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In Committee of Safety, New-York, March 22, 1776. SIR: On receipt of your late request to go to Britain, the Provincial Congress applied to the honourable Continental Congress for a permission for the purpose. Success having attended the application, we enclose you a copy of the permission, and hope it may come to your hands so early as to enable you to take the benefit of a passage in the packet, if it should be your desire. We presume the Committee of Huntington will accept of your parole, that you will go to Britain on your leaving Suffolk County. A draft of a Letter to the Committee of Huntington, was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit: SIR: The honourable the Continental Congress has given permission for Mr. Patrick Sinclair to go to Britain, of which we send you a copy. You will be pleased to deliver him the enclosed, and permit him, on his giving his promised parole that he will immediately proceed to Britain, to come to New- York to take passage, whenever it suits his convenience. Sarah Seborn, the wife of Frederick Seborn, a private sentinel in the Company whereof Frederick Weisenfels, Esq., was late Captain, now in the Continental service at Quebeck, being in distress, with her family of children, produced a letter of attorney from her husband, duly executed, dated the 8th day of August last, and certified by Captain Weisenfels, enabling her to receive thirty-five Shillings per month of her husband’s pay: Ordered, That Colonel Curtenius advance to Sarah Seborn, in part of her said husband’s pay, two Pounds thirteen Shillings and four Pence, and take her receipt for the same; and that he inform General Schuyler and the Deputy Paymaster-General thereof. A Letter from Colonel Isaac Nicoll, at the Fortifications, was received and read, and is in the words following: “Fort Constitution, March 21, 1776. “GENTLEMEN: There was a question arose yesterday between Colonel Palmer and myself concerning the command of the troops now stationed at Pooplopen Kill. Colonel Palmer is of opinion that, in consequence of a resolve of your honourable House for calling Minute-men out of his Regiment in particular to that station, it was the intent of Congress (as he was one of the Commissioners to superintend the work) that he should have the command of those troops. I am of opinion that, in consequence of the order of the Committee of Safety that placed me here as commanding officer of the Fortifications in the Highlands, the command of the troops at both stations comes within my department. I would therefore beg the favour of your honourable Board to solve the question, and let me know by the bearer, Captain Thomas Moffat, whether I have anything to do with the troops at that station or not, in order that I may know how to make a proper return of the number of men at that station now in the service. “I have sent two orders by the bearer—one for services done by a Minute Company at this station, and another for sundries with which I stand charged to particular persons, as per account; and as the money is wanting, should be glad to have it by the bearer, Captain Moffat, if possible. “I am, with respect, gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble servant, “ISAAC NICOLL. “To the Honourable Provincial Congress of the Colony of New-York.” Ordered, That the Accounts enclosed in Colonel Nicoll’s Letter be delivered to one of the Auditors. Die Veneris, 4 ho. P. M., March 22, 1776. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present: Colonel Morris Graham, Chairman. FOR NEW-YORK.—Captain Rutgers, Mr. Scott, Captain Denning. FOR ULSTER.—Mr. Cantine. FOR KING’S—Mr. Polhemus. FOR ORANGE.—Mr. Cooper. FOR TRYON.—Mr Moore. FOR DUTCHESS.—Colonel Morris Graham. FOR WESTCHESTER.—Mr. Paulding. FOR CUMBERLAND.—Colonel William Williams. Gilbert Forbes, of the City of New-York, Gunsmith, at the door, was admitted. He informs that he has lately had a certain William Clarke, a Lockfiler by trade, and a useful mechanick, employed in his service; that a person named Winter, from Chester, in Maryland, has lately come here, and insists on taking the said William Clarke to Chester, in Maryland; that he has offered forty Shillings, Proclamation money, per week to the said Clarke; that Clarke having refused to accept of wages, or go with the said Winter, Winter now claims him as a servant, and has threatened to apprehend the said William Clarke, and to commence a suit against the said Gilbert Forbes: Ordered, That the said Gilbert Forbes be protected in the employment of the said William Clarke, and the said William Clarke be protected in pursuing his trade and occupation for the present; that the said Gilbert Forbes and the said Winter personally appear before this Committee to be heard in the premises; and that in the mean time no suit or other measures contrary to the above directions be pursued by either of the parties, until the further order of this Committee. (Many unimportant applications to the Committee were not thought worthy of notice on the Minutes.) Henry Remsen, Esq., came into the Committee, and conferred with them on the propriety of the City Committee calling in the male inhabitants who are out of town, for a short time, to take a tour of duty; on the necessity of either a sale or a loan of a small quantity of Gunpowder to the Militia on Bergen Shore, to enable them to protect Boats, and other Craft, against the Barges of the Ships-of-War; and on sundry other matters. Colonel Remsen was desired to inform the Committees on Jersey Shore that they shall have the loan of three quartercasks of Gunpowder, to be delivered to the Committee of Bergen, and the Committee of Acquacknunck. Die Sabbati, A. M., March 23, 1776. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present: Colonel Morris Graham, President. FOR NEW-YORK.—Mr. Scott, Mr. Rutgers, Mr. Van Cortlandt, Mr. Sands, Major Stoutenburgh. FOR ALBANY.—Colonel P. R. Livingston. FOR KING’S.—Mr. Polhemus. FOR DUTCHESS.—Colonel Graham. FOR ORANGE.—Mr. Cooper. FOR TRYON.—Mr. Moore. FOR CUMBERLAND.—Colonel William Williams. FOR WESTCHESTER.— Mr. Paulding, Col. Joseph Drake. Ordered, That the Port-Master be, and he is hereby, permitted to take with him on board the Ship Dutchess of Gordon, for the use of Governour Tryon, the following articles, viz: Mrs. Hatch, one boat-load of Wood, one box of Kitchen Furniture, fifty bushels of Corn, and one and a half tons of Hay. John Bell attending, requested permission to go on board the Packet to procure a passage in her to go to England: Thereupon Ordered, That John Bell be, and he is hereby, permitted to go on board the Packet, in company with the Port-Master, but not 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, or carry any letters or Papers relative thereto, nor any other Letters or Papers except his own private Papers, or such as shall have been inspected by two members of this Committee. Gilbert Forbes and—Winter attended the Committee, were called in, and respectively heard. Mr. Winter produced a paper purporting to be a sale of a certain William Jones, but without seal, not signed by the person therein mentioned by the name of William Jones, nor in any manner authenticated, agreeable to any law whatever. The Committee are of opinion that is no evidence whatever, and do not countenance his apprehending Clarke. David Barclay attended the Committee, and was admitted. He set forth many difficulties he would be reduced to by dismissing him at present from the care and management of the Guard at the Cannon beyond King’s Bridge, as he had
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