fully approved of the first part of the Association resolved on by this Congress on the 20th day of June instant. On being asked whether a resistance, by arms, to the hostile attempts of the British fleets and armies to enforce and execute their claims and demands was justifiable, he declined to give an answer, but declared that the bulk of his fortune was in Great Britain and the West-Indies, and that he did not mean to take an active part on either side.

Your Committee thereupon resolved that he is not such a friend to the American cause as is described in your said resolutions of the 5th instant; that his removal from his present place of residence was unnecessary; and that his parole, in the words directed by your said resolutions, was sufficient security.

The gentleman assigned objections to give this parole, and said he would submit to such a disposition of him as your Committee should make. He then had two days allowed him to consider of the said parole, at which time he returned to your said Committee.

On his return to your Committee the gentleman was of the same opinion as before, and said he could not consent to give his parole “not to oppose or contravene the measures of the Continental Congress or the Congress of this Colony;” as his giving or signing such parole might, in his apprehension, be construed on the other side of the water to be an overt act, and made use of to forfeit his estate there.

The gentleman offered to your Committee to give his parole not to take any active part against this country, or do anything inconsistent with the duty of a good citizen.

He further voluntarily offered that if it was thought necessary that he should remove from his present place of residence, he was willing to move with his family to any County in the Colony, and to have limits assigned to him; but intimated that it would be disagreeable to him to remove out of the Colony. He also informed your Committee that if his whole estate was in the American Colonies only he would not hesitate to determine the matter, and fully express his sentiments, which, in his opinion, it is not proper for him to do in the present situation of his affairs.

Your Committee believe the gentleman to be a man of high honour and integrity; and have not the least doubt but that any parole which he will consent to give, he will hold sacred and perform; and he is to attend your Committee again on notice. But in the execution of the said resolves they have now no alternative but a warrant and force against the gentleman, and confinement. The policy of this measure your Committee submit to Congress, and request their directions in the premises.

Mr. NATHANIEL UNDERHILL:

Whereas, by certain resolutions of the Congress of the Colony of New-York, of the 5th day of June instant, we, a Committee of the said Congress, were authorized and required to summon certain persons, whose conduct had been represented to the said Congress as inimical to the cause and rights of America, (of which number you are one, ") to appear before us at such time and place as we might think proper, then and there to answer such matters and things as should be alleged against them; and to show cause, if any they have, why they should be considered as friends to the American cause: We do, therefore, in pursuance of the trust reposed in us by the said resolutions, summon you to appear before us. for the purposes aforesaid, at the City-Hall of the City of New-York, on Thursday, the 4th day of July next, at ten of the clock in the forenoon of the same day. Dated the 27th day of June, 1776.

Summonses were also issued against the following persons: William Bayard, Esq., William Newton, Frederick Rhinelander, Mr. Christopher Benson, Mr. John Woods, Mr. James Coggeshall, Mr. Samuel Burling, Theophilus Hardenbrook, Mr. John Millner, Mr. Benjamin James, (New-York or Flatbush,) David Beatty, (Hempstead, Long-Island,) Linus King, (New-York,) John Baltus Dash, (New-York,) and Henry Law.

To Mr. SOLOMON FOWLER, at EAST-CHESTER:

SIR: By virtue of the authority vested in us by certain resolutions of the Congress of the Colon)’ of New-York, of the 5th day of June, in the year of our Lord 1776, reciting, that whereas there are in this Colony divers persons who, by reason of their holding offices from the King of Great Britain—;from their having neglected or refused to associate; with their fellow-citizens for the defence of their common rights—from their having never manifested by their conduct a zeal for, and an attachment to, the American cause—or from their having maintained an equivocal neutrality, have been considered by their countrymen in a suspicious light, whereby it hath become necessary, as well for the safety as for the satisfaction of the people, (who, in times so dangerous and critical, are naturally led to consider those as their enemies who withhold from them their aid and influence,) that certain persons in the said resolutions named, (of whom you are one,) who are generally supposed to come under the above description, should be summoned by a certain Committee to show cause, if any they have, why they should be considered as friends to the American cause, and as of the number of those who are ready to risk their lives and fortunes in defence of the rights and liberties of America against the usurpation, unjust claims, and cruel oppressions of the British Parliament, which rights and liberties and which unjust claims and cruel oppressions, are specified and stated in divers addresses, petitions, and remonstrances, of the present and late Continental Congresses, and directing certain proceedings in the said resolutions specified to be by the said Committee had against such of the said persons as the said Committee shall not adjudge and determine to be friends to the American cause: We do, therefore, in pursuance of the said resolutions, summon you to appear before us, at the City-Hall in New-York, on Thursday, the 4th day of July next, at ten o’clock in the forenoon of the said day, to show cause, if any you have, why you should be considered as a friend to the American cause, and of the number of those who are ready to risk their lives and fortunes in defence of the rights and liberties of America against the usurpation, unjust claims, and cruel oppressions of the British Parliament, which rights and liberties and which unjust claims and cruel oppressions are, as aforesaid, specified and stated in divers addresses, petitions, and resolutions, of the present and late Continental Congresses. Dated the 27th day of June, 1776.

June 29, 1776.

To Colonel WILLIAM ALLISON:

Whereas it is represented to us that David Baldwin, of Bergen County, in New-Jersey, but now in the City of New-York, can give very useful and important intelligence respecting the late discovered conspiracy against the rights and liberties of America : We do, therefore, in pursuance of a resolve of the Congress of this Colony, authorize and request you to bring the said David Baldwin forthwith before us, that he may be examined touching the said conspiracy.

Given under our hands this 29th June, 1776:

The information of Mr. David Baldwin : Saith he has had reasons for some time past to believe there was a correspondence kept up between the people of Ramapo and the men-of-war, as well from the temper of the people as from many words dropped from time to time. He says that about the 17th instant he was told that Lawrence Van Buskirk, the miller at Ramapo, Abraham Van Buskirk, and a Schoolmaster, and Thomas Van Buskirk, at Saddle River, were going on board the man-of-war; that something prevented all but the Schoolmaster, who he verily believes did go, and that there is one Peter Van Buskirk living at or near the Hook or mouth of the Kills in Bergen County, who, it is frequently said, has followed trading with the men-of-war, who, he has reason to believe, carries people on board whenever requested, and has a sufficient craft for that purpose; and that this informant came to New-York on purpose to let it be known; that on his way he stopped at Erls’s, in Bergen woods, where he was drinking tody, in company with Francis Stephens, late a resident of this city, who took him (the said Baldwin) to be friendly to the Tory side, when said Stephens told Baldwin that there were fifty sail of King’s ships near the Hook, and that there would soon be one hundered