While the Provincial Congress was thus monopolizing the supplying of the men-of-war, it " was filled with the utmost anxiety " when, during the Autumn of 1775, " small boats from Queens and Westchester-coun- " ties " undertook to enter into the same business ; and"to prevent so " great a mischief," a small armed vessel was purchased, " to watch thoso " and other dangerous supplies of the like kind," -- (The Committee of Safely to the New-York Delegates in Continental Congress, "In Committeeof " Safety, New-York',' January 22, 1776.") On the seventh of February,- 1776, when the Chairman of the Committee of the City asked permission for an unnamed applicant to send on board the Asia, two hogsheads of Spirits, two dozens of Coffee, and one dozen of Chocolate, the solicited permission was withheld until the name of the applicant could be ascertained, which does not appear to have been accomplished, (Letter from Henry Remsen, Cltairman of the Committee of tlie City, to the Committee of Safety, and the reply of the latter, both undated : Journal of the Committee of Safety .- " Die Morcurii, 10 ho., A.M., Feb'y 7th, 1776.")

There does not seem to have been any hesitation in supplying the provisions, on the part of any one, either in New York, or in Westchestorcounty, or in Queens-county -- why should there have been? The only question appears to have been, by whom and for whose pecuniary benefit they should be thus supplied. There were those, in the Provincial Congress, who were always ready to enjoy an advantage, in trado or elsewhere j thero was a commercial advantage, iu victualing the ships, which those "patriots" preferred to retain. Had the boatmon of Westchester and Queenscounties, while "bringing their surplus products to market, been wise enough to have consigned their cargoes to some of those enterprising " Merchants," Alexander McDougal and his armed vessel, watching "those dangerous supplies," would not have heeu necessary.