While the Provincial Congress was thus inonopoli/.ing the supplying of the men-of-war, it "was filled with the utmost anxiety ' when, during the Autumn of 1775, " small boats from (Queens and Westchester-coun- "ties" undertook to enter into the same business ; and "to [irevent .so "greata mischief," a small armed vessel was purclnisod, " to watch those "and other dangerous supplies of the like kind," -- {The Committee of Sofiiii to the Xeir- Y<o-k Deleijoles in Continentnl Comjresn, " In Committee ok "Safety, New-York, .lanuary 22, 177(1.") On the seventh of February, 177(), when the Chairman of the Connnitteo of the City asked permission for an Hniutitted applicant to send on board the Asia, two hogsheads of Spirits, two dozens of Coffee, anil one dozen of Cho<'olate, the solicited permission was withheld until the name of the applicant could be ascertained, which does not appear to have been .accom]>lished, {Letter from Henry Itemnen, Cliaintotu of the Cmnmittee of the Cil;!, to the Committee of t^ifetji, and the reply of the latter, both undated : Journal of tlie Committee of tyifeli/: " Die Mercurii, 10 ho., .\.M., Feh'y 7th, 1770.")

There does not seem to have been any hesitation in supplying the provisions, on the part of any one, either in New York, or in WeslchestiT- county, or in (iueens-county -- why should there have been ? Thi' only ([Uestion appears to have been, />;/ irhom ami for n'hone pecuniary benefit they shoidd lie thus supplied. There were those, in the Provim-ial Congress, who were always ready to enjoy an advantage, in trade or elstswhere : there was a conunereial advantage, in victualing the ships, which those "(mtriots" preferreil to retain. Ilail the boatmen of Westchester and (Jueens counties, while bringing their surplus products to market, been wise enough to have consigneil their cargoes to some of those enterprising " Merchants," .\le.\ander McDougal and his armed vess<d, watching " those dangerous supplies," woiilil not have been necessary.