"In Congress, January 5, 1776.

"The Congress resumed the consideration of the Report of the Committee on the state of New-York, and having consulted the gentlemen sent to Congress by the Convention of New-York, the same was agreed to as follows, to wit:

"Resolved, That for the reasons contained in the papers hereunto annexed, this Committee are of opinion that no further Fortifications ought to be erected at Martelaer's Rock, on the Hudson-River, and that a point of land at Pooplopen's Kill, on the said River, ought, without delay, to be effectually fortified.

"Resolved, That it be recommended to the Convention, or in their recess, the Committee of Safety of New-York, to carry into execution the above Resolution.

"Extract from the Minutes:

"CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary."

Colonel Brasher, who is a Member of the Committee of Safety, being returned from Philadelphia, Doctor Spooner renewed his solicitation for leave to return to his County, und which he had, for several days, been encouraged to expect when another Member should arrive.

The Committee being of opinion, unanimously, that it is necessary Doctor Spooner should return to his County to carry up the Writ for an election of Representatives in General Assembly; the Commissions for the Field-Officers of the Militia; and the Letter from this Committee; and to endeavour to restore unanimity and harmony among the inhabitants, it is agreed that he have leave of absence.

And, whereas, it is inconvenient for Doctor Paul Spooner to return to the County of Cumberland, which is very distant, without a small supply of cash for that purpose, and it appears to the Committee that his return there at present may be useful, and he has solicited aid from the Treasury of the Provincial Congress, on the credit of Cumberland County, for his relief, to be repaid in such manner as the Provincial Congress of this Colony shall direct.

Ordered, That Peter Van B. Livingston, Esq., as Treasurer of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, advance to Doctor Paul Spooner, or his order, the sum of twenty Pounds, on the credit of Cumberland County, and of himself, to be repaid in such manner as the Provincial Congress of this Colony shall direct, and that a copy of this Order be a warrant to the Treasurer for that purpose.

And Ordered further, That until such payment made, Doctor Paul Spooner be, and remain indebted unto the said Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq., for the sum of twenty Pounds, for so much cash lent, and, at all events, to be repaid by himself, if not repaid by the County of Cumberland.

It was suggested to the Committee that a few copies of the Proceedings of the Continental Congress, first published, and, also, of their late Proceedings, would be very useful in the Committees of the respective Towns and Districts in Cumberland County.

Ordered, That John Holt furnish thirty-five copies to Doctor Spooner for that purpose.

Die Jovis, 10 ho. A. M., January 11, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

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

A Letter from the Delegates of this Colony at Congress, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

"Philadelphia, January 5, 1776.

"GENTLEMEN: The Congress has been so much encumbered with business, that it has not, till now, been in our power to write to you decisively on the subject of your several favours, indeed, the appointment of an officer to command in the Highlands still remains undetermined, though we doubt not the recommendation communicated in your letter of the 8th of December, will have its due weight.

"We highly applaud the spirit, and, at the same time, respectful manner, in which you have supported the dignity and independence of our Colony, and demanded reparation on the subject of the Connecticut inroad. An interposition so rash; officious, and violent, gave us great anxiety, as it was not only a high insult to your authority, But had a direct tendency to confirm that fatal spirit of jealousy and distrust of our Eastern brethren, which has done so much injury to our cause, and which every wise and virtuous patriot should study to suppress. The Government of Connecticut, we are persuaded, will not only do you the justice which you have required, but adopt effectual means to restrain their inhabitants from similar attempts m future. In this expectation, we shall take the liberty to defer the application to Congress which you direct, until we are favoured with a copy of Governour Trumbull's answer to your letter.

"The enclosed resolution of Congress respecting the loan of forty-five thousand pounds on the credit of our Colony, will, we hope, be no disappointment. It is, in our opinion, founded on good reasons. The precedent would have 'justified every other Colony in soliciting the like indulgence, which could not, without gross partiality, have been refused. The faith of all must, in every instance, have been pledged to secure the payment, and, consequently, all exposed to the effects of mismanagement and want of economy in each separate Government. The quantity of paper money would not have been diminished. The sums thus borrowed must, in the course of the present contest, have become enormous. Those objections, among others, operated so strongly against the measure, that if we had thought ourselves at liberty to exercise discretion in the case of a positive instruction, we should have declined an application to which, in our judgment, we could not wish success.

"The deputation from your Convention, respecting the fortifications in the Highlands, was very proper and seasonable. They have conferred with a Committee of Congress, and been heard by the House, and will inform you of every thing which occurred, so that It is needless for us to be explicit.

"A copy of the resolution of Congress will be delivered to you by your Deputies, to which we have nothing to add.

"Mr. Secretary McKesson has furnished us with a copy of your resolutions respecting your Delegates. This arrangement, or something similar, we had much at heart, as the constant attendance of so large a quorum as five, would naturally be precarious, especially when only that number were in town.

"The defection of Queen's and Richmond is much to be lamented. A committed of Congress has this subject now under consideration, and it will not be long before their resolutions on that head will be communicated to you.

"We have honour to be, with great respect, gentlemen, your most obedient and humble servants,

"P.S. You have likewise enclosed a resolution of Congress respecting the inlistment of soldiers."

The Resolution of Congress, on the request of a loan to this Colony, was read, filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

"In Congress, December 23, 1775.

"The Committee to whom the application from the Convention of New-York, for the loan of forty-five thousand Pounds, was referred, brought in their report, which being read, was agreed to, as follows:

"That notwithstanding it appears to this Committee that the credit of the Colony of New-York is unquestionable, and their application for the loan of forty-five thousand Pounds was suggested by disinterested principles, yet that it would not be advisable in the opinion of this Committee for the Congress to make the loan proposed.

"Extract from the Minutes:

"CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary."

Resolutions of Congress respecting the Inlistment of Soldiers, therein enclosed, was, also, read and filed, and are in the words following, to wit:

"In Congress, December 26, 1775.

"The report of the Committee to whom was referred a paragraph of Lord Stirling's letter to the Congress, complaining that several of his recruits had been arrested and