieved, and that after he went away the prisoners escaped; that the reason he went away was, because the others of the guard were all against him, and would not take their muskets and guard the prisoners.

Lewis De Bois declares, on his examination, that John Kelley, who was one of the sentinels on guard last night at Lewis’s, when the prisoners made their escape, told him, this examinant, the day before, at the hospital, that if he, the said Kelley, was to be on guard at Lewis’s that night ensuing, he (Kelley) would let the prisoners escape; and this morning, when Kelley awoke, and was told that the prisoners were gone, he replied, he thought of what he said yesterday.

Joseph Meeks, upon his examination, says, that he belongs to Captain Benson’s Company; that he, this examinant, was of the guard last night; that about three o’clock in the morning, John Warner declared that it was a damned shame those three men at Lewis’s should be confined; that he (Warner) had a boat ready, and had or would get, this examinant cannot recollect which, four men, who would take away the three prisoners; that Warner was in a great passion when he made the above declaration; and that Warner further said to this examinant, that he, this examinant, might rescue the prisoners if he pleased; that Captain Benson was present, and must have heard all that Warner said, but that Benson was silent, and looked Warner full in the face, and spoke not a word; that there was, during the evening, a great number of visitors at the guard room, such as the two Brownejohns, Norris the Barber, Burns the Barber, and many more.

Edward Meeks, upon his examination, declares, that he, as one of Benson’s Company, was at the guard room last night; that during the first part of the evening there was an uncommon number of visiters and strangers continually coming in and going out of the guard room, most of whom he did not know; that among the persons who were not of the guard, and who he knew, were William Brownejohn and Thomas Brownejohn, Thomas William Moore the Vendue Master, Winterton the Mason, Isaac Herron the Watch-Maker, and John Norris the Barber; that these persons, with Captain Benson, sat drinking in the guard room; that during the whole night no picket was set out, or any sentry placed, as was customary, on the Battery; and that upon this examinant asking Captain Benson the reason thereof, he gave this examinant no answer, but attended only to the conversation that passed among the above Company; that most if not all their conversation turned upon the subject of the times, and was very scurrilous as to the transaction of depriving Rivington of his types; that this examinant and the abovementioned Herron disputed a considerable deal the conduct of the Ministry; and that he, this examinant, observed, that he believed it was the intention of the Ministry to establish Popery in all the Dominions, and that Popery was certainly the bottom of all their schemes, which Herron denied was the case; but that when this examinant further observed of its being established in Canada, Herron replied, that he thought it was very right Popery should be established in Canada, and moreover added, that arming the Roman Catholicks in Ireland was also very right, and he approved of it; that Captain Benson sent out no guard, nor appeared to care any thing about the business of the night; and the time while this examinant was at the guard room was mostly taken up by Captain Benson and his Company abusing and damning Isaac Sears and several other persons for a pack of scoundrels; that this examinant left the guard room about two o’clock, finding that nothing was to be done; that Benson gave John Warner and James Leonard leave to go out about twelve o’clock, and that they remained out about two hours.

John Taylor, another of Captain Benson’s Company, at the guard room last night, says, upon his examination, that he heard John Warner, between five and six o’clock in the