authority I do not give the informataion as certain tho it is highly probable. I enclose your Excellency a handbill circulated about the town, on a subject very unfit for publication. This will be handed to you by young Mr. Roosevelt. Tomorrow we shall have the honor of writing your Excellency an offi cial Letter. This is a friendly scrawl and you will pardon its defects. With most respectful Compliments to Mrs. Clinton, I am ever Dear Sir, Your Excellency's afectionate & most obedient servant Jas. Duane. P. S. The Financier returned from Camp this morning & I have by him the pleasure of hearing of your health. [No. 3917.] Lieutenant Caleb Brewster Calls Governor Clinton's Attention to Several Atrocities Committed on Long Island by Boat Parties. Fairfield, Augt. 20th, 1781. Sir, I have taken the liberty to inform your Excellency of the Conduct of the plundering boats lately; two boates crossed on the fourteenth instant landed at Millers place, went up about twelve at night to the houses of Capt. Ebenezer Miller and Andrew Miller, demanded entrance which was granted, as soon as the door was opened they demanded his arms which he gave up; his son hearing a noise below stairs got up out of bed shoved up the chamber windo. One of the party without ever speaking to him, shot him dead in the windo; the other boate's crew at the same time went to Mr. Andrew Miller's demanded Entrance in the like manner; as soon as Mr. Miller got the door oppen, one of the party struck him with the breech of his gun, broke the bone over his eye, tore his eye all to pieses, broke his cheek bone and left him for dead, as they thought; these outrages was commited with out any opposition at Either house. They have been over at several other times at the Westward, at Oyster Bay. Went to the houses of Mr. Simon Flint's and Gilbert Flint's, plundered their houses of their furniture, hung Mr. Gilbert Flint till he was so near dead, that they had to apply the dockter to fetch him to and abused their families to a shameful rate. Another time they went to great Neck plundered Major Richard Thorn and hung him up to make him tell where his money was till they thought him dead, then cut him down and after awhile finding life yet in him, one of the party took his knife and cut him under his jaw from one ear to the other, as he ment to cut his throate, then went to Esqr. Coulne and hung him up in the same manner to get his hard cash and plundered his house. Theres not a night but they are over; if boates can cross peopple cant ride the roades but what they are robbed. It is impossible for me to numirate the instances the time and places in which they have robbed. I came of on the 16th instant from the Island. Gov. Clinton. [No. 3918.] Governor Clinton Suggests to Governor Trumbull the Necessity for the Revocation of Certain Commissions. Poukeepsie, 20th August 1781. Sir, I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's Letter of the 20th July, in answer to mine on the subject of the Commissions granted by your Excellency for seizing British Goods &c on Long Island. As in my former, so in this, I must observe, that from the character of your Excellency I presumed Body and this State, and I flatter myself, from my thorough knowledge of, and the very principal share I have had in the whole of this altercated business, I should be able to sett aside the force of these misinterpretations, if any such there are. The Settlement of the public awards on which subject I had the honor to attend a Committee of Congress about three months ago, who made a report to Congress thereon, is another matter of no small importance to the State and of infinite Consequence to myself; and as a principal part of the papers on which said report was founded went through my hands, none of which, as our Delegates have lately wrote me, can now be found, or as I suspect even the report itself, I think my attendance on our Delegates a few days might be of considerable service in bringing about this settlement so much wished for by the Legis lature. Congress have not as yet passed any particular resolve for the settlement of the Quotas demanded of each State betwixt the Agent for each State and the public officers whose Certificates Congress will admit as a sufficient voucher against them, as I am convinced this State has furnished a larger part of its Quota than most others, it would be of considerable importance that a plan was immediately adopted by which each State would have it in their power to show the exertions they have made, and as many irregular vouchers will, agreeable to an Act of the Legislature last winter, be paid by me and my assistants, it might be very serviceable that I had an opportunity of personally conversing with our Delegates on that subject. These are the three principal reasons, Sir, which induce me to wish I might go to Philadelphia at present, and to request your Excellency's advice on the subject. I Have the honor to broke the bone over his eye, tore his eye all to pieses, broke his cheek bone and left him for dead, as they thought; these outrages was commited with out any opposition at Either house. They have been over at several other times at the Westward, at Oyster Bay. Went to the houses of Mr. Simon Flint's and Gilbert Flint's, plundered their houses of their furniture, hung Mr. Gilbert Flint till he was so near dead, that they had to apply the dockter to fetch him to and abused their families to a shameful rate. Another time they went to great Neck plundered Major Richard Thorn and hung him up to make him tell where his money was till they thought him dead, then cut him down and after awhile finding life yet in him, one of the party took his knife and cut him under his jaw from one ear to the other, as he ment to cut his throate, then went to Esqr. Coulne and hung him up in the same manner to get his hard cash and plundered his house. Theres not a night but they are over; if boates can cross peopple cant ride the roades but what they are robbed. It is impossible for me to numirate the instances the time and places in which they have robbed. I came of on the 16th instant from the Island. Gov. Clinton. [No. 3918.] Governor Clinton Suggests to Governor Trumbull the Necessity for the Revocation of Certain Commissions. Poukeepsie, 20th August 1781. Sir, I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 20th July, in answer to Commissions granted by your F Goods &c on Long Island. A observe, that from the char Body and this State, and I flatter myself, from my thorough knowledge of, and the very principal share I have had in the whole of this altercated business, I should be able to sett aside the force of these misinterpretations, if any such there are. The Settlement of the public awards on which subject I had the honor to attend a Committee of Congress about three months ago, who made a report to Congress thereon, is another matter of no small importance to the State and of infinite Consequence to myself; and as a principal part of the papers on which said report was founded went through my hands, none of which, as our Delegates have lately wrote me, can now be found, or as I suspect even the report itself, I think my attendance on our Delegates a few days might be of considerable service in bringing about this settlement so much wished for by the Legislature. 41 Congress have not as yet passed any particular resolve for the settlement of the Quotas demanded of each State betwixt the Agent for each State and the public officers whose Certificates Congress will admit as a sufficient voucher against them, as I am convinced this State has furnished a larger part of its Quota than most others, it would be of considerable importance that a plan was immediately adopted by which each State would have it in their power to show the exertions they have made, and as many irregular vouchers will, agreeable to an Act of the Legislature last winter, be paid by me and my assistants, it might be very ser that I had an opportunity of person gates on that subject. ns, Sir, which induce me present, and to request I Have the honor to |