of Doctor Azor Betts, and their extraordinary exertions to prevent the spreading of the Small-Pox among the Continental Army. And he requested to know whether this Congress will consent that he publish the copy of the determination of the City Committee and of this Congress on that subject.

The Congress returned their thanks to General Putnam for his polite message, and will send him an answer as to publishing the determination of the Committee and Report of this Congress.

The Order of the Day being read, the Congress proceeded to hear the Report of the Committee on General Washington’ s two Letters on the subject of having a part of the Militia at all times ready on any alarm to join the Continental Troops; which was read.

Ordered, That it be postponed till the afternoon.

A Letter from Captain Cornelius Steenrod, dated this day, was read and filed. * He therein mentions that he did not receive his Warrant to inlist a Company in the Continental service until the 27th of last month, but had engaged many of his men on the 9th day of the month. That about twenty of the said men have refused, and still do refuse, to join the Company, unless they be allowed pay from that day. He also informs that two of his men are confined under guard by Captain Hobby, as persons who have also inlisted in his Company. And Captain Steenrod requests the direction of this Congress in the premises.

The Congress are of opinion that Captain Steenrod ought not to receive pay for any of the men in his Company prior to the date of his Warrant; and for such of his men who inlisted after the date of his Warrant, only from the time of their respective inlistment.

Ordered, That one of the Secretaries write a Letter to Captain Steenrod to this effect.

Mr. James Livingston and Dr. Benjamin De Lavergne, two Members from Dutchess County, having this morning attended and taken their seats, the said two gentlemen, at the Chair, were respectively duly sworn, and took the general oath of secrecy as before entered on the Minutes, to keep secret all such matters and things as shall be given in charge by order of this Congress to be kept secret until leave shall be given by the like order to divulge the same.

Colonel Malcom came into the Congress, and reported the Soundings between Red-Hook and the Pest-Island.

The Report read,

Ordered, That it be returned to Colonel Malcom, to be amended and reduced to a scale.

Mr. Scott, from the Committee appointed to report a Law or set of Resolutions of this Congress to prevent the dangers to which this Colony is exposed by its internal enemies, brought in the Report of the said Committee, which he read in his place, and delivered in at the Chair.† The same was again read through, and was then read paragraph by paragraph. On reading the third paragraph of the preamble, and the question being put thereon, whether the Congress agrees with this Committee in their Report?

Richmond County voted against it.

* * * * * * * *

Die Martis, P. M., May 28, 1776.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Brig. Gen. Nathaniel Woodhull, President.

FOR NEW-YORK.— Mr. Scott, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Sands, Mr.P. Van Cortlandt, Colonel Broome, Mr. Randall, Mr.Jay, Mr. Beekman, Colonel Remsen, Mr. Bancker.

FOR ALBANY.— Mr. Cuyler, Mr. Glenn.

FOR DUTCHESS.— Mr. Livingston, Mr. De Lavergne.

FOR ULSTER.— Mr. Cantine, Major Parkes, Colonel Hasbrouck.

FOR WESTCHESTER— Mr. Morris, Mr. Tompkins, Mr. Haviland, Mr. Paulding.

FOR RICHMOND.— Mr. Cortelyou, Mr. Conner.

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

FOR ORANGE— Mr. Haring, Mr. Little.

FOR QUEEN’ S.— Colonel Blackwell, Mr. Smith, Captain Lawrence.

FOR CHARLOTTE— Mr. Webster, Colonel Malcom.

FOR KING’ S.

FOR TRYON.— Mr. Moore, Mr. Harper.

Captain Jeremiah Wool, attending, was admitted. He informed the Congress that the persons under guard, charged with counterfeiting Continental and Provincial Money, were not properly attended to by some of the Guards, and that

NEW-YORK,May 28, 1776.

