house of John Williams, and also those near King's Bridge, removed to the larger parcel at Valentine's, so as to have them all brought together, for the greater convenience of guarding them, and drilling out the spikes; The Committee agrees with Mr. Allen, to allow him twenty shillings a piece for clearing, and unspiking the Cannon beyond King's Bridge, and removing the Cannon from John Williams's to the Larger parcel, and Mr. Allan agreed to remove those Guns, and clear and unspike the whole, at twenty shillings each. Mr. Allen is also requested to remove the Guns, at or hear King's Bridge, to the larger parcel, at as little expense as possible, for which he is to be paid the expense. And Mr. Allen is further directed, not to clear or unspike any Gun but such as, when cleared, will befit for use.

Colonel Lasher delivered in a Memorandum of such Officers "in his Regiment as are willing to go into the Continental service, which was read and filed.

Colonel Lasher was informed that a Committee of the honourable the Continental Congress are come to this city, on a service relating to this city and Colony only; that it would be a requisite honour to them to station a guard, of at least two sentinels, at their door in the day, and a sergeant's guard to attend there, as a guard, every night.

A Memorial of Frederick Hartell, setting forth his former rank and services in the Army; offering his services, and requesting a commission of not inferior rank to that in which he had formerly served, was read and filed.

A Memorial of John Willey, offering his service as a Captain in the Continental service, was read and filed.

Ordered, That the Memorandum delivered in by Colonel Lasher, and the Memorials of Frederick Hartell and John Wylley, remain on file, to be taken up again when an arrangement of Officers may be forming, for Officers, of the Regiments to be raised in this Colony for the Continental service.

3 ho. P. M., January 31, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment,

Present: Mr. Joseph Hallett, Chairman, Colonel McDougall Mr.Scott, Mr. Tredwell, Mr. Brewster, Colonel Brasher, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Sands.

A. Return of an election of the Officers of a Company of Militia, signed by Arthur Parks, Chairman of a Committee in Hanover Precinct, was read and filed. The Officers thereby returned are James Milligan, Captain; John Hunter, First Lieutenant; Matthew Hunter, Second Lieutenant; and Robert Barns, Ensign.

Ordered, That Commissions issue for those gentlemen, according to the Return.

James Lattin, a Lieutenant in one of the Minute-Companies in Ulster County, who delivered in the abovementioned Return, informed the Committee that William Goodgion, the Ensign of the Minute-Company, of which he is Lieutenant, had unfortunately lost his Commission, and earnestly requested that another Commission might be given to him.

Ordered, That the Secretaries make out another Commission for Ensign William Goodgion, of the same date and tenor as his former Commission.

Whereas, the Provincial Congress of this Colony appointed Messrs. Jacobus Van Zandt, John Vanderbilt, and Comfort Sands, to load certain Vessels on Provincial account, and despatch them in order to obtain articles necessary for the defence of the Colonies; and Mr. John Vanderbilt having undertaken, and nearly completed, the loading of one of the said Vessels, so that she will be speedily ready to sail, informs the Committee that he has advanced a large sum of money, and stands in need of cash, as well to reimburse the cash he has already advanced, as to complete the Jading of the said Vessel., and requests an order on' the Treasurer for one thousand eight hundred Pounds on account.

Thereupon, Ordered, That Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq., as Treasurer of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, advance to Mr. John Vanderbilt the sum of one thousand eight hundred Pounds, on account, and take Mr. Vanderbilt's receipt for the same.

A draft of a Letter to the Delegates of this Colony at Continental Congress, was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Committee of Safety, New-York, January 31, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: We have to acknowledge the receipt of your favour, by the Committee of the Continental Congress, who are arrived in this city. You may be assured of our readiness to pay them that attention which is due to them, both in office and person. We have ordered our Treasurer to receive of them the money which they had in charge to deliver to us; that part of it which, is destined for raising the battalion intended for the Canada service, we shall despatch, under proper care, and without delay, to General Schuyler. The battalion must, for the most evident reasons, be raised in the northern quarter; and for the same reasons, the money must be there lodged. Lest General Schuyler should not have been furnished with the resolves of Congress on the subject of that battalion, we have long since transmitted copies to him. The other small sum we shall take care to have handed to the Marine Department.

The people of Richmond have been, so far, compliant, as will be seen by the enclosed papers. We mean not, nor do we suppose our Congress will determine on their case, which is now before the Continental Congress. We intend only to state to that respectable body the case as it now stands, and, on this head, would only add, that the interdict now operates against them, and that probably their Deputies will not be received by our Congress, till the sense of the Continental Congress can be had on the subject, which we beg to be furnished with as soon as possible.

We beg leave to renew your attention to the Want of a Paymaster at this post, about which we wrote to you at least three weeks ago. We find inconveniences increase upon us daily, from our being obliged to go into that department of service, which gives, us more pain from a consideration that we may, for want of due information, err, than from an unwillingness to do business that does not properly fall to our lot.

We are gentlemen, respectfully, your very humble servants.

By order of the Committee.

To the New-York Delegates in Continental Congress.

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

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

In Committee of Safety, New-York, January 31, 1776.

SIR: We had the honour, sometime since, of transmit, ting to you a resolve of Congress, for reducing the battalions now in Canada to two, and for raising a new battalion for the Canada service, under the command of Colonel Van Schaick. This regiment must, for the most evident reasons, be raised in the northern, quarter; and we flatter ourselves you will look to the appointment of the officers, for whom we shall, without delay, make out the necessary commissions; (for when we are possessed of blanks,) as soon as you will favour as with a roll for that purpose.

We have received from Congress twelve thousand five hundred dollars, to be employed in recruiting Mr. Van Schaick's Regiment. The same reasons which show the necessity of raising it in your country, points out to us the propriety of sending to you the money allotted for that service. We accordingly send it to you by Messrs. Joseph Tadwin and Gilbert Giles. We beg you will take the necessary receipt in duplicate, and transimt one to us.

We must beg leave to remind you to the inconvenience arising from the want of a Paymaster at this post. We cannot, as well from a regard to our own ease, as an attention to the safety and despatch of publick business, any longer engage in the discharge of a duly in which, for want of proper information, we may err, mid which is totally without our department.

We are, sir, respectfully, your most obedient and very humble servants.

By order of the Committee.

To Major-General Schuyler.

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