March 13, 1776.

Whereas the several County Committees in this Colony may have occasion to borrow Money to enable them to defray the contingent charges they are, or may be put to, in support of the; cause of the United Colonies against the iniquitous attempts of the British Ministry and Parliament to enslave this Continent; and whereas the imposition of Taxes on the inhabitants of this Colony, to enable the County Committees to pay the said contingent charges, may be very inconvenient at this time; this Congress, from an earnest desire to encourage the friends to liberty in supporting the common cause, do resolve to advance, on loan, out of the Colony Treasury, to each County Committee a sum of money not exceeding the sums following, for the purpose of paying the charges aforesaid, and of making such allowances to the Deputies in Provincial Congress as the respective County Committees shall judge proper; that is to say: To the City and County of New-York, the sum of twelve hundred Pounds; to the City and County of Albany, the sum of eight hundred Pounds; to the County of Suffolk, the sum of four hundred and sixty Pounds; to the County of Richmond, the sum of one hundred and twenty-nine Pounds; to King’s County, the sum of two hundred Pounds; to the County of Ulster, the sum of three hundred and sixty Pounds; to the County of Orange, the sum of two hundred Pounds; to the County of Westchester, the sum of four hundred and thirty Pounds; to the County of Tryon, the sum of four hundred Pounds; to the County of Cumberland, the sum of one hundred Pounds; to the County of Charlotte, the sum of one hundred Pounds; to the County of Dutchess, the sum of four hundred and twenty Pounds. And it is understood that the sums of money which several of the Counties have already received out of the Treasury for their particular purposes, shall be deducted by the Treasurer out of the respective sums allowed to such County in the foregoing resolutions, and that the security given for such sums be delivered up. And it is

Resolved and Ordered, That Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., Treasurer of this Congress, shall and do pay to the Chairman of each respective County Committee in this Colony, such sum or sums of money as the said Committees shall, from time to time, apply for, to discharge the contingent charges aforesaid of each respective County, provided the sum or sums of money, so applied for, shall not, in the whole, amount, to more than the sum hereinbefore allotted to each respective County; and that an order of each respective County Committee, signed by the Chairman, and attested by the Clerk of the said Committee, with a receipt from the person in whose favour such order shall be drawn, shall be to the said Treasurer a sufficient voucher for the amount of the said order.

And it is further Resolved, That each respective County in this Colony shall stand charged, and be accountable to the Treasurer of this Congress, for such sum and sums of money as the said Treasurer shall advance to each respective County Committee, pursuant to the foregoing resolutions; and that the same shall be raised and repaid into the Treasury of this Congress by Tax or Assessment on the inhabitants of each respective County, when thereunto required by this or any future Congress of this Colony.

The Congress then proceeded to consider of a Plan for constituting a Committee of Safety during their next intended adjournment, and to settle the powers of the said Committee. A part of the draft of the said Plan was read; and that part of the said Plan which forms the Constitution of the said Committee, and the first fifteen powers given to the said Committee, were read, paragraph by paragraph, and agreed to, except by Colonel McDougall, Mr. Rhea, Mr. Hobart, and Mr. Moore, who dissent to, and disapprove of the Constitution or method of forming the said Committee, and request that their dissent may be entered.

Messrs. Scott, Hobart, and McDougall, informed the President that they had received a message from a gentleman, requesting to see them on some matters of publick importance. They thereupon, with leave, withdrew, to return without delay.

Ordered, That Colonel McDougall, Mr. Yates, and Mr. Hobart, be a Committee to consider what Manufactures may be necessary for the convenience and defence of this Colony, and to report thereon with all convenient speed.

Messrs. Scott, Hobart, and McDougall, returned and reported that it was Lord Stirling who had sent the message, upon which they had obtained leave to go out of the Congress. That Lord Stirling, as Commander of the forces here, had received a Letter, by order of General Washingtan, from Stephen Moylan, his Aid-de-Camp, informing that the Ministerial Army are embarking from Boston, and that his Excellency has good reason to imagine that New-York will be the place of their destination. That the said Letter was also accompanied with a copy of an application of the Selectmen of the town. That Lord Stirling had, by them, sent those papers to this Congress, and requested that they might be returned to him. The said Letter was read, and is in the words following, to wit:

“Cambridge, March 9, 1776.

“SIR: I have it in command from his Excellency General Washington, to inform you that, in consequence of his determination to possess himself of the Height at Dorchester, a cannonade and bombardment was begun on Saturday night last on the town of Boston, continued on Sunday night, and on Monday night. A vast number of shot and shells were thrown into the town, under the cover of which the intended purpose was effected. On the enemy perceiving next morning that we had taken post, they were all hurry and bustle embarking their troops (as was expected and wished for) to attack us; but the violent storm which came on that day prevented them, and disappointed us, who were prepared to give them a warm reception. The possession of these Heights are preparatory to our forming a fort upon Nook’s Hill, which commands the south of Boston, and to which their shipping will be much exposed. This they seem to be well aware of, and are now making every preparation for moving off. Captain Erwin, escaped from town the night before last, assures us that this is their intention. It is corroborated by a message from the Selectmen of that town to his Excelleney, a copy of which you have enclosed.

“These informations will not prevent the General from proceeding in his advances to the town; so that, if they do not move off, he is determined to force them to a battle, or make that town so hot that they will have but little rest therein.

“His Excellency has good reason to imagine that New-York will be the place of their destination. He therefore desires that you will exert yourself to the utmost in preparing for their reception. He has ordered the armed schooners to be in readiness to attend their motions, and give the earliest intelligence of the course they steer; by which intelligence his motions will be governed. If they steer west, you may expect a large reinforcement from his Army, and, in all probability, the main body will soon follow. You will please to communicate this to the Provincial Congress or Convention, who, the General doubts not, will co-operate with you in using every endeavour to prevent their forming a lodgment before his Excellency can come or send to your assistance. The fate of America depends upon this campaign; and the success of this campaign will a good deal depend upon your exerting yourselves with vigour upon this occasion.

“I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

“STEPHEN MOYLAN, Aid-de-Camp.

“To the Commanding Officer of the American Forces at New-York.”

“Boston, March 8, 1776.

“As his Excellency General Howe is determined to leave the town with the troops under his command, a number of the respectable inhabitants, being anxious for its preservation and safety, have applied to General Robertson for this purpose, who, at their request, has communicated the same to his Excellency General Howe, who has assured him that he has no intention of destroying the town, unless the troops under his command are molested during their embarkation or at their departure, by the armed force without; which declaration he gave General Robertson leave to communicate to the inhabitants. If such an opposition should take place, we have the greatest reason to expect the town will be exposed to entire destruction. As our fears are quieted with regard to General Howe’s intentions, we beg we may have some assurances that so dreadful a calamity may not be brought on by any pleasures without

*