Whereas I did, on the 9th day of last month, inlist a number of men upon condition that if I went into the Continental service, then they were to go with me— some of which are now in my Company, and others of them have not yet joined the Regiment, and will not unless they are assured of their drawing pay from the said 9th day, although my warrant was dated on the 27th. Provided they are allowed pay from the 9th day, they will immediately join my Company, but otherwise not. Two of those men are now, and have been for some days past, under guard, by reason of a claim Captain Hobby makes by their inlisting conditionally under him; the truth of which, should be glad the honourable Congress might know. Your Petitioner earnestly desires the above to be considered by you, gentlemen, and the resolve to be transmitted to him as soon as conveniently may be; who, in duty bound, shall ever for you pray.

CORNELIUS STEENROD,Captain.

To the Honourable Provincial Congress of New-York.

P. S. I have settled with all those who inlisted under me on the said 9th day, excepting twenty; and should it be judged by you, gentlemen, agreeable to my Petition, shall immediately send for them, as above.

C. STEENROD.

† Whereas the honourable the Continental Congress, by their Resolve of the 6th day of October last, did recommend to the several Provincial Assemblies or Conventions, and Councils or Committees of Safety, to arrest and secure every person in their respective Colonies whose going at large might, in their opinion, endanger the safety of the Colony or the liberties of America; and whereas his Excellency General Washington hath lately exhibited to this Congress sundry informations and evidences, from which it appears that the enemies of American liberty have a general communication with each other through this and part of the neighbouring Colonies; by reason whereof the influence of the British Government is much extended, and the minds of the people poisoned by false reports and suggestions:

And whereas many ill-disposed persons have lately resorted unto and a great number dwell in King’s County, particularly in the southern and eastern parts thereof; and there are also several ill-disposed persons in the City and County of New-York, in King’s County, Richmond County, and in sundry other parts of this Colony, many of whom will most probably take up arms on the part of our foes whenever they shall see a prospect of success:

And whereas from the various reports and the best intelligence which can be obtained from Europe, as also from the positive assertions of the disaffected throughout this and the neighbouring Colonies, and from the measures by them taken, there is no room to doubt that a large hostile armament will soon arrive in this Colony:

And whereas many of those who now hold offices and commissions under the Crown, and many others who are generally reputed inimical to American liberty, will be liable to suffer injuries from the resentment of the people, and the Colony in general exposed to great danger from the active exertions of those among us who are determined to assist in the subjection of America:

Wherefore, as well out of regard to the safety of individuals as for the general welfare of America, it is highly and indispensably necessary to take speedy and effectual measures to prevent the hostile intentions of our foes, to stop the channels of intelligence and communication among the disaffected, and to quell the spirit of opposition which hath hitherto prevailed; for which purposes it is hereby ordered that the following persons be apprehended, by the assistance of the Continental troops now stationed in and near this City, to wit:

* * * * * * * * *

That ..... be a Committee to confer with the Commander-in-Chief now here, upon the subject of apprehending the persons above-named and to superintend the taking of them; that upon and after the apprehending of the said persons, such of them as shall give good and sufficient security on oath and otherwise, as the said Committee shall think proper, that they will not be concerned in any measures taken or to be taken against the United American Colonies, or any or either of them; and that they will discover all measures taken, or to be taken, against the said Colonies, or any, or either of them, as far as the same shall come to their knowledge respectively, be permitted to go at large.

That as to such persons as shall refuse such security, it shall be taken in the discretion of the said Committee to admit as many of the said persons as may, in the judgment of the said Committee, be safely trusted, on their parole or word of honour to reside in such part of one of the neighbouring Colonies as shall be chosen by the said respective persons, approved of by the said Committee, such persons giving their parole or word of honour respectively to the said Committee to reside in the place marked out as aforesaid for their residence until the further order of the Continental Congress, and to be subject to such order as to their removal to any other pace.

That all such persons as, in the opinion of the said Committee, cannot safely be trusted on their said parole, or if to be trusted, shall refuse to give such parole, shall be reported to this Congress, to be severally dealt with as this Congress shall think proper. And

That it be recommended to all the General County Committees in the several Counties in this Colony to apprehend all persons holding military commissions under the King of Great Britain; and also all such persons holding civil offices under the said King, or being possessed of influence in their respective Counties as are suspected of holding principles inimical to the said United Colonies; and after they shall have been apprehended, to deal with them in such manner as is prescribed for the conduct of the Committee above-named.