ticles; and the more effectually to urge individuals to attempt those manufactures, this Committee have thought it proper to preface those Essays with the following Resolution of the Continental Congress.

By order of the Committee.

Ordered, That Mr. Tredwell call on one of the Printers in this city, and engage him to print three thousand copies thereof on the account of this Colony, and to send that number of copies to this Committee.

The Committee then resumed the consideration of the many Resolves received from the Continental Congress, and, thereupon, a draft of a Letter to General Schuyler, relating to Shipwrights, Carpenters, Scows, Batteaus, Salt, Provisions, reduction of old Troops and raising of new Levies, was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Committee of Safety, New-York. January 17, 1776.

SIR: Lest copies of the enclosed have not been forwarded to you, our attention to the publick service points out the necessity of communicating them with such observations as occur to us on their different subjects.

In the resolves respecting the transportation of troops, provisions, and stores, several things are left indeterminate, upon which, perhaps, it may be proper for us to have your particular sentiments, to enable us to execute such part of the business as may be within our department. The number of shipwrights for building batteaus are not mentioned, and we submit it to your consideration whether all, or how many should be shipwrights or house-carpenters. The wages of the latter will be lowest, and, therefore, ought to be preferred if they can sufficiently perform the service, and perhaps many may probably be engaged near you who are acquainted with that kind of work; yet, we would beg leave to mention it as necessary, to employ as many of the carpenters of this city as possible, to prevent them and their families from starving, by means of the stagnation of business, which is more severely felt in this city than in any other part of the Province.

With respect to batteau-men, many may probably be engaged in the upper part of the country. Such as may be necessary to be supplied by us we will endeavour to procure. We, also, beg leave to hint, that in the present declension of trade the seamen of this port ought to be employed upon this article of service, as well as that of building batteaus. We beg you to inform us of the number of hands you would desire us to procure, as, also, to know your sentiments about the pay we are to allow carpenters and batteau-men.

The large quantity of provisions mentioned in one of the resolves is entirely indeterminate. We beg to know what you expect of us on that head. We have given orders for the immediate purchase of three thousand bushels of salt, which we shall send up the river as far as the season will permit.

We would only add, that we beg leave to trouble you with forwarding the resolves relating to the reduction of the old troops to two battalions, and the new levies to General Montgomery, and to assure you that we are, sir, with great respect and esteem, your most obedient servants.

By order of the Committee.

To Major-General Schuyler.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed and signed by the Chairman, and transmitted by post, and that the Secretary enclose therein certified copies of the Resolves of the Continental Congress of the 8th instant, therein referred to.

The Committee then took into consideration Lord Stirling's Letter of the 12th instant, and the same being again read, a draft of an answer thereto was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Committee of Safety, New-York,

January 17, 1776.

MYLORD: We have to acknowledge your favour of the 12th inst., which we should have answered sooner, had the order necessary for despatching our multiplicity of business permitted it.

We shall this day appoint a Barrackmaster, leaving the settlement of his pay to Continental Congress, and shall give immediate orders, that the barracks prepared for the reception of the troops under your command, and will inform you when they are ready; but we beg leave to hint, that the troops must come provided with the articles of bedding, except straw, as we shall not be able to supply them.

About seventy or eighty of the firelocks are ready, and we have given the necessary orders for their inspection. The rest we will get finished as soon as possible. But your Lordship has forgot to inform us, whether we are to look to the Continental Congress, or your Provincial Congress for their cost. We have already been at great charge in the purchase of arms for our own troops, and at whose expense it is still undetermined. It behooves us, therefore, to be cautious of extensive advances on that bead.

With respect to the people of Staten-Island, we have for certain reasons suspended the interdiction against them, till next Monday, the 22d inst. Their cases are now before the Continental Congress, and we beg you to desist from any measures against those people till the expiration of that term, unless you shall have received orders concerning them from the Continental Congress.

We are, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient, humble servant,

By order of the Committee.

To the Right Honourable Earl of Stirling.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the Chairman, and transmitted; and that the Secretary enclose therein a copy of his Lordship's Letter, agreeable to his request.

A Letter from Peter R. Livingston, Esq.,* of the 2d instant, assigning the ill state of health of Mrs. Livingston, and the particular circumstances of his family, as the reasons of his not attending this Committee.

Die Jovis 10 ho. A. M., January 18, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

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

Mr. Nicholas Low attending the Committee, delivered in an Account, in the words and figures following, to wit:

The Honourable the Provincial Congress of New-York,

Bought of William Cannon.

New-York, January 18, 1776.

Ordered, That Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq., Treasurer of the Congress of this Colony, pay to Mr. Nicholas Low two thousand three hundred and thirteen Pounds eight Shillings, for the above account, and that he take Mr. Low's receipt for the same.

By advice received by Lord Stirling's Letter, that part of the Troops under his command are to be stationed in the City of New-York, as soon as the Barracks can be ready to receive them, and fire-wood and other necessary materials furnished for their lodgment; it is become necessary to appoint a Barrackmaster for the City and County of New-York, in the stead of Gerard Bancker, Esq., whose services to the publick are necessary in other departments; and Mr. Garret Roorback of the said City being recommended as very active and careful, and a proper person for that purpose,

* MANORLIVINGSTON, January 2, 1776.—SIR: I received a letter this day from three of the gentlemen, deputies for this County, desiring my attendance immediately at York, being appointed one of the members of the Committee of Safety for this County during the recess of the Convention, and am extremely sorry to inform you, that the situation of Mrs. Livingston is such, that it is impossible for me to leave her; am very sorry it is so. She is all alone here, in a bad state of health, with a largo family, and no assistance near her; her situation is such, that I can by no means leave her alone, and she has not strength sufficient to undergo the fatigues of a journey with me. Therefore, must entreat the gentlemen to excuse me, till such time as Mrs. Livingston's health will permit my leaving her, or bringing her down with me.

Am, sir, with great respect, your very humble servant,

PETER R. LIVINGSTON.

To the President of the Committee of Safety for the Province of New-York.