That a Company of Artificers is also necessary to be immediately imbodied, because the works to be erected will require the assistance of Carpenters and Blacksmiths without delay; and unless this company is imbodied, the General will be obliged to employ a number of tradesmen, at daily wages; which will incur a greater expense to the publick than would be created by the company above-mentioned. That they are of opinion that the company should consist of about sixty men, officers included; that one Captain and two assistants will be necessary. That the Captain of this company should be a Carpenter, and have the pay of a Captain of a marching Regiment; that one of the assistants should be a Blacksmith, the other a Carpenter; that the assistants should have a Lieutenant’s pay in the marching Regiments; that they are informed the privates of the Companies of Artificers at the camp near Cambridge have ten dollars per month, and that the privates of this company should have the same pay. That, from the information they have received from the officers of the train with the General, the Captain of Artificers has three rations, the assistants two, and the privates one. That they recommend Mr. Anthony Post as a fit person to be the Captain of the Company of Artificers.

All which is humbly submitted to the Congress.

The said Report being read, was ordered to be read a second time; and, being again read, paragraph by paragraph, and amended, was agreed to.

Mr. Scott informed the Congress that David Matthews, Esq., is appointed Mayor of this City, and that it is necessary that several Magistrates be present before the Governour, to see him qualified. Thereupon a Pass was given to Mr. Matthews in the words following, to wit:

Ordered, That David Matthews, Esq., one of the Magistrates, as also all the other Magistrates of this City, be, and they are hereby, permitted to go on board of the Ship Dutchess of Gordon on publick business with his Excellency Governour Tryon.

A Petition of John Willett, and fourteen other persons,* praying to be relieved from their present confinement, was read.

Debates arose thereon. Thereupon the question was put, whether the same should be taken into consideration immediately, and carried by a majority; but, being late, the same is deferred, till to-morrow.

Die Veneris, A. M. February 16, 1776.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Brigadier-General Woodhull, President.

FOR NEW-YORK.—Mr. Beekman, Mr. Sands, Colonel McDougall, Mr. Van Zandt, Captain Rutgers.

FOR ALBANY.—Mr. A. Yates, Colonel Nicoll, Mr. Oothoudt, Colonel Rensselaer, Mr. Gansevoort, Colonel P. R. Livingston.

FOR SUFFOLK.—General Woodhull, Mr. Wickham, Mr. Hobart, Mr. L’Hommedieu.

FOR DUTCHESS.—Major Livingston, Colonel Ten Broeck. Mr. Everson, Mr. G. Livingston, Colonel M. Graham.

FOR ORANGE.—Mr. Herring, Colonel Allison, Mr. Cooper, Colonel Hay.

FOR TRYON.—Mr. Moore.

FOR ULSTER.—Mr. Rhea, Mr. Dewitt, Mr. Lefever.

FOR WESTCHESTER.—Mr. Paulding, Colonel G. Drake, Dr. Graham, Mr. Ward.

FOR KING’s.—Mr. Covenhoven.

FOR CHARLOTTE.—Dr. Williams.

Colonel McDougall informed the Congress that he understood that the floors were laid in the Hospital lately erected in this City; that the Troops already arrived, and those expected to arrive, would stand in need of Quarters.

Thereupon, Ordered, That Colonel Swartwout be authorized to demand the Keys of the Hospital lately erected in the City, and open the same; that he examine the rooms and apartments, and if he thinks them proper for quartering Troops in, that he be authorized to make use of the same for his Regiment of Minute-men.

A Letter from Andries Onderdonck, Chairman of the Committee of Haverstraw Precinct, dated January 30, 1776, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“In Committee, Haverstraw Precinct, January 30, 1776.

“GENTLEMEN: Enclosed is a list of the names of the Field-Officers nominated for the Battalion in this precinct, and the return of the Captains and officers chosen by the respective companies, except one Lieutenant and the officers of one company, which is not yet settled, the late Captain being advanced. You will be pleased to send blank commissions for those that may be chosen.

“It is now a long time since the nomination and choice, and have long expected the commissions by return of Thomas Outwater, Chairman of the Joint Committees of this precinct and Orangetown, and have not known, many days, that no returns had been made on our account.

“We are, gentlemen, your very humble servants,

“ANDRIES ONDERDONCK, Deputy Chairman.

“To the President of the Provincial Congress, New-York.”

A List of the Field and other Officers of the Militia in Haverstraw Precinct was also read and filed.

Ordered, That Commissions be made out for the Field and other Officers of the Militia in the Precinct of Haverstraw.

Mr. Rapalye, clerk to Henry White, Esq., delivered in an account of fresh Provisions supplied to his Majesty’s Ships for some time past, and requested permission to supply his Majesty’s Ships as usual:

Thereupon, Ordered, That Henry White, Esq., by his agent, be permitted to supply his Majesty’s Ship Asia with twelve hundred weight, and the Phenix with seven hundred weight, of fresh Provisions, and vegetables equivalent.

It being represented to Congress that the Troops daily arriving in this City are without any person, appointed as a Commissary, to provide them with Provisions; and Mr. Curtenius, by a letter yesterday, has informed the Congress that his other employments for the publick will not admit of his undertaking that business; and Mr. Abraham Livingston being recommended as a proper person for that purpose,

Ordered, That Mr. Abraham Livingston be, and he is hereby, appointed Commissary, to supply the Troops from westchester and Dutchess Counties, now arrived and daily coming into this City, until further order, or the arrival of a Deputy from Walter Livingston, Esq., Deputy Commissary-General.

Ordered, That Messrs. Van Zandt, Roosevelt, and Herring, be a Committee to settle with John Holt for his services in Printing, and to ascertain the sum due to him.

A Petition of Henry Remsen, John Broome, and thirteen other persons, was read. They thereby set forth the great loss one or more members of a Committee sustained in the year 177, for preserving the then Non-Importation Agreement, and pray relief. The accounts of the costs and damages suffered, and the state and pleadings of the court, both in a court of law and before the Governour and Assembly of Rhode-Island, were also delivered in.

Ordered, That Mr. Scott, Mr. Thomas Smith, and Mr. L’Hommedieu, be a Committee to take and examine the said Petition and Papers, with power to send for persons and papers, and to report thereon with all convenient speed.

A draft of a Letter to the Commissioners at the Fortifications in the Highlands, was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, February 16, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: In answer to your letter of the 12th instant, we are to inform you that we cannot allow the Minute-men extra wages while on working parties, as the example would greatly impede the publick service. There

*To the Honourable the Provincial Congress for the Colony of NEW-YORK, convened in the City of NEW-YORK.

Whereas your Petitioners, on the 12th instant, presented a Petition to this honourable body, praying to be admitted to return to their respective families, upon parole of honour, but have been so unhappy as not to have heard anything relative to that matter, as yet, and are still in close confinement, to the great prejudice of themselves and families; they therefore humbly entreat this honourable body to take their case into consideration, and grant them such relief as to this honourable House may seem meet. And your Petitioners will ever pray.

CITY OF NEW-YORK, February 15, 1776.