A draft of an Answer to the Letter of Robert Livingston, Esq., was read and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Provincial Congress, New-York, March 13, 1776.

SIR: This day your letter of the 2d instant came to hand. After returning you our thanks for the offer you have made us of your furnace, for the purpose of casting artillery, we beg leave to inform you that we conceive the season of the year is too far advanced to admit of our sending up a proper person to determine whether your furnace is so constructed and situated as to answer the end we had in view. The Committee of Safety have informed us that, in your first letter in answer to ours, you had some doubts on that head. When the Committee of Safety wrote to you, it was from an apprehension that heavy artillery might be wanted; since which you have doubtless been informed of the manner in which a supply has been obtained. To alter your works only for the purpose of procuring a few pieces of cannon, if it were practicable, would not be worth while to desire it on our part, would be injurious to you, and inconsistent with the high sense we entertain of your attachment to the rights of your country.

We are, sir, with great esteem, your most humble servants.

By order.

To Robert Livingston, Esq.

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed, and signed by the President, and transmitted.

A long Letter from Colonel Abraham Hasbrouck, at Kingston, in Ulster County, alleging that he is superseded in his rank as an Officer in the Militia, was read and filed.

Another very long Letter from said Colonel Abraham Hasbrouck, Johannes Snyder, and the other gentlemen lately appointed to be Field and Staff-Officers of the Northern Regiment in Ulster County, and covering all the Field and Staff-Officers of that Regiment, was also read and filed.

The gentlemen who wrote the last above-mentioned Letter, amongst many other childish reasons therein contained for returning their Commissions, have assigned the two following as the principal; first, as they are called Officers of the Northern Regiment of Ulster County; and, secondly, that their Commissions bear test on the date posterior to the date of many of the inferior Officers of their Regiment.

The said Letters and Commissions having been received by the post:

Ordered, That Mr. McKesson pay the postage, (fifteen Shillings and ten Pence.)

The Congress then proceeded further to consider of, and determine, the powers of the Committee of Safety, and, beginning with the sixteenth power, as hereinafter contained, the whole residue of the powers of the said Committee were read through, amended, and approved of.

Thereupon, Ordered, That the same remain, and be taken into further consideration the first convenient opportunity.

The Committee appointed this morning, at the request of Lord Stirling, to confer with him on matters relative to the protection and security of this City and Colony, returned.

The said Committee delivered in a Report containing-Ist, An Account of several measures already taken by his Lordship as Commanding Officer of the Continental Forces in this City, for the security and defence thereof; secondly, A draft of sundry Resolutions proposed by the said Committee as necessary to be entered into and carried into execution by this Congress, for the safety and defence of this City and Colony.

The second part of the said Report was read, and, being again read by paragraphs, and sundry amendments therein made, the same was ordered to remain for further consideration.

Die Jovis, 10 ho. A. M., March 14, 1776.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Brigadier-General Woodhull, President.

FOR NEW-YORK.—Mr. Sands, Colonel Lott, Captain Rutgers, Mr. Rutgers, Captain Denning, Colonel McDougall.

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

FOR SUFFOLK.—General Woodhull, Mr. Gelston.

FOR DUTCHESS.—Colonel Ten Broeck, Major Schenck, Colonel Morris Graham.

FOR RICHMOND.—Mr. Adrian Rancher.

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

FOR ORANGE.—Colonel Allison, Colonel Hay.

FOR KING’S.—Mr. Polhemus, Lieutenant-Colonel Covenhoven, Colonel Van Brunt.

FOR WESTCHESTER.—Colonel Lewis Graham, Mr. Paulding.

FOR CHARLOTTE.—Colonel John Williams.

FOR TRYON.—Mr. Moore.

The Bond of John R . Livingston, Esq., and his securities, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit: “Know all men by these presents, that we, John R . Livingston, of Rhinebeck Precinct, Dutchess County, and Patrick Dennis and John Dawson, of the City of New-York, Merchants, are held arid firmly bound unto Isaac Roosevelt, Nathaniel Woodhull, Abraham Yates, Jun., John Thomas, Jun., Petrus Ten Broeck, John Herring, and Jacobus Bruyn, and the survivor or survivors of them, in the sum of two thousand Pounds, current money of New-York, to be paid to the said Isaac Roosevelt, Nathaniel Woodhull, Abraham Yates, Jun., John Thomas, Jun., Petrus Ten Broeck, John Herring, and Jacobus Bruyn, or the survivor or survivors of them. Sealed with our Seals. Dated the fourteenth day of March, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six.

“Whereas the Provincial Congress of the Colony of New-York, pursuant to a resolution of the said Congress, have lent to the above bounden John R . Livingston the sum of one thousand Pounds, for two years from the date hereof, without interest, as an encouragement to him to erect a Powder-Mill in such place in Dutchess County as the General Committee of the said County shall approve of: Now, therefore, the condition of the above obligation is such, that, if the above bounden John R . Livingston does, within three months from the date hereof, erect a Powder-Mill of the best quality in such place in Dutchess County as the General Committee of the said County shall approve of, and, also, if the said John R . Livingston does well and truly repay the said sum of one thousand Pounds so lent as aforesaid unto the above-named Isaac Roosevelt, Nathaniel Woodhull, Abraham Yates, Jun., John Thomas, Jun., Petrus Ten Broeck, John Herring, and Jacobus Bruyn, or the survivor or survivors of them, within two years from the date hereof, then the above obligation to be void; but, on failure or non-performance of any or either of the above conditions, to be and remain in full force.

“JOHN R. LIVINGSTON,
“PATRICH DENNIS,
“JOHN DAWSON.

“Sealed and delivered in the presence of—

“ABRAHAM LOTT,
“THOMAS JONES.”

John R . Livingston, Esq., having given bond, with securities, to Isaac Roosevelt, Nathaniel Woodhull, Abraham Yates, Jun., Esquires, and the other gentlemen named in the Order of this Congress of the 9th instant, and contracted to build a Powder-Mill within three months, agreeable to the said Resolution:

Therefore, Ordered, That Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., as Treasurer of this Congress, advance to John R . Livingston, Esq., the sum of one thousand Pounds, and take his receipt for the same.

The Congress agreed that Colonel Drake permit four Men in his Regiment, inlisted with Captain-Lieutenant James Moore, in his Artillery Company, to go into that service.

A Certificate of Stephen Badlam, Captain of Artillery, was read and filed. He thereby certifies that he has examined Alexander Hamilton, and judges him qualified to command a Company of Artillery.

Ordered, That the said Alexander Hamilton be, and he is hereby, appointed Captain of the Provincial Company of Artillery of this Colony.

The Congress, considering that it will be necessary to have some gentleman appointed statedly to pay the Provincial