In addition to summoning or arresting the various individuals specified in the resolutions to which wo have alluded, the third provincial congress authorized its committee for the detection of conspiracies to summon or apprehend all other persons deemed dangerous or disaffected, and to use for that purpose not merely detachments of the militia, but troops of the continental line, the latter to be obtained by application to the commander-in-chief. Also the town and district committees were encouraged io exercise zeal and vigilance to the same end, and were empowered to summon or arrest, !A facsimile of this tablet

is suspended in a

Yonkers. It has always appeared to the editor of the presenl History that this is in rather questionable taste. 2 His parole, dated December 23, 1 T7< ;. was issued by Governor Trumbull, of Connecticut.

By its terms lie pledged his "faith and

word

States, and to return to Connecticut when reintelligence to the enemies of the United States, and to return to Connecticut when required by the governor or General Washington so to do.

FROM

JANUARY,

1775,

JULY

9, 177G

upon their own responsibility and without waiting for advice from the county committee, everybody whom they regarded with suspicion. Persons thus summoned or arrested by the town and district committees were required to give good security that they would appear before the county committee at its next session, or, in default of such security, were to be committed to custody. It will thus be seen how rigid and detailed were the arrangements, upon the eve of the breaking out of the war in the Colony of New York, for com pelling absolute submission everywhere to the will of the Revolutionary authorities, and for visiting swift and condign punishment upon all refractory or sullen spirits. 11 is needless to remark that t here was no relaxation of this severe programme during the progress of the war.