On the nineteenth of January, 177<}, the Continental Congress ordered four Battalions to be raised for the defence of the Colony of New York ; and, on the twenty -sixth of the same month, the experiment of starting the work of enlistment, for those four Battalions, by jol)l)ing out the OHices which would l)e required, among the several Counties, with invitations for estimates of the numbers of men who could " be "speedily raised and armed," in the respective Counties, by that proflered bait of Oflices, was the first action which was taken by the revolutionary authorities, in New York, on that important subject."

On the following day, [Janiiari/ 27, 1770,] the Committee of Safety issued its Instructions for the RccruitiiKj Oj/irrrs who should be employed in the enlistment of men for the service referred to, in that new Order -- the pay of the Privates was to be five dollars per month ; each was to receive, as a bounty, a ielt hat, a pair of yarn stockings, a pair of shoes, and, if they could be procured, a hunting-shirt and a blanket; and the men were to provide their own Arms. There

1 Colonel Samuel Diake to the Proeiiiciiil Omgnss, " Nzw-YoRK, Feby. 1776," compared with the letter of Dirck Leflferts, poU. C 'lonel ISinnuel Drake fo the Pruvhieinl O'lhjress^ "New-York. Feby. "IC, 177G."

Dirck Lejferts to the Deputies of the severtd Couvties^ etc., " May 1, " 1776."

* Journal of the Prorincinl Comjrcss, "Die llaitis, 3 ho., P.M., Marcli "12, 1776."