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A Letter from Mr. William Bedlow, dated at Fort Constitution, on the 14th December instant, on the subject of the pay of the Commissioners, was read, and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:
"Fort Constitution, December 14, 1775.
" SIR: About the latter end of October, Mr. Richard Yates, delivered into the honourable Provincial Congress, a letter requesting they would be so kind as to fix what they should judge, I with my brother Commissioners on service here should merit per day; as that was at the very latter end of the last session, 1 suppose through the hurry of business was not thought on.
" Permit me now to request the favour of you to make this application known to this honourable Provincial Congress, in hopes they will let the Commissioners here know what they are to have. This will lay us under grateful obligations to you and them; in particular him, who is with respect, sir, your humble servant,
WILLIAM BEDLOW.
" To Nathaniel Woodhull, Esq."
The Congress took into consideration the subject-matter of the said Letter, and after some time spent thereon,
Resolved, That there be allowed to each of the Commissioners employed in erecting the said Fortifications on the banks of Hudson's river, in the Highlands, ten shillings per day, for every day that he has been or shall be employed in that service.
And to prevent any expense that may by any means be avoided:
Agreed, That only three Commissioners for the present be continued in that service, to wit: Mr. John Berrien, in New-York, and two at the Fortifications.
And as Messrs. William Bedlow and Thomas Grenell were first employed in that service,
Ordered, That they be continued; and if Mr. Grenell's state of health should become such as to prevent his attendance on that service, that, in his absence, his place be supplied by Mr. Jonathan Lawrence.
Mr. John Broome, Chairman, pro tem., of the Committee of the City of New-York, attending at the door, was admitted. He delivered in the several Papers hereafter mentioned, which were read, and Mr. Broome withdrew.
The first matter delivered in by the said Chairman of the Committee, is an application for the loan of Money, which being read and filed, is in the words following, to wit:
"New-York Committee Chamber, December 19, 1775.
" The Chairman having informed the Committee that there were several demands upon this Board, which have been due some considerable time, requested they would take them under, consideration, and concert some means for discharging them:
" Ordered, That the Chairman be authorized to apply to the Provincial Congress, for the loan of one thousand Pounds, (subject to no interest,) and to give a receipt for the same, and to engage that the same shall be repaid out of the first moneys that shall be raised by way of a tax in this City and County, for defraying the necessary charges incurred for the publick service in defending our rights and privileges.
" JOHN BROOME, Chairman, pro tem."
The Congress took the said application of the City Committee in consideration, and are unanimously of opinion, that the small supply of Money expected speedily to be received in the Treasury of this Congress, and their present heavy debts, will not admit of making a loan of one thousand Pounds; but that to relieve the necessities of the Committee, an Order be made on the Treasurer of this Congress, for the sum of five hundred Pounds, payable to the Chairman.
Therefore, Ordered, That Peter V. R. Livingston, Esq., as Treasurer of this Congress, send to Mr. John Broome, as Chairman, pro tem, of the Committee of the City of New-York, or to the Chairman for the time then being, the sum of five hundred Pounds, and take such receipt and engagement for the same as proposed by the said Committee in their application to this Congress for a loan.
Mr. Broome also delivered in a list and arrangement of the Officers of Colonel Heyer's Regiment, which was read and approved of, and filed; and,
Ordered, That Commissions be issued accordingly.
Mr. Broome also delivered in a list of Officers of three beats of the Militia of the City of New-York.
Ordered, That Commissions be issued accordingly.
The case of John Blackler, referred to this Congress from the Committee of the City of New-York, and a Letter from the said John Blackler to Governour Tryon, which were this morning delivered by Mr. Broome, as Chairman, pro tempore, were read.*
A Letter from the Committee of Richmond County, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:
"Richmond County, December 15, 1775.
" MR. PRESIDENT, SIR: Your favour of the 2d of December, we hereby acknowledge came safe to our hand, and with the majority of the Committee considered the contents. We agreeably to your request, have caused by advertisement the freeholders and inhabitants in our County to be convened on this day, in order that their sense might be taken, whether they would choose Deputies to represent them in Provincial Congress or not; accordingly, a number of the said freeholders and inhabitants did appear; a regular poll was opened, and continued till six o'clock, at the conclusion of which it appeared that a majority was for the present for sending no Deputies.
" Our former conduct in sending of Deputies, to represent us in Provincial Congress, was elevated with encouraging hopes of having, ere this, obtained the so much de-sired point in our view, namely, a reconciliation with Great Britain. But with anxiety, we express it, that the hopes of obtaining so desirable an event is now almost vanished out of our sight, and instead of which, we behold with horrour every appearance of destruction that a war with Great Britain will bring upon us. Under these apprehensions, and in our particular situation, we hope you will view us, and when candidly considered, we trust will furnish you with sufficient reasons for the present to forbear with us.
" We wish and pray that if yet any hopes of reconciliation is left, that measures might be adopted, if possible, to obtain that desirable end, in wishing of which we conclude ourselves, your most obedient and humble servants,
" JOHN TYSEN,
" CHRISTIAN JACOBSON,
" DANIEL CORSEN,
" PETER MERSEREAU,
" JOSEPH CHRISTOPHER,
" LAMBERT MERRELL,
" JOHN POILLON.
To Nathaniel Woodhull, President of the Provincial Congress, New-York."
"P. S. Should the Congress think it necessary for further information of the state of our County, they will please to order two of our Committee to appear before them for that purpose."
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