he is hereby, authorized to make such disposition of the Militia of his Brigade, on any sudden invasion when he may find it necessary, as he from time to time shall think best, without delaying for directions from the Provincial Congress, Committee of Safety, or the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Forces in this Colony, or from the County Committee.

Ordered, That Mr. Norwood, the Colony Commissary of Stores, deliver to Thomas Tredwell, Esq., or his order, one thousand pounds of Gunpowder and four thousand pounds of Lead, for the use of the inhabitants of Suffolk County, and that Mr. Norwood take Mr. Tredwell’s receipt for the same.

A draft of a Letter to Brigadier-General Woodhull, was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:

SIR: We have by this conveyance sent to Huntington one thousand pounds of gunpowder, and four thousand pounds of lead, for the use of the inhabitants of your County, to be charged to the County, to be accountable. We must add that ammunition is so scarce that it is not probable you will soon receive any further supply.

By a resolution of the Committee of Safety, you are authorized to make such dispositions of the Militia of your brigade, on any sudden invasion, as you, from time to time, shall think best, without delaying for directions from the Provincial Congress, Committee of Safety, or of the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental forces in this Colony, or from the County Committee.

We are, respectfully, sir, your very humble servants.

To Brigadier-General Woodhull.

Ordered, That the said Letter be engrossed, and signed by the Chairman, and transmitted.

Ordered, That Mr. Norwood, the Commissary of the Military Stores of this Colony, do not deliver out any Powder, Ball, or Flints, belonging to the Colony, without the order of the Congress, or Committee of Safety of this Colony for the time being, except in time of invasion, and when neither the Congress or Committee of Safety of this Colony are convened.

Ordered, further, That the said Commissary make a return to this Committee of the Powder, Ball, and Flints, he has delivered; particularly specifying by whose order, and to whom delivered; and also of the quantity of Powder, Ball, and Flint, he shall have in store belonging to this Colony, after the order of this day, for supplying the County of Suffolk, be completed.

A Letter from the Committee of Safety at Philadelphia, was read. They thereby inform us that they have sent Captain Charles Alexander and Lieutenant John Hennessey, two officers of the armed-boats in that Province, for the purpose, of recruiting Seamen for the Naval service of that Province, and recommend them to this Committee for assistance.

A Letter from James Duane, Esq., at Continental Congress, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“Philadelphia, March 21, 1776.

“GENTLEMEN: The bearer, Mr. Carpenter Wharton, is Commissary for the Pennsylvania Troops. He supplies them by contract at seven pence per ration, Philadelphia currency. He will probably make the same offer for the rest of the Army in the Middle Department, and unless others will be equally reasonable, must be entitled to a preference, it being the intention of Congress to have their Armies supplied on the easiest terms. He supports a very fair character in this place, and is well connected.

“I have the honour to be, with the utmost regard, gentlemen, your most obedient humble servant,

“JAMES DUANE.

“Honourable Convention of New-York”

Mr. Wharton delivered to a Member (who brought it into the Committee) the following Resolve, to wit:

“IN CONGRESS, March 16, 1776.—Resolved, That Carpenter Wharton, Commissary, continue, agreeable to his contract, to supply with Rations the Pennsylvania Battalions serving in New-York.

“Extract from the Minutes:

“CHARLES THOMAS, Secretary”

It appearing necessary that this Committee should know how many Officers and men are at the Fortifications erecting at Hell-gate:

Ordered, That Colonel Lott and Colonel Brasher be a Committee to go to Horne’s Hook, and muster all the Troops there, both Officers and Privates, and return an exact List of those Troops, specifying the names of the Officers and of the men in their respective Companies there, in actual service; and that the said Committee see every man whose name they shall take down or report.

Ordered, That the Port-Master be, and he is hereby permitted to put on board the Packet one barrel of Ale, and on board of the Dutchess of Gordon five hundred weight of Bread.

James Cooper, a Boatman, and George Allisony, a Sawyer, going on board of the Packet with the Port-Master with Wood, were severally duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists not to give any intelligence to any person on board of the said Packet, Governour Tryon’s Ship, or the Ships-of-War in the Harbour, relative to the Fortifications erecting for the defence of the City or Colony, and that they will not carry on board any Letters or Paper writings whatsoever:

Ordered, That they be admitted to go on board with the Port-Master.

Mr. James Campbell, Merchant, from Canada, was admitted. He was duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists not to communicate any intelligence to any person or persons on board of the Packet, or of Governour Tryon’s Ship, the Dutchess of Gordon, or either of the Ships-of-War in this Harbour, with respect to the Fortifications erecting for the defence of this City and Colony, and that he will not carry on board, nor deliver to any person on board of either of those vessels, any letters or writings relative thereto, and that he will not carry on board any other letters or papers whatsoever, except his own private papers, or such as shall be first inspected by order of this Committee:

Thereupon Ordered, That Mr. James Campbell be, and he is hereby permitted to go on board the Packet, (with the Port-Master,) not to return; he having been duly sworn that he will not communicate any intelligence with respect to the Fortifications erecting for the defence of this City and Colony, or carry any Letters or Papers which contain any intelligence relative thereto.

Captain Johannes Jacobus Blauvelt attending, informed the Committee, that he was come down with a party of Minute-men from Orangetown; that his and his Lieutenant’s Commissions are for the Militia; and prayed that a Commission be made out for him as a Minute Captain, and another for his Lieutenant as an Ensign of the same nature, his Lieutenant having agreed to accept of Ensign’s pay.

Ordered, That Commissions issue to Johannes Jacobus Blauvelt as Captain, and Jacobus Smith as Ensign, of the Orangetown Company of Minute-men.

And they were issued accordingly.

A permit from Nicholas Cooke, Esquire, Governour of the Colony of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, under the seal of the said Colony, bearing date the 9th day of March, instant, was read. He thereby permits Upton Fraser, Master of the Sloop Greenwich, to proceed to the Colony of New-York in ballast only, and there take on board a lading of Provisions and other articles, under the direction of the Committee of Inspection of the City, Town, or County, where he shall lade, and to return to that Colony.

Sufficient bond having been given that he, the said Isaac Upton, shall in all things conform himself to the Continental Association,

Ordered, That the General Committee of the City of New-York, or their sub-Committee of Inspection, be permitted, and hereby are permitted, to give permission to Isaac Upton, Master of the Sloop Greenwich, to take on board a lading of Flour, Bread, or any other Provisions whatsoever, (Beef and Pork excepted,) and any quantity of pig Iron that they may think proper, and export the same to Rhode-Island, under such directions or restrictions, and in such manner as they may think proper.

To the General Committee of the City of New-York, and to Mr. Ray and Colonel Hyer their Captain William Mercier.