the Officers of Beat No. 13, in the said City, to wit: to David Wolf, Captain; Joseph Winter, First Lieutenant; Christian Wolf, Second Lieutenant; and Philip Phœnix, Ensign.

A draft of a Letter to the Committee of Cumberland County 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, New-York, January 9, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: We enclose you a certified copy of sundry resolutions of the Committee of Safety, as to your County; they are so plain they need no comment.

We are extremely sorry to find that jealousies and divisions subsist in your County at this late day, when your whole Militia ought to have been fully organized and regulated, and in the best order and discipline. This gives us the greater chagrin and anxiety, because we expected your County was so firmly attached to the cause of American liberty, that, in proportion to your numbers and strength, you would have been more forward, and in greater readiness than other parts of the Colony, where Ministerial measures, might be expected to have spread their baneful influence.

We entreat, we pray, and obtest you, as you tender not only your own welfare and happiness, but, also, the success of the American Colonies in their present struggle for liberty, that you exert yourselves to put an amicable period to all dissensions in your County, and bring about a perfect union among the inhabitants, and for this purpose that you cause a large, respectable County Committee to be elected in your County, if that has not already been done. All the difficulties arising in smaller matters, we would hope your County Committee would easily accommodate, and that their determinations would be cheerfully acquiesced in.

At the same time that we earnestly recommend unanimity and harmony to all the good people of your County, and a proper spirit of prudence, discretion, and direction to your County Committee, and their sub-Committees, if they have any such, give us leave to press on you to distinguish yourselves by setting an example of obedience to your Military Officers, and of care in acquiring military discipline, and that you inculcate the same good conduct on all the people of your County.

Let every Son of Freedom employ his utmost efforts, that our attachment to the Rules of Congress, our military subordination and skill, according to their plan and directions, and our attachment to good order and Government, may distinguish us from our enemies, as much as the glorious cause we are engaged in.

We are, respectfully, gentlemen, your very humble servants.

By order of the Committee of Safety.

To the Chairman and Members of the County Committee, Cumberland County.

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

Mr. Peter T. Curtenius delivered in an account of the Lead which he has, as yet, been able to procure in obedience to the late Order of the Provincial Congress, amounting to eight thousand five hundred and eight pounds. The same was filed.

Die Mercurii, 10 ho. A. M., January 10, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

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

Mr. Nicholas Low, attending at the door, was admitted. He informed the Committee that he had received information that Lord Stirling had a design to use the Vessel of Mr. Isaac Governeur, now at Elizabethtown-Point, to seize Despatches from on board the Ship bound for London, and under the command of Captain Cooper.

Thereupon, a draught of a Letter to Lord Stirling was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

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

recess of Provincial Congress, New-York, January 10, 1776

MY LORD: While we entertain the highest sense of your zeal in the publick service, permit us to inform you that we have this moment received advice of your design to employ a sloop, now loading at Elizabethtown-Point, under the protection of this Committee, and the direction of Mr. Nicholas Low, of this city, to seize the Despatches now on board Captain Cooper. Though we do not, altogether, rely on this advice, yet, lest it should be well-founded, we beg leave to inform you, that such an expedient will, in our opinion, be prejudicial to the common cause. You doubtless know, my Lord, upon what errand she came to this Continent. Should any steps be taken on our part that may embarrass those of our friends abroad, who are running risks to serve us, we must necessarily lose their assistance in an article of the utmost importance to us. We can divine no reason why that sloop should be preferred to many others in New-Jersey equally fit for the service, unless it is, that the few swivels she has mounted may denominate her an armed vessel. Should this be the reason for preferring her to any other, the purpose may be effectually answered by borrowing those swivels and mounting them in some other vessel. If your design should be such as we have mentioned, we beg that the expedient proposed by us may be adopted in preference to the one which will naturally discourage our friends abroad from continuing their friendship towards us.

We are, with great respect, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient servants.

By order of the Committee of Safety.

To Lord Stirling.

P. S. We beg leave to inform your Lordship that we have understood the ship will be convoyed to sea by a company of Marines, in a pilot-boat.

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

(N. B. Mr. Low having discovered that the information he had received was without any foundation, and this Letter unnecessary, returned it to the Committee of Safety on the 11th, and it was ordered to be destroyed.)

Thomas Merritt, who was apprehended and brought before the Committee by some of the Inhabitants, on information of persons from Westchester County that he had declared he had seen people casting great quantities of Bullets to kill the Whigs, and that he knew where great quantities of those Bullets were; was examined. Notes of Ins examination are filed.

The Witnesses against him were examined, in his presence, and Merritt and the Witnesses withdrew.

Thereupon, Ordered, That the said Thomas Merritt be discharged. And he was charged from the Chair to be more cautious of his declarations and reports for the future.

Pursuant to a return of an Election of Officers in Beat No. 14, of the City of New-York, in the presence of Garret Abeel and Abraham Brinckerhoff, two of the Committee of the said City, Commissions were issued to the following Officers, to wit:

Pardon Burlingham, Captain; Henry York, First Lieutenant; Thomas Van Pelt, Second Lieutenant; Anthony Ford, Ensign.

Die Mercurii, 3 ho. P, M., January 10, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

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

Letters to sundry Members of the Provincial Congress, each Letter being a copy of that drawn and agreed to on the 8th instant, were sealed, directed, and despatched.

Colonel Palmer returned from the Continental Congress, and brought to the Committee Chamber the Money sent from Congress by him and Colonel Brasher. The Deputy Treasurer being this evening from home, with the consent of Mr. Sands,

Ordered, That the said Money be deposited in a strong iron-chest at his house, and the key of the said chest given to Colonel Palmer or Colonel Brasher.

A certified copy of Resolutions of Congress, dated the 5th January, instant, respecting the Fortifications in the Highlands, were read and filed, and are in the words following, to wit: