Conference with General Lee

v4:1107

10 ho˙ A˙ M˙, February 5, 1776.

The Committee met pursuant to adjournment.

Present: Mr˙ Joseph Hallett, Chairman, Mr˙ Scott, Colonel Brasher, Mr˙ Brewster, Mr˙ Tredwell, Colonel McDougall, Mr˙ Sands, Mr˙ Oothoudt.

The Committee sent Mr˙ McKesson, one of their Secretaries, to inform Messrs˙ Harrison, Lynch, and Allen, the Committee of Congress, that they conceive, that as General Lee is to remove this morning, that it may be most agreeable to his situation to wait on him at three o' clock, or after, but that the Committee are ready to attend the General, and those gentlemen, at any hour.

The Secretary returned, and informed the Committee of Safety that the Committee of Congress would prefer the morning to wait on General Lee, and requests the Committee of Safety to send to General Lee, to know when he can receive them. The Committee of Congress request an express to be furnished to them to proceed immediately to Philadelphia.

Ordered, That the Doorkeeper go immediately and procure an Express; and,

Ordered, That Mr˙ Benson, one of the Secretaries, wait on General Lee, and know when it will be convenient

v4:1108

Mr˙ Benson returned, and informed that he found General Lee in bed, and not yet removed; but that he said he would be taken out of bed, and be ready to receive both Committees in an hour.

Ordered, That Mr˙ Benson inform the Committee of Congress thereof.

John Lamb, the cartman, being here, ready to go express to Philadelphia, at the request of the Committee of Congress, was sent to the gentlemen of that Committee, (with Mr˙ Benson,) to receive their despatches. He returned with the despatches, and the Committee of Safety having nothing to transmit, he was ordered to proceed with all possible despatch.

The Committee being informed that Messrs˙ Joseph Jadwin and Gilbert Giles are going to Albany, and several of the Members being well acquainted with those gentlemen, believe them prudent and trusty, and very proper persons to take the care of and convey the money, designed for the use of the Canadian Regiment, to General Schuyler.

Therefore, Ordered, That Peter V˙ B˙ Livingston, Esquire, as Treasurer of the Provincial Congress of this Colony, or his Deputy, deliver to Messrs˙ Joseph Jadwin and Gilbert Giles the sum of twelve thousand five hundred dollars, and take their receipt for the same, to be conveyed to General Schuyler, for the use of the Canadian Regiment, and that they convey the same, with the greatest watchfulness, care and attention, and deliver the same to General Schuyler.

The Committee of the Continental Congress having called on the Committee of Safety, they proceeded to wait on General Lee. After some considerable time spent with General Lee in conference, General Lee informed the other gentlemen that Mr˙ Smith, the Engineer, had been out to view the ground about Horn' s Hook, and that he is now gone to Long-Island for the same purpose. General Lee, also, proposed to go, to-morrow, to view Hellgate; and, thereupon, the conference was adjourned, till to-morrow evening.