In Queen’s County—

In Westchester County—

Which said Committee are hereby authorized and required impartially to inquire and determine whether any, and which of the said persons, have afforded aid or sustenance to the British Fleets or Armies, contrary to the Resolutions of the Continental Congress, or of the Provincial Congress, or Committee of Safety of this Colony, or been active in dissuading any of the inhabitants of this Colony from associating for the defence of the United Colonies against the unjust claims and hostile attacks of the British Parliament, decried the value of the Continental money, and endeavoured to prevent its currency, contrary to the Resolutions of the Continental Congress, or Provincial Congress, or Committee of Safety of the Colony, or been concerned or actually engaged in any schemes to retard or oppose the measures now pursuing by the United Colonies for their defence against the tyrannical and cruel attacks of the British Ministry, or their allies, adherents, or agents.

That all such of the said persons as shall be found by the said Committee to be innocent of the said offences, be immediately discharged; and that a certificate of such acquittal, and of the true light in which they may respectively appear to the said Committee, under the hands of the said Committee, be given by them to the said several persons so acquitted; and that they also report to this Congress the names of the persons so acquitted, that the same may be entered on their Journals, and published, to the end that the reputation of such innocent persons may not suffer or be injured by their having been so arrested. Provided, nevertheless, That if the said persons so to be acquitted should appear in a suspicious light to the said Committee, that the said Committee proceed against them in the manner hereinafter prescribed for their conduct against persons of a suspicious and equivocal character.

And with respect to all such of the said persons as the Committee shall find guilty of all or any of said offences, the said Committee are hereby authorized and required to commit to safe custody all such of them whose going at large would, in their opinion, endanger the safety of the Colony or the liberties of America; and that they discharge the remainder of them on their giving bond, with good security, to the President of the Provincial Congress for the time being, by name, to cease and forbear all opposition to the resolutions and measures of the Continental Congress, or Provincial Congress, or Committee of Safety of this Colony, for the defence of the United Colonies against the unjust claims and hostile operations of the British Ministry to enforce them.

And in case it should appear to the said Committee inexpedient that any of the said persons should continue to dwell at his usual place of residence, that then they do assign to such person or persons another place of residence in this or one of the neighbouring Colonies, and take his or their parole, or word of honour; or if they should not be deemed sufficient, other security to abide there, and not leave it without license from this or a future Congress; and in case of refusal to give such parole and security, to commit him or them to safe custody.

And whereas it may happen that the said Committee may be informed of other dangerous persons not herein named, whom it would be expedient and necessary to summon or apprehend:

Resolved, That the said Committee be, and they hereby are, authorized and required to cause such persons to be summoned or apprehended, as they may think proper, and to proceed against them in the same manner as is hereinbefore directed with respect to the persons herein particularly named.

And whereas employing detachments of the Militia of this Colony, in arresting the said persons will not only be expensive, but the assembling of them may alarm the suspicions of the said persons and their adherents, and thereby tend to defeat the design of these Resolutions; and as the Continental troops quartered in and near the said three Counties of New-York, Queen’s, and Richmond, may be employed in the said business with little trouble to themselves and with greater prospect of success:

Resolved, therefore, That the said Committee be, and they hereby are, authorized to confer with the Commander-in-Chief of the said troops, and to request of him such detachments of them as may be necessary for the purpose aforesaid; and that he give order that the said detachments while so employed be under the direction of the said Committee, or of discreet persons to be by them appointed: Provided, nevertheless, That the said Committee are hereby empowered to employ such detachments of the Militia as they may think expedient for the purpose aforesaid.

And whereas there may be, and doubtless are, in other Counties of this Colony, divers dangerous persons at present unknown to this Congress:

Resolved, That it be recommended to the Committees of all the Counties in this Colony to be vigilant, and use their utmost endeavours from time to time to discover and summon or apprehend them, and treat them in like manner as is hereinbefore prescribed with respect to the persons hereby ordered to be arrested, and to report their proceedings therein to the Congress of this Colony for the time being.

And whereas it may often happen that the Committees of Towns and other Districts in a County may discover many dangerous persons whom it would be proper immediately to secure, in which case an application to the County Committee would not only be attended with great delay, but would also afford such dangerous persons an opportunity to escape:

Resolved, therefore, That the said Committees of the different Towns and Districts in the several Counties of this Colony be, and they hereby are, authorized and required to cause all persons whom they may esteem dangerous and disaffected, to appear before them, either by arrest or summons, as the said Committee, in their discretion, may think proper, and take from the said persons respectively good and sufficient security to appear before the General Committee of the County at such time and place as they shall order him to attend, and then and there to answer such matters as shall before the said General Committee be alleged against him; and on refusal to give such security, to commit to safe custody the said person or persons so refusing, until the then next meeting of the said General Committee with whom the accusation against the said dangerous and disaffected person or persons ought forthwith to be lodged by the Committee of the Town or District by whom they may be apprehended, summoned, or committed as aforesaid.

And whereas there is 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 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:

Resolved, That the following persons, who are generally supposed to come under the above description, to wit:

In the City and County of New-York—

*LONDON, June 10, 1776.—The following Letter is said to have been sent to General Howe, in America, from a Member of the Council at New-York:

NEW-YORK, May 11, 1776.

SIR: As I have not a doubt of my last letters to Administration convincing them that this City and Province is the only spot in America for carrying on the war with effect against the Rebels, and that in consequence the forces expected this spring, as well as those now under your command, will be ordered hither; it may be necessary and advisable to send the Army through the Sound, between Connecticut and Long-Island. Of the latter, it will be proper to give a description: It is one hundred and thirty miles long, is very fertile, abounding in wheat and every other kind of corn; innumerable black cattle, sheep, hogs, &c.; is very populous; and Suffolk County in particular, as well as the other parts of it, all good and loyal subjects, of which they have lately given proof, and only wait to be assisted by the King’s troops. The Island has a plain on it at least twenty-four miles long, which has a fertile country about it; is twenty miles from the city of New-York; Connecticut opposite to it; New-Jersey about thirty miles distant; Philadelphia one hundred and ten; Maryland one hundred and thirty; Rhode-Island one hundred and fifty miles; so that in this fertile Island the Army can subsist without