Colonel McDougall cause the said Robert Simmons to be fettered or manacled, so as to prevent his escape until he can be sent to Ulster County.

Die Solis, 9 ho. A. M., January 14, 1776.

The Committee of Safety met at the City-Hall pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Pierre Van Cortlandt, Chairman, and the other Members in the city, except Mr. Scott.

As no business of so much importance appeared immediately necessary, as to require the Committee to continue their attendance this day, the Committee, therefore, adjourned to meet at ten o'clock to-morrow morning.

10 ho. A. M., Die LunÆ, January 15, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

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

The Committee of Safety are informed by a Member, that a fleet of eighteen sail of Transports, two Men-of-War, and two Bomb-ships, are sailed from Boston. That they sailed from Boston on last Saturday week, and that a Letter from General Washington advising this Committee thereof, is on the way, and may be hourly expected.

Thereupon, the Committee thought it necessary to have a proper person sent to the Narrows, with a glass, to look out for any fleet that may be approaching this port; and Captain Austin Lawrence being sent for, attended the Committee. He agreed to proceed to the Narrows immediately for that purpose; and proper directions were given to him, and signals agreed on, which shall be made at the Ferry, to give notice to the City.

Captain William Dobbs was also sent for, and attended. He was directed to take the Whale-Boat lately purchased by this Committee, with a proper number of men to row her, and proceed to the Light-House, and there observe carefully the approach of any Fleet, and to give immediate notice thereof to this Committee. Mr. Dobbs was directed to tarry one week, if no fleet appears sooner, and to be very frugal in his disbursements, which were particularly enumerated.

Ordered, That none of the Pilots at this Port shall go to Sandy-Hook, or to any other place towards the Hook, without the permission of this Committee, until the further order of this Committee.

And Ordered, That no Pilot do presume to pilot into the Hook, or towards this port, any Transport with troops on board, or any Ship-of-War, or Ministerial Armed Vessel whatever.

And Ordered, That the Pilots be directed to attend this Committee tomorrow forenoon, in order that they may be charged with the matter of this Order, and to keep the same secret.

A Letter from James Duane, William Floyd, and Henry Wisner, Esqs., of the 11th instant, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

"Philadelphia, January 11, 1776.

"GENTLEMEN: We are honoured with your favour of 4th instant, requesting the permission of Congress to export a quantity of flaxseed to Ireland, for the purpose you mention. However important the object, we are perfectly satisfied that it will be in vain to expect an indulgence so repugnant to the non-exportation system, and, particularly, to the motives of this article of our commercial restriction, which were thought to be very cogent. Not relying entirely on our own judgment, we have consulted several of the Members, and find them so averse to the proposition, that we despair of its being seconded by a single Colony. We think it bad policy, and an humiliation of our respectable constituents to ask, in their names, for what we foresee must be rejected. Upon these considerations, we shall take the liberty to defer any application till, informed of our apprehensions, we shall be favoured with your further commands. If you should still incline to hazard the attempt, we shall, most cheerfully, obey your directions.

"We enclose you two resolutions of this Congress which respect our Colony, and a third for the exchange of Lieutenant Tylee, of General Wooster's Regiment, now a prisoner on board the Asia.

"We are, with the highest regard, gentlemen, your most obedient, and very humble servants,

"JAMESDUANE,

"WILLIAMFLOYD,

"HENRYWISNER.&qout;

"To the Honourable Committee of Safety, New-York.

"P. S. We also enclose you several resolutions of Congress, which passed the 8th instant, which we are directed to communicate, since we closed the preceding letter."

The Resolves of the Continental Congress of the 8th instant, relating to the construction of Batteaus at Ticonderoga, and sending Salt thither, and relating to the practicability of lessening the depth of water at the Narrows, was read and filed.

The Resolve of the Continental Congress of the same date, on the subject of raising Troops for Canada, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

"In Congress, January 8, 1776.

"Resolved, That to make up the Battalions voted for the defence of Canada, one Battalion be immediately raised in New-Hampshire, one in Connecticut, and one in New-York; that two Battalions be formed out of the Troops now in Canada, and that General Montgomery, be desired to recommend proper persons for Officers in said Battalions.

"The other three Battalions to be sent from Pennsylvania and New-Jersey.

"That Colonel Van Schaick, Lieutenant-Colonel Yates, and Major Gansevoort, be continued in the service of the United Colonies, and that they take the command of the above Battalion to be levied in the Colony of New-York.

"Extract from the Minutes:

"CHARLESTHOMSON, Secretary."

The Resolve of Congress of the 9lh January, relating to the Militia of Orange and Ulster Counties at the New Garrison, was read and filed.

A Resolve of Congress of the 11th instant, recommending to procure the exchange of Lieutenant Tylee, was read and filed.

A Resolve of Congress directing General Schuyler to be furnished with an account of Moneys advanced to the Troops of his Department, was read and filed.

Philip Livingston, Esq., one of the Delegates of this Colony, came into the Committee and conferred with them on sundry matters, and delivered to them certified copies of sundry Resolutions of the Continental Congress, on different days, from 25th November to the 2d instant, which were read and filed, and are in the words following, to wit:

"In Congress, November 25, 1775.

"The Congress resumed the Report of the Committee on General Washington's Letter; and the same being debated by paragraphs, was agreed to as follows:

"The Committee to whom so much of the Letter from General Washington to the President, dated the 8th instant, as relates to the disposal of the Vessels and Cargoes belonging to the enemy, which shall fall into the hands of, or be taken by the inhabitants of the United Colonies, and so much of the Report of the Committee of Congress, which lately went to the Camp at Cambridge, as related to that subject, were referred, have examined the matter thereof, and directed the same, as it appears to them, together with the Resolutions of the Committee thereupon, to be reported as followeth:

"It appears to your Committee, from undoubted information, that many Vessels which had cleared at the respective Custom-Houses in these Colonies, agreeable to the regulations established by acts of the British Parliament, have, in a lawless manner, without even the semblance of just authority, been seized by His Majesty's ships-of-war, and carried into the Harbour of Boston, and other ports, where they have been rifled of their cargoes by order of His Majesty's Naval and Military Officers there commanding, without the said Vessels having been proceeded against by any form of trial, and without the charge of having offended against any law.