Ordered, That he be discharged from his confinement, with a reprimand from the Chairman.

It having been represented that there was a necessity for certain Regulations for the Night-Watch in this City,

Ordered, That a Committee of the following gentlemen be appointed to draw up a set of Regulations, and report them to the next Committee, viz: Colonel Lasher, Colonel Hyer, Major Abeel, Captain Berrian, Major Stoutenburgh, and Captain Gilbert.

Mr. Curtenius moves that Peter P. Van Zandt be appointed Major in the Third Battalion, and Patrick Welsh Adjutant.

The office of Secretary to this Board being vacant by the resignation of Mr. Blagge,

Ordered, That the Chairman procure and commission a suitable person to supply his place.

Committee Chamber, Friday evening,

December 8, 1775.

Twenty-eight Members met, who not being sufficient to constitute a House, they dismissed.

Committee Chamber, Tuesday evening,

December 12, 1775.

The following Members met, viz: John Broome, Chairman,

The above Members requested the Chairman to have an order served on the absenting Members, and know from them if they intended serving as Committee-men in future.

MAJOR SKENE TO HUGH GAINE.

Asia, December 5, 1775.

Mr. GAINE: I was much surprised on reading your paper of the 20th of November last, to find that you was assured "that Major Skene, the younger, who was released from close confinement on his parole of honour, lately made his escape from Connecticut," &c.

This assertion, being entirely groundless, so far as it respects my parole of honour, I think it my duty to inform the publick thereof, in order to remove any impressions which go base an act must have made on them. It is out of my power, at present, to give any further proof of my innocence, than by appealing to the Committee at Hartford, for the truth of what I declare, and which I am positive they will not contradict.

I am, sir, your humble servant,

ANDREW P. SKENE.

DUTCHESS COUNTY COMMITTEE TO THE NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Poughkeepsie, December 5, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Some few days past, three men were committed to jail in consequence of an order from the General Committee of Dutchess County, on a charge of having aided and assisted Peter Harris in inlisting men for the Ministerial Army. The Committee of Poughkeepsie Precinct, having reason to believe that some further discovery might be made of the pernicious scheme carrying on in this County against the friends of American liberty, as well to procure further evidences against said prisoners, the Chairman issued citations for a number of persons to appear before said Committee the 4th instant, on which day most of them appeared; and Mr. Justice Ellis being called in to qualify them, three persons, whom the Committee deemed the most material witnesses, refused to be sworn, and contemned the authority of the Committee, saying, they had taken counsel so to do.

And the Committee being of opinion that there are several very officious Ministerial agents in this County, who have corrupted the minds of many of the ignorant and baser sort of men among us, maliciously telling them, the Whigs are in rebellion, the King would conquer them, and their estates be forfeited; and if they take up arms against them, the King, for their services, will give them the Whigs' possessions: The Committee, taking these matters into consideration, and being of opinion that the denial of their authority is of the last importance, and not being clear that any particular rule is pointed out by Congress, think it expedient to solicit their advice in the premises.

We are, gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble servants.

By order of the Committee:

SAMUEL DODGE, Chairman.

To the Provincial Congress, New-York.

COLONEL KNOX TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Fort George, December 5, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: I arrived here yesterday, and made preparations to go over the lake this morning, but General Schuyler reaching here before day prevents my going over for an hour or two. He has given me a list of stores on the other side, from which I am enabled to send an inventory of those which I intend to forward to camp. The garrison at Ticonderoga is so weak, the conveyance from the fort to the landing is so difficult, the passage across the lake so precarious, that T am afraid it will be ten days at least before I can get them on this side. When they are here, the conveyance from hence will depend entirely on the sledding; if that is good, they shall immediately move forward; without sledding, the roads are so much gullied that it will be impossible to move a step. General Schuyler will do every thing possible to forward this business.

I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, your Excellency's most obedient humble servant,

HENRY KNOX.

His Excellency General Washington.

P. S. General Schuyler assures me, that, although the navigation through Lake-George should be stopped, yet, if there is any sledding, they shall move on another way.

A List of Stores to be conveyed to Camp at Cambridge, from Ticonderoga.

Twelve 18-pounders, iron; one 18-pounder, brass; two 13-inch iron mortars; one 7-inch iron mortar; one 6½-inch iron mortar; two mortars, one 10½-inch, iron; one 10-inch, iron; two howitz, one 8¼-inch, iron; one 8-inch, iron; one 8-inch mortar, brass; one cohorn, brass; eleven brass field-pieces, 4-pounders; one brass field-peace, 24-pounder; twenty-five boxes lead, the quantity in each unknown. A small quantity of flints.

The beds for mortars, and the carriages for the cannon, are to be made at camp, except six field-carriages for the brass field-pieces, which are now making at Albany.

GENERAL MONTGOMERY TO GENERAL SCHUYLER.

Holland-House, near the Heights of Abraham,

December 5, 1775.

MY DEAR GENERAL: I have been this evening favoured with yours of the 19th ult., and return you many thanks for your warm congratulations. Nothing shall be wanting on my part to reap the advantage of our good fortune. The season has proved so favourable as to enable me to join Colonel Arnold at Point-aux-Trembles, where I arrived with the vessels Mr. Prescott made us a present of. They carried the few troops, about three hundred, which were equipped for a winter campaign, with the artillery, &c. Colonel Livingston is on his way, with some part of his regiment of Canadians.

Mr. Carleton, who is I suppose ashamed to show himself in England, is now in town, and puts on the show of defence. The works of Quebeck are extremely extensive, and very incapable of being defended.

His garrison consists of Maclean's banditti, the sailors from the frigates and other vessels laid up, together with the citizens obliged to take up arms, most of whom are impatient of the fatigues of a siege, and wish to see matters accommodated amicably. I propose amusing Mr. Carleton with a formal attack, erecting batteries, &c., but