upper Jails among the debtors, where they are very troublesome, and do great mischief; that the Provost-Marshal refuses to let them be below in the prison; and Mr. Child requests that they may be removed out of the Sheriff’s prison. Mr. Child further informed that the Provost-Marshal has maltreated the turnkey of the Jail, and some other persons in the Jail, without any provocation.

Ordered, That Mr. Randall inform the General that the Provost-Marshal’s conduct is very troublesome to the Jailer and his Prisoners, and inconsistent with peace and good order in the Jail; and that he further inform that the Jail does not contain rooms sufficient to admit the Provost-Marshal to continue there with his Prisoners, consistent with the safety of the Prisoners in the custody of the Sheriff, and of those committed by the Provincial Congress, the Committee of Safety, and the General Committee of this City, for conduct inimical to the liberties of this country.

And Ordered, That Alexander Moncrief, the Jailer of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, take the care and charge of William McDermot, William Alder, Joseph Woolcombe, Thomas Remington Harris, and William Metcalf, into his custody, together with all the other Prisoners which were heretofore in his custody, and confine them in the room or Jail below, where they were formerly confined.

And Ordered, That the said Alexander Moncrief have and keep the key of the said room, and the care and custody of all the said Prisoners, without any interruption, until further order of the Provincial Congress, or of this Committee of Safety.

And Ordered further, That if Thomas Vernon* shall hereafter behave refractory, or do any damage to the place of his confinement during the time that he shall be a prisoner, that in such case the said Jailer do confine the said Thomas Vernon in irons, or otherwise, at his discretion.

Captain Nathan Pearce, Jun., from Dutchess County, attending, was admitted. He produced his warrant, dated the 27th of February last, in which Dusenberry and Platt are named as his Lieutenants, and Thornton as his Ensign. Captain Pearce reported that he has sixty-two men who are inlisted and ready for service, and requests directions.

Ordered, That Captain Nathan Pearce, with his Officers and Company, be a part of Colonel Ritzema’s Regiment, and that he immediately apply to Colonel Ritzema and take his directions.

And Ordered further, That Captain Pearce apply to the County Committee, or to the Committees of the Precincts in Dutchess County, to supply his men with Blankets, and with as many such good Arms as are fit for use, of those taken from disaffected persons in their County, as will be sufficient to arm his whole Company; and all Committees in that County are requested to exert themselves to supply this Company, and all the other Companies inlisted in that County, with Blankets and good Arms.

Die Mercurii, 4to ho. P. M., April 24, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Pierre Van Cortlandt, Esq., Chairman.

FOR NEW-YORK.—Mr. Evert Bancker, Mr. Randall, Captain Denning.

FOR ALBANY.—Mr. Oothoudt.

FOR ORANGE.—Mr. Cuyper.

FOR KING’S.—Mr. Polhemus.

FOR SUFFOLK.—Mr. Tredwell.

FOR WESTCHESTER.—Colonel V. Cortlandt.

FOR RICHMOND.—Mr. Adrian Bancker.

A Letter from Captain Andrew Billings, of the 22d of April instant, was received and read. He therein requested a determination of this Committee, that Subaltern Officers may continue in his service. The recommendation from the County Committee of Dutchess County, recommending the Subaltern Officers of Captain Billings’s Company, was also read. They thereby recommend David Baldwin for First Lieutenant, Elihu Marshall for Second Lieutenant, and Thomas Cole, Ensign.

Ordered, That those gentlemen stand confirmed as the Subaltern Officers of Captain Billings’s Company.

The Letter from Captain Andrew Billings, of the 11th instant, was read. He therein mentions two Guns, to wit: a Musket and Fowling-piece found by his men, hid in straw under a barn at Mrs. Stricker’s farm, in the Out Ward of the City of New- York, and mentions the particulars relating thereto; that he had left a billet in writing, informing Mr. Staple that he had taken the Arms, and would keep them until he received orders.

Ordered, That a Letter be written to Captain Billings, directing him to get the Arms valued by persons who are competent judges of their price; that he deliver the Musket to such one of his soldiers as may choose to take it at the valuation; and that he retain the Fowling-piece till further order, and inform the Provincial Congress or Committee of Safety of the valuation of each.

SIR: Both of your letters were delivered by Lieutenant Marshall, and immediately taken into consideration. Enclosed is a certified copy of the determination of this Committee with respect to your subalterns.

As to the arms taken at Mrs. Strieker’s on your passage up, you are directed to have them valued by persons who are competent judges of their price. The musket you may put in the hands of such one of your soldiers as may choose to take it at the valuation; the fowling-piece you are to retain until further order, and inform the Provincial Congress or Committee of Safety of the valuation of each.

We are informed that Mrs. Strieker has made great complaints of the rudeness of your men when at her house, by treating her with indecent language, and carrying off eggs, and bed-clothes, &c. We hope you will exert yourself and prevent such behaviour in future, especially towards a female, and that you will see that compensation is made, if the complaint is well founded.

We are, sir, your very humble servants.

By order.

To Captain Andrew Billings, Fort Montgomery.

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

Several weeks being elapsed since the extracts of the Resolutions of the Continental Congress, and the recommendations of this Committee for the disarming of disaffected persons, were despatched to the County Committees; no Returns being as yet made, and Arms much wanted for the Troops, the following draft of a Letter, to be sent to the County Committees, was read and approved of, viz:

In Committee of Safety, New-York, April 24, 1776.

SIR: As it must be evident at first sight, that troops without arms will be only a useless expense to the publick, we hoped that, on the receipt of the former directions for carrying into execution the resolutions of the Continental Congress for disarming disaffected persons, the Committees would have complied with a measure of such evident necessity without delay. But as we have not heard what steps have been taken in consequence thereof in your County, we think it necessary to request that you will exert yourself to cause the said resolution of the Continental Congress to be fully executed, if not already done in your County, according to said directions, as soon as possible, for arms are much wanted.

We are, most respectfully, sir, your very humble servants.

Ordered, That several copies of the above Letter be engrossed, and signed by the Chairman, and that the Secretaries direct and transmit one to the Chairman of each County Committee in this Colony.

Captain Jacobus Rosekrans attending, with sundry other

*The humble Address of THOMAS VERNON.—To the honourable the Committee of NEW-YORK.

GENTLEMEN: I hope these few lines will move you into a consideration to consider on the distressed circumstance of a poor prisoner, who has a sickly wife, and a great family, having nothing to support them with but by my daily labour, and being bereft of it, it will be the reason of my family coming on the Parish. I have been confined for thirty days, in a dark dungeon, without the least assistance of provision, except from my own family, and but very little of that. Lord Stirling has been here last Sunday, and has discharged some of the prisoners, and, at the same time, said he would discharge me; but he left it to the disposal of the Committee, and did imagine they had given me a hearing before this. I should be very much obligated to the gentlemen of the Committee if they would be so kind as to give me a hearing this afternoon, as I may know what is alleged against me; and shall conclude with the assistance of anything that possibly lies in my power, for the glorious and honourable cause of America.

I remain, gentlemen, your most faithful and trusty servant,

THOMAS VERNON.

To the Honourable the Committee of Safety of the City of New-York.

*