24, 1776,] when it was approved, not, however, without several very important omissions, if the record of the approved Report may be relied on.* In its amended form, the Report was in the following words :

" Your Committee do report: That there is great " reason to believe that the enemies of American Lib- "erty have a general communication with each other "through this and part of the neighbouring Colonies, " by reason whereof the influence of the British Gov- "ernment is much extended and the minds of the " people poisoned by false reports and suggestions.

" That many ill-disposed people have latelv resorted "unto, and a great number dwell in, the southern and " eastern parts of Queens-county; that there are also " several ill-disposed persons in the City and County "of New York, and in Kings County, and in sundry "other parts of this Colony, many of whom will most " probably take up arms on the part of our foes, when- " ever they shall see a prospect of success.

" That from the various reports and the best intel- " ligence which can be obtained from Europe, as also " from the positive assertions of the disaffected through- " out this and the neighbouring Colonies, and from " such of their measures as have come to the knowl- "edge of your Committee, there is no room to doubt " that a large hostile armament will soon arrive in " this Colony.

"That the greater part of those who now hold Of- " fices and Commissions under the Crown, and many "others who are generally rej)uted inimical to Amer- " ican Liberty, will be liable to suffer injuries from "the resentment of the people,^ and the Colony in "general exposed to great danger from the active ex- " ertions of those among us who are determined to " assist in the subjection of America.