And Ordered, That the Committee of each of the said Counties respectively, give such directions for the disposition of the said Gunpowder that it may not be wasted, or expended, but in the defence of the country, lest those Counties might be distressed before any other possible supply can be afforded to them.

And Ordered, That Mr. Richard Norwood, Commissary, deliver to Theunis Cuyper, Esq., five hundred weight of Gunpowder, for the County Committee of Orange County, and that Mr. Norwood take Mr. Cuyper’s receipt for the same.

A draft of an Answer to Colonel Nicoll’s Letter, of the 21st instant, which was received on the 22d, was read, and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

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

SIR: Yours, of the the 21st instant, came safe to hand, and we are of opinion that Mr. Palmer’s being appointed one of the Commissioners does by no means supersede or interfere with your appointment as commander of the troops at the posts; and that you should still continue to command all the troops at the different Fortifications in the Highlands, according to your original appointment, until you shall be relieved by some Continental officer, or until the further order of a Committee of Safety, or Congress, of this Colony; but the Commissioners undoubtedly have power to direct that the troops be set to work in such numbers and in such parts of the Fortifications as they may think proper, to carry on the works. We have no reason to doubt but you will so command the troops as will render them most useful for that purpose.

The accounts you sent down could not be audited for want of proper vouchers; but that you may have the money as soon as possible we shall order the Commissioners to audit and pay them.

We are, sir, with respect, your very humble servants.

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

Die Martis, 4to ho. P. M., March 26, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: William Paulding, Esq., Chairman pro. tem.

FOR NEW-YORK.—Colonel McDougall, Mr. Van Cortlandt, Mr. Sands.

FOR WESTCHESTER.—Mr. Paulding.

FOR ALBANY.—Colonel P. R. Livingston.

FOR ORANGE.—Mr. Cooper.

FOR CUMBERLAND.—Colonel William Williams.

FOR KING’S.—Mr. Leffertse.

FOR ULSTER.—Mr. Cantine.

FOR TRYON.—Mr. Moore.

FOR SUFFOLK.—Mr. Tredwell.

FOR DUTCHESS.—Colonel M. Graham, Mr. Everson.

FOR RICHMOND.—Mr. Adrian Bancker.

Ordered, That Captain Charles Alexander and Lieutenant John Hennessey be at liberty to inlist the Mariners lately brought from the east end of Nassau-Island, and now confined in the Jail of this City, and take them to Philadelphia; and that the said Mariners be discharged from confinement on the request of those gentlemen.

The Committee of Safety, having called and examined the gentlemen inlisting Mariners for the three vessels on the Lake, by order of Continental Congress, and the Captains of the Armed Vessels fitting out by order of this Colony for the defence of the trade between Sandy-Hook and the Capes of Delaware, are informed that there are but few Mariners in this city, and not more, if so many, as will be sufficient for the necessary purposes above-mentioned. The Committee are therefore of opinion that they cannot, with justice to the Colony or to the publick service to the northward, consent that Captain Alexander and Lieutenant Hennessey inlist, or take away any other Mariners than those above-mentioned.

Thomas Hockley, of Philadelphia, Merchant, and John Warder, of the same place, Merchant, (being two of the people called Quakers,) attending, were admitted. Matthias Aspin, of Philadelphia, and William Horner, of Virginia, also attending, were admitted.

The said Thomas Hockley and John Warder were respectively duly affirmed; and the said Matthias Aspin and William Horner were respectively duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists, not to give any information or intelligence whatsoever to any person or persons whomsoever on board of the Packet, the ship in which Governour Tryon resides, the Ships Asia or Phenix, or on board of any other vessel in this Colony, under the care or direction of, or connected with any person on board of either of the vessels above-mentioned, relative to any Fortifications erecting for the defence of this City and Colony, or any other of the United Colonies; nor relative to the American Fleet, or any armed vessels fitted out by any Colony or place; and not to carry on board of either of the said vessels, nor deliver to any person belonging to either of them, any papers or writings whatever relative thereto; nor any other papers or writings but such as shall have been first shown to this Committee, and permitted to be taken on board.

Thereupon permits were given to the said four persons respectively, to go on board of the Packet with the Port-Master.

The Committee took into consideration Mr. Duane’s Letter, received yesterday by Commissary Wharton.

Thereupon a draft of a Letter to the Continental Congress, on the subject of the contract for victualling the Troops, was read, and approved of, and is in the words following, to wit:

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

SIR: In the month of February last, the Provincial Congress of this Colony received, amongst other things, resolutions of the honourable Continental Congress, dated the 17th instant, under the bands 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 advertisements, received all proposals offered for that purpose, sealed up, to prevent collusion 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, the contract would be highly advantageous to the Continent.

Yesterday we saw a resolution of Congress, that Carpenter Wharton, Commissary, continue, 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 this 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,