that Burrell spoke to him two days before about spiking the Guns, and that he told him he did not think any person would make the spikes; that one of the company took one sledge out of Benjamin Flandereau’s shop; that another was got when they were at John Gidney’s; that the company had greatcoats and caps on, except himself, who had not a cap on.

Isaac Gidney says: That Lownsberry came to him and asked him to make one hundred and odd hatchel teeth, out of old files; that he told him that files were very unhandy to work; that Lownsberry brought him small steel, and he made him one hundred and four large hatchel teeth, as Mr. Lownsberry ordered him, and, by his orders, hardened them; that Joshua Gidney took them from his shop; that Joshua Gidney lives within forty rods of him, and Lownsberry one half mile out of the country road; that he never made any other hatchel teeth so large; that they were not filed; that, when asked why they were made so large, they told him it was no matter; that he heard of no agreement between Lownsberry and Gidney; that he made about sixty hatchel teeth for Burrell, the week before, of a smaller size than Lownsberry’s; that Burrell does not raise any flax.

Joseph Purdy: That he did not know, when he made the teeth, what use they were for; that Gidney told him they were for hatchel teeth; that he does not know how many he made; that he assisted one spell in the evening, and one spell in the afternoon; that some time after the Guns were spiked, he asked Gidney if those teeth were not for spiking the Guns, and he said, no; that he thought them short for hatchel teeth; that he asked for whom he was making them and that Purdy did not inform him; that what he assisted to make were made out of small bars of steel; that he does not know who spiked any of the Cannon, except what he has heard since he has been in confinement; that one Duyckinck came into the guard-house, and told Haines he had spiked up the Cannon; that Thomas Haines, or Joshua Gidney, told him that James Haines, Jun., spiked up all the Cannon.

Cornelius McCartney says: He lives in Phillips’s Manor, in Yonkers Township; that he usually keeps school; that he does not know who spiked up the Cannon at Valentine’s; that on Wednesday night, the 17th of January, he was at Joseph Oakley’s, and kept a night school there; that he had some difference at a raffle, and his scholars took his part, and some of the company, out of spite, informed against him, that he had been concerned in spiking the Cannon; but that it was not true; that the dispute he had with those people was about Whig and Tory; that he was the person called a Tory. On naming the families for whom he taught school,

Cornelius McCartney was discharged.

Ordered, That William Lownsberry and the other Prisoners be remanded to their place of confinement, and kept, respectively, in the same state of confinement as they were heretofore kept, until further order.

Colonel McDougall’s motion, for authorizing the County and District Committees to purchase Blankets for the Troops to be raised in this Colony, was taken into consideration. It being thought expedient that the purchasing Arms should be added to the Resolution:

Ordered, That the same be committed to Mr. Hobart, and that he report a draft of a Resolution (authorizing the Committees to purchase Arms as well as Blankets) with all convenient speed.

A Letter from Stephen Ward, Esq., was read, and is in the words following, to wit:

“March 5, 1776.

“GENTLEMEN: I hereby acquaint you that I have taken an account from Captain Varian what the expense of guarding the guns at Valentine’s and Williams’s will be this week, viz: One Captain, one Lieutenant, two Sergeants, one Corporal, and fourteen Privates: six of the above men board at ten shillings per week; and the others draw provisions from the Commissary, with a guard-room and fire-wood, at three pounds per week, besides items—making, in the whole, about twenty-six pounds; and last week it was considerably more. And as Mr. David Barclay (who waits on you with this letter) is willing to undertake to guard them with six men beside himself, for half that expense, I take the liberty to recommend him as a faithful man; and should you think that guard sufficient, and he appointed to that service, Captain Varian might be sent to the Fortification now erecting at Hell-gate. All which I submit to your superior judgment; and remain, gentlemen, your assured friend and humble servant,

“STEPHEN WARD.

“P. S. If Mr. Barclay should be appointed to guard the guns, he expects the fifty which are at Williams’s to be moved to the others near Valentine’s. Mr. Williams will move them at two shillings each.”

Ordered, That Colonel Joseph Drake and Mr. Thomas be a Committee to take the aforegoing Letter of Mr. Ward into consideration, and report thereon with all speed.

Colonel Drake and Mr. Thomas delivered in their Report; which, being read, is in the words following, to wit:

The Committee appointed to take into consideration the Letter from Stephen Ward concerning the expenses of guarding the cannon at Valentine’s, do report—

1st. That it is unnecessary to continue the expensive guard which hath been stationed to guard those cannon for the time past.

2d. That when the said cannon are all collected together at Valentine’s, then seven men would be sufficient to guard said cannon.

3d. That we think David Barclay, who was recommended by Mr. Ward, is a suitable person to have the care of said guard, and that thirteen pounds per week is not too much for the whole expense.

Resolved and Ordered, That David Barclay be, and he is hereby, appointed to have the care and charge of the said Guard, and that he be allowed thirteen Pounds per week for the whole expense attending said Guard.

In Provincial Congress, New-York, March 6, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: The bearer, Major William Malcom, is going (by order of this Congress) to execute a commission of very great importance to the publick service. The secrecy with which it is necessary this business should be conducted renders it altogether improper for him to carry the requisite assistance from hence. He will, therefore, call upon you for such assistance as he may want, which we beg you will afford him.

And we are, gentlemen, your most obedient servants.

By order.

To the Committee of Inspection and Observation in New-Jersey.

“New-York, March 6, 1776.

“SIR: The Provincial Congress of this Colony having appointed us a Committee to concert measures for carrying into execution their resolves of the 5th instant, for the dismantling the Light-House at Sandy-Hook; we, reposing especial trust and confidence in your abilties and zeal in the common cause, have made choice of you for the execution of that importent enterprise. We enclose you a certified copy of the resolve for the purpose, and desire you will conform as nearly as may be to the strict letter thereof. You will please to call upon the Committee of Middletown, or such other place in New-Jersey as you shall judge most proper, for the assistance you shall think necessary.

“Upon your arrival at Sandy-Hook, you will endeavour to take the glass out of the lantern, and save it if possible; but if you find this impracticable, you will break all the glass. You will also endeavour to pump the oil out of the cisterns into casks, and bring it off; but if you should be obstructed by the enemy, or not be able to procure casks, you will pump it out on the ground. In short, you will use your best discretion to render the Light-House entirely useless.

“We are, sir, your humble servants,

“To Major Malcom.”

Die Jovis, 10 ho. A. M., March 7, 1776.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Brigadier-General Woodhull, President.

FOR NEW-YORK.—Mr. Smith, Mr. Beekman, Mr. Evert Bancker, Mr. Rutgers, Mr. Sands, Mr. Randall, Colonel Lott, Mr. Van Zandt, Colonel McDougall