New-Rochelle, to wit: Abraham Guion, Esq., Colonel Joseph Drake, Stephen Ward, Jose Hunt, Henry R. Mire, Theophilus Bartow.

"John Gidney, of New-Rochelle, yeoman, sworn, and examined; saith, that on Wednesday, (one day last week,) William Lownsberry was at his house a little before sunset; went away, and returned again late at night, he supposed about nine or ten o'clock, in company with one Joshua Gidney, son of Isaac Gidney, of Rye, and four others unknown to him, the deponent, and that they went from his house, he knew not where, but returned about a little before daylight the next morning.

"John Hains, of the same place, yeoman, sworn; saith, that on Wednesday, the 17th instant, he saw the said William Lownsberry, at the house of John Gidney, of New-Rochelle, tavern-keeper, a little before sunset; he saw him go away towards Mamaroneck; the deponent saith, he afterwards, the same night, about nine or ten o'clock, met the said William Lownsberry, with five other men, all on foot, in New-Rochelle aforesaid, going towards New-York; they all appeared to have handkerchiefs about their heads, and belts round their waists, over their coats.

"Gentlemen, we, also, examined several others, but could not discover any thing from them of any consequence. We, also, despatched a company of men in quest of Joshua Gidney, but could not find him; but we believe we shall be able to give some account of him before many hours. John Gidney has promised to appear before your honourable House, if called for.

"We are, gentlemen, your humble servants.

"By order of the sub-Committee:

"JOSEPH DRAKE.

"To the Chairman of the Committee of Safety for the Colony of New-York."

A Letter from the said sub-Committee of Westchester County, dated the 27th instant, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

"New Rochelle, January 27, 1776.

"GENTLEMEN: We send you herewith under safe guard, the person of Joshua Gidney, whom we mentioned in our letter to you yesterday, which we doubt not you have received. He has passed through an examination by us, but will not give us the least information about the people that were with him and Lownsberry, at the house of John Gidney, though he acknowledges that he was there with Lownsberry. We think him guilty, from his evasive answers and obstinacy. Though we should be sorry that any person should suffer innocently, through our channel, yet we think he deserves to suffer, at least what he must in being conveyed to you, and probably a great deal more; for he said to us once, that he did not choose to discover his companions; he did not choose to bring trouble on his neighbours. It is needless to recite what has passed in every particular; therefore subscribe ourselves, your very humble servants,

"JOSEPH DRAKE,

"THEOPHILUS BARTOW,

"HENRY R. MYER,

"ABRAM GUION.

"To the Chairman of the Committee of Safety for the Colony of New-York."

Ordered, That Joshua Gidney be brought before the Committee in the afternoon, to be examined.

A Letter from Lord Stirling, dated on the 28th instant, relating to one hundred stand of Arms, and other matters, was read, and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

"Elizabethtown, January 28, 1776.

"SIR: I received your letter of the 25th, respecting the one hundred stand of arms, which you were to have supplied me with. I shall lay the letter before the Continental Congress, and the Convention which meets this week at Brunswick, in hopes that some other means may be taken for providing an equal number. A certain ship is lately arrived here with stores, some of which may, perhaps, be of use to the publick service, under your direction; I, therefore, subjoin a list of her cargo, in order that you may know whether any part of it will be useful for that purpose. The ship is about one hundred feet long on the main deck, and will commodiously carry twenty six and ten three-pounders. W. R. is well worthy of your confidence.

"I have the honour to be, your most humble servant,

"STIRLING.

"To the Chairman of the Committee of Safety at New-York."

"107 chaldrons of Coal; 100 butts Porter, marked Calvert; 225 bags Beans; 156 sacks Potatoes; 10 casks of Sour-Krout; 80 Hogs; 35 empty Puncheons, for water."

Die Luniœ, 3 ho. P. M., January 29, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Colonel McDougall, Mr. Scott, Mr. Tredwell, Mr. Brewster, Mr. Clarke.

Joshua Gidney, who was ordered to be brought down to be examined, was brought in before the Committee and examined.

Joshua Gidney says that he lives at the hither end of Rye-Neck. Being asked where he was on last Wednesday night a week, says he does not remember; that he was in company with Mr. William Lownsberry, a day or two before he was apprehended; that he neither knows who spiked the cannon, and was not concerned in it. Being asked how he spent last Wednesday night a week, to wit, the night of Wednesday the — instant, and where, he refused to answer or discover; at length answered, that is nothing to cause; he was; asked if he was with Lownsberry that night; he was frequently asked, but gave no answer; after a long time answered, he was with him one night, but does not know what right; was then asked at what time of the night, and at what place he was with him; after frequent asking, was silent; being asked if he was at John Gidney's house lately, in the night, with Lownsberry, answered yes, but does not know fn what night; being asked who, also, was with him; after frequent asking, was silent, and did not answer; being asked where he was towards day that night, was silent; being asked if he has any estate, says yes, about five hundred pounds; he was repeatedly told not to accuse himself, but to answer as to all other persons; being asked if lie was at John Gidney's about day-breaking, was entirely silent; being asked who was with him at John Gidney's, is silent; being asked whether he is under any oath to keep secret, says he is not; was charged not to accuse himself, or any innocent man; on appealing to God for his innocence, was asked if he would appeal to God that he does not know who was at John Gidney's with him, refused to answer. He was frequently assured of the protection of the Committee, and other protection that should be necessary if answered truly and frankly the questions asked of him.

Ordered, That Joshua Gidney be manacled and shackled hands and feet, and kept in safe and secure custody, at the Upper Barracks, until the further order of this Committee, and in the interim that no person be suffered to speak to him, but in the presence of the officer of the guard, and that no letter or paper writings be permitted to pass between the said Joshua Gidney and any other person, or persons, whomsoever, and that he be denied the use of pen, ink acid paper; and,

Ordered, That Colonel McDougall see that this order be duly executed.

Colonel Lasher attending, informed the Committee, or Members present, that the greater part of his corps of Officers have agreed that it will not suit them to go into the Continental service on the terms offered.

William Lownsberry examined, says that he and Joshua Gidney, and others, went to disarm the cannon with sledges; that when they came to a house near the cannon, they heard people at work at them; that they waited some time, heard them at work, and turning them, as they judged by the noise; that when he came to the guns, he found them spiked, and the touch-holes turned downwards; that when he and the others went up towards the cannon, the men went off; that he called to them, but they went off down a hill towards the blacksmith's, and then into the road, and towards King's Bridge; that there was light in the smith's kitchen; that the people who went with him had caps on; that Gidney was concerned in the design, and went with him with the design to disarm the cannon with sledges; that he had the files bought with design to spike up the