County; and as many of the men in my regiment, from the suddenness of the call and their poverty, are destitute of arms, I beg you will be pleased to give orders that my men be supplied with such of those arms as are fit for service.

“From, sir, your most obedient servant,

“SAMUEL DRAKE,

Colonel of Minute Regiment in Westchester County.

“To Colonel Nathaniel Woodhull, President of the Provincial Congress.”

Ordered, That Dr. Graham and Mr. Ward be a Com­mittee to inquire how many Arms Colonel Waterbury has taken; where and by whose orders; to whom each particular Fire-lock belongs, and where they now are; and to report thereon to this Congress.

A Letter from. . . . ., Chairman of a Committee in Westchester County, relating to Captain James Varian, of one of the Companies of Minute-men, in Colonel Drake’s Regiment, was read.

Thereupon, Ordered, That Captain James Varian, with the men under his command, continue on duty, and receive Continental pay equal with the other officers and men in the regiment to which he belongs, until the dispute of his election be settled, or the further order of this Congress.

A Letter from Joseph French, Esq., was read. He avers that he can say, with a clear conscience, that he has not transgressed against the Association since he signed it, and prays to be released from confinement.

Thereupon, Ordered, That Joseph French, Esq., be permitted to come to the Provincial Congress, now sitting in the Assembly-Chamber, in the City Hall of the City of New-York, and without any guard.

To the Officer of the Guard, having the care of sundry Inhabitants of Queen’s County, sent here prisoners, under the care of Colonel Heard.

Joseph French, Esq., came into Congress, and there voluntarily gave his promise to attend on the Provincial Congress or Committee of Safety when thereunto requested; and he signed an engagement to that purpose, which is filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

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

“I, Joseph French, Esq., of Queen’s County in custody of this Congress by order of the Continental Congress, do give my word of honour that I will appear before the Pro­vincial Congress or Committee of Safety of this Colony, when I shall be thereunto summoned.”

Joseph French, Esq., having given this Congress satisfactory assurance that he will appear before this Congress or the Committee of Safety, when thereunto required,

Ordered, That he be permitted to go at large.

Thereupon, a Passport was given to Mr. French, in the words following, to wit:

Joseph French, Esq., having given this Congress satisfactory assurance that he will appear before this Congress or the Committee of Safety, when thereunto required,

Ordered, That he be permitted to go at large.

The Congress took into consideration the Petition of John Willett and others, Inhabitants of Queen’s County, now under guard in this City.

Thereupon, on motion made, Resolved, That the said John Willett, Benjamin Whitehead, Thomas Smith, William Weyman, Nathaniel Moore, Daniel Kissam, John Shoals, Samuel Hallett, Gilbert Van Wyck, John Townsend, John Polhemus, Charles Hicks, Samuel Martin, and David Brooks, be released from their confinement, upon their giving sufficient security for their appearance, when required, before this or any future Congress or Committee of Safety of this Colony; and, also, that they will in the mean time deport themselves peaceably, and make no opposition to the measures of this or the Continental Congress, nor instigate others thereunto; and on their paying all expenses occasioned by their confinement.

Thereupon, a draft of an Obligation, to be given with security by the said JohnWillett, and the other prisoners above-mentioned, was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

Know all men by these presents: That we,. . . . .,of Queen’s County, on Nassau-Island, in the Province of New-York, are held of and firmly bound unto. . . . . . .in the sum of five hundred Pounds, lawful money of New-York; for the payment whereof we bind ourselves, ourheirs, executors, and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals; dated this day of . . . . . ., in the year of our Lord 1776.

The condition of this Obligation is such, that if the above bounden. . . . . . .shall well and truly appear before this present or any future Provincial Congress or Committee of Safety of this Colony, within six days after he shall have been summoned, or within six days after a notification for that purpose shall have been left at his last place of abode, and then and there abide by and observe all such orders and directions as shall be then and there enjoined him; and in the mean time, if he shall behave himself peaceably, and make no opposition to the measures of the Continental Congress of the United Colonies, or of the Provincial Congress of this Colony of New-York, nor instigate others so to do, then this obligation to be void; but on failure of any or either of the above conditions, to be and remain in full force.

Sealed, and delivered in the presence of . . . . . . . . .

Ordered, That the said Draft be delivered to the said John Willett and others; that they be informed they may prepare copies thereof; and that when they have givensuch Bonds, respectively, with security, they will be permitted to go at large.

Ordered, That one of the Secretaries be authorized to go down to the said John Willett, and the other persons under guard with him, and receive from them their respective Bonds, duly executed with sufficient securities; and that, on their delivering such Bonds with sufficient securities, and discharging the pay and expenses of the guard, the said Secretary do give them certificates of their being permitted to go at large; and that they be thereupon permitted to go at large.

Die Sabbati, A. M., February 17, 1776.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Brigadier-General Woodhull, President.

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

FOR ALBANY.—Mr. A. Yates, General Ten Broeck, Mr. Gansevoort, Colonel Nicoll, Colonel P. R. Livingston.

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

FOR DUTCHESS.—Mr. . Livingston, Colonel M. Graham, Colonel P. Ten Broeck.

FOR DUlSTER.—Mr. Lefever, Mr. Dewitt, Mr. Wisner, Mr. Rhea.

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

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

FOR TRYON.—Mr. Moore.

FOR CHARLOTTE.—Dr. Williams.

Mr. Ward, from the Committee appointed to inquire of Colonel Waterbury respecting the Arms he has seized, reported, that Colonel Waterbury informed them that he disarmed several persons in Westchester County who are inimical to the measures pursued by the Colonies; that he disarmed those persons by order of Major-General Lee.

The said Committee delivered in an account of said Arms in the words following, to wit:

An Inventory of Guns and other warlike implements taken from the Tories in Westchester: Thirty Guns, two pair Holsters, nine Cutlasses, and three Pistols.

Mr. Ward further informed that they had not learned from what particular persons, by name, any of the said Arms were seized or taken; and that Colonel Waterbury is ready to deliver them as he shall be directed, on getting a receipt for them.

Mr. Hobart and Mr. Beekman reported that they, according to order, had waited upon Major-General Lee, to know the source of his information that Governour Tryon was procuring Gunsmiths from this City on board of his ship; that General Lee having given them the particulars of his information, they had pursued the inquiry to every person of whom any information could reasonably be expected, and found that it arose from the circumstance of two journey-men Gunsmiths having some time ago left the City—the