Lord Stirling sent to the Committee of Safety a copy of sundry Resolutions of the Continental Congress; which were read and filed, and are in the words following, to wit:

“IN CONGRESS, March 14, 1776.—Resolved, That eight thousand Men be ordered for the defence of the Colony of New-York.

“That Orders issue to Colonel Irvine immediately to march with his Battalion to New-York, and put himself under the command of the Officer commanding there.

“That Colonel Dayton be likewise ordered with his Battalion to march to New-York, and join the forces there.

“That Colonel Shee and Colonel Magaw be also ordered to march with their Battalions to New-York.

“Resolved, That it be recommended to the several Assemblies, Conventions, and Councils, or Committees of Safety, of the United Colonies, immediately to cause all persons to be disarmed within their respective Colonies who are notoriously disaffected to the cause of America, or who have not associated, and refuse to associate, to defend by arms these United Colonies against the hostile attempts of the British Fleets and Armies; and to apply the Arms taken from such persons, in each respective Colony, in the first place, to the arming the Continental Troops raised in said Colony; in the next place, to the arming such Troops as are raised by the Colony for its own defence; and the residue to be applied to the arming the Association. That the Arms when taken be appraised by indifferent persons, and such as are applied to the arming the Continental Troops be paid for by Congress, and the residue by the respective Assemblies, Conventions, or Councils, or Committees of Safety.

“March 15, 1776.—Resolved, That Captain Nelson, with his Company of Riflemen, be directed immediately to repair to New-York.

“Resolved, That the Governour of Connecticut, the Conventions and Councils of Safety of New-York and New-Jersey, be requested to hold their Militia in readiness to-march in such numbers, and at such times, for the defence of New-York, as the Continental commander at New-York shall desire; and that the pay of the Militia called for the defence of New-York be the same as that of the Continental Troops raised and employed in the Middle Department to commence from the time they begin their march.

“Resolved, That Lord Stirling be directed to order the Troops destined for Canada to proceed on their march, agreeable to their former orders.

“Extract from the Minutes:

“CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.

“By order of the Congress:

“JOHN HANCOCK, President.”

[Copy of Governour Tryon’s Letter:]

“To the Inhabitants of the Colony of NEW-YORK.

“Notwithstanding prejudice, delusion, and faction, have hitherto among too many usurped the seat of reason and reflection, and every exhortation I have offered to the inhabitants of this Province (in whose affection I have been taught to be happy) has been reviled and treated with neglect; yet, as my wishes for their prosperity and feelings for their calamities, cannot easily be suppressed, even towards the disobedient, I cannot but repeat my endeavours to recall those who have revolted from their allegiance to a sense of their duty, and to comfort those who have been the objects of oppression for their zealous attachment to our happy Constitution and their steady obedience to the sovereignty of the British Empire. It is in the clemency and authority of Great Britain only, under God, that we can look for happiness, peace, and protection; and I have it in command from the King to encourage, by every means in my power, the expectation in his Majesty’s well-disposed subjects in this Government, of every assistance and protection the state of Great Britain will enable his Majesty to afford them; and to cherish every appearance of a disposition on their part to withstand the tyranny and misrule which accompany the acts of those who have but too well hitherto succeeded in the total subversion of legal Government.

“Under such assurances, therefore, I exhort all the friends to good order and our justly admired Constitution, still to preserve that constancy of mind which is inherent in the breasts of virtuous and loyal citizens; and I trust a very few months will relieve them from their present oppressed, injured, and insulted condition.

“England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, have united to place their whole strength, power, and confidence, in his Majesty’s hands. The numerous addresses from all parts of the King’s dominions in Europe, speak the loyalty and zeal with which his subjects there engage to support his Majesty in asserting and maintaining the just sovereignty of the British Empire over all its members.

“The British state moves not by sudden and violent sallies, nor wantonly oppresses; she has lenity for her basis, and is distinguished for moderation and forbearance; but when her just indignation is roused, the experience of other nations can testify her weight and force. It cannot be sufficiently lamented, that the conduct of this country has called for so severe a rod; may a timely and dutiful submission avert its stroke. I have the satisfaction to inform you that a door is still open to such honest, but deluded people, as will avail themselves of the justice and benevolence which the supreme Legislature has held out to them, of being restored to the King’s grace and peace, and that proper steps have been taken for passing a commission for that purpose, under the Great Seal of Great Britain, in conformity to a provision in a late act of Parliament; the Commissioners thereby to be appointed having also power to inquire into the state and condition of the Colonies, for effecting a restoration of the publick tranquillity.

“WILLIAM TRYON.

“Ship Dutchess of Gordon,

“North-River, New-York, March 16, 1776.”

Die Mercurii, A. M., March 20, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Joseph Hallett, Esq., Chairman.

FOR NEW-YORK.—Mr. Hallett, Mr. Scott, Captain Rutgers.

FOR SUFFOLK.—Mr. Gelston.

FOR TRYON.—Mr. Moore.

FOR DUTCHESS.—Colonel M. Graham.

FOR WESTCHESTER.—Mr. Paulding.

FOR CUMBERLAND.—Colonel William Williams.

FOR KING’S.—Mr. Polhemus.

FOR ULSTER.—Mr. Rhea, Mr. Cantine.

FOR ORANGE.—Colonel Allison.

Ordered, That John Clauston, Master of the Sloop Success, belonging and bound to Dighton, in Massachusetts Government, be permitted to lade on board the said Sloop thirty barrels of Flour, and to convey the same to Dighton aforesaid.

Abraham Lott, Esq., Treasurer, attending, was admitted. He requested a permit to go on board the Asia and Phenix, ships-of-war, to settle accounts with the Pursers of each ship.

Thereupon, a permission was given to Mr. Lott, in the words following, to wit:

Ordered, That Abraham Lott, Esquire, be, and he is hereby, permitted to go on board the Ships-of-War in this Harbour, in company with the Port-Master, and to return, he having been sworn that he will not convey any intelligence relative to the Fortifications erecting for the defence of this City and Colony.

Abraham Livingston Informed the Committee, the Committees of Westchester and Dutchess will not permit him to bring Pork from those Counties; and requested an order for the purpose of enabling him to obtain Pork. Thereupon, an Order was given to him in the words following, viz:

Mr. Abraham Livingston, of the City of New-York, Merchant, has, agreeable to a Resolution of the Continental Congress, contracted with the Provincial Congress of this Colony to supply all the Continental Troops in this Colony with Provisions:

Therefore Ordered, That the respective Committees of the Counties of Westchester and Dutchess permit Mr. Abraham Livingston to export Provisions of any kind whatsoever from either of those two Counties to New-York, on his giving (or any other such proper person as is employed on his behalf) such security as the Committees approve of, to land and store such Provisions in New-York or King’s County.

Luke Kiersted, Petrus Byvanck, and Francis Bassett, a sub-Committee of the, General Committee of the City of