power to repay it, with our most grateful acknowledgements, which we pray you to communicate.

We are most respectfully, sir, your very humble servants.

To Jonathan Hampton, Esq., Chairman of the Commit tee of Elizabethtown.

Ordered, that a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the Chairman, and transmitted.

Ordered, That so much of the said Gunpowder, now purchased by this Committee, as shall be sold, be said at the rate of five Shillings per pound, and that no greater quantity than half a pound be sold to any one person.

Colonel McDougall informed the Committee that some days ago he received a' Letter from Mr. Lewis Pintard, informing him that a Vessel from Hispaniola, with Gun powder on board, was on this coast; that he apprehended Delaware River was so obstructed with ice that the Vessel would not be able to enter there; and that, therefore, there Is reason to expect her to attempt coming into this port; and that Mr. Pintard had further informed him that if this Vessel succeeded in her voyage, an Armed Vessel was ready at Hispaniola to follow her with a like cargo.

Colonel McDougall further informed the Committee, that no proper Pilot-Boat could be obtained to go to Sandy-Hook, to look out for the said Vessel, to navigate her to a place of safety, and that by the advice of the other Members of the Committee then present, he had purchased a Whale-Boat, with oars, for twenty-seven Dollars, and had employed Captain William Dobbs, at ten Shillings per day, and four other men at five Shillings per day, each, besides their necessary provisions and expenses, and given to them proper directions, and sent them to Sandy-Hook, to watch and look out for the said Vessel, there to remain eight days, if the said Vessel did not arrive sooner.

The Committee of Safety fully approved of, and ratified the said agreement made by Colonel McDougall, and direct him to return an account of the expense to this Committee, as soon as he can ascertain the same.

Colonel McDougall further informed the Committee, that by advice of the other Members of the Committee then present, he had detained Robert Barber, John Bain, and James Henry, three persons experienced in preparing Artillery Stores, (and who had been determined to go to Philadelphia,) that he had agreed with them at three Shillings per day each, besides some allowance for provisions, and they are now gone to work in the Laboratory fit' the Upper Barracks.

The Committee fully approve of, and confirm this agreement.

Mr. Bernard Romans, the Engineer, attending at the floor, was called in. He produced a Plan of the Fortifications at the Highlands, which, with Mr. Romans's explanations thereof were considered by the Committee. After some time spent therein, the Committee conceived if pro per that Mr. Romans be permitted to lay his Plan, with his explanations thereof, before the Continental Congress, that they may have every information that can be offered them relating to the state of, and place of erecting the said Fortifications.

Thereupon a draft of a Letter to the honourable the Conlinental Congress, was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

SIR: As it is an object of great moment with us, as well as the Continental Congress, to have the important pass on Hudson-River properly secured and fortified, we think it our duty to furnish them with all possible information on the subject; for this purpose we send Mr. Romans, the Engineer, employed in that department, who is pre pared to lay before Congress his drafts, with the necessary information, We beg leave to mention, that the place at which the works are erected, was fixed before Mr. Romans was employed in the service, and from his ideas of then matter, the place cannot be rendered sufficiently secure for lodgment of troops, and to answer the end of a fortified pass, without more expense than our Commissioners, appointed to superintend that business, think prudent, besides which, they observe, that his scheme cannot be completely executed with that despatch the service may require. Mr. Palmer, in conjunction with the rest of the Committee appointed by our Congress, to remove the difficulties occasioned by a difference of opinion between the Commissioners and Engineer, has doubtless pointed out to Congress certain places on the river, which would better answer the purposes of a temporary defence, and at much less expense than will necessarily attend the execution of Mr. Romans's scheme. We are fully of opinion, that the places in Mr. Palmer's proposal ought by all means be covered with Fortifications, that will cost but little, and command two considerable reaches of the river. We at the same time submit it to the consideration of Congress how far the completion of the Fortifications already begun, ought to be carried on, either upon Mr. Romans's plan, or that which has doubtless been proposed by Mr. Palmer, as the sense of our Committee, who were sent to view the works. We hope that this application, while Mr. Palmer is attending on the Congress, will not be construed to his disadvantage. Had we been possessed of Mr. Romam's plan in its present complete state, and had he been in town at the time of Mr. Palmer's departure, we should have required his ac companying that gentlemen; and as there is some prospect that Mr. Romans may reach Philadelphia before the plan of Fortification is finally determined by Congress, we should think ourselves inexcusable in withholding from them any means for enabling them to determine so important a matter on the best lights in our power to furnish.

We are, sir, with the greatest respect, your most obedient, humble servants.

By order of the Committee.

To the Honourable the President of the Continental Congress, Philadelphia.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the Chairman, and transmitted.

Ordered, That Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq., as Treasurer of this Congress, advance to Mr. Bernard Romans, as Engineer at the Fortifications on the banks of Had son-River, in the Highlands, the sum of fifty Dollars, on ac count of his pay, and take Mr. Romans's receipt for the same.

Ordered, That Mr. William Loather be permitted to supply one hogshead of Rum, or Spirits, to the Purser, or Officers of His Majesty's Ship Phenix, and to have the same conveyed on board of the said Ship.

The Petition of George Coffin, expressing his contrition for his past conduct, asking pardon of his countrymen, and praying to be restored, was read and filed.

The Committee conceive they are not enabled to grant the prayer of the said Petition.

Ordered, That it be deferred for the consideration of the Provincial Congress, and recommended to the Congress by this Committee.

Die Jovis, 10 ho. A. M., January 4, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Pierre Van Cortlandt, Esq., Chairman, Mr. Scott, Colonel McDougall, Mr. Sands, Mr. Brewster, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Spooner.

A draft of a Letter to the Chairman of the respective Committees in several Counties, was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

New-York, January 2, 1776.

SIR: We are well informed that the late General Assembly of this Colony is dissolved, and that writs are already made out for electing Representatives in the several Counties so early, as that they may meet in General Assembly at New-York, on the 14th of next month, and that they will be summoned to meet on (hat day. Government for some reasons has thought proper as yet to delay (lie publication of the dissolution of the late Assembly. We will not take upon us to assign any reasons for this secrecy you may easily conjecture the cause. We have, thought it our indispensable duty to give you the above intelligence, that you and the friends to liberty in your County may not be taken unaware, and surprised into an election, without time to consult and prepare for it. We pray you to speak to the leading friends of liberty in your County, get some of them to meet and determine on men of zeal, spirit, and integrity, and friends to their country, to represent you in