Ordered, That Dr. Bodo Otto, Jun., be Surgeon to the Battalion directed to be detached from the Militia in the Counties of Burlington, Gloucester, and Cumberland, to be under the command of Colonel Charles Read, destined to reinforce the Flying-Camp.

Ordered, That Mr. Tallman, Dr. Bloomfield, and Mr. Frelinghuysen, be a Committee to draft a Bill for amending the Militia Ordinance.

Adjourned to three o’clock, afternoon.

Met according to adjournment.

Agreeable to Certificate of Election,

Ordered, That Jacob Vanderventer be Captain, and Abraham Terhune First Lieutenant, of a Company in the First Battalion of Militia in Middlesex County.

Whereas the Independent Company in the County of Essex, under the command of Captain Drummond, has been greatly reduced by reason of promotion and otherwise; and whereas it is inexpedient to take from other Companies in order to add to or keep up the proper number of the said Independent Company:

It is therefore agreed unanimously, That the said Company be. forthwith dissolved, and be incorporated with the other Militia in the several Companies in the Districts in which they respectively reside.

Adjourned till to-morrow morning, eight o’clock.

Thursday, July 25, 1776.

Met according to adjournment.

Ordered, That Dr. Bloomfield, Mr. Drummond, Mr. Quakenbush, Mr. Ogden, and Mr. Brown, be a Committee to consider the propriety of building or purchasing of four Gondolas or Row-Galleys, mounted with cannon, to ply between the mouths of Passaick and Hackinsack Rivers and Perth-Amboy.

Richard Stites, Esquire, Captain of a Company in the County of Somerset, resigned his commission, assigning for reason, that he was appointed to raise a Company in the Brigade under General Heard; and that he had removed out of the Township in which his Company resides:

Ordered, That his resignation be accepted.

Micajah Dunn, Esquire, Lieutenant-Colonel of the First Regiment of Foot Militia in the County of Middlesex, resigned his commission, assigning for reason, that he is so far advanced in life, and of so infirm a state of health, as to render it impossible for him fully to discharge the duty of his station:

Ordered, That his resignation be accepted.

Ordered, That Jonathan Deare, Esquire, be Lieutenant-Colonel, and John Dunn, Esquire, First Major, of the First Battalion of Foot Militia in the County of Middlesex.

The Convention received a Letter from the Honourable John Hancock, Esq., dated the 22d instant, informing that Congress had come to a resolution to increase the Flying-Camp. For this purpose, that the State of New-Jersey is desired to augment its quota with three Battalions of Militia in addition to those formerly desired by Congress, and send them, with all possible despatch, to join the Flying-Camp: Whereupon,

Ordered, That a Letter be written to Congress, informing that Convention had ordered two thousand of its Militia to be detached pursuant to the late requisition of Congress, which are to be renewed monthly.

Adjourned to three o’clock, afternoon.

Met according to adjournment.

The Committee appointed to prepare a draft for amending the Militia Ordinance, made Report; which was read, and ordered a second reading.

Ordered, That Captain Peter Gordon be Brigade-Major of the Brigade under the command of General Heard, and that he continue Captain of the Company under his command in the Battalion whereof David Forman, Esq., is Colonel.

Adjourned till to-morrow morning, nine o’clock.

Friday, July 26, 1776.

Met according to adjournment.

The Committee of Inspection for the City of New-Brunswick, having referred the case of Mr. John Hortwick to this Convention, the same was taken under consideration; and it appearing by a testimonial of the said Committee that the aforesaid John Hortwick has always been esteemed as a good citizen, and a hearty friend to this country; that he is a military associator, and as such has turned out on all occasions when required; and this Convention being of opinion that he was induced to trade with the Captain of the Asia ship of war to fulfil an oath which had been exacted from him by the said Captain, and to regain the liberty of himself and sons, and not with any intention of abetting the enemies of America; and that he has manifested a becoming degree of contrition for his offence:

It is agreed, unanimously, That the said John Hortwick be forgiven, received into favour, and restored to the good opinion of his countrymen.

Whereas, by a Resolution of the late Provincial Congress, it was in the election of the County Committee of Bergen either to receive pay for the Arms taken by Captain Meeker, or to have them replaced: And whereas the said Committee have made choice of accepting pay for the Arms, of which it appears there were seventy-nine stand:

Therefore, It is Ordered, That either of the Treasurers of this State pay Johannes Demarest, Esquire, Dr. Abraham Van Boskirk, and Jacobus Post, Esq., or any of them, persons authorized by the Committee for that purpose, the sum of £355 10s., Proclamation money, being the amount of the aforesaid seventy-nine stand of Arms, at the rate of £4 10s. apiece; and that the receipt of the above-named persons, or any of them, shall be a sufficient voucher for that sum.

The Committee of Inspection for the City of New-Brunswick, having referred the case of John Brown and Jacob Neifies, persons employed by John Hortwick to purchase some Provision for the Asia ship of war, to this Convention, the same was considered accordingly; it appearing that the said John Brown and Jacob Neifies procured the said Provision solely with design to assist the said Hortwick, their neighbour, in his distress, and not to aid the enemies of this country; that they have manifested due contrition for their offence, and requested forgiveness therefor:

It is, therefore, Ordered, That the said John Brown and Jacob Neifies be forgiven, received into favour, and restored to the good opinion of their countrymen.

Adjourned to three o’clock, afternoon.

Met according to adjournment.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Township of Hills-borough, in the County of Somerset, do leave in the hands of Mr. Isaac Brokaw, Clockmaker, thirty pounds weight of Lead, he having represented to the Convention that he could not carry on his trade without such quantity.

Adjourned till eight o’clock to-morrow morning.

Saturday, July 27, 1776.

Met according to adjournment.

Agreeable to Certificate of Election,

Ordered, That David De Groot, Esq., be Captain of a Company in the First Battalion of Foot Militia in Somerset County, whereof Stephen Hunt, Esq., is Colonel.

The Memorial of Jerome Vanderbelt, of the City of New-Brunswick, setting forth, that two of his apprentices had inlisted in the Brigade under General Heard; that he is a hearty friend to his country; that he cannot well carry on his business without the aid of one of them; and praying the influence of this House that one of his said apprentices may be returned; read, and ordered to lie on the table.

Ordered, That Captain John Cook, of Monmouth, be directed to take to his assistance as many of the Militia as he shall find necessary, and apprehend any persons whom he has reason to suspect of inlisting, or being inlisted for the British Army, and to take them before the County Committee of Monmouth, who are required to commit or discharge such accused persons as they shall find necessary.

Adjourned to three o’clock, afternoon.

Met according to adjournment.

Resolved, That General Mercer, in conjunction with the Committee of Perth-Amboy, or such of them as can be readily cpnvened, do take immediate steps for removing all such disaffected or suspicious persons in that City as may, from their situation, be thought dangerous to the publick cause;

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