"Letter from tlie Provincial Congress to die Delegates for die Colony of New York, in the Continental Congress, " In Provincial Conoress, New- " York, June 28th, 1775."

See, also, the Plan of Accommodation, adopted in advance and kept in constant readiness for immediate use, by tho same Provincial Congress, " 4 ho., P.M., Die Martis, June 27th, 1775," (see pages 97, 98, ante ;) Letter from die Provincial Congress to tlie Committee of Richmond county, '• Nbw- " Yobk, 2d Decembor, 1775 ; " etc.

WESTCHESTEE COUJNTY.

Ill

In the earlier days of its existence, the Provincial Congress made those arbitrary arrests without any enactment, its own or that of any other body, which could have afforded even a shadow of even revolutionary law, if the enactments of a body in acknowledged rebellion may be regarded as Laws, for such a radical violation of what were said to have been, and of what were,' the fundamental principles of the Duties of those in authority and of the Eights of Person and of Property which belonged to those who were governed; but there appear to have been some, among the • supporters of the Rebellion, who continued to have doubts concerning the unauthorized and unrestrained right of arrest, even where an opposition to the measures of the Rebellion was openly and unre-' s'ervedly expressed.

On the eleventh of August, a letter was received by the Provincial Congress, from the local Committee at Brookhaven, on Long Island, stating that certain persons, named therein, were " counteracting every " measure recommended for redress and grievances, ' " and opposing the measures of Congresses and Com- " mittees ; and that they declared they would furnish, '' and that it is suspected they have furnished, the " men-of-war and cutters with provisions," 2 in the same manner that the Asia and other men-of-war were supplied, with the approval of the Provincial Congress, at that time and subsequently, by those who were more in favor with that body ; and, at the same time, " requesting the Congress to direct such "measures as they shall think proper, to suppress " such conduct.'' That letter was referred to a Committee of which Benjamin Kissam, of the City of New York, was Chairman. 3 A Report from that Committee was laid before the Congresa, on the twentysixth of August; 4 and, after consideration of the subject, and apparently without dissent, the following enactment was made on the general subject of the Brookhaven Committee's inquiry: