Nicoll’s conduct, as an officer or a gentleman; therefore we cannot, without injustice, abridge his appointment. The Continental Congress having thought that those posts should be commanded by an officer of that rank, we do not allow ourselves to have any conceptions on that subject, holding it our duty, in this instance, to obey, and not to dictate.

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

The Committee considering of the best method to preserve the Stock on Staten-Island if a fleet should arrive and attempt depredations, are of opinion that it should be removed to Jersey, on any appearance of an enemy.*

Ordered, That Mr. Bancker get two good Scows built, to have them in readiness to remove Stock or Jersey Troops to that Island.

Thereupon, a draft of a Letter to the Committee of Richmond County was read, and approved of, in the words following:

In Committee of Safety, New-York, March 30, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: The Ministerial Army and Navy having been obliged to desert Boston, and much in want of fresh provisions, we are under great apprehensions they may come this way, and make, or attempt to make, depredations on the stock in your Island, before the necessary aids could be sent to you.

We are anxious for the preservation of the stock of your Island. The best method we can devise is, for the owners to procure places for their stock in Jersey. We therefore earnestly recommend to you to advise or direct the inhabitants of your County to provide proper places in New-Jersey for the reception of their live stock, and, on the approach of an enemy, or any proper notification of danger, to give directions to remove all the live stock in the said County, (horses, working-oxen, milch-cows, and such as are within a month of calving, excepted,) to such places as they shall have so provided.

Humanity, as well as our duty to our constituents, and our desire to prevent every inconvenience or loss to them, as far as in our power, induced us to wish that you would not suffer this matter to be neglected. We assure you that we have the best information that if the preservation of your stock is not attended to by the proprietors, the Continental forces, on the approach of real danger, will prevent the Ministerial Troops from having any benefit of it. We have authorized Mr. Bancker, one of your Deputies, to get two good scows built, for assisting to remove stock when necessary.

We are, respectfully, gentlemen, your very humble servants. By order.

To the Chairman and Members of the Committee of Richmond County.

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

A Certificate, or Passport, was given to Henry Hegeman, a Drover employed by Mr. Abraham Livingston, the Contractor for the Troops, to procure Cattle and live Stock; a copy whereof is filed.

And similar Passports were also given to several employed by Mr. Abraham Livingston as Drovers.

Die Sabbati, 4to ho. P. M., March 30, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: William Paulding, Esquire, Chairman.

FOR NEW-YORK.—Colonel Lott, Major Stoutenburgh, Mr. Prince, Colonel McDougall.

FOR SUFFOLK.—Mr. Tredwell.

FOR RICHMOND.—Mr. Adrian Bancker.

FOR ORANGE—Mr. Cuyper.

FOR DUTCHESS.—Mr. Everson.

FOR WESTCHESTER.—Mr. Paulding.

FOR TRYON.—Mr. Moore.

Ordered, That Messieurs James Campbell, Joseph Potts, and John Lloyd, be permitted to go on board Governour Tryon’s Ship, and the Packet, with the Port-Master, to inquire whether they can procure a passage to England, with permission to return on shore if they should not be able to procure a passage, or if the said Packet should be likely to sail soon; they having been sworn that they will not convey any intelligence relative to the Fortifications erecting for the defence of this City and Colony.

Ordered, That Mr. Stephen Rapalye be permitted to go on board His Majesty’s Ship Phenix, with the Port-Master, to demand his Schooner lately seized by order of Captain Parker; he having been sworn that he will not convey any intelligence relative to the Fortifications erecting for the defence of this City and Colony.

The Committee took into consideration the Resolution of the Provincial Congress, empowering them to contract for five thousand stand of Arms. Thereupon a draft of an advertisement was read, and is in the words following, to wit:

The Provincial Congress of this Colony having empowered this Committee to contract for a number of Muskets, (to be manufactured in the Colony,) publick notice is hereby given that this Committee are ready to receive proposals from, and treat with, any person or persons who are willing to engage in manufacturing good Muskets, or the Locks, Barrels, or any necessary parts thereof; and request all persons who choose to engage, to be speedy in their proposals.

Ordered, That the foregoing be published in all the publick Newspapers in this Colony.

Colonel McDougall informed the Committee that the men inlisted in his Regiment stood in need of some cash to purchase necessaries, and that a large sum is due to his Regiment.

Thereupon, Ordered, That Peter Van Brugh Livingston, as Treasurer of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, advance to Colonel McDougall, on account, in part of pay for his Regiment, the sum of one thousand Pounds, and take a receipt for the same, on account.

A Letter from General Thompson was read and filed, in the words following, viz:

“New-York, March 30, 1776.

“GENTLEMEN: A number of troops are arrived, and more are hourly expected, who must be quartered in the City; and as I understand that many of the inhabitants who have quitted the town have left part of their furniture in their houses, I must request that you will give such directions as you may judge best for securing the property of those people, whose houses are, or shall be occupied as Barracks for the Troops; and you will much oblige, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant,

“WILLIAM THOMPSON.

“To the Committee of Safety.”

Warrants issued to William Dunn, Second Lieutenant, and John Garrison, Ensign, in Captain Ambrose Horton’s Company.

Die Lunæ, 9 ho. A. M., April 1, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

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

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

* Resolved, That it be recommended to the inhabitants of Richmond County, without delay, to provide convenient and safe places in New-Jersey for the reception of Live Stock; and that the Committee of that County, upon the approach of the enemy, or any proper notification of danger from this Committee, the Provincial Congress, or from any other quarter, do, without delay, order and cause to he removed all the Live Stock in said County, excepting Horses, working Oxen, new-milch Cows, and such as are within a month of calving, to such places as shall have been provided as above; or in cases where no such places have been provided, to some place or places of security in New-Jersey; and the said Committee are hereby directed, if they shall think it necessary, to desire the assistance of their neighbours in New-Jersey, to carry this Resolution into execution. And it is further recommended to the said Committee, for the more expeditious transportation, as well of such Stock, as of such Continental Troops or Militia as may, upon an alarm or invasion, be sent to the assistance of the inhabitants, to cause to be built, without delay, two such flat-bottomed Boats or Scows, as they shall judge most convenient for that purpose, and to employ Richard Lawrence and Joshua Mercereau, or such other person or persons as they can agree with, to build the same in the best manner, and at the most reasonable rate.

IN COMMITTEE OF SAFETY, March 27, 1776.—Resolved, That it be recommended to the Committee of Richmond County immediately to direct that the proprietors of the Stock in that County do, without delay, procure proper places in New-Jersey, to move all the Sheep and horned Cattle, of young and old, (except milch Cows, already calved, and those within a month of calving;) to the end that no time be lost in transporting the said Stock whenever the enemy shall appear; and in default of the proprietors procuring such places, this Committee do hereby notify the inhabitants of that County that they will request the Militia of Jersey to remove the said Stock whenever the enemy’s Fleet appears to enter Sandy-Hook.

And Ordered, that the said Committee do immediately cause to be built two large flat-bottomed Scows, one by Richard Lawrence, the other by Joshua Mercereau, Esquires, at the most reasonable rate, that the Stock may the more readily be removed.