The Congress took into consideration the case of John Blackler, and thereupon,

Ordered, That he be kept in confinement until the further order of this Congress.

The Congress then took into consideration the necessity and advantage of a small Armed Vessel, to be maintained in the East "River or Sound, to prevent persons inimical to the liberties of the American Colonies supplying the Ministerial Army and Navy with Provisions:

Ordered That Colonel McDougall and Captain Rutgers be, and "hereby are appointed a Committee to purchase a proper Vessel for that purpose, and to have her properly armed and fitted out; and ordered that those gentlemen do not expend on the purchase and outfit of such Vessel more than the sum of six hundred Pounds.

The Committee appointed to prerpare amendments to the Resolves for regulating the Militia of this Colony, brought in their Report, which was read; and according to order, being read a second time, and many amendments made thereto, was agreed to, and resolved on, and is in the words following, to wit:

Appendix to the Rules and Orders for regulating the Militia of the Colony of NEW- YORK.

1st. As the desire of promotion in the publick service is extremely laudable, and therefore should be so far encouraged, as may be consistent with the safety of the publick, and at the same time may not be construed into a design of countenancing prornotlons, of course it is earnestly recommended to every Company to have a regard in elections, to promote to offices according to rank, so far as may be consistent with true merit and ability to serve the publick.

2d. That wherever a sufficient number of Minute-Men do not voluntarily turn out of any Regiment of the Militia of this Colony, to complete the proportion in the aforesaid Rules and Orders required, the deficiency be made up by lot from those companies in which such deficiency shall happen.

3d. That the Militia of the Counties of Dutchess and Westchester be two separate Brigades.

4th. That when any person shall think himself aggrieved with respect to his being fined in consequence of the above mentioned Regulations, the Committee of the City, Town, Manor, Precinct, or District, where the cause of complaint ariseth, upon complaint made to them, shall have power to hear and determine the matter; and if said complaint shall appear to be groundless and vexatious, the complainant shall forfeit a sum equal to the fine in dispute, to Tae levied upon his goods and chattels lay warrant from the Chairman, directed to a Sergeant of the company; the said forfeiture to be applied in the same manner as the fines in the before Said Regulations are applied; and that ho man shall be fined for want of powder and ball who shall produce a receipt from his Captain of his having deposited in his hands six shillings and nine pence for the purchase of those articles.

5th. That beside the stated meetings of the companies of the Militia, it be recommended to the commissioned and non-commissioned officers to use all possible diligence to perfect their companies in the military art, by inviting them together in small parties as often as they conveniently can meet.

6th. That although persons above fifty years of age are not required to be enrolled in the Militia, yet It is most earnestly recommended to them that they be respectively provided with arms, accoutrements, and ammunition, as though they were required to be enrolled,

7th. That it be earnestly recommended to every man in the Militia to provide himself with a bayonet, properly fitted to his musket of fire-lock.

8th. That no new troops of Horse be formed, unless an augmentation be recommended by Congress or the Committee of Safety.

9th. That all persons incurring the penalties for non-attendance and disobedience of orders, specified in the twelfth clause, shall for every default incur the forfeitures therein annexed to the first default, notwithstanding their being held up as enemies of their country.

10th. That the Minute-Men meet in their respective companies on the first and third Mondays in every month, and pass through the necessary military exercise, under their proper officers; and that for the second meeting in every month, the officers and privates be respectively allowed the pay of the Continental troops, agreeably to the new establishment; provided that the commanding officer of each Minute company, who shall be present at the muster and exercise of each respective Minute company, do deliver to the Committee of the City, Town, Precinct, or District, in which they shall so meet to exercise, a muster-roll of the commissioned and non-commissioned officers and privates of their respective companies, who did actually appear and exercise until they were dismissed by the commanding officer, sworn to by the officer who was present and commanded for the day; and that beside these regulations, it be recommended to them to meet in such subdivisions of each company, under a proper officer, as will be most convenient for their frequent meeting.

11th. That if any officer should omit to meet and exercise his men upon the days appointed, or shall, through favour or affection, neglect to levy any fines in the said Rules and Orders for regulating the Militia required to be levied, he shall forfeit for every such neglect the sum of forty shillings, to be levied and applied as is directed in the twelfth clause of the before referred to Regulations.

12th. Resolved, That the officers of the Minute, companies, that are already chosen, do continue their offices till the further orders of this or some future Congress.

A Letter from Colonel Levi Pawling, of Marbletown, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

"Marbletown, December 14, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Yours of the 17th OctoberI have received. In answer to which I have given orders to the regiment I have the honour to command, that Whenever the alarm shall be given, they muster, according to desire, equipped and with provision, in Marbletown, the place of my residence; which is, gentlemen, from your assured friend and humble servant,

LEVI PAWLING.

To the President of the Honourable Provincial Congress."

A Letter from Jacobus Swartwout, Chairman of the Committee at Fishkill, was read and filed. It contains a Return of the following Officers, to wit: George G. Brinck-

being the vote of the body of the people, nor yet the vote of the Committee as a body, and several of the men being much suspected of being unfriendly to the liberties of America, and, in particular, John Norton, who is universally known to be in opposition to the plan of liberty, sir, we think the precedent to be bad in having men chosen by individuals; and much more to have men to load us to the place of action whose goodness is suspected. We, therefore, in duty to our country, ourselves, and posterity, do humbly pray that those men in nomination may not be in nomination, and may not be recommended for commissions till the sense of the body of the County be known. For why should nine or ten men presume to personate the body, without any instructions from the body of the people of this County. Sir, we pray that you would not carry the choice, which we esteem so illegal, to New-York, as we have a value for your honour. Sir, we must be plain in our relation to you, and tell you, that unless the inconsistent and impolitick proceedings of the last County Convention can be looked into, and re-dress had for the many infringements which we have received from them, we must send our protest, by way of remonstrance, to New-York, to the Provincial Congress. Sir, we are unwilling to enter on this, but for our future safety must do it; and hope that you, by your timely interposition, will prevent so unhappy a task. Sir, we look upon the whole nomination as illegal, and we must enter our protest against the whole; for there was but nine out of twenty-one, and seven out of that body were in nomination.

Sir, trusting in your goodness, we hope you will give a true representation to our brethren, the honourable Provincial Congress at New-York,

Sir, we remain your most sincere and true friends, the true Sons of Liberty,

To Mr Paul Spooner, to be communicated to the honourable Provincial Congress, sitting at the City of New-York.