Ordered, To be referred to the Committee for encouraging Manufactories of Salt, Saltpetre, &c.

A Letter from Robert Boyd, Jun., Chairman of the Committee of Ulster County, dated New-Paltz, 14th June,1776, relative to an order for one thousand pounds of Gunpowder ordered by this Congress for the use of the County of Ulster, was read and filed.

A Letter from Robert Boyd, Chairman of Ulster County Committee, dated 14th June, in answer to a Letter from this Congress to the said Committee, requesting them to make inquiry into and inform this Congress of the reasons of the two sets of Credentials being sent from the said Committee to this House, was read and filed.

The reasons of Colonel Johannes Hardenburgh, as Chairman of the Ulster County Committee, which he assigned for signing the said two sets of Credentials, and the information of Cornelius Schoonmaker relative to the same matter, both enclosed in Mr. Boyd’s Letter, were also read and filed.

A Petition of Garret Roorback, praying to be recommended to General Washington as Barrackmaster for this City, was read and filed.

Ordered to lie on the table.*

A Petition of Azor Betts, (confined by order of this House for inoculating for the Small-Pox,) praying to be discharged. Ordered to lie on the table.†

Mr. Tredwell and Captain Denning have leave of absence for a few days.

Thursday morning, June 20, 1776.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Mr. John Haring, President pro tem.

FOR NEW-YORK.—Mr. Randall, Mr. Hallett, Mr. Sands, Mr. Van Zandt, Mr. Van Cortlandt.

FOR ALBANY.—Mr. Gansevoort, Colonel Rennselaer.

FOR SUFFOLK.—Mr. Hobart.

manufacturing of Salt agoing, as they are willing to risk their own private property, along with the publick’s, for the general good of these distressed Colonies, and this Province in particular.

*To the Honourable the Provincial Congress in the City of NEW-YORK. The Memorial of GARRET ROORBACK, of the said City, humbly showeth

That, on the 18th day of January last, your Memorialist was appointed, by the Committee of Safety, Barrackmaster for the City and County of New-York. That he has acted in that capacity ever since, in consequence of the said appointment.

That Colonel Moylan, who has been lately appointed to the office of Quartermaster-General, has forbid your Memorialist to execute the duty of Barrackmaster as aforesaid.

That your Memorialist is informed that the appointment of a person to the office he now enjoys properly belongs to his Excellency General Washington.

That your Memorialist, being not well known to his said Excellency, and as the Committee of Safety were pleased to appoint your Memorialist to the office of Barrackmaster, he makes no doubt that he would be continued in his said office could he obtain a recommendation from this honourable House to his said Excellency.

Your Memorialist, therefore, humbly prays that this honourable House would be pleased to signify to his Excellency General Washington that your Memorialist is a person fit and capable (should this honourable House judge him so to be) to execute the office of Barrackmaster for the City and County of New-York.

And your Memorialist, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, &c.

†To the Honourable the Provincial Congress for the Colony of NEW-YORK.

The humble Petition of Dr. AZOR BETTS, now confined in the new Jail of the City of NEW-YORK, most respectfully showeth:

That your Petitioner has, for some time past, been confined for having, contrary to a Resolve of the honourable the Provincial Congress, inoculated some Officers in the Continental service.

That he is in great distress, owing to the great expenses he for a long time past hath been to, to lay in confinement—his being out of his business and having a large family.

That he is sorry for his imprudent conduct, and sincerely wishes that the Colonies may enjoy the present glorious struggle, and enjoy their rights and liberties unviolated, and their present contests be crowned with success.

That the Petitioner is willing and desirous to be removed out of the Jail, and to be permitted to live in the country. He would, therefore, humbly pray to be removed to the North-Castle, in Westchester County, and have the liberty of riding ten or fifteen miles about the country to visit his patients. He will give security not to exceed the limits assigned him, and in all things to observe the orders of the honourable House.

And your Petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

FOR DUTCHESS.—Mr. P. Schenck, Colonel M. Graham, Mr. De Lavergne.

FOR WESTCHESTER.—Mr. Morris, Mr. Tompkins, Mr. Haviland, Colonel L. Graham.

FOR ORANGE.—Mr. Haring, Mr. Pye, Colonel Allison.

FOR ULSTER.—Colonel Hasbrouck, Major Parks.

FOR KING’S.—Mr. Polhemus.

FOR QUEEN’S.—Mr. Smith.

FOR RICHMOND.—Mr. Journey, Colonel Cortelyou.

FOR CHARLOTTE.—Mr. Webster.

FOR TRYON.—Mr. Moore, Mr. Harper.

Colonel Allison took the general oath of secrecy.

The Committee appointed yesterday to take into consideration the requisition of the Committee of Dutchess County relative to the raising a number of men to keep peace and order, and to suppress the disaffected in the said County, reported as follows, to wit:

Your Committee do report: That whereas there are sundry disaffected and dangerous persons in the Counties of Dutchess and Westchester, who do now greatly disturb the peace of the said Counties, and will most probably take up arms whenever the enemy shall make a descent upon the Colony, to the great annoyance of the said Counties in particular, and of other the good people of this Colony: And whereas by reason of the several drafts which have been made in the said Counties, according to the late recommendation of the Continental Congress, the Militia thereof are rendered incapable of keeping peace and order in the said Counties without great inconvenience to themselves and much injury to, and neglect of, their private property; and inasmuch as the interest of this Colony may be materially affected by any dissensions which may prevail in the said Counties while the Continental Troops are engaged in the defence of those Counties more immediately exposed to the inroads of the enemy: Your Committee are, therefore, of opinion that it will be prudent to take into the service of this Congress one hundred men in Dutchess County, officers included, and fifty men, officers included, in Westchester County; the said men to be raised in the said Counties respectively, and confined to the service of those Counties, and to continue in pay until the 1st day of November next, unless sooner discharged by this or a future Congress.

The same being read, and again read paragraph by paragraph, and the question was put on the Preamble, which was agreed to, except as to the second clause thereof, to which Mr. John Van Cortlandt requested his dissent to be entered.

The last clause of the said Report being then read, debates arose; and the question being put, whether the House will approve of the said clause as it now stands? Debates arose; and the question being put, it was carried in the affirmative, in manner following, to wit:

The question being then put, whether the Congress agree with their Committee in said Report? Debates again arose; and the question being put, was carried in the affirmative, in manner following, to wit:

Thereupon, Resolved, That this Congress do agree with their Committee in the said Report.

Mr. Morris then moved that a Committee be appointed to draw up and report an arrangement of the rank of the Officers, of their pay and subsistence, as well as the pay and subsistence of the Privates; and the most advantageous manner to raise the said men. Debates arose. The question being put on the said motion, it was carried in the affirmative, in manner following, that is to say: