their command, for the purpose of removing the said ReCords and Treasury, to the place appointed.

Adjourned till ten o'clock, Monday morning.

Monday, February 5, 1776.

Congress met according to adjournment.

A Letter from Lord Stirling, enclosing several Letters respecting the loading of Vessels in several parts of this Province with Lumber for the West-India Islands, was read; and, on motion made,

Resolved, unanimously, That all County and Town Committees within this Province, exert themselves to prevent any Vessel within their several Districts, taking in any lading, or departing therewith, from any Port in this Province, contrary to the General Association of the Continental Congress, unless the master of such Vessel produce a special License therefor, duly authenticated from said Congress, agreeable to a subsequent Resolve thereof, or from the Congress or Committee of Safety of this Province, signed by the President or Vice-President; and, also, that they particularly attend to all imports into this Colony, that the Resolutions of the Continental Congress be duly observed; and that the Militia of this Province do give all necessary assistance to said Committees in their exertions above-mentioned, when called upon for that purpose. And it is hereby recommended to the Officers of the Continental Troops which are or may be in this Province, also to assist in the above measures, when thereunto particularly requested by the Committees aforesaid.

And it is further Resolved, That no County or Town Committee within this Province, presume to grant any License or Permit for the exportation of any Produce, Lumber, or Merchandise whatsoever, contrary to the said General Association; and that a copy of the foregoing Resolves be immediately transmitted to the Printers at New- York and Philadelphia, to be inserted in the publick Papers.

Ordered, That a copy of the above Resolves be sent to the Right Honourable William, Earl of Stirling.

The Petition of William Steele, praying that he may be discharged &c., was read the first time.

The Committee appointed to wait on Mr. Pettit, and to remove the Records in the Secretary's Office at Perth Amboy, made report that they had waited on Mr. Pettit, and, as ordered, had removed the Books and Records mentioned in a schedule produced.

The Committee appointed to remove the Money in the Treasury, &c., made report, that they waited on Mr. Smith, with a copy of the Resolve, who, in the presence of Jonathan Deare, Esq., (said to be a Notary Publick) forbid, and protested against the removal of the said Money, but that they had, notwithstanding, removed the same as ordered.

Letter from Lord Stirling, enclosing an attested copy of a Letter written by Cortlandt Skinner, Esq., and directed, to Colonel William Skinner, in England, was read, "and said Skinner's Letter referred for further consideration.

The Proceedings of the Committee of Bethlehem, in the County of Hunterdon, against Christopher Harrison, being transmitted to this Congress and read,

Ordered, That the charge against said Harrison be postponed.

Adjourned to two o'clock, P. M.

Met according to adjournment.

A Member of this House informing that Mr. Pettit and Mr. Smith were desirous of being heard, respecting the removal of the Treasury and Records from Amboy:

Ordered, That they be now heard.

Whereupon they were heard accordingly.

Resolved, unanimously, That the Eastern Treasury, with the Bonds, Securities, and other Writings thereunto belonging, be removed to the house of Peter Schenck, Esq., in the County of Somerset.

Resolved, unanimously, That the Eastern Records and Books, removed by a late Resolve of this Congress from the Secretary's Office, at Perth-Amboy, to New-Bruns-wick, be further removed to Burlington, and lodged in the Secretary's office at that place.

Ordered, That a copy of the following Letter be signed by the President, and sent to Mr. Pettit:

In Congress, New-Jersey, New-Brunswick, February 5, 1776.

SIR: The papers, books, and records, mentioned and contained in the schedule annexed, have been ordered by this Congress to be removed from the Secretary's Office at Perth-Amboy, and deposited in the Secretary's Office at Burlington, there to remain under your care. You are hereby required to attend there on Thursday next, and receive the same, and when received to give your acknowledgment thereof accordingly.

Resolved, unanimously, That the Papers, Books, and Records, in the Surveyor-General's Office at Perth-Amboy, be immediately removed to the house of Peter Schenck, Esq., in the County of Somerset; and that Mr. Van Boskirk and Mr. Cook be a Committee to wait upon Mr. Smith with a copy of this Resolve, and carry the same into effect.

Resolved, unanimously, That the Committee, if they should find it necessary, do take to their assistance Major Deare, or other Officers, and the Militia under his command, for the purpose of removing the Papers, Books and Records in the Surveyor-General's Office at Perth-Amboy, to the place appointed.

Agreeable to the Order of the Day, for the appointment of Officers of the Third Battalion of this Province, the same was taken into consideration.

Ordered, That the said appointment be deferred till to-morrow.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the Bethlehem Committee against Christopher Harrison, who, being ordered to attend, was brought in accordingly, and the charges exhibited against said Harrison were read; in support of which, Captain Kehart was called upon as a witness, and being duly sworn, did establish the same.

The said Harrison being heard, and having offered matter in mitigation of his offence, was ordered to withdraw.

The Congress took the above charge against Christopher Harrison into consideration, and after some debates thereon, referred the determination thereof until to-morrow morning.

Adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o'clock

Tuesday, February 6, 1776.

Met according to adjournment.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the charge against Christopher Harrison, and,

Resolved, That said Christopher Harrison pay the expenses accruing on apprehending him and bringing him before this Congress, as the same shall be taxed by the Committee of the Township of Bethlehem, in the County of Hunterdon; that he give sufficient security to the said Committee in the sum of fifty Pounds for his future peaceable and good behaviour, and that he be disarmed, and remain a prisoner in the common Jail of the County of Somerset, until he comply with the above determinations; to which place the guard which brought him before this Congress, are required to convey him, and the keeper of the Jail in said County of Somerset is requested to receive Said prisoner, and keep him in safe custody, as above said.

The Petition of William Sieele had a second reading, and after some debate thereon, was referred for further consideration.

The Committee appointed to draft a Letter to the honourable Continental Congress, respecting the sale and consumption of Tea, made report, which was read, approved, and ordered to be entered, and a copy to be engrossed and signed by the President. The Letter is in the following words:

In Provincial Congress, New-Jersoy, New-Brunswick,

February 6, 1776.

GENTLEMENXS: Induced by a report current in this Province, that the honourable Continental Congress had agreed to allow the use of East-India Teas, many persons have publickly sold that article, and the use of it is, therefore, in danger of becoming more general.

We did not hesitate to determine that common report, often deceitful, and always uncertain, ought not to be sufficient tp contravene a known and established regulation;