Field-Officers, appointed by the Provincial Congress of North-Carolina, to command the two Battalions directed to be raised in that Colony by the Continental Congress, and that such Commissions bear like date with those issued to the said Officers by the said Provincial Congress of North-Carolina.

Resolved, That, in case of vacancy occasioned by the death or removal of a Colonel or inferior officer, the Provincial Convention of North-Carolina, or, in their recess, the Provincial Council, appoint another person to fill up such vacancy, until a Commission shall issue from this Congress; and that they return to this Congress a list of the names of the person, or persons, so appointed.

The Delegates of New-York having received new powers from their Convention, laid the same before Congress, as follows:

"In Provincial Congress, New-York, December 21, 1775.

" Resolved, That the present Delegates of this Colony, in Continental Congress, be requested to make such an arrangement among themselves, as that five of them only continue at Congress, and represent this Colony at any one time; and that, in case of the necessary absence of any one or two of the Delegates so attending, according to such arrangement, that three or four of them be a quorum, and enabled to represent the Colony during such absence.

" A true copy from the Minutes:

" JOHN MCKESSON, Secretary."

The Committee to whom the Letters from General Washinton, and the intercepted Letters, were referred, brought in their Report, which being taken into consideration, the Congress came to the following Resolutions:

Resolved, That the seizing and securing the Barracks and Castle of St. Augustine will greatly contribute to the safety of these Colonies; therefore, it is earnestly recommended to the Colonies of South-Carolina, North-Carolina, and Georgia, to undertake the reduction of St. Augustine, if it be thought practicable.

Resolved, That the President of the Provincial Council of North- Carolina, and of Georgia, be requested to procure Committees of their several bodies to repair immediately to Charlestoivn, and there to confer with a Committee of the Council of Safety of South-Carolina, upon weighty and important matters relative to the defence and security of those Colonies.

Resolved, That the first Resolution, together with copies or extracts of such of the intercepted Letters as tend to show the state of the Forts and Garrison at St. Augustine, be transmitted by express to Henry Midleton and John Rutledge, Esquires, members of Congress, to be by them laid before the Committee directed to meet in consequence of the above Resolution; and in case the enterprise be judged practicable, that immediate preparations be made by the joint force of the said Colonies, and the expedition be undertaken without delay, at the expense of the United Colonies.

Resolved, That it appears the British Ministry and their Agents have meditated, and are preparing to make attacks upon Charlestoivn, in South- Carolina, and several places in Virginia, and probably in North-Carolina; and that it be recommended to the Conventions or Committees of Safety of the two former Colonies, and to the Provincial Council of the other, by all possible means, to make a vigorous defence and opposition; and that it be further recommended to the Committee of Safety of Virginia, and the Provincial Council of North-Carolina, to meet together and confer and conclude upon such operations as they may think most for their mutual interest.

Adjourned to ten o'clock, to-morrow.

Tuesday, January 2, 1776.

The Committee of Claims reported, that there is due:

To James Chambers the sum of 25.8 Dollars, for his expenses from Cambridge.

To Judah Alden fifty Dollars, advanced on account of expenses in attending the French gentlemen.

Ordered, That the above be paid.

Resolved, That General Schuyler be directed to have Brigadier-General Prescott, lately made prisoner by the Continental Forces in Canada, taken into custody, and safely and securely kept until the further orders of this Congress.

Resolved, That a copy of the above be sent immediately to General Schuyler, and that the General be informed by letter of the reasons which induced the Congress to give such orders.

The Committee of Claims reported that they have had under consideration Mr. Egbert Dumond's account of expenses in bringing the Prisoners, taken at St. John's, from Kingston, in New-York Government, to Lancaster, in Pennsylvania, and are of opinion that there is due to Egbert Dumond the sum of 2,326.2 Dollars.

Ordered, That the same be paid.

The Congress took into consideration the Report of the Committee on the Petition of Captains Paddock and Coffin, and after debate,

Resolved, That the prayer of said Petition be not granted.

The Committee on the state of New-York brought in their Report, which was read.

The Report of Captain Motte, with regard to the disposition of the Officers taken prisoners at St.John's, was laid before Congress, and read.

The Committee to whom the Report on Lord Stirling' s Letters were recommitted brought in their Report, which, being taken into consideration, was agreed to, as follows

That the President acquaint his Lordship, that the Congress has provided against the inconvenience of vexatious arrests of the men inlisting in the Continental service.

That the Barracks in the Colony of New-Jersey be prepared for the reception of such of the Battalions as may not be in readiness to proceed to New-York, and that the Ministerial troops, or prisoners, at present occupying them, be accommodated in the said Colony, in such manner as the Committee of Safety for said Colony shall think most prudent and convenient.

That Mr. Lowrey, the Commissary, be directed to supply the said Battalions with Stockings, and that the Delegates for the Colony of New-Jersey transmit to Lord Stirling six dozen printed copies of the Articles of War.

That considering not only the defenceless condition of the Colony of New-Jersey, for want of Ammunition in case of a hostile invasion of that Colony, but the evident want of the assistance of those Battalions for the defence of New-York, where an attack of the enemy is most probably to be apprehended, a requisition be made by the Congress to the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania, of four hundred weight of Powder for the said Battalion.

That the same Fire-Wood, Camp-Equipage, and Barrack-Utensils be allowed to each of the New-Jersey Battalions as are allowed to the Battalion raised in Pennsylvania.

That the hundred stand of Arms supplied by the Colony of New- York for the New-Jersey Battalions, be paid for by the Convention of New- Jersey; and that in order to enable the said Convention to make such payment, as well as to furnish such of the men belonging to the said Battalions, as are yet unprovided with Arms, the further sum of 1000 Dollars be advanced to the said Convention; and that the price of the Arms be deducted out of the wages of the Privates belonging to the said Battalions.

That Lord Stirling be directed to seize and secure all the Ammunition and Warlike Stores belonging to the enemy, which now are, or hereafter may be, imported into the Colony of New-Jersey, and keep them till be shall receive the orders of Congress respecting them; and further, that he do, from time to time, give aid and protection to all the friends of America, who may be employed in importing into the said Colony, Ammunition, of other commodities not prohibited by the Association and Resolves of this Congress.

Whereas, it has been represented to this Congress, that divers honest and well-meaning, but uninformed people in these Colonies, have, by the art and address of Ministerial Agents, been deceived and drawn into erroneous opinions respecting the American cause, and the probable issue of the present contest:

Resolved, That it be recommended to the different Committees, and other friends to American liberty, in the said Colonies, to treat all such persons with kindness and attention; to consider them as the inhabitants of a country determined to be free, and to view their errors as proceeding