mon scarcity of bullion. The ships-of-war give no interruption to our vessels despatched on those adventures, a favour we cannot expect should hostilities begin. And even should we be fortunate enough to oblige the ships of war to quit this port, by expending the little powder we have, (an event which our most sanguine hopes cannot promise us,) the attention of our enemies will effectually prevent our expected importations. For those reasons, we conceive that a just regard to the publick cause, and our duty, to take a prudent care of this city, dictate the impropriety of provoking hostilities at present, and the necessity of saving appearances with the ships of war till, at least, the month of March, Though we have been unfortunate in our disappointments, with respect to some of our adventures, yet be assured, sir, we have not been idle. Our intrenching tools are almost completed to a sufficient number; we are forming a magazine of provisions, for five thousand men, for a month, in a place of safety, and at convenient distance from this city. We have provided ourselves with six good brass field-pieces, have directed carriages to be made for our other artillery, and are raising a company of artillery for the defence of the Colony, on the Continental establishment. These things, when accomplished, with other smaller matters, and with the arrival of some gunpowder, the prospect of which is not unpromising, will enable us to face our enemies with some countenance. We, therefore, ardently wish to remain in peace for a little time, and doubt not we have assigned sufficient reasons for avoiding, at present, a dilemma, in which the present entrance of a large body of troops into this city, will, almost certainly, involve us. Should you have such an entrance in design, we beg, at least, that the troops may halt on the western confines of Connecticut, till we shall have been honoured by you with such an explanation on this important subject, as you conceive your duty may permit you to enter into with us, the grounds of which you will easily see ought to be kept an entire secret, and to assure you, that we are, with great respect and esteem, sir, your most obedient servants.

By order of the Committee.

To Major-General Lee.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the Chairman, and transmitted by Garret Vandenbergh, as an Express for that purpose.

That particular instructions be given to Vandenbergh to inquire on the road at proper stages for Major-General Lee. If he should meet him at any stage, or come near him, to deliver him the Letter with which he is charged. That if Major-General Lee was not at New-Haven, and in Connecticut, he should proceed to him with the Letter. But, that if General Lee had departed the Colony of Connecticut, he should return with the said Letter to this Committee.

Die Solis, 3 ho. P. M., January 21, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

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

Mr. William Leary, the Town-Major, came and informed this Committee of Safety, that part of the City Guard, under his direction, had apprehended a certain Joseph Woolcombe, who was come from on board of a transport ship off" Sandy-Hook to go on board of the ships-of-war in port, and that he had, also, apprehended Captain William Dobbs, the Pilot, who had brought him on shore for that purpose, and that he had sent them to the Guard-House. That he caused the raid Joseph Woolcombe to be searched, and had found in his custody five Letters, which he had brought to the Committee of Safety for their inspection or direction. The said several Letters being opened and read, appeared to be wrote and directed to the persons for that purpose hereinafter named, and to the following effect, to wit:

1st. A Letter from J. H. Dempster, Captain of the ship Blue-Mountain-Valley, dated January 22, 1776, and directed to his brother, George Dempster, Esq., Oxford Street, London. He therein informs him, "that he was now preparing to send an officer on shore, to be fully satisfied of the propriety of going into New-York. That he had been, three weeks on the coast, without seeing, or speaking with any of the King's ships. That he was greatly amazed at not yet seeing any of the men-of-war, his instructions strictly forbidding him to enter Boston, or any other port or harbour in America, till he had spoke; with some of His Majesty's ships—proper orders having been sent out for that purpose. That the ship was in a bad state; he feared that her rudder must be unhung before he could proceed any further, and that they were in want of water."

2d. Letter from the said J. H. Dempster, of the same London. In this letter he says, "they had been three date, directed to Robert Hunter, Esquire, Coleman Street, weeks on the coast, that they had not seen any of the King's vessels, though by the tenour of his instructions from the Board, he had reason to suppose he should, long ere this time, have met some of them."

3d. A Letter from the said J. H. Dempster, of the same date as the others, directed to Richard Cardin, Esquire, Bucklersbury, London, containing advices to the same effect as the letters before mentioned.

4th. A Letter from J. H. Dempster, of the same date, directed to his brother, J. Townshend, London, containing the like advices as the others.

5th. A Letter dated said 22d January, from Joseph Woolcombe, the Mate, (now in the Barrack,) to his father, containing advices of a long passage, very bad weather, loss of sails, ship in bad order, that they bad eighty hogs when they sailed, and had now only ten left—that pork would come dear to the soldiers.

Captain William, Dobbs, by order of the Committee, was brought before them and examined. He described the ship Blue-Mountain-Valley, says she is a transport from England, with porter and coal for the Ministerial army. That Joseph Woolcombe is mate of the said ship, that he did not promise to put said Woolcombe on board of one of the ships-of-war, but only promised to bring him to the city. That Woolcombe did not mention any thing about the going on board of the ships-of-war, or either of them, until lie was near the city, and that he, the said William Dobbs, refused to put him on board.

Captain William Dobbs returned, with a Guard, to the Guard-House, at the Upper Barracks.

Die LunÆ, 10 ho. A.M., January 22, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

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

A Letter from Mr. Thomas Grenell, one of the Commissioners at the Fortifications, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

"Highlands, January 19, 1776.

"SIR: I received yours of the 16th instant, and shall endeavour to comply with the contents. The foundation of the intended Battery was completed on Sunday last, the length of which is one hundred and forty feet, the breadth at bottom twelve feet, and at the top is ten feet, and its height four feet on an average. The materials are chiefly large rocks, from five hundred to one thousand weight, and some much larger, filled in with the largest stones it would take, and the small vacancies filled with coarse gravel instead of mortar, as that could not be used at this season of the year. I had the misfortune to have the first range of timber for the breastwork laid, before I received your order to stop going on with the same. With respect to the extension of the base to fifteen feet, it may be done, if thought necessary, at a very small expense, as the materials are handy, and shall leave you to judge of, from the cost in wages of what has been done already, of which you have in the annexed account, with the first charge of timber and plank for the breastwork and platform. The breastwork was proposed to be three feet thick and well braced, trundled; the height will be suitable to the gun-carriages. As to the Magazine, it still continues very damp, though there has been three fires constantly in it, for three or four weeks; and I doubt whether it will be fit for use this Winter. The powder, I shall take all the care in my power of it, but am obliged to supply the Minute-Men out of our old stock, for they came here without any. I am, sir, your humble servant,

THOMAS GRENELL.