third year’s service, the remaining third part of each battalion shall be ready to perform the service, in manner before directed. And that, in order properly to officer such detachments of the Militia for active and immediate service, the men balloted for the first and second year’s service shall have the election of the officers, according to their respective ranks, the number and rank of each of which said officers shall be according to their standing in the Militia. No officer to be employed in this service for more than one year, nor more than two officers at a time out of one company; and the remaining officers in the third year, to be officers of course, according to their standing in the Militia. And we recommend it as a necessary provision to permit any selected person, except officers for the service aforesaid, to procure a person to serve in his stead, provided he be approved of by the Commanding Officer of the Regiment; that the same proportion of officers shall be allotted for the command of such selected men as are allotted by the Militia regulations; that the Field-Officers to command such selected men shall be chosen by ballot, by the officers chosen to command the selected Militia; and that no more than one Field-Officer shall be elected out of each Battalion or Regiment for the aforesaid Minute or select service; the Militia thus elected, to be under command of their respective Brigadier and the Major-General, as the rest of the Militia.

By order of the Committee:

JOHN MORIN SCOTT, Chairman.

Ordered, That the said Report be referred to the next Congress of this Colony, which is appointed to meet in this City to-morrow, and that the Secretary keeping the papers deliver the said Report to that Congress for their consideration.

Colonel Malcom applied to this Congress for payment for the Battalion commanded by him while employed at the Works and Fortifications in and about this City of New-York; and he produced General Putnam’s order of the 12th day of April last, directing the Battalion to continue in service, and carry on the said Works, and full proof of their having sedulously continued in the publick service.

Ordered, That the sum of nine hundred Pounds in gross, be advanced and paid, on the credit of the Continental Congress, by Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., Treasurer of this Colony, to Colonel Malcom, commanding officer of the Battalion of Minute-men of the City and County of New-York, employed by Major-General Putnam, by order under his hand of the 12th day of April last.

IN PROVINCIAL, CONGRESS, NEW-YORK, May 13, 1776.—It is hereby certified that the Sloop Francis, Christopher Clarke, master, bound from North-Carolina to this Port, was seized by Captain Parker, comman-der of a British ship-of-war named the Phenix, some time in December last, of which Mr. William Lowther informed this Congress soon after he got on shore, within sight of the City. That the said sloop was, in March last, by order of Captain Parker, sent away to the eastward; that advices were received that the Sloop was cast away on the Vineyard, in her way to Boston, and perished; that Mr. William Lowther went in pursuit of her some time after she sailed, and is since returned; that he has brought here and landed out that part of the cargo which was saved, fifty barrels of tar and turpentine, forty-six barrels of tobacco, and about two thousand staves; and that Mr. Lowther has further informed us that the further quantity of one hundred and twenty barrels of tar and turpentine, and between five hundred and one thousand staves (part of the said cargo) have been preserved, besides those that have been brought back here.

[Endorsed May 13, 1776: In Provincial Congress.—Certificates Nothing on the Minutes to which this refers.]

BALTIMORE (MARYLAND) COUNTY COMMITTEE.

At a special meeting of the Committee, March 6, 1776:

Present: Samuel Purviance, Chairman, William Lux, Vice-Chairman, Andrew Buchanan, William Buchanan, Thomas Harrison, Jeremiah T. Chase, George Risteau, James Calhoun, William Aisquith, John Cockey, John Sterrett, John Moale, John Smith, Isaac Grist, John Boyd.

The Committee of Observation took into consideration the following Letter from the Council of Safety:

“Annapolis, March 5, 1776.

“GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMITTEE OF OBSERVATION: We have just received intelligence that a large ship, supposed to be the forty-four gun man-of-war, and two sloops, are on their way up the Bay. Their destination is not known; but as they may intend for your town, we send off this express, that you may be on your guard, and make all the preparations in your power for your defence.

“We are, with respect, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servants,

Upon motion, Resolved, That a Boat be sent down immediately to reconnoitre, and bring intelligence respecting the Man-of-War, &c., as soon as possible, and that Captain Nicholson be requested to order his Tender on that service. Which he complied with.

Resolved, That an Express by water, and another by land, be sent immediately to Elk, to hasten down the Powder and the Small Arms belonging to this Province, and that it be directed to Mr. Henry Hollingsworth, with a request to him to forward them either by land or water, as he shall judge expedient. And William, Stenson was accordingly despatched by land, and Joseph White and Joseph Gotro, on board Captain Hollingsworth, by water.

Resolved, That General Andrew Buchanan be requested to provide Expresses, to be kept in readiness to be despatched upon any emergency, within the circle of his jurisdiction; and that if the Council of Safety do not pay the expense, that this Committee will do it.

Resolved, That Captain George Woolsey and Mr. Hugh Young collect all the Gun-Flints in Town, and render an account of the same to this Committee, and that they be lodged with Captain Woolsey.

Resolved, That it is necessary to have the publick Records of this County immediately packed up in chests, in order for their removal to a place of safety.

Resolved, That no Vessels depart this Port without the further orders of this Committee, and that Captain Nicholson be requested to see this order carried into execution.

Captain John Sterrett and Captain Henry Shaaf returned their Enrollments.

At a meeting of the Committee, Thursday, March 7, 1776:

Present: Samuel Purviance, Chairman, William Lux, Vice-Chairman, Andrew Buchanan, William Buchanan, John Moale, John Smith, John Cockey, John Boyd, Jeremiah T. Chase, William Lux, Seere-tary pro tempore.

Resolved, That a Breastwork be immediately thrown up at the Point, below Jesse Hollingsworth’s, and that the Money in Mr. Moale’s hands be appropriated to defray the expense attending it.

The Committee are unanimously of opinion, and do direct, that all the light Vessels in the Harbour be immediately carried down to Whetstone, in order to be sunk in the Channel to prevent the Vessels-of-War from coming up; and Messrs. Isaac Grist, Captain William Chace, Captain Thomas Moore, George Woolsey, and David Stewart, together with Major Gist, are appointed for that purpose.

Resolved, That an Express be instantly sent to Philadelphia, to the Congress, for an immediate supply of Powder and Lead.

Several Expresses arrived with information of the Man-of-War and her Tenders being past Annapolis, and standing up the Bay, and, also, that she is at the mouth of the River.

At a meeting of the Committee, Thursday, March 8, 1766:

Present: Samuel Purviance, Chairman, William Lux, Deputy-Chairman, Andrew Buchanan, William Buchanan, Thomas Harrison, John Moale, John Boyd, John Smith, Jeremiah T. Chase, A. B it-ton, William Aisquith.

The Committee agreed with Andrew Stigar and Engle-heart Yeiser to furnish Rations for the Militia, consisting of nine pounds Bread, and eight pounds Beef or six pounds Pork, per week, with Salt, and the meat to be boiled, at one Shilling per Ration.