On the nineteenth of January, 1776, the Continental Congress ordered four Battalions to be raised for the defence of the Colony of New York ; 5 and, on the twenty-sixth of the same month, the experiment of starting the work of enlistment, for those four Battalions, by jobbing out the Offices which would be required, amorig the several Counties, with invitations for estimates of the numbers of men who could "be "speedily raised and armed," in the respective Counties, by that proffered bait of Offices, was the first action which was taken by the revolutionary authorities, in New York, on that important subject. 6

On the following day, [January 27, 1776,] the Committee of Safety issued its Instructions for the Recruiting Officers who should be employed in the enlistment of men for the service referred to, in that new Order -- the pay of the Privates was to be five dollars per month ; each was to receive, as a bounty, a felt hat, a pair of yarn stockings, a pair of shoes, and, if they could be procured, a hunting-shirt and a blanket; and the men were to provide their own Arms. There

1 Colonel Samuel Dralte to the Provincial Congress, " Nkw-Yukk, Feby. "10, 177G," compared with the letter of Dirck Lefferta, po*t.

2 Cilouel Samuel Drake to the Provincial Congress, "New-York, Feby. "1(1, 1776."

3 birch Lefferts In the Deputies of the several Counties, etc., " May 1, "1770."

4 Journal of the Provincutl Congress, "Die Martis, 3 ho., P.M., March "VI, 1770."