Sometime between Monday morning and Tuesday afternoon, [3fay 20, 21, 1776,] -- as no entry of its appointment was made on the Journals of the Provincial Congress, nothing is known concerning the time nor the circumstances of the appointment, unless from inference"-- that body appointed a Committee "to con- "sider of the ways and means to prevent the dangers " to which this Colony is exposed by its intestine "enemies." Beyond the single fact that John Alsop, one of the most determined enemies of Independence and subsequently a recognized Loyalist,^ was a member, if not the Chairman, of that Committee, there is no record of the names of those who constituted it ; and, beyond the information which was contained in its title, there is quite as much obscurity surrounding the purposes for which it was created.

On Tuesday afternoon, [J/firy 21, 1776.] as we have said. Mr. .\lsop submitted (he Report of the Ctmimittee ; ' and it was duly debated, with several motions for amendments, until the following Friday, \_May

^ Journal of the Provincial Oaigrt'ss, "Die Mercurii, 9 ho., A.M., 3Iay "29, 1776 ; " the same, " Friday Afternoon, June 14, 1776."

See, also, the Proviuci<il Omgress to the Mcgales in the Continentnl Omgrejis, "In Pkovincul Congress, New York, July 28, 177.'i," and the " really anxious" rej;/;/ of Jtmes Thume, John Alsop, John Jaij, Hubert R. Livingston, Junior, and Francis Lewis, " Piiil.\pet,phi.\, 2()th Sept. 1776 ; " General M'ushington t/i the I'rovincial Congress, *' Nkw- VoKK, l.'l 3Iay, 1776," enclosing a letter from Isaiic Sears, concerning those who were underselling their teas ; and what shall be, hereafter, saidim the subject.