than twice to the same point; without leave of the President for the time then being.

12th. That every Member of this Congress shall keep secret all such matters, proceedings, and things, in this Congress as shall be enjoined from the Chair to be kept secret, upon pain of expulsion.

13th. That whenever the proceedings of this Congress shall be published at the close of this session, all the Minutes shall be published, and no part concealed, unless such as the unanimous votes of the Counties shall declare to be of a secret or unimportant nature; but that extracts of the proceedings may, nevertheless, be published from time to time, as the Congress shall think fit.

Resolved and Ordered, That Messrs. Jacobus Van Zandt, Captain Denning, Mr. Sands, Mr. Beekman, and Mr. Evert Bancker, be a Committee for the auditing of Accounts, and to compose a Pay-Table, for the purpose of auditing all Accounts against the Treasury of this Congress. That they, or any three or more of them, do endorse or subscribe every Account they shall pass, and certify how much shall be paid for or on such Account. That such endorsement or certificate shall be a sufficient voucher to the Treasurer of this Congress for the payment of such sum or sums as shall be certified by the said Committee, or a major part of them, to be due or payable on or for such Account, That the said Committee do enter in a book or books, to be by them kept for the purpose, a regular account of all the Accounts by them passed.

That they be empowered to hire and employ one able and sufficient Clerk, and a room for the purpose, and that this Congress will make provision for the payment thereof.

That they be directed to make a separation in the Treasurer’s Accounts between those that are of a Continental nature and those that are merely Provincial, and keep them in a proper state to be transmitted to the Continental Congress when thereunto directed by this Congress or the Committee of Safety.

That they lay before this Congress or Committee of Safety a state of the Accounts of this Colony, from time to time, as they shall be thereunto required. That the said Committee be allowed a reasonable compensation for their services.

The President informed the Congress that General Washington had discovered to him that he had lately received certain letters, affidavits, and advices of some dangerous machinations in this and one of the neighbouring Colonies; that the General does not at present think it necessary to communicate those matters to the whole Congress, but would be obliged by the appointment of a Secret Committee to confer with him on the dangers to which this Colony is exposed from its intestine enemies.

Thereupon, a motion was made and seconded that . . . . . . . . . be a Committee on behalf of this Congress, to confer with the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental forces in this Colony on all such matters as he shall choose to mention or communicate to them.

Mr. Scott moved, and was seconded, for the following amendment, to wit: That the words “relative to the execution of his office,” be inserted between the word “matters” and the word “as.”

Debates arose on the said proposed amendment, and the question being put thereon, it was carried in the affirmative for the amendment, in manner following, to wit:

Ordered, therefore, That the said amendment be made.

Thereupon, Resolved and Ordered, That Mr. Scott, Mr. Morris, Colonel Remsen, Mr. Cuyler, and Mr. Wickham, or any three or more of them, be a Secret Committee, on behalf of this Congress, to confer and advise with the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental forces in this Colony, on all such matters relative to the execution of his office as he shall choose to mention or communicate to them.

Charles Friend, who voluntarily came to the late Provincial Congress, and gave them information, whereby Israel Youngs, Henry Dawkins, and others, have been apprehended, and are now in custody, for counterfeiting Continental currency, and the Bills of Credit of the Colonies of Massachusetts-Bay and Connecticut, having since that time been: detained here as an evidence, prays to be dismissed.* And John Henderson, who was also brought to this City on the 14th instant as a witness against the said prisoners, and is so poor as to be without means to return home, prays to be dismissed. This Congress are of opinion that, considering the poverty and fidelity of the said Charles Friend, he merits a reward: therefore,

Ordered, That John McKesson, one of the Secretaries, advance to John Henderson two Dollars, to bear his expenses in returning home; and that the said Secretary advance to the said Charles Friend twenty Dollars, as a reward for his fidelity, time, and expenses in coming to New-York to give the information aforesaid. That the Doorkeeper discharge the account of the boarding of the said two witnesses since they arrived in this city, and charge the same in his account.

And Ordered, That Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq., as Treasurer of this Congress, repay to John McKesson the said sum of twenty-two Dollars, and take his receipt for the same, for which a certified copy of this entry shall be a sufficient voucher.

Die Sabbati, 4to ho. P. M., May 18, 1776.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Brigadier-General Woodhull, President.

FOR NEW-YORK.—Mr. Scott, Mr. Bancker, Mr. Cortlandt, Mr. Van Zandt, Colonel Stoutenburgh, Mr. Hallett, Captain Denning.

FOR TRYON.—Mr. Moore, Mr. W. Harper.

FOR ALBANY.—Mr. Cuyler, Mr. Glenn.

FOR WESTCHESTER.—Mr. Morris, Mr. Paulding, Major Lockwood, Colonel Gilbert Drake.

FOR RICHMOND.—Mr. Journey, Mr. Conner.

FOR SUFFOLK.—Mr. Wickham, General Woodhull, Mr. Gelston.

FOR ORANGE.—Mr. Little.

FOR KING’S.—Mr. Leffertse.

FOR CHARLOTTE.—Major Webster.

A Letter from Christian Jacobson, Chairman of the Committee of Richmond County, dated the 14th instant, was read and filed. He therein informs that John Garritson has declined an Ensign’s commission in the Continental Troops, and recommends John Decker to be appointed with that commission.

Ordered, That the said Letter be filed.†

A Letter from James Duane, Esquire, Chairman of the Continental Treasury Office, dated at Philadelphia, on the 9th instant, (covering copies of Resolutions of Congress for numbering the inhabitants of this Colony,) was read, and follows, to wit:

“Treasury Office, Philadelphia, May 7, 1776.

“HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN: We enclose to you the resolutions of Congress, passed the 26th December, 1775, and 17th February following, and have to request your honourable House will cause the number of Inhabitants of your Colony to be taken, and transmitted to this office, conformably to the directions laid down in the first-mentioned resolve.

“I have the honour to be, in the name of the Superintendents of the Treasury, honourable gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant,

JAMES DUANE, Chairman.”

* NEW-YORK, May 18, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I beg leave to inform the honourable House that I have attended ten days on the money affair, and beg leave, if consistent with reason, I may be discharged. My expenses and loss of time are a great disadvantage to my narrow circumstances, as my goods at this time are in great demand, being a button maker. Your kind compliance will greatly oblige, gentlemen, your obedient servant,

CHARLES FRIEND.

To the Honourable Provincial Congress, New-York.

† RICHMOND COUNTY, May 14, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Mr. John Garrison having declined the Ensign’s commission, by reason of which that place becomes vacant, the bearer, John Decker, has applied to the Committee for a recommendation, and is by them thought a proper person for that office. You will, therefore, please to recommend him to the Congress, and, if approved of, get a commission made out for him to serve as Ensign in the Company to be raised between this County and King’s County.

From, gentlemen, your most obedient and most humble servant.

By order of the Committee:

CHRISTIAN JACOBSON.

To Messrs. Richard Conner and John Journey, Esqs., Deputies for the County of Richmond, at New-York.