tence of merely paying a visit to Governour Tryon, though lie has been followed by a transport with troops, which we have good reason to believe are only a part of six hundred that embarked with him at Boston, renders it highly probable that some lodgment of troops was intended to be made in or near this city. The precautions that have been taken to prevent the execution of such intentions will, it is hoped, render it ineffectual; and it is now given out that the General intends to depart from us without loss of time. However, it must be most obviously improper to strip this city, at present, of any part of its defence.

Colonel Heard and his regiment are near at hand, to secure Staten-Island from depredations. We think his regiment will readily undertake that service, and General Lee thinks nothing less than a regiment will suffice. We, therefore, most earnestly request you to furnish, without delay, the assistance of that regiment, to secure the live-stock of that Island from a depredation that may be attempted on General Clinton's departure from this port, by guarding it on the Island till we have opportunity to determine on the expediency of removing it, hereby declaring our readiness to be answerable in the first instance for the expense of that service.

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

By order of the Committee.

To the Honourable Samuel Tucker, Esq., President of the Provincial Congress, New-Jersey.

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

It was suggested to the Committee, that General Lee will have occasion for the Intrenching Tools of this Colony for the use of his Troops while employed here; that it will be necessary for their preservation and the convenience of the Army, to have a person appointed to take care of the said Intrenching Tools, and the other Military Stores of the Colony. And Richard Norwood being recommended for that purpose,

Ordered, That Richard Norwood be, and he is hereby appointed, a Commissary, to take the care and delivery out, of all such Military Stores and implements of war, except Cannon, in this City and County of New-York, as shall be from time to time committed to his care, by order of this Committee, or the Provincial Congress; to make no issues without order of the said Congress, or this Committee, or the commanding officer for the time being, of the Continental Troops in this Colony; to take receipts for every issue, to keep exact accounts of every receipt and issue, and to attend, when and where necessary, to receive back any stores that may be, from time to time, issued, and be returnable after service to the said Commissary, for the use of this Colony; and that he be paid for his services, in his said office, as long as he shall be continued in the same, at and after the rate of eighteen and one-third dollars per month.

And it is further Ordered, That he receive all such Military Stores and implements of war as aforesaid, into his care, as are now in the hands of Mr. Curtenius, exchanging proper vouchers with him in that case, and with all others, in all other future cases of receipts and issues.

Colonel McDougall informed this Committee that Major-General Lee, on consulting his Engineer, was of opinion that the Intrenching Tools lately made in this Colony; are not sufficiently numerous for the service; and that General Lee has requested him to inform the Committee that an addition of the following articles will be necessary, to wit: Six hundred Pick-Axes, three hundred Hatchets, five hundred Handbarrows, three hundred Wheelbarrows, two hundred Crowbars, (in such form as Captain Smith, the Engineer, shall direct,) five hundred Iron-shod Shovels, of others equally useful.

Ordered, That Colonel Peter T. Curtenius, as Commissary of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, do, with all possible despatch, procure the said Intrenching Tools and Barrows, for the use of the Continental Army in this Colony.

Whereas, the Poor of this City are in great distress, and many of them unable to procure subsistence at this inclement season:

Ordered, That the sum of two hundred Pounds be deposited in the hands of Mr. William Vanderwater and Captain George Janeway, to be applied by them in purchasing barrelled Beef and ship Bread, to be delivered in bags; Turnips and Potatoes, Indian Cornmeal and Oak-wood, for and towards the support of such poor inhabitants of this city as may stand in need of assistance for their immediate subsistence. That when the said articles are purchased, Mr. Vanderwater and Captain Janeway do convene the Vestrymen of the several Wards in this city, to the end that they, together, may proportion the quantity of the said articles so purchased, which the Poor of each Ward, from their circumstances, may require; and the said Vestrymen, in their respective Wards, are requested to assist Mr. Vanderwater and Captain Janeway to dispose of the said articles to the poor inhabitants, in such proportion as to them shall appear to be necessary; and that a copy of this order, certified by one of the Secretaries, be a sufficient order to Mr. Vanderwater and Captain Janeway, on Mr. John Ramsey, for the sum of two hundred Pounds, out of the moneys put into his hands by this Committee, for the employment and support of the industrious Poor of this city; and that Mr. Ramsey take the receipt of Mr. Vanderwater and Captain Janeway for that sum.

Die Solis, 10 ho. A. M., February lit 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Colonel McDougall, Mr. Sands, Colonel Brasher, Mr. Tredwell, Mr. Scott, Mr. Oothoudt, Mr. M, Graham.

Mr. Henry Oothoudt was unanimously chosen Chairman pro tempore.

This Committee observing that the Cannon and Military Stores, on and near the Battery, are now under removal to other parts of the city, and knowing that this transaction, both in its design and execution, is without the consent of this Committee, and even without their knowledge, otherwise than as discovered from the transaction itself, and as, perhaps, such removal may bring on a firing upon the city, from the ships-of-war in this port, which may greatly endanger the publick Records of this Colony, this Committee is fully of opinion, that the publick Records ought to be immediately removed to a place of greater safety than that in which they now are.

Therefore, Ordered, That the said publick Records of this Colony, together with Samuel Bayard, Jan., Esq., the Deputy-Secretary of this Colony, be forthwith conveyed, under a proper guard of the Militia of the city of New-York, to the dwelling-house of Nicholas Bayard, Esq., Alderman of the Out-Ward of the said city, and be there securely kept under such guard until the further order of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, or of this Committee of Safety; and the said guard are hereby expressly required to permit the said Samuel Bayard, Jun., Esq., to have continual access to, and the direction of the said Records, except that he, and every other person, be prevented from removing them, or any of them, from the place where they are hereby ordered to be deposited, until the further order of the Provincial Congress or of this Committee.

And Ordered, That Colonel Lasher be requested to furnish a proper guard, and see this order executed.

And Ordered, further, That Colonel Lasher fix on such Officers and Company of his Regiment, for this and any other duty, that may be directed, as he shall think proper, and report the same to this Committee; the Committee hereby giving assurance that provision will be made for the pay and subsistence of such Company, equal to the Continental establishment, while continued in service.

3 ho. P. M., February 11, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Mr. Henry Oothoudt, Chairman, Mr. Scott, Mr. Tredwell, Mr. M. Graham, Mr. Sands, Colonel Brasher, Colonel McDougall.

A Member of the Committee mentioned that Major-General Lee had informed him that Troops were expected in town very speedily, and requested that Barracks or rooms should be provided for them.

The Committee are of opinion, that the placing of the