one hundred and seventy-nine pounds and seven shillings; which sum they demand of me. Please to let me know whether I must pay them. The rations are rather charged under than over the mark. Lieutenant Marvin also delivered me a Doctor’s bill, amounting to thirty-two shillings, which was for medicines administered to him while he lay at the east end of Long-Island, where there was no Regimental Surgeon. I have purchased three thousand bushels of salt, out of the Ship Lady Gage, to go up to Albany. Should be glad to have the advice of Congress how to get it out of the Kills.

“Please return the accounts by the Secretary.

“I am, gentlemen, your most obedient servant,

“PETER T. CURTENEUS.”

Thereupon a draft of a Letter to Major-General Lee was prepared by one of the Secretaries, and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

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

SIR: We are informed by a letter from Colonel Curtenius, our Commissary, that Mr. Hughes has demanded of him (by your command, as he says) certain Hospital stores in his custody by our order, for the use of a General Hospital.

We beg leave to inform you, sir, that those stores were taken into the care and direction of the Congress of this Colony the last summer, by order of the honourable the Continental Congress. Since that time they have been under continual guard by our directions, and that of one company at least every night, and the keys thereof in the custody of our Commissary.

Necessity obliged us, though with reluctance, lately to apply some part of those stores to cover straw beds for the troops. With pleasure we lately ordered out a small part of them for the use of a few indisposed troops.

Should those stores be applied to any other use than that to which they have been devoted, give us leave to say, that it is scarcely in the power of the Continent to supply an Hospital.

To you, sir, we need not mention the consequences. Add to this, sir, we look upon ourselves responsible for them to the Continental Congress, and that by their own order in the premises; and under this apprehension we have hitherto acted.

We are, respectfully, sir, your very humble servants.

By order.

Mr. William Williams, one of the Deputies from Cumberland County, delivered in a Letter or Return of Field-Officers, recommended by the County Committee of Cumberland County, dated the 1st day of February last, signed Benjamin Carpenter, Chairman; which was read and filed.*

Thereupon, Ordered, That Commissions issue to the gentlemen recommended by the County Committee For Officers of the lower Regiment of Cumberland County, as follows, to wit: To William Williams, Esq., as Colonel; to Benjamin Carpenter, Esq., as Lieutenant-Colonel; to Oliver Lovel, Esq., as First Major; to Abijah Lovejoy, Esq., as Second Major; to Samuel Minor, Jun., Gentleman, as Adjutant, and to Samuel Fletcher, Gentleman, as Quartermaster of said Regiment.

A Letter from the Committee of Cumberland County, signed by Benjamin Carpenter, their Chairman, dated the 2d day of February last, delivered to the President by Major William Williams, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“Cumberland County, Westminster, February 2, 1776.

“SIR: As this is an infant County, (though heartily disposed in the cause of American liberty,) we are at present unable to furnish our Delegate with the cash which, perhaps, may be absolutely necessary to supply his present necessities. The County is about raising a tax, which is already voted by the County Committee, and we are determined to raise said tax as quick as we possibly can; therefore should be exceeding glad, under our present necessities, that our Delegate (Major William Williams) might receive out of the Provincial Treasury the sum of forty pounds, New-York currency.

“We hope soon to be able to remit said sum of forty pounds to the honourable Provincial Congress, at New-York. The Congress complying with our request will much oblige your most obedient servants, &c.

“By order of the Committee of Safety for Cumberland County:

“BENJAMIN CARPENTER, Chairman.

“To the Honourable the President of the Provincial Congress for the Colony of New-York.”

The Congress took the said Letter into consideration; and thereupon,

Ordered, That Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., the Treasurer of this Congress, advance on loan to Major William Williams, on the credit of Cumberland County Committee in general, and of Benjamin Carpenter (the Chairman of the said Committee) in particular, and Major William Williams therein named, the sum of forty Pounds, to be repaid in such manner as this or some future Provincial Congress or Committee of Safety shall direct; and that in the mean time, until such payment be made or discounted by some order of Congress or Committee of Safety, the said Benjamin Carpenter and William Williams jointly, and each of them separately, be considered as indebted to the said Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., his executors or administrators, in the sum of forty Pounds, New-York money, for so much money lent, to be repaid on demand; and in default of such payment or discount by order of Congress or of Committee of Safety, to be recovered by the said Peter Van Brugh Livingston, his executors or administrators, by suit at law or otherwise, with all costs and disbursements.

And Ordered further, That the said original Letter be made a part of the draft of the Minutes of this Congress; and that the Secretaries deliver certified copies of the said Letter and this entry, to be filed with the said Treasurer as his voucher for the said sum of forty Pounds.

A Return of the Officers of a Company of Minute-men, in Beekman Precinct, dated 23d February last, and signed by James Vandenburgh and Ebenezer Cary, two of the Committee, was read and filed. They thereby return the following gentlemen as duly and unanimously elected by the Company, to wit: William Clark, Captain; Benjamin Noxon, First Lieutenant; Martin Cornell, Second Lieutenant, and Nathaniel Cary, Ensign.

Ordered, That Commissions issue for those gentlemen accordingly.

4to ho. P. M., March 1, 1776.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Brigadier-General Woodhull, President.

FOR NEW-YORK.—Colonel McDougall, Major Stoutenburgh, Colonel Lott, Mr. Rutgers, Mr. Prince, Mr. Scott, Mr. Roosevelt, Mr. Van Cortlandt.

*CUMBERLAND COUNTY, WESTMINSTER, February 1, 1776.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOUR: We have, with peculiar pleasure, received the letter from the Chairman of the honourable Committee of Safety for the Province of New-York, recommending peace, harmony, and unanimity through the County, in nominating the Field-Ofiicers for the Lower Regiment in said County. At a pretty full meeting of the Committee of Safety for this County, after mature consultation and deliberation upon the matter, we have (with submission to the honourable Congress) nominated sundry gentlemen to be commissioned as Field-Officers in the Lower Regiment. And that Major Hunt’s character should not be lessened in the view of the honourable Congress, we must inform you that the said Hunt entirely refuses to accept a commission in the lower department.

We hope the dissensions and animosities which have heretofore been so prevalent in the County will, in a great mensure, for the future, subside.

With grateful acknowledgments, we return you our most sincere thanks for the favourable notice you have hitherto expressed towards us, and should be extremely glad for the like future favours. Our nomination for Field-Officers for the Lower Regiment is as follows: Major William Williams, First Colonel; Benjamin Carpenter, Esq., Second Colonel; Oliver Lovel, Esq., First Major; Abijah Lovejoy, Second Major; Samuel Minor, Jun., Adjutant; Samuel Fletcher, Quartermaster.

Honoured sir, by forwarding commissions to the above gentlemen as speedily as possible, we think it will give pretty general satisfaction to the County. And, wishing the Colony of New-York all imaginable peace, harmony, and concord, we subscribe ourselves, with the greatest respect, your most obedient humble servants, &c.

By order of the County Committee:

BENJAMIN CARPENTER, Chairman.

To the Honourable President of the Provincial Congress for the Colony of New-York. To be communicated to said Coggress.