"The letter came to hand the 18th inst., and I would immediately have called the County Committee together, but found it would be the saving only of a few days, the stated meeting being the 27th, and therefore, with the unanimous advice of the friends of the cause in the neighbourhood, I thought proper to defer the matter till that time, especially as the calling a special meeting, the members being dispersed through the County, is attended with considerable expense. There was a circumstance, also, of which I supposed the Congress ignorant, that induced me to think that the business did not require such immediate despatch, namely, that Captain Havens with fifty men, belonging to the Continental forces (the party that escorted the Chambly garrison to Connecticut) were on their march to garrison the fortification.

" I laid the letter before our General Committee on Monday last, who ordered me to write to the Colonels of the two Minute regiments in the County, desiring them each to bold a company in readiness to march at a minute's warning, with a request also, that those gentlemen would immediately write to the commanding officer at the fortress, informing him of the places of rendezvous of their respective regiments.

" This measure was advised by three members of the Continental Congress, whom I saw as they passed through this County in their way to the northward. They informed me that they had been at the fort where they had left part of two companies, and that when Mr. Havens arrived with his party there would be men sufficient for its present defence, or at least as many as could conveniently be accommodated, and therefore proposed that we should only hold a company or two ready to march upon an emergency.

" I have the pleasure to inform the Congress, that several companies have not only turned out as volunteers, but have, both men and officers, solicited the service.

" I remain, by order of the Committee, your very humble servant,

" EGBERT BENSON, Chairman.

" Nathaniel Woodhutt, Esq., President of the Provincial Congress, New-York,"

Ordered, That Messrs. Roosevelt and John Van Cortlandt wait on the Speaker of the General Assembly of this Colony, and inform him that the Provincial Congress, finding it inconvenient to meet in the Exchange, intend to remove to the Assembly Chamber, and request him to direct the Clerks of the Assembly to take proper care of the Books and Papers of the General Assembly in such manner as he shall direct.

Messrs. Roosevelt and Van Corylandt returned, and informed the Congress that the Speaker of the General Assembly has ordered Mr. Bancker to take care of the Books and Papers of the General Assembly, and that the Congress may use the said room immediately.

The Letter or Note of Lieutenants Borough and Richardson of yesterday was read, and is in the words following, viz:

"New-York, December 6, 1775.

" Lieutenants Borough and Richardson, of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment, now upon their parole in this town, request to be informed by the Provincial Congress of New-York what route the garrison of St. John's has taken, and also request that they would lengthen the enclosed papers fourteen days, with permission to remain a few days at Perth-Amboy. Their answer to the above, sent to Mrs. Airy's, will much oblige those gentlemen."

The Certificates of General Schuyler of the parole of those gentlemen, enclosed in the note or card above copied, were also read.

An answer to Lieutenants Borough and Richardson was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:

The Provincial Congress informs Lieutenants Borough and Richardson, that they are not apprized of the route the garrison of St. John's have taken; that they conceive it out of their province to lengthen the parole of General Schuyler, and that the Congress conceive Colonel McDougall, as commanding officer in this city, to be the proper person to be applied to with respect to their going to the westward.

Ordered, That the said answer, with the Certificates of the General, be sent to Lieutenants Borough and Richardson, by the Doorkeeper.

Colonel McDougall moved (seconded by Captain Cuyler) in the words following, viz:

I move that Jacobus Oostrum, Johannes Medlar, sad Burnt Lends, be kept in close confinement in the jail of Dutchess County, at their respective expense, until the further order of this or some future Congress; and that such of them who have not means to support themselves, be maintained at the publick expense; provided the want of such means shall appear to the satisfaction of the Committee of that County.

Debates arose on the said motion; and the question being put thereon, it was carried in the affirmative, in manner following, to wit:

Resolved, therefore, That Jacobus Oostrum, Johannes Medlar, and Barnt Lewis, be kept in close confinement in the Jail of Dutchess County, at their respective expense, until the further order of this or some future Congress; and that such of them who have not means to support themselves, be maintained at the publick expense; provided the want of such means shall appear to the satisfaction of the Committee of that County.

Ordered, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the Committee of that County.

Messrs. Palmer and Schenck, the Committee appointed for purchasing one hundred stand of Arms for the Jersey Forces, reported that they have agreed with Jacamiah Allen for sixty three-quarter bore, and forty of five-eighth bore Muskets, with double-bridle Locks, Bayonets, and Scabbards, complete, at four pounds each; to be complete in ten days.

Mr. Hobart, from the Committee appointed to examine the Accounts of the Treasurer, delivered in their Report, which was read, and is in the words following, to wit:

Your Committee report, that they have examined the Treasurer's Account, and find that the money has been regularly paid in consequence of orders from the Committee of Accounts, but that no separation has been made between the Continental charges and those which are merely Provincial, which your Committee are of opinion ought to be done.

Ordered, That Mr. Pettit, the Doorkeeper of this Congress, do wait upon Messrs. Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Joseph Hallett, Thomas Smith, Benjamin Kissam, John Morton, Isaac Sears, Gabriel W. Ludlow, and Benjamin Helme, Deputies with others chosen to represent the City and County of New-York, in this Congress, and desire them to take their seats in Congress, or assign their reasons for their non-attendance, without delay; and that the Secretaries do furnish the said Deputies with a copy of this order.

The Congress adjourned till three o'clock, this afternoon.

Thursday, P. M., December 7, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Colonel Woodhull, President.

For New-York.—Col. Brasher, Mr. Beekman, Mr. Ray, Colonel McDougall, Captain Rutgers, Mr. Scott, Mr. Sands.

Albany.—Captain Bleecker, Mr. Gansevoort, Mr. Nicoll, Captain Cuyler, Colonel Rensselaer.

Dutchess.—Mr. Humphreys, Mr. Gilbert Livingston, Mr. Schenck.

Ulster.—Mr. Cantine, Mr. Palmer.

Westchester.—Colonel Joseph Drake, Colonel Graham, Colonel Gilbert Drake.

Suffolk.—Mr. Hobart, Mr. Strong, Mr. L'Hommedieu.

King's.—Mr. Vanderbilt, Mr. Leffertse.

Ordered, That Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., as Treasurer of this Congress, do advance to John Berrien, as Commissary of the Commissioners for erecting the Fortifications on the banks of Hudson's river, in the Highlands, and one of the said Commissioners, the sum of one