All magistrates, sheriffs and constables were ordered to assist the commissioners in expediting the execution of the act. As the first term of the commissioners was to expire on the first of November, an act was passed, October 29,

1778, continuing them "until twenty Days after the next Laws of New York. Poughkeepsie: John Holt, 1782, pp. 96, 114.

Appendix I: Laws, Oct. 29, 1778. See also Assembly Votes. Poughkeepsie: John Holt, 1779, pp. 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30; Senate Votes. Fish-Kill: Samuel Loudon, 1777, pp. 141, 143, 147.

20 State of New York

Meeting of the Legislature, and a Quorum of both Houses shall be convened," and an appropriation, not to exceed the sum of three thousand pounds, was authorized. It was

at this time (November 2, 1778) that a regular night watch

was ordered by statute 1 for the counties of Ulster, Tryon, Charlotte, Dutchess and Albany, because the provisions of the militia law had proved to be inefficient. Every ablebodied male inhabitant, between the ages of sixteen and sixty years, slaves and Indians excepted, was ordered to

do watch duty when called upon by the captain of a company, beat or district, wherein he resided. Each watch was to be composed of eight men. Certain persons were exempted from duty, among them commissioners for conspiracies, save in the city of Albany and the town of Schenectady, where clergymen alone were excepted. Later, on October 13, 1779, the act was amended, extending its

operation to Westchester and Orange counties. The senate, on February 12, 1779, passed the following order, 2 viz: "Whereas the Commissioners for detecting and defeating Conspiracies, are by Law required to keep regular Minutes of all their Proceedings, in Order that the same may be submitted to the Consideration of the Senate or Assembly; and although no Complaints have been made to this Senate of any Misconduct in the said Commissioners, or any of them, nor has this Senate any Reason to believe there are any Grounds for such Complaint, yet as the Execution of their Office is of the utmost Importance to the Weal of this State at this critical Juncture.