After some time spent in the consideration of the most proper place to send those Prisoners to for their future residence, it was agreed that the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow morning.

Friday morning, June 28, 1776.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: John Haring, Esq., President pro tem.

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

FOR ALBANY.—Colonel Rensselaer, Mr. Gansevoort.

FOR QUEEN’S.—Colonel Blackwell.

FOR KING’S.—Mr. Polhemus.

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

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

FOR SUFFOLK.—Mr. Wickham, Mr. Tredwell.

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

FOR TRYON.—Mr. Moore, Mr. Harper.

FOR ULSTER.—Colonel Hasbrouck, Major Parks.

FOR WESTCHESTER.—Colonel L. Graham, Mr. Paulding.

FOR CHARLOTTE.—Mr. Webster.

FOR CUMBERLAND.—Colonel Marsh.

A Letter from General Schuyler, dated June24th, 1776, relative to one Faulkner, of TryonCounty, was read and filed.

Mr. Hallettreported that, agreeable to order, he waited upon General Washington, and conferred with him on the subject of Mr. Kortright’sCannon; that his Excellency was pleased to inform him that he intends to retain such of Mr. Kortright’sCannon as are fit for the publick use, and that he will provide for the payment of the same according to their value; for which end he will direct a proper person to examine and ascertain their value, and request that Mr. Kortright employ some person for the same purpose.

Ordered, That Mr. Hallettinform Mr. Kortrightthereof.

Ordered, That Mr. Jacobus Van Zandt, Mr. Randall, and Mr. Hallett, Members of the Marine Committee, be, and they are hereby, authorized and empowered to cause the Cargoes of the Prizes, Prize-Ships and Vessels lately taken and seized on the back of Long-Island, and carried into Fire-Island Inlet, to be transported to and stored in such place or places of security as they shall think proper; and that they dispose and sell the same, when legally condemned, in such manner as to them shall appear to be most advantageous for the publick interest, and render a just and true account of such sales to this or a future Congress or Committee of Safety of this Colony.

Friday afternoon, June 28, 1776.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: John Haring, Esq., President pro tem.

FOR NEW -Y ORK.—Mr. Jay, Mr. Livingston, Mr. Hallett, Mr. Van Zandt, Mr. Randall, Colonel Broome.

FOR ALBANY.—Colonel Rensselaer, Mr. Gansevoort.

FOR KING’S.—Mr. Polhemus, Mr. Leffertse.

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

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

FOR SUFFOLK.—Mr. Tredwell, Mr. Wickham.

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

FOR TRYON.—Mr. Harper, Mr. Moore.

FOR CUMBERLAND.—Colonel Marsh.

FOR ULSTER.—Major Parks, Colonel Hasbrouck.

FOR WESTCHESTER.—Colonel Graham, Mr. Paulding.

FOR QUEEN’S.—Colonel Blackwell.

FOR CHARLOTTE.—Mr. Webster.

Mr. Jay, from the Secret Committee, brought into Congress the Examinations and Depositions of sundry persons taken by the said Committee; which he offered to report to the House, with their proceedings.

Mr. Jay informed Congress that the said Committee have not gone through the whole of the business to which they were appointed, and requested leave to sit again; which leave was accordingly given. And as the House is very much engaged in other necessary business:

Ordered, That the reading of the said Examinations and Depositions, as well as the receiving of the said Report, be postponed for the present.

And Ordered, That Mr. Jayand Mr. Livingstonremain in Congress this afternoon.

General Washington’sLetter, together with the opinion of several General Officers at a Council held on the subject of disaffected and dangerous persons, as also on the subject of removing or securing the stock of Cattle and Horses on Nassauand Staten-Island, were respectively read and filed. The former is in the words following, that is to say:

“Head-Quarters, New-York, June 27, 1776.

“SIR: The necessity of the most vigorous and decisive measures, in our present circumstances, will, 1 doubt not, justify, to your honourable body, the removal of the stock of cattle and horses from those parts of the coast most exposed to the enemy. After a long and fatiguing voyage they will need refreshments of this nature, and there is no doubt they will have them, if possible, on any terms. Common prudence, therefore, and a regard to our own safety, strongly evince the necessity of depriving them of such supplies as will enable them, to act with more vigour and spirit against us. Though painful and disagreeable, it seems to be a measure which the great law of self-preservation now requires.

“Enclosed, I transmit the unanimous Resolution of a Council of General Officers, advising such removal without delay, in which it is proposed to pay a suitable regard to the necessities of the people. I flatter myself that, in a matter of such importance and difficulty, the honourable body over which you preside will approve of the proposal, and carry it into execution, or co-operate with me in the most effectual steps for this purpose.

“I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect and regard, sir, your obedient, humble servant,

“GEORGE WASHINGTON.

“To the Honourable the President of the Provincial Congress of New-York.”

Resolution of the Council enclosed.

“In considering the several matters which your Excellency has been pleased to refer to us, we do, with regard to Long-Islandand Staten-Island, think it absolutely necessary, for the safety and defence of this Colony, that all the stock of cattle and sheep (except such as may be requisite for the present subsistence of the inhabitants) he removed to a distance from the sea-coast, and that this be done immediately, as, on the arrival of the enemy, it will be impossible to give attention to this matter; and also that all the horses be either removed, or put under such regulations as that they may be removed on the first approach of the enemy. And with regard to the disaffected inhabitants who have lately been apprehended, we think that the method at present adopted by the County Committees, of discharging them on their giving bonds as a security for their good behaviour, is very improper and ineffectual, and therefore recommend it to your Excellency to apply to the Congress of this Province to take some more effectual method of securing the good behaviour of those people, and in the mean time that your Excellency will order the officer in whose custody they are, to discharge no more of them until the sense of Congress be had thereon.

“June 27, 1776.”

Thereupon, Ordered, That Mr. Wickham, Mr. Conner, Mr. Tredwell, Colonel Blackwell, and Mr. Leffertse, be a Committee, to confer with his Excellency General Washingtonon the subject of removing or securing the Cattle and Stock from such parts of Nassauand Staten-Islandas are most exposed to invasion; and that they have power to cooperate with his Excellency in carrying into execution all such measures as they may, in conjunction with him, concert and adopt for that purpose.

And Ordered, That the same Committee confer with the General on the subject of his application contained in Colonel Reed’sLetter relative to disaffected persons, who are now or may be in the custody of any of his Officers.

A Letter from Colonel Reed, with the Letter from Lieutenant Davisonon board the Schuyler, armed sloop, at Fire-Island Inlet, giving information of General Howe’ssailing with the fleet from Halifaxfor New-York, was read.