His Worship the Mayor of the city of New-York, attending at the door, was called in, and informed this Committee that His Excellency Gov. [William] Tryon sent for him yesterday and informed him, that he received a letter from Lord Dartmouth, informing him that orders had been given to the commanders of His Majesty's ships in America, that in case any more troops should be raised, or any fortifications erected, or any of His Majesty's stores taken, that the commanders of the ships of war should consider such cities or places in a state of rebellion.

The estimate of the expenses of erecting fortifications in the Highlands, delivered in yesterday P.M. by B. Romans, was read and filed.

A draft of a letter to the Hon. the Continental Congress, to cover three plans and an estimate of the fortifications erecting at the Highlands, and the copies of the correspondence between this committee and Gen. [David] Wooster 2 on that subject was read and approved . . .

Ordered, That a copy thereof be engrossed and signed by the Chairman. and transmitted, with the copies therein mentioned.

A draft of a letter to Beverly Robinson, Esq. was read and approved, and is in the words following, to wit:

In Committee of Safety, New-York, Sept. 19th, 1775.

Sir ー By order of the Continental Congress, founded on the necessities of the present times, the Provincial Congress of this Colony has undertaken to erect a fortification on your land, opposite to the West Point, in the Highlands. As the Provincial Congress by no means intend to invade private property, this Committee, in their recess, have thought proper to request you to put a reasonable price upon the whole point of dry land, or island, called Martelair's Rock island; which price, if they approve of it, they are ready to pay you for it.

We are, sir, [&c.]

To Beverly Robinson, Esq. at his seat in the Highlands.

Die Martis, 4 ho. P.M. September 19th, 1775.

Ordered, That Messrs. John Sloss Hobart and Gilbert Livingston be a subcommittee to wait on His Excellency the Governor, to inform him that His Worship the Mayor signified to this Committee, this day, that His Excellency told him he had received a letter from Lord Dartmouth, one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, informing him, that orders had been given to the commanders of His Majesty's ships in America, that in case any more troops should be raised, or any fortifications erected, or any of His Majesty's stores taken, the commanders of the ships of war should consider such cities or places in a state of rebellion; and to acquaint His Excellency that the terms of their information from Mr. Mayor are extremely ambiguous and require an explanation; and that, therefore, His Excellency be requested by the said sub-committee to furnish this Committee with an extract of that part of Lord Dartmouth's letter; and in case he should not be willing to give such extract, that he would be pleased to furnish the said sub-committee with the exact purport of that part of the said letter which relates to the above mentioned subject.