Congress, as the grand Representative of the United Colonies, to be our only security in this dangerous and important crisis, and, as you ardently desire that a sameness of sentiment may prevail throughout the different Representative Bodies in this Colony, we beseech, we obtest, we adjure you, by a just sense of your duty, by your desire to promote the Union of the Colonies lo the utmost of your power, and by that ardent love which you have for the liberties of America, that you meet punctually in Congress on the first day of the next month, that we may take such measures as will be necessary to secure the honour of the people of this Colony, and contribute to the firmest support of the common cause, by assisting our Representatives in Assembly to tread the path of Union and Continental Liberty.

Nevertheless, gentlemen, we mean not that you should give so punctual an attendance as to prevent such of you from superintending the business of election, whose presence in the country may be necessary for that purpose, but we beg leave once more to express the sentiment that a full session of Congress, at the meeting of the Assembly, is of the utmost moment.

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

Signed by order and in behalf of the Committee of Safety:

PIERRE VAN CORTLANDT, Chairman.

To the Members of the Provincial Congress of the Colony of New-Work.

Ordered, That Colonel McDougall employ a Printer, to print one hundred and ten copies thereof for this Committee, under the strictest guard of secrecy, that when printed they may be signed by the Chairman, and transmitted to the absent Members respectively.

3 o'clock, P. M., Die LunÆ, January 8, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Pierre Van Cortlandt, Esquire, Chairman, Mr. McDougall, Mr. Brewster, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Tredwell, Mr. Spooner, Mr. Scott, Mr. Sands.

Whereas, Mr. Isaac Governeur has imported into this Colony four hundred and sixty-five quarter-casks, contain-one hundred and sixteen hundred weight and twenty-five pounds of Gunpowder, and by Mr. William Cannon, his consignatory, sold the same to this Committee for publick use; and whereas, the honourable the Continental Congress, by their resolve of the 15th day of July last past, that every vessel importing Gunpowder, within nine months from the date thereof, shall be permitted to loud and export the produce of those Colonies to the value of such Gunpowder, and it is thereby recommended to the Committees of the several Provinces to inspect the military stores so imported, and to estimate a generous price for the same according to their goodness, and permit the importer of such Powder to export the value thereof, and no more, in produce of any kind. The Committee having by some of their members and other persons inspected the said Gunpowder, do estimate the same at the value of thirty Pounds, New-York money, per ton, and do hereby permit Mr. Isaac Governeur, by Mr. William Cannon, his Agent, to export the value thereof at that estimate, to wit: the amount of the sum of three thousand four hundred and eighty-seven pounds ten shillings, New-York money, and no more, in produce of any kind, which he may think proper.

Die Martis, 10 ho. A. M., January 9, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Pierre Van Cortlandt, Esquire, Chairman, Mr. Scott, Mr. McDougall, Mr. Brewster, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Tredwell, Mr. Spooner, Mr. Sands.

Whereas, full information has been given to this Committee, by Captain Nathaniel Tylee, of this city, and sundry other witnesses, that Lieutenant Edward Tylee, an officer of the Continental Army, now a prisoner on board the ship Asia, had planned a method to escape from thence, and for the purpose of effecting his escape delivered a Letter to Laurence Hartwick, directed to James Tylee, of New-York, and that the said Lawrence Hartwick, betraying the trust reposed in him, had delivered the said Letter lo Captain George Vandeput, whereby the said prisoner was prevented from making his escape; and whereas, this Committee has, also, been informed by the same witnesses, that the said Lawrence Hartwick affirms that he will continue to go on board of the King's ships-of-war, without leave of any Chairman, contrary to the order of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, and made many other declarations highly inimical lo the measures pursued by the inhabitants of the American Colonies for the defence of their liberties, thereupon a draft of a warrant to Captain Nathaniel Tylee was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Committee of Safety for the Colony of New-York, during

the recess of the Provincial Congress, January 9, 1776.

Whereas, full information has been given to tills Committee that Lawrence Hartwick betrayed a trust reposed in him by Lieutenant Edward Tylee, an officer of the Continental Army, now a prisoner on board the ship Asia; and whereas, further information has been given to this Committee of other particular conduct and declarations...of the said Lawrence Hartwick, highly inimical to the present measures pursued by the inhabitants of the American Colonies for the defence of their liberties; therefore,

Ordered, That the said Lawrence Hartwick be apprehended by Captain Nathaniel Tylee, or by any other Militia officer of this city, with a sufficient Guard for that purpose, and carried to the Guard-House, at the Upper Barracks, in this city, and there confined until the further orders of this Committee.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the Chairman, and delivered to Captain Tylee.

A Letter to each of the following absent Members of the Provincial Congress, a copy of that drawn and agreed to on the 8th instant, was sealed and forwarded, to wit: To Ezra L'Hommedieu, Esq., at Southold; to David Gelston, Esq., at Bridge-Hampton; to John Sloss Hobart, Esq., Manor of Eaton; to Brigadier-General Nathaniel Woodhull, at South-Haven; to Thomas Wickham, Esq., at Brookhaven; to David Brown, Esq., at Shelter-Island.

An Introduction to the copies of the Petition of the Continental Congress to His Majesty, and the Address of the Lord Mayor and Livery of London, to the Electors of Great Britain, intended to be reprinted in this Colony, was read and approved of, and are in the words following, to wit:

To the Inhabitants of the Colony of NEW-YORK.

To prevent as much as possible the evil consequences which may arise from the assertion that the "Continental Congress have made no approaches towards an accommodation with Great Britain," the Committee of Safety of the Colony of New-York have directed the following Petition of the Continental Congress to His Majesty, and the Address of the Lord Mayor and Livery of London to the Electors of Great Britain, occasioned by that Petition, to be published.

In the present unhappy controversy, we can call for no evidence so unexceptionable to the deluded enemies of America, as the testimony of the inhabitants of the Capital city of Great Britain. Every information on this subject coming from among us might, perhaps, be considered as passing through a suspicious channel, but, when we appeal to those who, if we have engaged without grounds in the present contention, are immediately interested against us, every unprejudiced reader must be convinced that their voluntary testimony in our favour is full proof of the justice of our cause, and it is for this purpose that the above-mentioned Address is recommended to the serious consideration of the inhabitants of the Colony of New-York.

By order of the Committee:

PIERRE VAN CORTLANDT, Chairman.

New-York, January 9, 1776.

3 ho. P. M., January 9, 1776.

The Committee of Safety met pursuant to adjournment.

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

Pursuant to return of an election in the presence of Garret Abeel and Abraham Brinckerhoff, two of the Committee of the City of New-York, commissions were issued for