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pounds for the County of Tryon, and two thousand pounds of Gunpowder for the City and County of Albany. That the respective Counties above-mentioned be charged with the respective quantities of Gunpowder above-mentioned. That the said Gunpowder be disposed of by the respective County Committees of the said Counties, in the most advantageous manner for the defence of the inhabitants; and that the Committees of the said Counties respectively give such particular directions for the preservation of the said Gunpowder, that it may not be wasted or expended but in the defence of the country, lest those Counties may be distressed before any other possible supply can be afforded them. And Ordered, That the Committee of the City and County of Albany be informed that, by reason of some late losses and misfortunes, they are not to expect any further supply of Gunpowder for several months at the soonest. Die Mercurii, 4to ho. P. M., April 3, 1776. The Committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present: William Paulding, Esq., Chairman pro tem. FOR NEW-YORK.—Colonel McDougall, Colonel Brasher, Mr. Sands, Major Stoutenburgh, Colonel Lott, Mr. Denning. FOR SUFFOLK.—Mr. Tredwell, Mr. Strong. FOR ORANGE.—Mr. Cuyper. FOR RICHMOND.—Mr. Lawrence. FOR DUTCHESS.—Mr. Everson. FOR WESTCHESTER.—Mr. Paulding. FOR TRYON—Mr. Moore. Mr. John Murray, attending with a Letter from General Heath to this Committee, wherein he informs the Committee that Mr. Murray had applied to him for his approbation of the permit granted to Mr. Murray this morning to go on board the Governour’s Ship; that, by the said permit, it appears that Mr. Murray is restricted only relative to the Fortifications, and that he (the General) cannot, consistent with his duty, consent to his going on board unless under greater restrictions: Thereupon a permission was given to Mr. Murray, in the words following, to wit: “John Murray, of this City, Merchant, attending, requested permission to go on board the Ship Dutchess of Gordon, wherein Governour Tryon resides, with the Port-Master, and to return; thereupon the said John Murray was solemnly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, that he will not communicate any information or intelligence whatever to any person or persons on board any of the Ships-of-War, the Ship Dutchess of Gordon, the Packet, or any other vessel in this Colony, under the care or direction of, or in connection with any person on board either of the vessels above-mentioned, relative to the Fortifications erecting for the defence of this City and Colony, nor carry on board, or deliver to any person belonging to any of the said ships or vessels, any papers or writings relative thereto; and that he will not communicate any intelligence, of any kind, or enter into any conversation on any subject whatever, with any person on board of either of the said vessels, but what relates to his own private business.” Ordered, That the said John Murray be, and he is hereby, permitted to go on board the Ship Dutchess of Gordon, with the Port-Master, and to return. Michael Conner, of the City of Philadelphia, Merchant, agent for the Owners of the Brigantine Mary, bound from St. Christopher’s to Cork, in Ireland, laden with rum, lately seized and now detained by Captain Parker, of his Majesty’s Ship Phenix, applied to the Committee for a permission to go on board of the said Ship Phenix, to demand the said Brigantine and Cargo; thereupon the said Michael Conner was duly and solemnly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, that be will not communicate any information or intelligence whatever, to any person or persons on board of any of the Ships-of-War, the Ship Dutchess of Gordon, the Packet, or any other vessels in this Colony, relative to the Fortifications erecting for the defence of this City and Colony, nor carry on board, or deliver to any person belonging to any of said ships or vessels, any papers or writings relative thereto; and that he will not communicate any intelligence, of any kind, or enter into any conversation on any subject whatever with any person on board of either of said vessels, but what relates to his own private business. Ordered, That the said Michael Conner be permitted, and he is hereby permitted, to go on board of the Ship Phenix, with the Port-Master, and to return. Mr. Sands, from the Committee appointed to wait on General Heath, and confer with him on the subject-matter of the Letter from the Committee of Suffolk County, dated March 27th, 1776, reported: That General Heath desired them to inform the Committee of Safety, that if the Committee of Safety thought it necessary that the three Companies raised in Suffolk County for the defence of this Colony, in Continental service, should be stationed at the east end of Nassau-Island, he would give the necessary orders; but requested that this Committee would take this matter into consideration, and give him the opinion of the Committee in writing, how and in what manner it will be most proper to dispose of the said troops to prevent depredations by the Ministerial Navy and Army. The Committee, taking into consideration the defenceless state of the easternmost part of Suffolk County, are of opinion, that the three Companies raised in Suffolk County for the defence of this Colony, in Continental service, should be continued in that County until further order; that Brigadier-General Woodhull should be requested, by his orders to Captain Griffin, to station the said three Companies in such numbers, and at such places, as be shall think best, to prevent the landing of any Ministerial Troops, or depredations being committed by them in any part of the said County; that those Troops be so stationed on condition that the County Committee and inhabitants of Suffolk County furnish them with all necessaries whatever, while so stationed in the County, at the allowance of ten and a half pence per man per day, exclusive of such quantities of wood as is allowed by Congress, without any other additional expense, charge, or allowance whatever. His Worship the Mayor of the City of New-York, attending, and having given his word of honour, in terms similar to the Oath administered to Messrs. Murray and Conner, Ordered, That he be permitted to go on board the Ships-of-War and the Governour’s Ship, with the Port-Master, and to return. Colonel McDougall informed the Committee of Safety that Cartridges are preparing for the Continental Magazine, but are not yet made; that he stands in need of a number of Cartridges for his Regiment; and requests the loan of a number of Cartridges out of the Provincial Store, which he engages to replace. Ordered, That Mr. Richard Norwood deliver to Colonel McDougall, for the use of his Regiment, such number of Cartridges as he may want; for the use of his Regiment, and take his receipt for the same. Two Letters, one from Azor Betts, the other from John Blackler, received by post, and requesting their discharges, were read and filed. Thereupon, the following entry, for their discharge, was made, in the words following: The Letter of Azor Betts, dated the 21st ultimo, requesting his discharge, was received, and read. His Petition to the Provincial Congress, dated the 20th day of February last, with the Certificate of William Elsworth, Esq., Chairman of the Committee of Kingston, endorsed thereon, was also again read. The Letter of John Blackler was also read. Ordered, That the said Azor Betts and John Blackler be respectively discharged from their confinement, on their respectively subscribing the General Association, acknowledging their penitence for their past conduct, and making oath respectively that they will not bear arms against the inhabitants of the American Colonies, or do any other act inimical to the liberties of the United Colonies, or contrary to the resolutions of Congress, during the present controversy between Great Britain and the American Colonies, and paying their expenses while in confinement, if they have any means wherewith to pay the same. Or, instead of such oath, on their respectively giving bond, with two good and sufficient sureties for each, in the penalty of two hundred Pounds, with condition thereto for their future good behaviour, in the terms above-mentioned for their oath.
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