Papers relating to the subject, received from General Putnam, Clause for taking hostages of the inhabitants of certain parts of Queen' s County struck out

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Mr˙ Lewis brought into Congress some Papers which he said he received from General Putnam, and in some measure relate to the matters now in consideration. The same were read.

The first was an Affidavit of Silas Howard, dated the 16th day of May Instant, and taken before James Gals, Chairman of the Committee of Berkshire County, in the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay. The second Is a very long Affidavit of a person whose name is concealed, taken on the 18th day of May instant, before Valentine Rathbun, Chairman of the Convention of eleven Committees.

The Congress then proceeded in the further consideration of the Report last above-mentioned, and on reading the — section thereof, relative to taking hostages of the Inhabitants of certain parts of Queen' s County for their future peaceable behaviour, a motion was made and seconded that that part of the said Report be struck out.

Debates arose on the said motion; and the question being put thereon, it was carried in the affirmative, in manner following, to wit:

2 King' s,
3 Orange,
2 Richmond,
8 New-York,
2 Charlotte,
4 Suffolk.
_
21 votes.

4 Westchester,
3 Tryon.
_
7 votes.

Ordered, therefore, That the said clause for taking hostages be struck out.

The said Report being read through, and sundry amendments made therein, Mr˙ Morris then moved, and was seconded, that the whole of the said Report be recommitted.

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Debates arose on the said motion, and the question being put thereon, it was carried in the negative, in manner following, to wit:

4 Suffolk,
2 Charlotte,
8 New-York,
3 Tryon.
_
17 votes.

4 Westchester,
2 King' s,
2 Richmond.
_
8 votes — Orange equally divided.

Thereupon, the said motion was rejected.

Francis Lewis, Esq˙, informed this Congress that William Hauxhurst is employed by contract in making Anchors for the Continental Navy, in which business he cannot proceed without a small supply of Gunpowder, and therefore he applied for one hundred weight of Gunpowder for William Hauxhurst for the use of the Iron-works, to be paid for in cash.

Ordered, That Mr˙ Richard Norwood, Commissary of Colony Stores, deliver to Mr˙ William Hauxhurst one hundred weight of Gunpowder, at the price of thirty Pounds, on receiving the ready money for the said hundred weight of Gunpowder, and that the said Richard Norwood pay the said sum of thirty Pounds to Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Esq˙, as Treasurer of this Congress, and take a receipt for the same.

A Member suggested to the Congress that Mr˙ Abraham Livingston is very anxious to have his late Contract for victualling the Troops in this Colony settled; that no step has been taken in pursuance of his Letter of the 9th instant to the late Congress of tills Colony, and that Mr˙ Livingston is ready to submit to a Committee of this Congress, to be appointed for that purpose, whether any and what compensation shall be made to him for his damages by the loss of that Contract.

Ordered, That the Auditors of Pay-Table Committee be a Committee to take into consideration whether any and what allowance shall be made to Mr˙ Livingston in lieu of that Contract, and to adjust and audit his Accounts, and make, a final settlement with him for the same.