former Resolutions of the Provincial Congress of this Colony to the contrary notwithstanding.

Resolved, (with the consent of the Members of Ulster County now present,) Thai Ulster County Jail, or such part thereof as may be necessary, be used and taken as the Jail of this Congress, and for the confinement of any such prisoners as may be ordered to be confined by this Congress or their Committee of Safety; that such prisoners as shall be there confined, shall be confined at their own expense, respectively; but if they are unable to pay the expense, then that they be confined at the publick expense of this Colony.

And Ordered, farther, That John Blackler be sent to Ulster County Jail, and there confined until the further order of this Congress, or their Committee of Safety.

Die Veneris, 9. ho. A. M., December 22, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: John Herring, Esq., President, pro tern.

For New-York.—Mr. Scott, Colonel McDougall, Mr. Sands, Captain Rutgers, Mr. Imlay, Mr. Ray, Mr. Beekman; Colonel Brasher and Mr. Van Zandt absent on duty, by order.

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

Dutchess.—Mr. Humphreys.

Orange.—Mr. Herring, Colonel Hay, Mr. Clarke.

Ulster,—Mr. Wynkoop, Mr. Cantine; Mr. Palmer absent on duty, by order.

Westchester.—Doctor Graham, Major Lockwood, Mr. Paulding.

Suffolk.—Captain Wickham, Mr. Tredwell, Mr. Gelston. Tryon.—Mr. Moore.

Cumberland.—Mr. Spooner.

A Letter from General Washington, of the 17th December, instant, was read, and is in the words following, to wit:

"Cambridge, December 17, 1775.

"SIR: I yesterday received the enclosed information from several persons who lately came out of Boston, which 1 thought it my duty to transmit to you.

"Whether these troops are embarked, I cannot undertake to say; but if they are, it is more than probable that their destination may be very different from what they gave out in Boston, and that they were only used as a feint. It is certain that several ships sailed from thence yesterday morning.

"I am, sir, your humble servant,

"GEORGE WASHINGTON.

"To the President of the Honourable Convention at New-York."

The information therein enclosed was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

"Chelsea, December 16, 1775.

"Last evening eight men came in a boat from Boston to our guard at the ferry. They say that one regiment of Foot and three companies of Light-Horse were to sail for Halifax this day, and that the troops were putting water on board the transports."

"Dorchester, December 16, 1775.

" This morning eight large and two small vessels, taken for tenders, sailed out of Boston harbour. By their firing they appeared to be going a voyage to sea.

"Mr. Joshua Pies came out of Boston last night, and informs that a regiment of Foot and some companies of Light-Horse were preparing to embark for Halifax."

Resolved, That the Committee of Safety of this Colony, appointed by this Congress, be empowered to apply one thousand Pounds to the relief of such indigent poor of the City of New-York for whom the Corporation may not have made provision, and that it be determined by this, or some future Congress, to what account this sum shall be placed.

Whereas, discontents have arisen in the minds of many of the citizens of New-York, by a practice of some of the inhabitants to visit the King's Ships of War, which, if continued, may be productive of disorder among the citizens, and disputes between them and the officers and men belonging to such ships, which this Congress wish to pre-vent, therefore,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the inhabitants of this Colony to refrain from going on board of any of the King's Ships or Vessels of War, without leave of a Committee of a County in this Colony, or the Committee of Safety, or their respective Chairman, until the further order of this or some future Congress.

Whereas, sundry persons, whose conduct in the neighbouring Colonies, of which they were respectively inhabitants, has been unfriendly to liberty, and occasioned their removal into this Colony; and should such removals continue, the number of disaffected persons in this Colony will be increased, and the same be disreputably considered as an asylum for enemies to the liberties of America,

Resolved, That every person, not an inhabitant, entering into this Colony, shall be furnished with a Certificate from the Committee of the jurisdiction wherein he last resided, that he is friendly to the liberties of America, or be subject to be dealt with as a person inimical thereto.

Resolved, That the Committee of Safety be empower-ed, and hereby is empowered, to purchase and secure, and lodge in places of safety at the publick expense, as much Pitch, Tar, and Turpentine, as the said Committee may think necessary for the publick use and publick safety.

A Return from William Smith and Josiah Smith, two of the Committee of Suffolk County, and members of the sub-Committees of St. George's and Meritchts, which was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

"Manor St. George, December 15, 1775.

" GENTLEMEN: There has inlisted, as Minute-Men, seventy able-bodied men, within the bounds of Brookhaven, Smithtown, Manor St. George, and the Patentship of Meritches, who have chosen Daniel Roe, of Brookhaven, their Captain; Hugh Smith, of Meritches, their First Lieutenant; Caleb Brewster, their Second, of Brookhaven; and their Ensign Ebenezer Phillips, of Smithtown. And, as Hugh Smith and David Fanning, the First and Second Lieutenants of the Third Company in Brookhaven, there-of Nathan Rose is Captain, have inlisted in the Minute service, the Company have chosen John Smith, of the Manor St. George, their First Lieutenant; William Baker, of Brookhaven, their Second Lieutenant; "and Doxey Lane, of the Manor of St. George, their Ensign.

"The choice of each of the above companies was made in presence of us, the subscribers, who are of the Committee.

" The Minute-Men, (who there appears to be great need of to still intestine disaffection to our common cause,) want powder, balls, guns, drum, colours, and other necessaries, which here are not to be had; and, if to be bought, a great part of the company are not able to purchase. Your sup-ply or direction in these points will be agreeable to your humble servants,

WILLIAM SMITH,

JOSIAH SMITH.

" P. S. Pray let the commissions be handed down soon." "The President of the Provincial Congress now sitting in New-York."

Ordered, That Commissions be issued to those gentlemen accordingly.

The first paragraph of the powers of the Committee of Safety, relating to Militia Commissions, Was read and explained, and sundry debates thereon; and, thereupon

Resolved and agreed, That the Committee of Safety have the same powers, as to the nomination and election of Officers, and the granting and refusing of Commissions to Officers of every rank, as this Provincial Congress while sitting.

Mr. Sands, from the Committee appointed to plan and report a voyage to the West-Indies to obtain Ammunition, delivered in a Report of such voyage, which was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

The sub-Committee appointed to employ a sloop for the Island of Martinico, Guadeloupe, or St. Eustatia, report, that they think it necessary to load her with Provisions, on account and risk of this Congress, and proceed first to said French Islands, in order to get permission to sell her cargo there. If no permission should be granted at any of the French Islands, he proposes to dispose of said cargo at