Province for his wife, and several small effects he had on board; and further this deponent saith not.

"JAMES WEBB.

"Sworn, the 11th January, 1776, before me,

"JOHN DENNIS."

Major Henderson, also, delivered a copy of the Proceedings of the Committee of Safety of New-Jersey, with respect to those Prisoners, which was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

"Committee of Safety, Princeton, January 11, 1776.

"This Committee received information from the Committee of the County of Monmoulh, by Doctor Scudder and Doctor Henderson, and also, by letter from the Chairman of said Committee, that a small sloop called the Polly and Ann, one Hains, captain, was, on the 23d of December last, stranded on Squan-Beach, on board of which was a quantity of beef, pork, and other provisions; which vessel and cargo is now in the care and custody of Colonel Furman, except such articles as were perishable, which the Committee directed to be sold by Doctor Scudder and Doctor Henderson, an inventory of which cargo, as well such as was sold, us such as remain, was laid before this Committee; and one James Webb, a passenger on board said vessel, which is stranded, appeared before this Committee, by whose deposition it appears, that said vessel was bound from New-York to Boston, and from all circumstances, the provisions on board were destined for the Ministerial army. The Committee taking the above matters into consideration, think it proper that the whole of said cargo be immediately sold, and the vessel secured, which vessel, with the amount of the sales, after deducting the necessary expenses, be referred to the disposal of the Congress of this Colony at their next sitting, and that Colonel David Furman, Doctor N. Scudder, and Doctor Thomas Henderson, be, and are hereby authorized and empowered to secure the above said vessel, and complete the sales of the cargo, in some convenient time, and account for their sales, and report their proceedings to the Congress of this Province at their next sitting; and may deliver to the seamen and passengers belonging to said vessel, all such clothing and other effects as belong to them, (exclusive of the car go) provided they, in a reasonable time, call for the same; and that the thanks of this Committee be returned to Colonel Furman. for his extraordinary care and vigilance in securing the said vessel and cargo.

"And, whereas, it appears that the captain, master, and passengers of the said sloop Polly and Ann, stranded on Squan-Beach, are inhabitants of the Colony of New-York,

"It is, therefore, Ordered, That the said Captain, Master, and Passengers, or such of them as are in this Province, be conveyed under a guard, as Colonel David Furman may think proper, to New-York, and delivered to the Provincial Congress or Committee of Safety, to be dealt with as they may think proper.

"A true copy By order of the Committee:

"ABRAHAM CLARK, Deputy-Secretary."

James Webb, being personally brought before the Committee, says, that he intended to go to Britain to take care of a relation arid her estate, and expected to be enabled to return to this country at some future time and carry on his business with spirit. That he was going to Boston to obtain a passage, from thence to Britain; that he went on board the sloop Polly and Ann before she sailed, that he did not (hen see the captain, but that a person then on board informed him, that the sloop was to go to Boston, and that they could take him and his wife passengers; thereupon, he went on board of the vessel the next day, which was the day before she sailed; that the vessel sailed on Wednesday, and was stranded on Saturday night following. That the captain told him that his cousin, Bartholomew Hains, fled from home, and that in running away he fell down and lost either his gun or bayonet, or both, and could not stay to lake it up.

Major Henderson says, that James Webb appeared open and candid in his examination before the Committee of New-Jersey.

James Webb requested a Certificate to protect him while he tarries: in this Colony. Thereupon a Certificate was given to him in the words following, to wit:

This Committee have heard and examined the case of James Webb, in his presence, and nothing appearing against him, he is discharged; and this Certificate is given to him as a protection whilst he tarries in this Colony, and demeans himself well and consistent with the liberties of this Colony.

Major Henderson says, that Hains, the captain of the said sloop, broke jail in New-York a few weeks ago, and stole a boat and got on board of a man-of-war, and was there protected until the vessel sailed; and the said Hains confessed this to one of the guard, on the way to New-York. He further says, that the casks and boxes found on board of the said sloop, had had labels nailed to them, but that all the labels were torn off, That among the labels torn off, he found one directed to General Howe, Boston, turnips; another, to Mrs. Ann Wood, Boston; another to General Ruggles, Boston; several to one Willard, at Boston; and a back of a letter directed to General Howe; that the directions to General Ruggles is lost, but that the directions to General Howe and Mrs. Wood, can be sent here.

That he was informed by William Taylor, that several persons who had been passengers in the sloop Polly and Ann, had informed John Morris, of Shrewsbury, that three quarter-casks of Madeira wine, and other things which were on board for General Howe, were shipped by Governour Tryon; and, by a bit of an invoice found, it cost twenty-two pounds ten shillings per quarter-cask.

That John Graham declared he had shipped on board to go to the West-Indies, but that lie verity believes the sloop was bound to Boston.

Major Henderson says, that it appears to him, the sloop must have been intended to go only coastwise, for that it is testified by the late master and people on board, that they did not keep any reckoning or heave a log-line.

David Rhea says, that Captain Hains told him he was put in jail because he refused to deliver up his arms, and that his punishment had been determined, that he should not eat or drink until he had delivered them up; that he broke jail by breaking six grates out of a window, and stole a boat about midnight, and got on board of the man-of-war; that the sloop Polly and Ann was purchased for him about three days, or less, before the time of her sailing, and that she was purchased of Isaac Gidney.

Die Sabbati, 3 ho, P. M., January 20, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

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

One Pettit, of New-Haven, by request, attended on the Committee. He informed, in substance, that General Let is at New-Haven; that he is raising troops; that it is reported currently that he is to raise one thousand five hundred men, and to come to New-York. That he did not; see General Lee, and has not any other information than common report; that General Lee did not bring any troops with him to New-Haven.

Ordered, That Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., as Treasurer of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, advance and pay to Mr. John Holt, one hundred Pounds, on account of the moneys due to him from the Provincial Congress and Committee of Safety of this Colony; and that Mr. Livingston take Mr. Holt's receipt for the same.

Mr. John Foster, of Suffolk County, one of the Members of the late Provincial Congress, applied to the Committee to continue the permit given to him last Summer, to export live stock, in order to purchase gunpowder.

The Committee informed him it was not in their power. Mr. Foster then informed the Committee that he had a vessel, which he intended to offer for sale to the Continental Congress, and requested a letter to introduce him to the Delegates, as well relative to the sale of the said vessel, as to the said permission. And this Committee having occasion to write to the Delegates on other matters,

The following draft of a Letter was read, and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Committee of Safety, New-York, January 20, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: This will be delivered to yon by Mr. John