The Committee, taking into consideration the distress this Colony may soon be reduced to for want of Canvass, or some other proper materials to make Tents of, and also the high probability of obtaining Gunpowder at Curacoa,

Ordered, That Mr. Sands, with all possible despatch, on behalf of the Congress of this Colony, and by order of this Committee, do employ a proper Vessel, and load her with Flour for Curacoa, with proper letters and orders to procure Gunpowder and Raven's Duck.

Alexander Lesslie attended, according to the order of yesterday. Mr. Tobias Stoutenburgh attended with the said Alexander Lesslie, and the said Alexander Lesslie engaged to attend on this Committee at any time when called on; and Mr. Tobias Stoutenburgh, here present in the Committee, engaged that the said Alexander Lesslie will attend this Committee when called on for that purpose, and that he, (the said Tobias Stoutenburgh,) on notice for that purpose, will bring the said Alexander Lesslie before the said Committee.

3 ho. P. M., Die Veneris, January 19, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

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

This Committee being informed by Lieut. Tilghman, of the Light-Infantry in the Third Battalion of the Militia of Philadelphia, of the repulse of the Continental Troops at Quebeck, and of certain disorders in the County of Tryon, in this Colony, which he received from General Schuyler, the Committee thought it necessary to order an half-ton of Gunpowder from the Fortifications at the Highlands to General Schuyler.

General Schuyler informed Colonel McDougall, by letter, that he had sent this Powder into Canada.

Thereupon, a draft of a Letter to the Commissioners and to the commanding officer at the said Fortifications, was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

New-York, January 19, 1776.

SIRS: You are, on sight of this, to procure as many sleighs as will carry an half-ton of powder to General Schuyler, at Albany, and despatch it with the utmost expedition, and with a guard; and the officer of the guard is to call on the Committees on the road for assistance of fresh horses and a guard. Great care should be taken to cover the powder, and no fire or other materials should be suffered to come near it, and the guard should be careful of their arms when they approach it.

We are, sirs, your humble servants.

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

To Mr. Thomas Grenell, and to Colonel James Nicoll, and, in his absence, to the Commanding Officer at the Fortifications in the Highlands.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the Chairman, and transmitted by Sampson Dyckman, an Express.

A draft of a Letter to the Committee of Albany, to accompany the said half-ton of Gunpowder, was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Committee of Safety, New-York, January 19, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: The account of the unhappy disaster of our Army at Quebeck we fear will give heart to the enemies of America in Tryon County, against whom we understand General Schuyler has marched. Lest there should be a deficiency of ammunition in your quarter to supply his wants, we send you, by express, for his use, half a ton of powder. He may not be on the spot; therefore, either convey it to him, or send him intelligence of its arrival, according to your discretion. We need not recommend despatch.

We are, gentlemen, your most obedient servants.

By order of the Committee.

To the Committee of Albany.

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

One Decker, a Boatman, from Staten-Island, applied to the Committee, and informed them that he was coming to market with a boat-load of wood, which had been taken from him by one of the ships-of-war. He and two other persons made oath, before Alderman Filkin, that the said wood was taken without his consent; and thereupon the Committee gave him a certificate, to prevent his being blamed in this instance.

.....Johnson, being recommended as a proper person, and having served as a Lieutenant of Artillery in the Continental Army,

Ordered, That he be appointed Second Lieutenant of the Artillery Company to be raised in this Colony, for the defence of the Colony.

Die Sabbati, 10 ho. A. M., January 20, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

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

The Committee being well, informed that the Cannon beyond King's Bridge, near Williams's, are spiked up, and thereby rendered unfit for use, and as it is absolutely necessary to have those spikes drilled out, that the cannon be ready for use,

Ordered, That Colonel McDougall employ proper persons to have the Spikes drilled out of those Cannon, or such of them as are otherwise fit for use, and that Colonel McDougall be, and he is hereby empowered to employ a proper Guard of the Militia to take care of those Cannon, in such manner as he shall direct.

And Ordered, further, That Colonel McDougall be, and he is hereby authorized to have carriages and all other necessaries provided for the said Cannon, so as to have them ready for use with all possible despatch.

Colonel Lott came into the Committee, and conferred with them relating to his Vessel, which is to go to the foreign West-Indies for Gunpowder; and the material parts or out-lines being fixed, the agreement was left to be completed by Mr. Sands.

Colonel Lott also produced a sample of Biscuit, by him prepared, as fit for a Magazine, agreeable to a former request of this Committee.

Thomas Henderson, Esq., a Major of Minute-Men in Monmouth County, in New-Jersey, attended on the Committee, and informed that he was sent by the Committee of Safety of New-Jersey, with a Guard, to conduct several Prisoners taken in New-Jersey, being inhabitants of this Colony, who had been proceeding in the sloop Polly and Ann, from this port to Boston.

Major Henderson delivered to the Committee the Affidavit of James Webb, which was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

"James Webb, of full age, being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, deposeth and saith, that in December last, he, this deponent, with his wife, entered on board a small sloop in New-York harbour, called the Polly and Ann, whereof one Hains was captain, bound (as this deponent was then informed) to Boston, which vessel was laden with provisions; that on or about the 20th of said December, the said vessel sailed from New-York, and that he never heard that said vessel was bound to any other port than Boston, until said vessel soon alter met with bad weather, when it was said on board said vessel, that she was bound to the West-Indies; that on the 23d December, the said vessel was stranded on the Jersey shore; that the captain of the said sloop, one Isaac Sidney, master, Bartholomew Hains, a passenger, one Palmer, who owned part of the cargo, all from Mamaroneck, in Westchester County, Moses Mardin, one Graham, this deponent, and his wife, with one Sanford, and two more, were on board said vessel when she stranded; that this deponent verily believes said vessel was bound to Boston; that since the said vessel was on shore, this deponent observed4 that the labels on the packages, casks, and boxes, were torn off, but that he does not remember to have taken notice of any marks or labels on any of the freight; so as to describe them, before taken off. That most of the persons on board left the said vessel to go by laird to New-York, soon after they got on shore, among whom this deponent, went to New-York, from whence he lately returned to this