shall be in anywise aiding or assisting the enemy, shall, in consequence of this resolve, be entitled to a compensation for any loss he shall or may sustain.

4th. That the Commanding Officer of each Battalion of Minute-Men and Militia in Suffolk, Queen's, and King's Counties, be ordered immediately to draught out one-fourth part of the Minute-Men and Militia of said Counties, and carry these resolves into execution; and that the Field-Officers of the Minute and Militia Regiments in each County do appoint such Captains and Subalterns to command such draughts, out of the Militia or Minute Officers, as they shall judge most proper; and that the draughts be formed into Companies, to consist of one Captain, two Lieutenants, three Sergeants, three Corporals, one Drummer, one Fifer, and fifty Privates. And in case any draughts shall be left after the Companies are completed, and not sufficient to form another Company, Officers shall be appointed for them in the following proportion: one Captain and one Lieutenant, two Sergeants and two Corporals, for forty Privates; two Lieutenants, two Sergeants, two Corporals, for thirty Privates; and one Lieutenant, one Sergeant, and one Corporal, for twenty Privates—each man to find his own arms and accoutrements. That the Field-Officers of the said Militia, so to be draughted, be appointed by this Convention. The troops so raised to have Continental pay and rations, and to continue in service until the last day of December next, unless they shall be sooner discharged. That the Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates of the said Troops, who shall furnish themselves with a good and sufficient Musket or Firelock, Cartouch-box and Belt, and Bayonet or Hatchet, shall be allowed ten dollars bounty to each man.

5th. Resolved, That the Brigadier-General of Suffolk and Queen's Counties be directed to order the Militia of those Counties to hold themselves in readiness to march into either of the said Counties, or any other part of Nassau-Island, on the shortest notice, with five days' Provisions. And that the President of this Convention be, and he is hereby, directed to write a Letter to the Colonel of the Militia of King's County, ordering that he hold his Regiment in the like readiness, to march to any part of Nassau-Island, with five days' Provisions.

6th. Resolved, That Colonel Josiah Smith, of Suffolk County, be First Colonel of the Troops to be raised by draughts from the Militia on Nassau-Island; that Colonel John Sands be Second Colonel of those Troops, with the rank of Colonel, but with the pay of a Lieutenant-Colonel; and that Abraham Remsen be Major; that Colonel Benjamin Birdsall, at south side of Queen's County, take the command of one Company of those draughts, with Chaplain's pay, saving his rank.

7th. Resolved, That the Rations of the said Troops be estimated at the rate of 10½d. each, which they are to receive in Money, in lieu of Provisions.

Extract from the Minutes:

JOHN MCKESSON, Secretary.

In Convention of the Representatives of the State of New-York,

White-Plains July 22, 1776.

Resolved, unanimously, That the Colonels of each Regiment of Troops to be draughted from the Militia of the Counties of Dutchess, Westchester, Ulster, Orange, Suffolk, King' and Queen', be each of them, respectively, a Mustermaster of the several Regiments draughted or inlisted in the said Counties; and that each of said Colonels do return, upon oath, to this Convention, a Muster-Roll of the Regiment by him so mustered as aforesaid; and that no person so draughted or inlisted, receive his Bounty until he shall have passed muster.

Resolved, unanimously, That the one-half of the Bounty to be given to the draughts from the Militia in the said Counties, be sent to the Committee of each County, to be paid unto the said Troops immediately upon and after their passing muster as aforesaid; and that the remainder of the Bounty be paid when the said Troops shall be mustered by the Continental Mustermaster, at their respective places of rendezvous; and that his Excellency General Washington be requested to cause the said musters to be completed with all possible despatch.

Extract from the Minutes:

JOHN MCKESSON, Secretary.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read July 25, 1776.]

New-York, July 23, 1776.

SIR: Since I had the pleasure of writing you, by this morning's post, I was favoured with a letter from Governour Trumbull, a copy of which is enclosed, and to which I beg leave to refer you.

In regard to the stock he mentions, I wrote to him requesting that they might be removed from the Island on which they were, as I conceived it of great importance to distress the enemy as much as possible in the article of fresh provisions. I wish the other Governments may follow his example, and have it removed from the Islands belonging to them respectively.

When the ships of war and tenders went up the river, it was thought expedient that application should be made for the Connecticut row-galleys and those belonging to Rhode-Island, in order to attempt something for their destruction. As soon as they arrive we shall try to employ them in some useful way; but in what, or how successfully, I cannot at present determine.

Congress will please to observe what Mr. Trumbull says respecting the Continental regiment raising under Colonel Ward. If they incline to give any orders about their destination, you will please to communicate them by the earliest opportunity, as their march will be suspended till they are known.

The orders Mr. Trumbull has given to the officers of the cruisers to stop provision vessels, seem to be necessary. We have too much reason to believe that some have gone voluntarily to the enemy; and that there are many persons who would contrive to furnish them with large supplies; and however upright the intentions of others may be, it will be a matter of the utmost difficulty, if not an impossibility, for any to escape falling into their hands now, as every part of the coast, it is probable, will swarm with their ships of war and tenders. I had proposed writing to the Convention of this State upon the subject before I received his letter, and am now more persuaded of the necessity of their taking some steps to prevent further exportations down the Sound. In my next I shall inform them of the intelligence received from Mr. Trumbull, and recommend the matter to their attention.

I have the honour to be, with great esteem, sir, your most obedient servant,

GO. WASHINGTON.

P. S. It appears absolutely necessary that the exportation of provisions should be stopped; our Army is large, and otherwise may want; nor can individuals be injured, as they have a ready-money market for everything they have to dispose of in that way.

Lebanon, July 17, 1776.

SIR: Your favours of the 7th and 9th instant are duly received. It gives me pleasure to meet your approbation of the measure of sending our regiments of Horse to join you. I make no doubt they will cheerfully acquiesce in whatever you shall direct respecting their horses, as the general good of the service ought to be, and I believe is, their governing principle. I find our battalions are filling up fast, and moving to your assistance.

The stock of horned cattle and sheep are removed from Fisher's Island and the Elizabeth-Islands. Block-Island lies in the Colony of Rhode-Island, and the Elizabeth-Islands and Martha's Vineyard are in the Province of Massachusetts-Bay: I cannot, therefore, with propriety, give any orders for the removal of the fresh provisions from them.

I am sorry it is not in my power to comply with your requisition for heavy cannon without leaving our port or harbour of New-London in too defenceless a state. By a return from the overseer of our cannon-foundry at Salisbury I find they have cast fourteen six, eighteen nine, and eight twelve-pounders, and are proceeding to bore them out and fit them for use. He has my orders, when the twelve-pounders are finished, to deliver them to your Excellency's order, to be used where they may be most wanted, without waiting for further orders from me. Ball for twelve-pounders are also to be had there. Should you have occasion, you will please to give orders accordingly. I expect eighteen-pounders will be soon cast there, which is the largest size we can hope for from that furnace.

I have ordered two of our row-galleys to proceed to New-York, and trust they will be with you at the receipt of this; they have no guns larger than nine-pounders. I wish it