Whereas, there is at present a great appearance of danger towards this colony, by the approach of the Dutch, for our own safety and defence, till the Gen'll Court in October next, it is now ordered by this Court that the Committee hereafter named, viz; —the Governor and assistants, Capt. Benj. Newbery, Mr. Giles Hamlin, Mr. William Wadsworth, Capt. Wm. Curtice, Lieut. Wm. Fowler, Lieut. Tho. Munson, are hereby empowered to act as the Grand Committee of this colony, in establishing and commissionating of military officers, in pressing of men, horses, ships, barques or other vessells, arrnes, ammunition, provision, carriages or whatever they judg needful for o'r defence, and to manage, order, and dispose of the militia of the colony in the best way and maner they can for o'r safety. The Governor, or in his absence, the Dept. Governor are hereby impowered by their sumons to convene the said Committee, who being assembled, the said Committee, or the major part of them assembled, are informed as afoarsayd. It is ordered by this Court, that the severall and respective troops in this colony, with five hundred dragoones be prepared and fitted for service forthwith, and that all the traine bands in the severall plantations, with their arms and am-munition be ready for service, and the military officers of the severall companies, to see their companies completed as afoarsayd, upon the severall penalties exprest in the military lawes, the dragoones are to be raysed upon the countys as followeth: of Hartford county, one hundred and sixty ; of New Haven county, one hundred and twenty; of Fayrefield, one hundred and twenty; of New London, one hundred.

It is allso ordered by this Court, that in case of the approach of an enemy in any towne within this colony, the Governer or Dept. Governer and Grand Committee, appoynted by the Court, so many of them as are present, before they departe, shall appoynt such sufficient ayde, to defend any place as shall be assaulted, with such ayde as they thinke fitt, which is to be in readiness at an howers warning, for a march upon the call of the chief officer of any county.

In case any forces should be sent out of the county of Hartford for the relief of another county, this Court appoynts Benjamen Newbery, Capt.; Nicholas Olmstead, Lvt.; John Wadsworth, Ensigne.

For the county of New London and such forces as shall be called out of that county, James Avery is appointed Capt.; Tho. Tracy, Livetenant; John Denison, Ensigne.

For the county of New Haven, Mr. Robert Treat, Capt, ; Tho. Munson, Livetenant; Sam'11 Newton, Ensigne,

For the county of Fayrefield, Mr. Tho. Fitch, Capt,; Jehue Burr, Livetenant; Mathew Sherwood, Ensigne.

Capt. John Tallcott is chosen Major for the county of Hartford.

Capt, Robert Treat is chosen Major for the county of New Haven.

Capt. Nathan Gold is chosen Major for the county of Fayrefield.

This Court appoynted Mr. James Richards and Mr. Roswell, forthwith to goe to New York with the letter which this Court hath prepared, and present the same to the Commander-in-chief of the Manhatoes, and to receive their answer, and what their intentions are : and in case Mr, Roswell should by any providence be hindered attendance, Major Robert Treat is to supply the place of Mr. Roswell.

The letter read in Court, drawn up to be sent to the Commander-in-chief of the Dutch fleet, rideing in Hudsons river, at New Yorke, this Court orders that it be signed by the Secretary, in the name and by order of the Governor and Gen'll Assembly.*

The Grand Committee for the ordering of the Militia, mett at Hartford, August 11, 1673.

JOHN WINTHROP, Esqr. Govr.

WM. LEET, Esqr. Dept. Govr.

Mr. SAM'LL WILLYS,

Major JOHN TALLCOTT,

Mr. HENRY WOLCOTT,

Mr. JOHN ALLYN,

Mr, WM. WADSWORTH,

Capt. BENJ. NEWBERY,

Capt. THO. MUNSON.

Whereas, the Gen'll Court hath ordered that five hundred Dragoones be forthwith raysed, to be ready upon one howers warning to defend any place in this colony, assaulted by an enemie, and have ordered that the forces raysed, shall be under such comanders as they have appoynted; the Grand Committee for the militia, being mett this day, ordered that the constables of the respective plantations, shall forthwith repayre to the cheife commander of theire traine bands and choose so many meet persons as they are appoynted too, that they may be in readiness fitted according to this followeing order, upon an howers warning to march under the conduct of theire cheife commanders hereafter named, to defend any place assaulted as aforesayd.

The proportion of dragoones for Hartford county, is one hundred sixty three, under the command of Benj. Newbery, Capt.; Nicholas Olmstead, Lvt. ; John Wadsworth, Ensigne :—Hartford, forty fower ; Windsor, thirty eight; Wethersfield, thirty; Farmington, twenty two; Midletown, thirteen ; Haddum, nine ; Simsbury, seven; totall, 163.

The proportion of dragoones for New Haven county under the conduct of Major Robt. Treat, Thomas Munson, Lvt.; Sam'll Newton, Ensigne; is, New Haven, fifty one ; Milford, thirty ; Pawgaset, three ; Guilford, nineteen; Brandford, nine ; Wallingford, eight; totall, 120.

The proportion of Fayerefield county, under the conduct of Tho. Fitch, Capt.; Jehu Burr, Lvt.; Mathew Sherwood, Ensigne ; is, Fayrefield, thirty eight; Stratford, thirty three ; Standford, twenty fower; Greenwich, eight; Norwalk, seventeen. Rye, being near is excused; totall, 120.

The proportion for New London county, under the conduct of James Avery, Captaine ; Thomas Tracey, Leivtenant; John Denison, Ensigne; is, New London, twenty six ; Stoneington, nineteen; Lyme, tenn; Saybrook, seventeen; Kenilworth, eleven; Norwich, seventeen; totall, 100.

It is ordered that each dragone be provided with a good sword and belt, and serviceable muskett or kirbine, with a shot powch and powder and bullitts, viz : one pownd of powder made into cartiriges fitt for his gunn, and three pownd of bulletts fitt for their gunns, or pistoll bulletts and a horss to expedite their march.

It is allso ordered, that the place assaulted, where the forces raysed are sent for to come, are to provide quarter for the soldiers they send for.

It is also ordered, that the cheife officer in each county, upon any assault made upon them by an enemie, are hereby empowered to call in ayde from the rest of the counties for theire assistance.

It is allso ordered, that the officers, raysed in the counties of New Haven, Fayrefield and New London, doe prepare a halfe pike for each of their dragoones.

It is allso ordered, the commission officers of the dragoones in each county, are hereby impowered to appoynte Sarjants and inferior officers for their respective companies.

The Committee for the militia, doe hereby appoynt Mr. Simeon Woolcott and John Griffin, to be those that shall command the traine band of Simsbury for the present, and untill the Generall Court order otherwise; or the people there make there choyse.

It is allso ordered, that the dark of each county is appoynted to send coppyes hereof, forthwith into each town within their respective counties,

It is allso agreed, that the Committee shall meet every day, about sunn two howers high, till farther order be given.

*On the 30th of July, a small Dutch fleet, under the Command of Commodores Cornelius Evereste and Jacob Benkes, arrived at New York. One John Manning, who commanded the fort and Island there, treacherously delivered them up to the enemy without firing a gun, or attempting the least resistance. - Trum. Hist. Con. Vol. I. p. 323