" And whereas, from sundry informations and "evidences exhibited to this Congress, it appears " that the enemies of American Liberty, in this and "the neighbouring Colonies, have a general com- " munication with each other, by reason whereof "the influence of the British Ministry, however "feeble, is, in some measure, sustained, and the " minds of the people frequently alarmed and poi- "soned by false reports and misrepresentations, pur- " posely framed and projtagated with design to pro- " mote the views and machinations of the enemies of " America.

" And whereas certain persons in Queens-county, " Kings-county, the City and County of New York, "Richmond-county, and Westchester-county have " been repr&sented to this Congress as disaffected to "the American cause, and, together with others in "various parts of this Colony who, having little or no " property in it, or regard for its Rights, may be in- "flueuced, by the hope of plunder and confiscation, " to take an active part with our enemies, whenever " it may, in their opinions, be done with success :

" And whereas, from various reports and the best " intelligence which could be obtained from Europe, " as well as from the positive assertions of the dis- " affected throughout this and the neighbouring Col- " onies, there is great reason to expect that an hostile " armament will soon arrive in this Colony, whereby " it hath become highly expedient and necessary to " provide that the inhabitants of this Colony, while " employed in repelling a foreign invasion, be not " injured or annoyed by domestic enemies: