On or before May 1, 1783, the commissioners were required to make a return to a justice of peace in the respective counties in which they resided, of the names of the persons committed by them and the causes of such commitment, and no person committed could be discharged before the last-mentioned date. If anyone came meanwhile within the State from the British lines, a justice of the peace could cause his arrest and demand security for his appearance at the next court of general sessions to be

held in the county where the offender was apprehended, or incarcerate him in a common jail until security was procured or until the next meeting of the general sessions. By the latter court the offender was subject to be committed again to jail until the meeting of the next court of oyer and terminer and general jail delivery in the county, there to plead his cause. Numerous petitions were sent to this last session of the legislature during the war, requesting that certain persons, who had adhered to the British cause, and who in consequence had been removed by order of the commissioners for conspiracies and in accordance with the law, might be permitted to return. In ever)' case, so far as ascertained, the legislature rejected the prayer of the petitioners by a unanimous vote. 1

• For example, a number of petitions were signed by a considerable number of inhabitants of the districts of Claverack, Kinderhook, Hillsdale and Kings, and presented in senate on March 13, 1783. -- Senate Votes (sixth session), p. 140.