A Letter from William, Leary, Town-Major, on the subject of his great duty and small means, was read and filed, and is the words following, to wit:

“New-York, February 23, 1776.

“SIR: As I have a long time acted as Town-Major, I now must take the liberty, and beg you will inform the Congress, that it is out of my power to support myself in that character without some compensation for it. I have quitted all business for the office, and now support myself on my means, which, God knows, is very little. I must beg you will excuse this freedom which I have taken with you.

“I remain a well wisher to the present cause; and am your very humble servant,

“WILLIAM LEARY, Town-Major.

“To the President of the Provincial Congress.”

As the Town-Major is an officer of this City, and the City Members are absent in a Committee, fixing on proper persons to recommend for Officers in the battalion to be raised in this City,

Ordered, That the consideration thereof be deferred for the present, and resumed when the Members for New-York are present.

A Return of the Officers of a Company of Minute-men, in Southampton, in Suffolk County, and signed by Thomas Cooper and S. Halsey, the Chairman, and another member of the Committee, was read and filed. They return that the following gentlemen were unanimously chosen in their presence, agreeably to the Rules of Congress, to wit: Zephaniah Rogers, Captain; Nathaniel Howell, Jun., First Lieutenant; Matthew Sayer, Second Lieutenant.

Another Return of Officers of another Company of Minute-men, in Southampton, signed by Maltby Gelston, Chairman, was read and filed. The Officers thereby returned, are, David Pierson, Captain; John Foster, Jun., First Lieutenant; Abraham Rose, Second Lieutenant, and Edward Topping, Ensign.

Ordered, That Commissions issue for the above-named gentlemen.

And they were issued accordingly.

Die Sabbati 10 ho. A. M., February 24, 1776.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Brigadier-General Woodhull, President.

FOR NEW-YORK.—Mr. Sands, Mr. Smith, Colonel McDougall, Mr. Van Zandt, Mr. E. Bancker, Mr. Roosevelt, Captain Rutgers, Captain Denning, Mr. Rutgers.

FOR ALBANY.—General Ten Broeck, Mr. Abraham Yates, Mr. Gansevoort, Colonel Nicoll.

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

FOR ORANGE.—Mr. Herring, Mr. Clowes, Colonel Allison.

FOR ULSTER.—Mr. Rhea, Mr. Lefever, Colonel Palmer.

FOR DUTCHESS.—Colonel Ten Broeck, Mr. G. Livingston.

FOR WESTCHESTER.—Mr. Thomas, Major Lockwood, Mr. Paulding.

FOR RICHMOND.—Mr. Adrian Bancker.

FOR TRYON.—Mr. Moore.

FOR CUMBERLAND.—Major W. Williams.

FOR CHARLOTTE.—Colonel J . Williams.

Samuel Franklin informed Congress that the Ship Sally is to be sent to Boston in a few days, and requests permission from this Congress to send John Hastier in the said ship to Boston, in order to make application to the Admiral for her discharge, and, in the interim, to take care of the said ship. Mr. Franklin further requests that the said John Hastier may be permitted to take with him for his subsistence, one barrel of salt provisions, one cask of bread, one barrel of flour, one quarter of fresh beef, a few gallons of rum or spirits, and a few pounds of chocolate; and that he, Mr. Franklin, be permitted to go on board of his Majesty’s Ship Phenix to speak with Captain Parker relative to the said Ship Sally.

Ordered, That John Hastier be, and he is hereby, permitted to go on board of the Ship Sally, belonging to Samuel Franklin, and lately seized by Captain Parker; and further, that the said John Hastier be permitted to go passenger in the said Ship to Boston, and take with him, for his subsistence, the following stores, to wit: One barrel of salt Provisions, one cask of Bread, one barrel of Flour, one quarter of fresh Beef, a few gallons of Rum, and a few pounds of Chocolate; and,

Ordered, That Samuel Franklin be permitted to go on board of his Majesty’s Ship Phenix, to speak with Captain Parker relative to the said Ship.

The Deputies for the City and County of New-York delivered in a List or Arrangement of Officers for the Regiment to be raised in New-York; which was read and approved of.

A Letter from David Pye, Esq., Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Orange County, to the Congress, and two Letters from E. W. Kiers —one to Jesse Woodhull, Esq., and the other to Thomas Smith, Esq.—were read.

They thereby state their difficulties arising from the following matter, to wit: That their County Committee had recommended officers for two companies, to be raised on the south side of the Mountains, in Orange County; that each of those officers had been at expense in preparing for the service, and engaging men for a company; that only one company being allotted by Congress to be raised in that part of the County, each set of officers claimed the preference, and that, to rid themselves of jealousies, and creating divisions, they had returned the warrants, and submitted to Congress to determine and fill up the warrants.

Congress determined that the said warrants be filled up in manner following, to wit: For Amos Hutchins, Captain.

An Account of Bernard Romans, for money claimed by him as due to him from this Congress, was read.

A Resolve of Continental Congress was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“In Congress, February 13, 1776.

“Resolved, That it be recommended to the Convention of New-York to pay Mr. B. Romans up to the 9th day of this month.

CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.”

The consideration thereof is deferred until B. Romans is called in, and interrogated as to the reasons of his so long absence from the Fortifications at different times.

The Congress was informed by a Member that his Excellency the Governour has sent to the Mayor to request his attendance.

Ordered, That his Worship the Mayor be permitted to go on board his Excellency Governour Tryon’s Ship.

Mr. L’Hommedieu requested that this Congress would come to a determination as to the propriety of the embargo laid on Provisions by the Committees of some Towns in Suffolk County; and Mr. L’Hommedieu proposed and moved for an order in the words following, which was read, to wit:

The Congress approving of the Committees of Southampton, Easthampton, and Shelter-Island, having laid an embargo on Provisions in those Towns till the 1st of March,

Ordered, That it be recommended to the Committee of Suffolk County, at their next meeting, to continue said Embargo in those Towns, and in the several Towns in Suffolk County, in such manner as they shall direct, until the further order of this Congress; and that their proceedings be transmitted to this Congress with all convenient speed.

Ordered, That Colonel Palmer be considered as present while he is attending with the Cannon, (to the forwarding whereof he is appointed with Colonel Nicoll, ) and no longer.

Ordered, That Colonel Nicoll be considered as present until he may arrive at Albany, and not after that time, until he arrives here and takes his seat.

The Congress took into consideration the Resolves and recommendation of the honourable the Continental Congress to prosecute the discovery of the Lead-Mine at New-Canaan, in this Colony. They sent for John McDonald, the Miner, as a proper person to pursue such discovery; and he has undertaken and engaged in that service on the following terms and conditions, to wit: To proceed to New-Canaan with all possible despatch, and there examine into and prosecute the discovery of the said Lead-Mine; to receive for his pay and subsistence twenty dollars per month while in that service, he to bear his own expense, and to be furnished with necessary tools, &c., and for that purpose to have a letter to the Committee of King’s District, requesting them to furnish him with tools.