the Fact almost indoubitable but whether the action has been as decisive as represented in the enclosed is as yet uncertain. You have also enclosed an Extract of a Letter from an Officer of Distinction in the Army with the Comr. in Chief from which you will learn their situation & Hopes.

I am &c &c

[No. 4024.]

Albany Commissioners Furnish Governor Clinton with a List of Disaffected Persons Residing East of Hudson River and Applications for Exchange.

Albany, 25 Septr. 1781.

Sir, The inclosed is a list of Villains residing on the east side of Hudson's river, from Kingsbury down to near the New City, who have been very active against us in harbouring and supplying Parties of the Enemy from time to time, & forwarding their Dispatches; the most of them, if apprehended could be convicted; but as the Vermonters give protection to all that Part of, and oppose the authority of this State, we are at a loss how to proceed. We should have applied to General Stark for assistance, but fear he is rather in the Interest of Vermont, and would not chuse to interfere upon our Application. Inter Nous this.

We inclose your Excellency Applications of Two Persons who are desirous of being exchanged. We have the Honour to be Your Excellency's Most Obedient & huml. Servants.

Saml. Stringer,

Stewart Dean,

Isaac D. Fonda,

John M. Beeckman.

His Excellency George Clinton, Esq.

Commissrs.

for Conspiracies.

P. S. The List above referred to is on the other side.

List of the Names of Persons referred to:

Kingsbury: Caps. Stephen Caswell, Amos Lucas, Philip Bessey, Elias Bessey, Andrew Stevenson, Old Nalibacker, Moses

Lawyer, son in Law to Nalibacker.

William Griffen, Northward of Fort Edward; Old Bell, Duncan Bell, Son of Old Bell;

Swain at Fort Edward, Solly

Carley,

Lehy,

Brunson, Elijah Dunham, Ephraim

Crocker.

James Nickson, Fort Miller.

Caleb Crandell, McNeal's Ferry; William Fuller, Do; John Partelow.

[No. 4025.]

Governor Clinton to General Heath Relative to the Rumors from the Chesapeake Difficulties in Raising Forage in Westchester.

Poughkeepsie, Sepr. 25th, 1781.

Dr. Sir, I am honourd with the rect. of your Letter of the 23rd Inst. with its enclosures & beg you will be pleased to accept my warmest acknowledgments for this obliging Mark of your attention in communicating the very agreeable intelligence it contains. I hardly dare venture to credit the Success of our Allies in the full extent they are represented, But I think we may reasonably conclude (on a comparison of all the Accts.) that the Issue of the late Naval Engagmt. has been favorable to them & that they have obtained at least a Brilliant if not a decisive Victory. It is difficult to conjecture on the Designs of the Enemy at N. York from their pres't. Movements. Cornwallis situation undoubtedly calls for exertions; but it appears to me to be utterly out of Sr. Harry's [Clinton] power, while we command the water, to succour him or even make a serious Diver

sion in his favor with the least probability of success. On the other hand I cannot suppose his intentions are to evacuate N. York. If, however contrary to my expectations he should make any movements which would, justify your operating agt. the Posts he leaves behind him I shall be happy in rendering you every aid in my Power & on such occasion I flatter myself I shall. be able to afford you a very respectable augmentation to your present force.

The reason I had to wish that Hunt's Company of Weissenfels regt. might remain on the lines was that from their knowledge of the Country they might be more useful than an equal Number of other Troops and because it might be disagreeable to the inhabitants who with all the Assistance we can Give them are still much exposed to have a Company raised by themselves sent to a different Quarter of the State but as they have already marched, I do not think it would be necessary to recall them, especially if their removal has not excited the Discontent I apprehended it might.

I am very sensible of the Difficulties you will meet with in executing the Intentions of Congress by their Resolution respecting the forage consumed by the allied Army in Westchester County. It is to be regretted that the public Officers, whose Duty it was, had not in the first instance so conducted this Business a to have done Justice to the State & Individuals Interested & saved you of a trouble which cannot fail to perplex & interfere with your more important Duties. I have the fullest Confidence, however, that as far as it may now be in your Power the strictest Justice will be rendered.

As We wait with anxious expectations for the most Important Events from the Cheasepeake you will greatly add to the obliga

tions you have already laid me under by continuing to communicate the earliest Intelligence you may receive from that or any other Quarter.

I am Dr. Sir Yours, &c, &c.

The Honble Major Genl. Heath.

[No. 4026.]

Messrs. Duane and l'Hommedieu to Governor Clinton on Western Boundaries-The Rumors of a Naval Fight.

Philadelphia 26th Septmr. 1781.

Dear Sir, In our former letters we gave your Excellency room to expect that we should obtain at least we promised to urge for the establishment of our western boundary under the guarantee of the United States. Congress have remained so thin that a single Dissentient would have frustrated any proposition which we might have offered: we, therefore, concluded to wait for a more favorable opportunity. To hazard, under the present circumstances, a point which so essentially concerns the prosperity and tranquillity of our State would have been a proof of our Zeal but not of our prudence: and we hope we shall stand justified for the delay in the opinion of your Excellency and the Legislature. The equity of our territorial rights can be so fully established that we persuade ourselves that a full Congress will conceive the Limits which we propose to establish to be moderate and the Cession to the United States liberal. As the time fixed for our return approaches we shall depute the Evidences of our Jurisdictions in a safe hand with directions to deliver them to our successors in the Delegation.

We enclose your excellency the news papers which communicate almost all Intelligence which is publick, and too often what

ought to be concealed. The general is arrived safe at Williamsburgh. Count de Grass has severly crippled the British fleet: Lesly & every soul on board of a ship of war from Virginia to Charlestown are said to have perished. General Green has driven the British into Charlestown. They are represented to be sickly and in want of every Necessary. Government is reestablished in Georgia and Doctor Brannon appointed Governor. Col. Tew, Mr. Telfare and Dr. Noble Wembleton Jones-a gentl. it is said of distinguished merit-Delegates for the ensuing year. We have no intelligence from Virginia of the late Naval Engagement: for once we are indebted to Rivington. By this time our army are approaching Lord Cornwallis: we are to suppose he will make an obstinate defence if he has sufficient Magazines of provisions. His strength is computed at 5000 regular troops, 900 sailors, and 2000 Negroes.

We have the honor to be-with the utmost respect Dear Sir, Your Excellency's most obt. & most humble servants

Jas. Duane,

Ezra L'Hommedieu.

His Excellency Governour Clinton.

[No. 4027.]

Ezra l'Hommedieu to Governor Clinton with Journals of Congress as Far as Printed and Information that the British Lost Two Ships and that Cornwallis' Case is Hopeless.

Philadelphia, Sepr. 26, 1781.

I send you the Journals of Congress by Capt. Johnston as compleat as they can at present be procured: there being none left for the year 1775, and none as yet printed for the present year. This delay of printing has been owing to the same cause that has delayed the publishing the Votes & Laws of our Legis