woman spoken of to have conveyed a letter from Blanchard and some military books, was Mrs. Hatch.

Captain Gibbs says that after he had arrested Joseph Blanchard, by order of General Washington, Mr. Blanchard. told his landlady that he was arrested as being suspected of carrying on a correspondence with Governour Tryon or his Secretary; and that at that time he (Captain Gibbs) had not intimated to Mr. Blanchard the cause of the arrest; that the several letters and papers now delivered to the Committee were taken or received from the said Joseph Blanchard.

That the first paper he saw in the room was on his table, and was General Sullivan’s Brigade orders to his brigade before he left New-York; that Mr. Blanchard told the examinant he did not know how he got that paper; and made that observation before he asked anything about the paper or the orders.

That Mr. Blanchard said he had delivered the letter to Mrs. Hatch; that Mrs. Hatch, after some recollection, said that Mr. Blanchard often inquired there for letters; that she had not any acquaintance with him; that he left a letter and some military books for Colonel Fanning about ten days ago; and that they Were sent by Colonel Fanning’s servant.

Captain Gibbs says the letter to Lord Stirling was sealed when he received it from Joseph Blanchard.

Captain Derby and Captain Gibbs severally say that Mr. Blanchard said that he knew the communication with the vessels was stopped, and that any communication with them was against the Resolution of the Committee of Safety, and the General’s Proclamation.

Lieutenant Brown, of Colonel Prescott’s Regiment, confirms Captain Derby’s testimony; and says, further, that Mr. Blanchard said he received those orders of General Sullivan at Lieutenant Fisher’s, of Colonel Wyan’s Regiment; that he has inquired of Lieutenant Fisher, who says he never saw such orders, and does not know that such had been in his house or taken from thence.

That Mr. Blanchard said he was not paid for being a Whig; that the officers were paid for being Whigs, and were bought Whigs. Colonel Prescott says that Mr. Blanchard said the communication with the ships never would be found out, and never would be stopped; that he did not know the method of communication; that he never asked the mode of communication, or he supposed it would have been told him; that he did not desire to know the method of the communication; and that if he did know it he would not discover it.

Mr. Blanchard says that a woman who lives with Mrs. Hatch brought him the letter from Colonel Fanning; that she told him she would soon have an opportunity to send down there; that when he sent his letter, he knew it was against the Resolution of the Committee of Safety; and that his only reason for writing was to endeavour to secure the money mentioned in one of the letters, which he was unwilling to lose.

Die Mercurii, 10 ho. A. M., May 8, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Dirck Wynkoop, Jun., Esq., Chairman.

FOR NEW-YORK.-Mr. Bancker, Mr. Beekman, Captain Denning, Colonel McDougall.

FOR KING’S.-Mr. Polhemus.

FOR ALBANY.-Mr. Cuyler, Mr. Glenn, Mr. Oothoudt.

FOR ORANGE.-Colonel Allison, Mr. Haring.

FOR ULSTER.-Mr. Wynkoop, Doctor De Witt, Mr. Wisner, Colonel Palmer.

FOR RICHMOND.-Mr. Lawrence.

FOR SUFFOLK.-General Woodhull, Mr. Tredwell, Mr. Wickham.

FOR WESTCHESTER.-Mr. Paulding, Mr. Ward.

Mr. Philip Woodward, of Newtown, in Queen’s County, on Nassau-Island, (having received a warrant from the Provincial Congress of this Colony for recruiting men in a Company of Continental Troops, raising for the defence of this Colony,) attended, and was admitted. He informed this Committee that, notwithstanding the best endeavours of the officers of the Company, they have been unsuccessful in that service, and have little prospect of being able to recruit so many men as will entitle them to Commissions. Mr. Woodward, considering that the defence of this Colony necessarily requires the immediate raising and imbodying the said troops, generously offered to resign his said warrant in the said Company, to the end that some other person be employed who may have it in his power to raise the men with that expedition which the service absolutely requires.

Thereupon, Resolved and Ordered, That, from the necessity of the case, Mr. Woodward’s resignation be accepted of; that he be paid for his services from the date of his warrant to this day, and that the thanks of this Committee be, and are hereby, given him for his patriotick spirit shown on this occasion; that Mr. Woodward’s conduct is an additional proof of his attachment to the true interests of his country; and that the benefit of the publick service only has induced Mr. Woodward to this resignation, and induced this Committee to accept it.

Ordered, That a copy of the aforegoing be delivered to Mr. Woodward.

Thomas Mitchell, of Great-Neck, in the Township of Hempstead, in Queen’s County, being examined, says: That Captain John Sands, agreeable to the Resolution of the Provincial Congress, has called out his Company once a month to muster; that Thomas Wooley, of Cow-Neck, Felt-maker, within the district whereof Mr. John Sands is Captain, on two different days of mustering or training, would not answer to his name, nor appear in the ranks, or muster; that Captain Sands levied a fine for each neglect; that he (this examinant) was informed, by sundry persons, that the said Thomas Wooley applied to a Magistrate to have a suit brought against Captain Sands to recover back the fines which had been levied by distress; that on Saturday, the 4th instant, the Company was again called out to muster and train; that the said Thomas Wooley was there at the place of training, and refused to train, or answer to his name when called; that when he was called on Saturday last, he went to Captain John Sands, and spoke to him in an abrupt manner, and, about half an hour after, abused the Captain very much, and challenged the Captain to fight him with sword and pistol; that some days before this, he (this examinant) was informed that said Thomas Wooley challenged Captain Sands in the like manner, and that Captain Sands told him he should apply to the Committee if he thought himself aggrieved, and that Wooley said he knew no Committee, but would apply to a Magistrate; that Captain Sands’s Company were called to train on the first Saturday in April; that after the Clerk had, on that day, called his name three times, and he neglected to answer, Captain Sands said, Mr. Wooley, it seems you do not choose to answer to your name; that Wooley answered, I will so far answer as to let you know that you have no right to call me here, and that I do not consider myself as within your District. That on Saturday last, after the said Thomas Wooley had ill-treated the Captain and challenged him, and refused to answer when called, Captain Sands made out a warrant against the said Thomas Wooley, and sent him under a guard, with Aspinwall Cornell, his Second Lieutenant, to Queen’s County Jail; that he (the examinant) was informed that Hope Mills, the Jailer, when the prisoner was brought to him, said he was not a Jailer for the Congress, and thought he had no right to keep him; that he has been further informed, that on the next day the Jailer applied to the Sheriff, who, as this examinant was informed, directed him not to retain the prisoner without a warrant from a Magistrate; that the said Thomas Wooley was that day discharged; that the said Wooley publickly says, that the Captain’s warrant was of no validity, and threatens to prosecute the whole guard who went with him to Jamaica, in obedience to Captain Sands’s warrant.

THOMAS MITCHELL.

Sworn this 8th day of May, 1776, before me,

AB. BRASHER, Alderman.

Ordered, That Captain John Sands, of Great-Neck, be requested, without delay, to cause Thomas Wooley, of Cow-Neck, Feltmaker, to be apprehended and sent to the Provincial Congress or Committee of Safety, at New-York, under a proper Guard, at the sole expense of the said Thomas Wooley, and, with all convenient speed, to be further dealt with as the said Congress or Committee of Safety shall