returned him to the charge of the jail-keeper. They would beg leave, also, to mention that no evidence has been, nor can they find that any evidence against him can be, produced to this Committee.

Captain Kendall having just now called upon the Committee respecting the last Association being tendered to John L. C. Roome, Augustus Van Horne, Thomas William Moore, and Vincent Pearce Ashfield, prisoners, committed by this Committee for refusing to deliver up their arms upon oath, &c., the Committee beg leave to observe that their commitment was not founded alone upon their refusing to deliver up their arms upon oath, but upon the resolves of the honourable Continental Congress of the 6th of October last, by which power is given to confine all such persons whose going at large may endanger the safety of the Colony or the liberties of America. The Committee are sorry to acquaint the Congress that as yet not the least evidence in the world has been given them that the discharging those persons from confinement will not endanger the safety of the Colony or the liberties of America.

Gladly, very gladly, would they enlarge those gentlemen from confinement, now grown disagreeable to them, if they could do it consistently with their duty to their country, and any evidence that they were become friendly to its interest. By order of the Committee:

GARRET ABEEL, Chairman.

To the Honourable Provincial Congress.

GENERAL GREENE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Camp on Long-Island, June 24, 1776.

DEAR GENERAL: The Scotch prisoners, * with their baggage, have arrived at my Quarters. I wait your Excellency’s directions to know how to dispose of them. Their baggage has not yet been opened. As the night is fast approaching apcommodations will soon be necessary. There are eight men and three women—two of quality.

I am your Excellency’s most obedient, humble servant,

N. GREENE.

To His Excellency General Washington, Head-Quarters.

QUEENS COUNTY (NEW-YORK) COMMITTEE.

In Committee, Queens County, June 24, 1776.

A motion was made that all persons under recognizance to the Congress, taken by Colonel Heard, be sent for by the Congress and more safely secured, and that application be made to the Congress for that purpose.

Passed in the affirmative.

A motion was made that five hundred Provincial or Continental Troops be immediately sent into Hempstead, to put the resolves of Congress and of this Committee into execution, and to be billeted at the discretion of the commanding officer of the Second Regiment of Queens County upon the disaffected and deserting persons, until the same be put into execution; and that application be made immediately to the Congress for that purpose.

Passed in the affirmative.

Likewise Ordered, That application be made to the Provincial Congress to prescribe some mode to secure all persons disaffected and dangerous, as well above fifty as under in Queens County.

A true copy from the Minutes:

JOSEPH ROBINSON, Deputy Chairman.

SALEM (WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW-YORK) COMMITTEE TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Salem, June 24, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Whereas sundry persons of note have lately absconded from our part of the country, and we have reason to think, from several circumstances, are (with numbers of others) assembling together on Long-Island, with a view to join the Ministerial Army; we beg the Congress would take the matter under consideration, and adopt such measures as to you shall appear most proper for the removal of such dangerous assemblages, whom we fear are forming a combination to aid and assist the Ministerial Army when an opportunity shall permit.

*List of SCOTCH Prisoners taken back of LONG-ISLAND.

Forty-Second or Royal Highland Regiment: Captain John Smith, Lieutenant Robert Franklin.

Seventy-First Regiment: Captain Norman McLeod and lady and maid; Lieutenant Roderick McLeod; Ensign Colin Campbell and lady; Surgeon’s Mate, Robert Boyce; John McAlister, Master of the Crawford Transport; Norman McCullock, a passenger; two boys, servants; McDonald, servant to Robert Boyce; Shaw, servant to Captain McLeod. Three boys, servants, came over in the evening.

Ordered, That the same be forwarded, with all convenient speed, by Mr. Ezekiel Hawley.

By the joint order of the sub-Committees of the Manor of Cortlandt and Salem.

To the Honourable the Provincial Congress.

ABEL BELKNAP TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

New-Windsor, June 24, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: The alarming situation of our publick affairs in general, and the well-grounded suspicion that our enemies in this country are secretly arming and preparing to surprise and take our lives in case an attack shall be made on this Province, which you will no doubt agree with us is more than probable will soon be the case:

We, the Committees of the Precincts of Newburgh and New-Windsor, in conjunction, attended by Colonel Jonathan Hasbrouck and Colonel James McClaughy, met this day, in order to consult on the important affair of putting ourselves in the best situation for defence; and on examining the state of our Militia, find by the report of the aforesaid gentlemen that we are nearly destitute of both powder and lead. An order of your honourable House (as we understand) hath passed in favour of this County for a supply, and, in consequence of said order, application hath been made by our County Convention agreeable to the same, yet no answer hath been received, the reason why, we cannot account for; therefore, as we are under such very disagreeable circumstances, we have resolved and appointed, that the bearer hereof, Captain Isaac Belknap, do wait on your honourable House with this. And we do most earnestly request and pray that you, gentlemen, will be pleased to furnish us with the quantity already required, with a supply of lead proportioned thereto, by the bearer, or inform us of the reasons why.

We have, gentlemen, the honour to be, your most obedient, humble servants.

By order of the Committee:

ABEL BELKNAP, Chairman.

To the Honourable the Provincial Congress of the Colony of New-York.

MEETING IN KING’S DISTRICT AND SPENCER TOWN, ALBANY COUNTY.

In a full meeting of the inhabitants of King’s District, in Albany County, legally warned by the Committee of said County, at the house of William Warner, in said district, on Monday, the 24th of June, 1776, for the purpose of electing twelve Delegates to represent said County in Provincial Congress, &c., the question was put, whether the said district choose to have the American Colonies independent of Great Britain?

It passed unanimously in the affirmative.

The town of Spencer-Town, in the County of Albany, and Province of New- York, in a full meeting, unanimously agreed, that as soon as the honourable Continental Congress should see fit to declare the American Colonies independent of Great Britain, they would support and defend the same with their lives and fortunes.

COLONEL RITZEMA TO LORD STIRLING.

Monday morning, June, 1776.

MY LORD: Impressed with a high sense of the importance of discipline, and conscious that nothing tends more than it to inspire officers and soldiers with mutual confidence, I behold with concern the want of it in my regiment at this critical juncture. Why I have made no greater proficiency in it your Lordship is well apprized of—the want of arms. The incessant fatigue has also not a little contributed towards it. The first of these is now in some measure removed, and, I trust, will be farther so in the course of a week, from the number of men of my own regiment now employed in