their Letter, and appointing persons to purchase Provisions, were respectively read and filed, and are in the words following, to wit:

“Suffolk County, March 27, 1776.

“SIR: Whereas the east end of Long-Island is in a very defenceless situation, and much exposed to the ravages of the Ministerial Army, which are now distressing these Colonies; and as they have now quitted the Town of Boston, we are very apprehensive they may attempt to get possession of this part of the Island, which they may easily effect under our present defenceless situation, and which would be of great importance to them:

“We therefore think it necessary that a number of troops should be stationed there, which, we presume, you, in your wisdom, will think a proper measure; if so, we depend you will apply to the commanding officer of New-York for that purpose. And as a quantity of provisions will be absolutely necessary for the support of such troops; and as a supply may now be had in the County, and laid up as a magazine for that purpose, and as little or no loss will probably attend the laying up of such a store, therefore we hope you will direct that a suitable quantity may be purchased, and deposited in such place or places in this County as you shall think proper; otherwise we are apprehensive that such provisions will soon be exported from this County.

“We are, gentlemen, with respect, your most obedient, humble servants.

“Signed by order of the Committee:

“WILLIAM SMITH, Chairman.

“In Suffolk County Committee, March 27, 1776.

“Resolved, That an express be sent to the Committee of Safety at New-York, to take their Resolve upon the expediency of purchasing Provisions in this County for the use of the Troops that may be ordered or stationed in the County; and that Jesse Brush, Samuel Phillips, Phineas Fanning, Maltby Gelston, and Burnet Miller, be a sub-Committee to put the Resolve of the Committee of Safety respecting the same into immediate execution.

Die Veneris, 10 ho. A. M., March 29, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: William Paulding, Esquire, Chairman.

FOR NEW-YORK.—Mr. Prince.

FOR WESTCHESTER.—Mr. Paulding.

FOR SUFFOLK.—Mr. Tredwell.

FOR CUMBERLAND.—Colonel William Williams.

FOR TRYON.—Mr. Moore.

FOR ORANGE.—Mr. Cuyper.

FOR KING’S.—Mr. Leffertse.

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

Colonel William Williams came to take leave of the Committee, and departed before Mr. Tredwell came in, and therefore the Committee, though they spent the whole morning in considering and preparing different matters, could not do any acts to be entered on the Minutes for want of a quorum.

Adjourned till this afternoon, four o’clock.

Die Veneris, 4to ho. P. M., March 29, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: William Paulding, Esquire, Chairman.

FOR NEW-YORK.—Colonel McDougall, Mr. Prince, Mr. Scott, Major Stoutenburgh, Mr. Van Zandt.

FOR SUFFOLK.—Mr. Tredwell.

FOR KING’S.—Mr. Leffertse.

FOR WESTCHESTER.—Mr. Paulding.

FOR DUTCHESS.—Mr. Everson.

FOR TRYON.—Mr. Moore.

FOR ORANGE.—Mr. Cuyper.

FOR RICHMOND.—Mr. Bancker.

Mr. Patrick Sinclair attended, to get permission to go on board of the Packet. As the Port-Master is gone down to the Ships, Mr. Sinclair was requested to call to-morrow morning.

Mr. Nicholas Low informed the Committee that the Sloop James, Richard Puller, Master, with Provisions, for the West-Indies, in returns for Military Stores imported, is ready to sail, and requests a permit.

Ordered, That the Sloop James, Richard Puller, Master, be permitted to sail; and it is recommended to all friends to American liberty to afford every necessary aid to the said Sloop and Master.

Colonel Ephraim Martin, from Essex County, in New-Jersey, delivered in a Return of the following Barrack necessaries wanting for his Regiment of Militia; and which he says he cannot obtain by purchase or otherwise, but by order of this Committee to Colonel Curtenius:

Ordered, That Colonel Curtenius deliver to Colonel Ephraim Martin, fifty Bowls, (some large and others small,) and two hundred and twenty-eight Spoons, for the use of his Regiment, on Continental account, and take Colonel Martin’s receipt for the same.

A Return, or Memorandum, signed by Captain Peter Dickerson, requesting some order that may procure him Dishes and Spoons for the use of his Company, in Colonel Dayton’s Regiment, from New-Jersey, was read.

Ordered, That Colonel Curtenius supply, on Continental account, twenty Dishes or Bowls, (some large and some small,) and eighty-six Spoons, for Captain Peter Dickerson’s Company, of Colonel Dayton’s Regiment, from New-Jersey, and that Mr. Curtenius take a receipt for the same.

A long Letter from Messrs. Palmer and Livingston, two of the Commissioners at the Fortifications in the Highlands, on the subject of Provisions, Rum for Fatigue-men, and other matters, was read, and is in the words following, to wit:

“Fort Montgomery, March 28, 1776.

“GENTLEMEN: Fourteen days ago we began at this post with carpenters and masons, and have our buildings now in a fine way. Our storehouse is completed, and a barrack of eighty by twenty feet will, in a few days, be so far finished as to receive one hundred and sixty men; our bake-house, also, almost finished, and a quantity of fascines made, so that we shall soon begin to erect the Battery. We have now here about one hundred and forty men, and expect one company more in two or three days. The greater part have been at this post about six days, quartered in vessels. But the dissatisfaction of the soldiers, with respect to their provision, is so great that they will soon refuse their duty as labourers, and even now do not half the labour that might reasonably be expected from the numbers we have here. As they have nothing more of the usual species of provision allowed a soldier than pork and bread—this, added to their uncomfortable situation on board the sloops, makes them very uneasy and mutinous. We have used our utmost endeavours, with the influence of their officers, to quiet them, by telling them they will soon be better provided for. But we see no likelihood of that, as repeated applications have been lately made to the Commissary at Albany, and the Deputy-Commissary, (Mr. Phelps,) now at Fort Constitution, and all to no purpose. We are therefore under the necessity of applying to you, and beg that you will immediately give such orders to the contractors and Deputy-Commissary, that this post may be supplied with every species allowed to make the full rations to each soldier; and if it cannot sooner be done in that way, your order to us to supply the troops here will be sufficient, as every necessary wanting is to be had in great plenty.

“We beg you will not pass over this application unnoticed; for in case the soldiers are not better provided for, they will not labour; and when that is the case, it cannot be expected that we can carry on the work.

“Captain Andrew Billings we have sent with this, who will be able fully to state the deplorable situation of the troops here, if the Committee will call on him, which we beg they may do; and if he returns without a remedy, it will then be out of our power to give them any kind of satisfaction. The soldiers know the errand Captain Billings goes on; and the expectation of relief on his return, keeps them from mutinying, and, we have reason to think, from quitting the post in a body, at least the greater part of them.

“Sentiments of humanity as well as sound policy constrain us to add, that, in a plentiful country, it is cruel not to provide well for those men that step forth to defend the rights of their country. Our common enemies, the Tories, take the advantage of it, and secretly retard the recruiting companies filling, which, for that and other reasons, goes on

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