each such settlement, and furnish his opinion of the Quit rents which they will be in a condition to

pay him.

After having settled on what he shall judge absolutely necessary to leave to those to whom

he will have given these farms, he will place in store all the surplus, such as grain, whale oil and all sorts of merchandize and other principal effects of which also inventories shall be made to be equally sent to his Majesty.

He will examine into the means of distributing said property so that from what he will acquire there his Majesty may order, on his advice, the gratuities he shall judge fitting to bestow on said militia, the army and navy officers, soldiers

and sailors who shall have distinguished themselves and

given individual marks of that satisfaction which he expects from their zeal and industry on this occasion. If he find among the inhabitants of New York, whether English or Dutch, any Catholics on whose fidelity he

can rely, he may leave them in their habitations after making them take the oath of

allegiance to His Majesty, provided there be not too many of them and they do not excite any suspicion, having regard, in that, only to what will best promote the preservation and advantage of the

Colony and its security at the same time as well as that of the French.

He may likewise retain, if he think proper, mechanics and other working people necessary to cultivate the land and work at fortifications in the capacity of prisoners, distributing them among