of the Troops on their march to the City of New-York.

By order of the Committee:

SAMUEL TUCKER, President.

NEW-YORK COMMITTEE OF SAFETY TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read March 29, and referred to Mr. Wythe, Mr. Harrison, and Mr. J. Adams.]

In Committee of Safety, New-York, March 26, 1776.

SIR: In the month of February last, the Provincial Congress received, amongst other things, resolutions of the honourable Continental Congress, dated the 17th, under the hands of the President and Secretary, “that the sum of thirty-five thousand Dollars be advanced to the Convention or Committee of Safety of New-York, for the support of the Troops employed for the defence of that Colony;” “that it be recommended to the Convention or Committee of Safety of New-York to contract with proper persons for supplying the said Troops with the Rations allowed by Congress, and Fuel and other necessaries, on the most reasonable terms in their power.”

To prevent trouble, we enclose an exact copy of the said two resolutions, marked No. 1.

The Provincial Congress appointed a Committee to receive proposals of contracts for supplying the said troops, which Committee caused the rations and other necessaries to be supplied, to be published in the New-York newspapers; and, agreeable to their advertisement, received all proposals offered for that purpose, sealed up to prevent, collusions as far as possible.

After every care and precaution taken, the Provincial Congress, on the 15th of March, accepted of the proposals of Mr. Abraham Livingston for supplying the said troops—his being the most reasonable that were offered; and on the 16th the contract was perfected and executed by five gentlemen, from different Counties, on behalf of the Provincial Congress, pursuant to the resolution above-mentioned, and by Mr. Abraham Livingston.

We enclose you a copy of the Contract, (No. 2,) and therefore need not repeat its contents.

Mr. Livingston has by bond given sufficient sureties, in the sum of thirty thousand pounds, to perform his contract; and the Provincial Congress have agreed to advance him five thousand pounds, and to pay him five thousand pounds at the expiration of every month, if the support of the troops by him supplied shall amount to that sum.

In pursuance of those agreements, Mr. Livingston has purchased provisions to a very large amount. The Provincial Congress were induced to make the said contract, not only because it was the most reasonable terms then in their power, but, considering the risk and expense of transportation, should any force obstruct the navigation between this city and King’s County, or between the city and the Highlands, because the contract would be highly advantageous to the Continent.

Yesterday we saw a resolution of Congress, “That Carpenter Wharton, Commissary, be continued, agreeable to his contract, to supply with rations the Pennsylvania Battalions serving in New-York,” and were favoured with a letter from Mr. Duane, recommending him as contractor for the regiments raised in the Colony, on the same terms he is allowed for the Pennsylvania Battalions. We are sorry that it is now out of our power to contract with that gentleman, even should he be willing to supply the troops here on the same terms he does the others.

The Provincial Congress of New-York were not only directed “to contract for the troops employed for the defence of that Colony,” but the method directed appeared the most eligible, as the larger the contract offered, the more reasonable terms were to be expected, and could be afforded.

Should Congress determine to supersede what has been done in this Colony, as far forth as it relates to the Pennsylvania Battalions, we will endeavour to make the best terms we can with Mr. Livingston as to that part of his contract, and are inclined to believe he will not take any unreasonable advantages of the gentlemen bound to him in the contract, or of the publick.

Whatever, further directions Congress may think proper in their wisdom to give in the premises, we would wish to receive with all convenient speed.

We have the honour to be, most respectfully, sir, your most obedient humble servants.

By order:

WILLAM PAULDING, Chairman.

To the Honourable John Hancock, Esq., President, &c.

Resolved, That the sum of thirty-five thousand Dollars be advanced to the Convention or Committee of Safety of New-York, for the support of the Troops employed in the defence of that Colony, the said Convention or Committee of Safety to be accountable for the expenditure thereof; and that an order be drawn on the Treasurer for the above sum, in favour of the Delegates of that Colony, who are directed to forward the same with all convenient speed.

That it be recommended to the Convention or Committee of Safety of New-York to contract with proper persons for supplying the said Troops with the Rations allowed by Congress, and Fuel and other necessaries, on the most reasonable terms in their power.

Extract from the Minutes.

CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.

By order of Congress;

JOHN HANCOCK, President.

A true copy, filed with the Minutes of the Provincial Congress, New-York.

JOHN MCKESSON, Secretary.

[No. 2.]

Articles of Agreement indented and made this sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six, between Abraham Livingston, of the City of New-York, Merchant, of the one part; and Nathaniel Woodhull, Isaac Roosevelt, Abraham Yates, Jun., Morris Graham, and William Paulding, and the survivor or survivors of them, on behalf of the Provincial Congress of the Colony of New-York, pursuant to a Resolution of the Continental Congress of the seventeenth day of February last past, of the other part, as follows, to wit:

The said Abraham Livingston doth hereby covenant, promise, and agree, to and with the said parties of the second part, and the survivor and survivors of them, that he, the said Abraham Livingston, shall and will furnish and supply such troops as are or shall be employed for the defence of this Colony in the City and County of New-York, King’s County, and at the fortifications now erecting in the Highlands, for the term of six months from the date hereof, with good and wholesome provisions, and with soap and candles, agreeable to the rations or quantities allowed by the Continental Congress, at ten pence half-penny, New-York currency, per ration per man; each ration to consist of the following kinds and quantities of provisions, to wit: one pound of beef, or three-quarters of a pound of pork, or one pound of salt-fish, per day; one pound of bread or flour per day; three pints of peas or beans per week, or vegetables equivalent, at one dollar per bushel for peas or beans; one pint of milk per man per day, or at the rate of one seventy-second of a dollar; one quart of spruce beer or cider per man per day, or nine gallons of molasses for a hundred men per week; half a pint of rice or one pint of Indian meal per man per week; three pounds of candles to one hundred men per week for guards; and twenty-four pounds of soft or eight pounds of hard soap per hundred men per week. Which several articles he, the said Abraham Livingston, is to deliver at the City and County of New-York, and in King’s County, and at the fortifications in the Highlands, at proper storehouses to be provided by the parties of the second part in the City and County of New-York, and in King’s County, and at each of the said fortifications in the Highlands, so as that the said Abraham Livingston may not be put to the expense of more than one cartage to each of the said storehouses; which rations he, the said Abraham Livingston, doth covenant to deliver to the Quartermaster of the troops stationed or to be stationed at each of the said places; and in case it shall be thought necessary for the publick service to transport or carry any of the said rations from the said storehouses, so to be provided as aforesaid, to any other place or places, it is understood that