AN ACT to authorise the raising a corps of sea-fencibles.

Be it enacted by the people of the state of New-York, represented in senate and assembly, That the governor of the state of New-York be, and he is hereby authorised to raise for three years, unless sooner discharged, twenty companies of sea-fencibles, who may be employed as well on the land as on the water, for the defence of the port and harbor of New-York.

And be it further enacted, That each of the said companies of sea-fencibles, shall consist of one captain, one first, one second, and one third lieutenant, one Boatswain, six gunners six quarter gunners, two musicians and ninety privates.

And be it further enacted, That the said companies of sea-fencibles shall be formed into battalions regiments and a brigade, or organised in such a manner as shall be deemed best adapted to promote the objects of this act, and that officers of such grade, and as many as may be deemed necessary, shall be appointed to command the said battalions, regiments and brigade of sea-fencibles.

And be it further enacted, That the several companies of sea-fencibles which have been raised, shall be considered, and they are here by declared to be a port of the corps authorised to be raised by this act, and the raising of the said companies is hereby ratified and confirmed.

And be it further enacted, That the governor of the state of New-York be, and he is hereby authorised to appoint by brevet all the officers of the said corps of sea-fencibles who shall hold their respective commissions until the council of appointment shall have appointed the officers for the said corps, in pursuance of the constitution and laws of this state.

And be it further enacted That the commissioned officers of the said corps shall receive the same pay, rations, forage and allowances, as officers of the same grade in the army of the United States, that the boatswains, gunners and quarter gunners shall receive the same pay as warrant officers of the same grade in the navy of the U. States, and shall receive the same rations as sergeants in the army of the United States, that the musicians and privates shall receive the same pay as musicians and able seamen receive in the navy of the United States, and shall receive the same rations as musicians and privates receive in the army of the United States, and it shall be lawful to pay the boatswains, gunners, quarter gunners, musicians and privates of the said corps, one month's pay in advance, at the time of enlistment.

And be it further enacted, That the said corps of sea-fencibles may be ordered into the service of the United States in lieu of an equal number of militia which may be required by the government of the United States, for the defence of the port and harbor of New-York.

And be it further enacted, That when the corps of sea-fencibles to be raised as aforesaid, shall be in the service of the United States they shall be subject to the rules and articles which have been, or may be hereafter, established by the laws of the United States, for the government of the army of the United States that when the said corps shall be in the service of the state of New-York, they shall be subject to the same rules and regulations, and the governor of the said state shall be, and he is hereby authorised and directed to exercise all the power and authority which, by the said rules and articles, are required to be exercised by the president of the United States.