FOR SUFFOLK.—Mr. Tredwell.

FOR ORANGE. —Mr. Cuyper.

FOR KING’S.—Mr. Covenhoven.

FOR DUTCHESS.—Mr. Everson.

FOR WESTCHESTER.—Mr. Paulding.

FOR RICHMOND.—Mr. Laurence.

A Letter from Lord Stirling, dated this day, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“New-York, April 12, 1776.

“SIR: As I have General Putnam’s orders to march with a brigade of troops for Staten-Island, and as I shall be under a necessity of quartering them in the farm-houses there until the season of the year will admit of their being encamped, I shall esteem it a favour of the Committee of Safety if they will, as soon as possible, desire the Committee of Richmond County to give notice thereof to the inhabitants, that they may be prepared to receive the troops in the manner most convenient to themselves; and they may be assured that my best endeavours will be used to render the residence of the troops among them as little burdensome as possible; and this I hope will be the easier effected, as house-room is the only article that will be required; every thing else they may stand in need of will be punctually paid for.

“Colonel Ritzema’s Regiment is one of the corps ordered to compose my brigade. On inquiry, I find the companies of which his regiment is to be composed, are not yet fixed or arranged. I must beg the favour of the Committee of Safety to attend to this matter, and fix it as soon as possible.

“I am, sir, your most humble servant,

“STIRLING.

“To the Chairman of the Committee of Safety, New-York.”

Ordered, That the Secretaries prepare and certify a copy of so much of Lord Stirling’s Letter as relates to the quartering of the Troops on Richmond County, to be sent to the Committee of Richmond County.

And Ordered, That the Committee of Richmond County be requested, with all possible despatch, to prepare empty Farm-houses where they may be had; and where those cannot be had, that they prepare quarters and places for them in Dwelling-houses; that the said Committee use their influence with the inhabitants to consider the soldiers as their countrymen and fellow-citizens, employed in the defence of the liberties of their country in general, and of the inhabitants of Richmond County in particular, and to endeavour to accommodate them accordingly.

Mr. Abraham Livingston attended the Committee, and requested money, agreeable to the Resolution of Congress, to enable him to comply with his contract for victualling the Troops in this Colony. As there is but a small sum now in the Treasury, the Committee are of opinion that a larger sum than two thousand five hundred Pounds cannot be advanced to him at present,

Therefore Ordered, That Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esquire, advance to Mr. Abraham Livingston, in part of the money due to him on contract for supplying the Continental Troops in this Colony, the sum of two thousand five hundred Pounds, on account, and take his receipt for the same.

Colonel Curtenius, as Commissary of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, applied to the Committee for money to enable him to provide necessaries for the Army.

Ordered, That Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esquire, as Treasurer of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, advance to Peter T. Curtenius, as Agent or Commissary of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, to provide Clothing and Arms, Accoutrements, &c., for the Troops, the sum of five thousand Pounds, on account, and take his receipt for the same.

Mr. Randall informed the Committee that he stands in need of cash to discharge debts contracted in purchasing and in part fitting out an Armed Schooner.

Ordered, That Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esquire, as Treasurer of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, advance to Mr. Thomas Randall, Esquire, the sum of nine hundred Pounds, on account, in part of moneys by him advanced for the purchase of an Armed Schooner, and her Arms and Outfit; the Treasurer to take Mr. Randall’s receipt for the same.

The Committee have, for the present, appointed the following seven Captains, with their Subaltern Officers and Companies, to be under the command of Colonel Ritzema, as seven Companies of his Regiment, to wit: Captain Andrew Billings, Captain Daniel Denton, Captain Abraham Riker, Captain Cornelius Hardenbergh, Captain Jonathan Horton, Captain ——— Hobby, and Captain Amos Hutchins. This arrangement to continue as to the rank of Captains in this Regiment until a general arrangement of the whole four Regiments is made on a return of the Companies raised.

Ordered, That Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., as Treasurer of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, advance to Colonel Ritzema the sum of eight hundred Pounds, on account, to enable him to pay such Troops as are put under his command, as his Regiment; the Treasurer to take Colonel Ritzema’s receipt for the same.

Ordered, That Mr. Richard Norwood, Commissary of Colony Stores, deliver to Thomas Randall, Esquire, two hundred and fifty pounds of Gunpowder and three hundred weight of Lead, for the use of a small Armed Schooner, fitted out by the Marine Committee, by order of the Provincial Congress; the said Commissary to take a receipt for the same.

Captain Increase Child, of a Company of Minute-men, now discharged from service, requests a warrant to raise a Company in the Continental service.

Ordered, That Captain Increase Child be, and he is hereby, authorized, in conjunction with Mr. John Lloyd, as First Lieutenant, Samuel Dodge, Second Lieutenant, and John Punderson, Ensign, to raise a Company for the Continental service in this Colony, agreeable to the warrants issued by the Provincial Congress of this Colony for that purpose; on condition that those gentlemen inlist and raise the said Company, and make return thereof in proper form, or bring the said Company to New-York for actual service within three weeks.

Ordered, That Colonel Ritzema direct the Captain or such other officer in each Company of his Regiment, as he shall think proper, to apply to the County Committee, or any Precinct Committee in the Counties where such Companies were respectively raised, for Arms for the said Companies out of those collected by disarming the disaffected persons, pursuant to the Resolution of the Continental Congress.

The Committee are informed that Lord Drummond is in such a state of health that his Physicians advise him to remove to the Island of Bermuda for the preservation of his life; and that he requested permission of this Committee for that purpose.

Therefore Ordered, That Lord Drummond be, and he is hereby, permitted to depart this Colony, and go to the Island of Bermuda; and it is hereby recommended to all friends of America not to interrupt him on his passage, but to let him pass in safety and without molestation.

Die Sabbati, A. M., April 13, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: William Paulding, Esquire, Chairman.

FOR NEW-YORK.—Mr. Scott, Colonel McDougall, Captain Rutgers, Mr. Van Cortlandt, Colonel Lott, Mr. Imlay, Mr. Bancker, Mr. Sands, Mr. Roosevelt, Mr. Randall, Mr. Van Zandt.

FOR SUFFOLK.—Mr. Tredwell.