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And Ordered, That another copy be prepared for the Port-Master, and that he attend here at five o’clock to receive Instructions. The said Committee further reported: That as to the other matter given to them in charge, to wit: “the apprehending and sending into confinement in this and a neighbouring Colony, sundry inhabitants of this City and Colony, without the knowledge of, or application to, this Congress,” and the reasons thereof, that Lord Stirling had assured them that the like should not happen in time to come; that he informed them that John Gregg was apprehended, and is now confined in the Guard-House at the Barracks, for having, in the night time, attacked the sentinels on duty at their posts; and that he submits his trial and punishment to the Congress. That Governour Tryon’s two servants and his linen will be sent to his ship by the first provision-boat; that the seamen who lately came from the Ship Dutchess of Gordon, and were apprehended, desire that they may not return on board; and that the sole occasion of the apprehending Samuel Gale, and sending him to confinement, arose from copies of some letter, or letters, which were in the custody of a certain Colonel William Williams, a Member of this Congress; that he knows of no other evidence against him, and submits his case entirely to this Congress. That his Lordship assured them that, for the future, any persons apprehended shall not be sent out of the Colony; but their cases respectively (if any be apprehended) shall be referred to this Congress. That he further declared that it was not his wish or desire to interfere with the civil Government or police of the City or Colony, but, on the contrary, to harmonize with and aid the civil Government. The said Committee then informed the Congress that Lord Stirling had requested them to inform this Congress that the present Prison or Jail of this City will, in a short time, be within some military lines; that it will be inconvenient to have the Jailer and Prisoners within the lines; that he will be under a necessity of applying the Jail to other uses; and, therefore, requests the Congress to take into their consideration what may be necessary to be directed as to the Jailer and the Prisoners. A Memorial of Abraham Lott, Esq., Treasurer of this Colony, was read and filed. He therein sets forth that one-tenth part of the emission of the Bills of Credit, issued by a law of this Colony in 1771, with the interest thereof, will soon be due; that money of that emission cannot be obtained to discharge those debts, agreeable to that law, and praying advice in the premises; and whether the Loan-Officers may receive any money now current in the Colony. Ordered, That Mr. Scott, Mr. Hobart, and General Ten Broeck, be a Committee to take with them and consider the said Memorial, and report thereon to this Congress with all convenient speed. Die Veneris, 4 ho. P. M., March 8, 1776. The Congress met pursuant to adjournment. Present: Brigadier-General Woodhull, President. FOR NEW-YORK.—Mr. Scott, Colonel McDougall, Mr. Van Zandt, Mr. Randall, Mr. Sands, Captain Denning, Mr. Evert Bancker, Mr. Prince. FOR ALBANY.—General Ten Broeck, Mr. Yates, Mr. Gansevoort, Colonel Nicoll, (on service.) FOR WSETCHESTER.—Colonel Gilbert Drake, Colonel Joseph Drake, Major Lockwood, Mr. Thomas. FOR ULSTER.—Mr. Rhea, Mr. Lefevcr, Colonel Palmer, (on service.) FOR SUFFOLK.—General Woodhull, Mr. Hobart, Mr. Gelston. FOR ORANGE.—Colonel Hay, Colonel Allison. FOR DUTCHESS.—Colonel P. Ten Broeck, Colonel M. Graham, Mr. Gilbert Livingston, Major Schenck. FOR RICHMOND.—Mr. Adrian Bancker. FOR KING’s.—Mr. Vanderbilt, Mr. Polhemus. FOR CUMBERLAND.—Colonel William Williams. For Tryon.-Mr. Moore. FOR TRYON.—Mr. Moore. Captain Rutgers and Mr. Randall informed the Congress that, from various informations which they have obtained, (the particulars whereof they mentioned,) they have good reason to believe that the report of a number of topsail Vessels being at Sandy-Hook is false. But they have, notwithstanding, despatched Captain Mcllroy to the Narrous to make discovery, and that this Congress may expect his information this evening. Colonel McDougall informed the Congress that Major-General Lee, before his departure, received a Letter from Major-General Schuyler, informing of the state of the Troops gone forward to Canada, and of many other things relative to the present or ensuing campaign in that Department; that General Lee had left him a copy of that Letter to be laid before this Congress for their information; which he then delivered to the Chair. Thereupon the same was read, and is in the words following, to wit: “Albany, February 29, 1776. “Dear General: Congress having ordered that I should repair to New-York, to take the command there as soon as my health would permit, I have taken the liberty to represent to them that if that obstacle was immediately removed, I should not be able to leave this until the batteaus, now building at Fort George, were finished, and everything got into such a train as that your Army in Canada may not suffer for want of provisions; which it certainly will if I quit this, and you immediately go into Canada, where your presence is much, very much indeed, wanted. “At a moderate calculation the provisions which we took, what was carried in, and what has since been brought, there was sufficient to the month of June; and yet they are now so nearly expended that I have been obliged to send four hundred barrels of pork, in sleds, at the enormous expense of three pounds per barrel. “I have sent to Canada one eighteen, and a number of twelve-pounders, with what suitable shot were left at the upper posts. “I need not observe to you, that you will stand in need of a number of carpenters and shipwrights. I only mention it to advise you that I have fifty or more that can go off at a moment’s warning. The Canadians are very indifferent workmen, and, besides, will not take our paper money; so that, everything considered, I conclude it will be best to take them from hence. “Besides the pork above-mentioned, I have ordered one hundred and fifty head of the largest and best stall-fed cattle to be purchased, which I hope to get into Canada whilst the Lakes are still passable on the ice. I have so arranged matters that they will carry their own fodder, and I hope two hundred barrels of pork besides. “I do not know if the cannon ordered from New-York have travelling carriages. I have written on the subject to the Committee to whom the conveyance of them is entrusted. If they have not, I think I could complete them here in ten days, as I have employed a person to look out for the proper timber, and to speak to all the wheelwrights in this place and its vicinity to be ready when called upon. “The Regiments to be raised for the Canada service, in the Massachusetts-Bay and Connecticut, are not yet marched from thence. Four Companies of the Pennsyhanians are gone on the 5th. The only one left here will march tomorrow. Three Jersey Companies are also marched, and about one thousand from this Colony and the Massachusetts-Bay, which I ordered to be raised immediately after our repulse at Quebeck. As the Jersey and Pennsylxania Companies are very incomplete, I have ordered all the men that were raised by my immediate order to be engaged for the campaign, and to remain in Canada. I imagined that necessity would justify this step, and I have advised Congress thereof, and pointed out the reasons which induced me to it. “Three companies of Colonel Van Schaick’s Regiment are nearly complete. One of them is at Fort George, and the other at Ticonderoga, from whence they will move as soon as I can get a few men out of those others to be raised in this Colony, to take charge of those posts. All the troops that have hitherto come up have been only half armed, and I am greatly distressed to furnish them; none of them had moccasins, and great numbers wanted shoes, mittens, caps, stockings, &c. “I hope the New-York Convention will forward the naval stores I wrote for without delay, as none are to be had in Canada, and you will stand in great need of them
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