to pay for them, and take proper receipts for them, so that the Officer or Officers to whose Company they may be furnished, may be accountable for them, and that they may be accounted for, and paid for to the Colony.

Ordered, That Colonel Curtenius direct such Arms as are fit for the use of Soldiers which the General Committee of the City and County of New-York have taken from disaffected persons, and sent to him after they are appraised and repaired where necessary, be put into the Colony Store, in the same manner as other Arms.

Ordered, That Mr. Sands, Mr. Denning, and Mr. Ten Broeck, be a Committee to inquire into and report the state of the Magazines in this Colony, and what quantity of Powder is due from the Colony.

Ordered, That Captain Wool examine the situation of Isaac Youngs, a prisoner, and cause the irons to be taken off him if he thinks it necessary.

Tuesday, P. M., June 11, 1776.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Brigadier-General Woodhull, President.

And the same Members as in the morning, excepting Colonel Rensselaer, Mr. Lockwood, Mr. Leffertse, Mr. Covenhoven, Mr. Journey, Mr. Conner.

Mrs. Betts and a woman from Stone Street were introduced to Congress. They said they came to be examined respecting the charge of their having kept up a correspondence with the Asia ship-of-war, &c.

Ordered, That Mr. Glenn and Mr. Schenck be a Committee to examine them, and report to this Congress.

Several Resolutions on the subject of Independence, moved by Mr. Jay, and seconded by Colonel Remsen, were read; and being again read by paragraphs, were amended and agreed to, and are in the words following, to wit:

Resolved, unanimously, That the good people of this Colony have not, in the opinion of this Congress, authorized this Congress, or the Delegates of this Colony in the Continental Congress, to declare this Colony to be and continue independent of the Crown of Great Britain.

But whereas the perseverance of the British King and Parliament, in an unjustifiable attempt to subjugate and enslave these United Colonies, may render a determination on that and many other important points highly necessary and expedient, and a recurrence to the people at large for their sentiments on every great question that may occur in the course of the present contest would be very inconvenient to them, and probably be attended with dangerous delays:

Resolved, unanimously, therefore, That it be, and is hereby, earnestly recommended to all the Freeholders and other Electors in this Colony, at the ensuing election, to be held in pursuance of a Resolution of the Congress of the 31st day of May last past, not only to vest their Representatives or Deputies with the powers therein mentioned, but also with full power to deliberate and determine on every question whatsoever that may concern or affect the interest of this Colony, and to conclude upon, ordain, and execute every act and measure which to them shall appear conducive to the happiness, security, and welfare of this Colony, and that they hold and exercise the said powers until the second Tuesday of May next, or until a regular form of Government for this Colony shall be established, in case that event shall sooner take place; and it is further recommended to the said Freeholders and Electors by instructions or otherwise to inform their said Deputies of their sentiments relative to the great question of Independency, and such other points as they may think proper.

On motion, Agreed, That the publishing of the aforegoing Resolves be postponed until after the election of Deputies with powers to establish a new form of Government.

Ordered, That Mr. Jay and Colonel Remsen be a Committee to draft an answer to the Letter of our Delegates at Continental Congress, received the 10th instant, on the subject of Independency.

The Petition of John Hilton, showing that he had laden his vessel with Beef and Pork, and was ready to sail in a few hours, when he was this day informed of the Resolve prohibiting the exportation of Beef and Pork, &c.; and praying permission to complete his cargo and depart,* was read.

Ordered, That Mr. Van Zandt cause the Inspector of exportation to collect an account of all the Vessels now in this Port laden with Beef and Pork, and the quantity in each, and report the same to this Congress.

Ordered, That Colonel Remsen and Colonel Malcom be a Committee to draw and report a plan for drafting, in case of a deficiency of Volunteers, to make up the quota of Militia of this City and County in the service.

Ordered, That Colonel Broome, Colonel Van Rensselaer, and Mr. Tredwell, be a Committee to report how the people called Quakers shall be considered and treated, in the raising, furnishing and drafting the Militia ordered to be imbodied for service in this Colony.

Ordered, That Mr. Lawrence and Mr. Sands be a Committee to consider and report how the Second Battalion shall be paid.

Resolved, That the calling out of the Militia of the City and County of New-York, for the purpose of raising or drafting their quota of Militia for actual service, be deferred until Friday next; and that the respective Colonels of the respective Regiments of New-York cause their Regiments to be paraded on that day for that purpose.

Wednesday morning, June 12, 1776.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Brigadier-General Woodhull, President.

FOR NEW-YORK.—Mr. Sands, Mr. J. Van Zandt, Mr. P. Van Zandt, Mr. Jay, Mr. Hallett, Mr. Brasher, General Scott.

FOR ALBANY.—Mr. Cuyler, Mr. Glenn.

FOR SUFFOLK.—Mr. Strong, Mr. Tredwell, General Woodhull.

FOR WESTCHESTER.—Colonel G. Drake, Colonel L. Graham, Mr. Haviland.

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

FOR ULSTER.—Colonel Hasbrouck, Major Parks.

FOR CHARLOTTE.—Mr. Webster.

FOR ORANGE.—Mr. Little, Mr. Van Houten.

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

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

FOR TRYON.—Mr. Moore, Mr. Harper.

* To the Honourable Provincial Congress of the Government of NEW-YORK:

I, your humble Petitioner, Isaac Youngs, beg leave once more to address myself to you in the most dutiful manner, and beg to be relieved from these bands of irons, which are sore and desperate, which I dare say any man that ever was exercised therewith will assert the same. Gentlemen, I can assert to you that I have passed these many days with very sore legs, and in continual pain in one of my knees, which has been hurt by a fall of a horse. Gentlemen, I beg that I may not be forgotten, and long to have our cases taken into consideration, that I may have liberty to satisfy the House that I have suffered wrongfully; and I think the time long that I am confined for nothing, for I denied the charge laid against me, by reason I thought it was a sin, which I did assert to you in my examination. And if anything more than this is alleged against me by anybody, I should be glad to know it, for it is groundless and absolutely false, which I don‘t doubt I can make appear to you if I could have a hearing. Gentlemen of the honourable Congress, I think it a hard case to be taken away from my family, in their distressed situation, and to be confined in irons, when I never have committed any crime. Gentlemen, I can do no more than beg for tenderness, mercy, and humanity.

ISAAC YOUNGS.

June 10, 1776.

* To the Honourable the Provincial Congress for the Colony of NEW-YORK, in the City of NEW-YORK, now convened.

The Memorial of JOHN HYLTON, Master of the Ship called the BETSY and POLLY, now lying in the Harbour of said City, humbly showeth:

That your Memorialist, on the 31st day of May last, obtained from Mr. Robert Ray (who officiates as an officer for that purpose) a permit to take on board the said ship a lading of beef, pork, flour, &c., and also four hundred and fifty shakers hogsheads; and, in pursuance of said permission, the said ship is now completely freighted therewith, except about two hundred barrels of bread and flour to be taken on board.

That the greatest part of the said beef and pork has been purchased at a very exorbitant price, and now lies at the bottom of the said ship, and in a few hours the said ship would have been ready to depart this Province had not your Memorialist been informed that a resolve of this honourable House, so late as this very day, prohibited the same, to the very great injury, loss, and disappointment of your Memorialist and his owners, who fairly and openly shipped the said provisions, with permission of an officer acting under the immediate authority of this honourable House.

Your Memorialist, therefore, in tender consideration of the premises, humbly prays he may be permitted to complete his cargo, and depart this Port, and such further relief as shall seem just and reasonable.

And your Memorialist shall ever pray.

JOHN HYLTON,

NEW-YORK, June 11, 1776.