History of Westchester County, New York, Vol. I

with him, iiinong the sellers of Pork, who were not slow to take iulviiiitage of that circuiiistaiice, in advancing the prices of the goods; and, to a corresponding extent, intercejiting, atlvantageously to themselves, the profits uC thosi; i)articular transactions which, bnt for their interference, wonld have fallen into his baski'l.

The Provincial Congress liad adjourned, leaving its Committee of Safety to discharge its ordinary duties;' and William Paulding was the only Deputy frotn Westchester-county who remained in the City of New York. Hut, on the afternoon ol' the first day of the existence of tliat Committee, [JZ-f/r/t IS, 1770,] Mr. Paulding, whose hand was evidently clean while those of all his fellow Deputies were seriously smirched, " informed the Committee tliat several of the

members from Westchester-county, conceiving that '■ they were directed to purchase Pork for a Magazine, "were purchasing (juantities for that |)urp<jse ; that " Colonel Gilbert Drake, by a late Order of the " Congress, was also purchasing the whole quantity "directed to be stored in that County, whereby there " is danger that the said article of Provisions may " be purchased at an exorl)itant price." '

Alter due consideration of the subject, the Committee of Safety determiiied to limit the prie(^ to be paid for> the Pork, leaving the rival buyers undisturbed, which was undoubtedly done for political reasons -- it would not have been prudent to have arrested the Deputation of a County, while it was so eagerly engaged in a still-hunt for some of the i)ickings which had been placed within its reach, by the revolutionary leaders. The enactment of the Committee of Safety was in these words: