The said John McDonald having occasion for a small supply of cash to defray his expenses on his intended journey:

Thereupon, Ordered, That Mr. Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq., as Treasurer of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, advance to John McDonald, the Miner, (who, in obedience to a certified copy of a recommendation of the Continental Congress to this Provincial Congress, dated the 15th instant, is sent to prosecute the discovery of the Lead-Mine at New-Canaan, ) the sum of twelve Dollars, on account, and take his receipt for the same.

A draft of a Letter to the Committee of King’s District, in the County of Albany, was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, February 24, 1776.

GENTLEMEN:The Congress have appointed John McDonald to explore the Lead-Mine at New-Canaan . He is to apply to you for any assistance he may, want to procure, (tools and other necessaries for the purpose,) which they desire you will furnish. He is allowed twenty dollars per month for his, pay and subsistence. You will please to inform us what time he is employed in the service.

We are, gentlemen, your very obedient servants.

By order.

To the Chairman and Members of the Committee of King’s District, Albany County.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed and signed by the President, and transmitted by the said John McDonald; and that a certified copy of the Report of J. Hopkins to the Continental Congress, and of their Resolve thereon, be delivered by the Secretaries to the said John McDonald.

Die Lunæ, 10 ho. A. M., February 26, 1776.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Brigadier-General Woodhull, President.

FOR NEW-YORK.—Colonel McDougall, Captain Rutgers, Mr. Beekman, Mr. Sands, Mr. Denning, Mr. Smith, Mr. Roosevelt.

FOR ALBANY.—General Ten Brooch, Mr. Gansevoort, Mr. A. Yates, Colonel Nicoll, (on service.)

FOR SUFFOLK.—General Woodhull, Mr. Hobart, Mr. Gelston.

FOR KING’s.—Mr. Vanderbilt, Mr. Leffertse.

FOR ULSTER.—Mr. Rhea, Mr. Lefever, Colonel Palmer, (on service.)

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

FOR CUMBERLAND.—Colonel William Williams.

FOR WESTCHESTER.—Mr. Ward.

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

FOR CHARLOTTE.—Colonel John Williams.

FOR TRYON.—Mr. Moore.

Mr. Hobart reported that Dr. Treat had informed him that he has taken every measure to find some proper place for an Hospital; that he cannot discover any place that can be obtained other than the two following, to wit: Mr. Delancey’s House, in the Out Ward, and three Houses in and near Maiden-Lane, near Mr. Walton’s Brewery.

The Congress are of opinion, unanimously, that the place mentioned in Maiden-Lane is very improper, and will, by no means, answer the purpose; and that, from every inquiry they have been able to make, or information received, Mr. Delancey’s House, in the Bowery, is the most proper. But as the Congress would choose to have the use of the said House with the consent of, and by agreement with, John Delancey, the agent of the owner,

Ordered, That Mr. Denning and Mr. Abraham Yates be a Committee to apply to John Delancey for the use of the said House, and make report thereon with all convenient speed.

It was suggested to Congress that there may be great danger in using the present Hospital stores until they are carefully washed and cleansed; and as no Superintendent of an Hospital is yet appointed,

Ordered, That Dr. Treat be requested, for the present, to procure such proper persons as he may think fit to trust, and give the necessary directions for washing such stores as he may think necessary.

Colonel McDougall informed the Congress that some works will be necessary to be erected on some ground on the bank southwest of Trinity-Church. That three small Houses there (one of them tenanted) will necessarily be taken down; that it will be necessary to have this matter kept secret, otherwise the erection of the work may be frustrated; and submitted to the Congress whether three Members of this Congress, who are judges of buildings, should not be directed to view and estimate the value of those three Houses.

Ordered, That Mr. Roosevelt, Captain Rutgers, and Mr. Beekman, be a Committee to view and examine the said three Houses, and ascertain their value respectively, and report thereon with all convenient speed.

And the Members were strictly charged from the Chair to keep this matter with the greatest secrecy.

A Return from Colonel Jacobus Swartwout for Officers for a Company of Militia in Rombout Precinct, was read and filed. It thereby appears that the following Officers were chosen, agreeable to the Rules of Congress, to wit: Evert Wynkoop Swart, Captain; Robert Brett, First Lieutenant; Isaac Van Wyck, Second Lieutenant; and Abraham Shultz, Ensign.

Ordered, That Commissions issue for those gentlemen.

Colonel Swartwout also enclosed a List of Officers chosen by their several Companies in his Regiment of 4, agreeable to the Resolution of Congress, for whom he requested Commissions as soon as possible, to wit: For John Dorlon, Captain; Henry. Wykoff, First Lieutenant; Robert Hill, Second Lieutenant; and Thomas Ostrander, Ensign.

In another Company: James Weeks, Captain; Hugh Connor, First Lieutenant; James Cooper, Second Lieutenant; and Theodorus Brett, Ensign.

In another Company: Comfort Luddington, Captain; Elijah Oakley, First Lieutenant; John Bready, Second Lieutenant; and Asa Berry, Ensign.

All which Returns were dated this day.

Ordered, That Commissions issue for all those gentlemen, agreeably to their respective Ranks returned.

Colonel Hay produced a Return of Officers for a Company of Minute-men in the southern part of Orange County, signed by Johannes Is. Blauvelt, Chairman; whereby it appears that, on the l6th December, the following named gentlemen were elected Officers of that Company, to wit: Benjamin Coe, Captain Abraham Onderdonck, First Lieutenant ; Paulus M. Vandervoort, Second Lieutenant; and Daniel Coe, Jun., Ensign; and that they were chosen without opposition, in the presence of John Smith and Rynier Quackenboss, two of the Committee, as Inspectors.

Ordered, That Commissions issue for those gentlemen.

John Voorhies, of Brunswick, who attended the Congress at their request, to be examined, says: That, on Friday morning, the 23d instant, he was coming to New-York with his Sloop Brunswick, loaded with Bread and Flour, and five firkins of Butter; that he was brought to by Captain Vandeput, in the Ship Asia, who demanded of him what his cargo consisted of; that Captain Vandeput ordered the hatches of the Sloop to be opened, and took out forty-two tierces of Bread, five firkins of Butter, and thirty barrels of Flour; for the payment whereof, he gave this examinant an order on Abraham Lott, Esq., and then put fourteen or fifteen men on board the Sloop, and brought her alongside of the Ship Dutchess of Gordon; that he was there ordered by Governour Tryon to get his tackles ready; that Governour Tryon directed all the Flour to be taken out of the Sloop and put on board of the Dutchess; that one hundred and forty-nine barrels were taken out of the Sloop by Governour Tryon’s order and put on board of the Dutchess; that two barrels of the finest Flour were set by for the Ship’s use, and the rest stowed in the hold; that Governour Tryon asked for his Account; that he (this examinant) asked nineteen shillings per hundred for his Flour, as ho had been informed that was the market price; that Governour Tryon would pay him only eighteen shillings per hundred, and offered to pay him that price, or permit him to go to New-York and get a certificate that the price was higher; that Governour Tryon paid him for only one hundred and forty-seven barrels of Flour, though he kept an account of the weights and numbers, and is very confident that one