[No. 4052.] Governor Clinton to General Stark-As to the Arrest of Soldiers for Tavern Debts. Poughkeepsie, Octr. 8th, 1781. Sir, By some unaccountable Delay your letter of the 4th Ulto. (which appears by a mark on the back to have been in the Post office) did not come to my hand until this Even'g. I have had frequent representations of the abuse you complain of in the arresting & confin'g soldiers for tavern Debts & thereby depriv ing the public of their service & I am so fully impressed with its destructive Consequences that it is my intention to apply to the Legislature who are now convened at this Place to make Provision as far as possible to prevent such abuses in future. I am &c &c. Brig'r Genl. Stark. [No. 4053.] Dr. Nathaniel Foster Applies for Permission to Remove His Son from Hospital. May it Please your Excellency I have now in the hospittle at New Windsor, a son who is engag'd in the four months service, under your Direction, Is Labouring with a slow fever, able to walk a few Rods abroad-being desirous to Contribute Everything in my power, toward the recovery of my son, I have made application to Doct'r Adams (who has the care of the Hospittle) for permission to Endeavour to Git my son home, where I think he might have such Attendance &c-As to render his recovery more hopeful. The Doct'r in reply says, that Alth'o there is no prospect in his oppinion that his Recovery to a Capacity of Rendering Service to the public for the Term of his Engagement, he is not Authoris'd to permit his removal, that a permit for that purpose is only to be obtained thro. your Excellency's favour; am, therefore, from a consideration of my sons Exposedness to other Disseases which prevail in the Hospittle, as well as from other Tender Motives, Induc'd Humbly to pettition your Excellency for permission by (the Bearer) for the Removal of my son, for whose return to his duty I beg leave to pledge myself as soon as health will permit & Humbly to subscribe my self your Excellency's Most Ob't. Humble Serv't. Dutchess County So. East Prec't. 8th Octr. 1781. ROBERT BENSON REPLIES. Poughkeepsie Octr. 10th, 1781. Sir, His Excellency is too indisposed to attend to the Business himself: But directs me to inform you that, however willing he would be to serve you, as the Levies are under the immediate command of the Commander in chief of the Department, he cannot give any order respecting your son. He does not doubt however but that on an application to Genl. Heath to whom you are at liberty to show this letter, he will grant the Indulgence you Request. I am &c R. Benson. Mr. Nath'l Foster. [No. 4054.] John Field to George Clinton Asking for Passports for His Wife and the Wife of Dr. J. Crane to Go to Long Island. Sir, I have taken the Liberty to Address your Excellency by Mr. Crane, to request your Excele'y will be pleas'd to grant your permission and recommendation for My Wife and the Wife of Doct'r Joseph Crane to go under the sanction of a Flag from Stamford in Connecticut to Oyster Bay or Musquito Cove on Long Island; they have both aged Parents on the Island whom they have not seen since the Commencem't of the War and have lately had accounts of their being in a bad state of health, and of their great anxiety to see them. Exclusive of the above reasons there is another motive which I beg leave to lay before your Excele'y. They are people of some considerable property, and if they should drop off before they see their child'n it may be detrimental to their interest. My Wife has an inclination to take her son, a lad about 12 years old with her; should be much oblig'd if your Excele'y will please to include him in the recommendation. I hope yo'r Excele'y will not look upon the above request improper. I beg leave to pledge myself there is nothing meant but what is specified above. I have the Hon. to be yo'r Excll'ys Most Hmble. & most Obt. Servt. So. East Prect. Octr. 8, 1781. [No. 4055.] The Governor Denies Mrs. Townsend's Request to Visit New York on a Pass. Goshen, Octr. ye 8, 1781. Dear Sir, Your Excellency has been kind enough to inform me by Mr. Wisner, that I shall be Indulged in being permitted to go to New York in order to settle my accounts and shall ever esteem it as a mark of your kindness and Benevolence-and beg leave to express my most gratefull sentiments for the sameand as the Inclement season approach is fast-and I in a poor state of health-beg to be permitted as soon as possible and be pleased to deliver it to Mr. Wisner who will forward itt to me immediately-and am, Sir, with my Ardent wishes for your happiness your much obliged Humble Servt. Eliza Town'd. THE GOVERNOR'S ANSWER. Poughkeepsie, 31st October, 1781. Dr. Madam, I have received your Letter of the 8th Instant; it will give me great Pleasure to oblidge you, but at present it is not consistant with my duty to permit any Person to go within the Enemys Lines & to Return. The objections against it may probably be soon removed & when this is the case you may rest assured of being the first that will receive the Indulgence. This is the Idea I meant to communicate to Mr. Wisner when he conversed with me on the subject. I am with great Esteem, your Most Obed. Servt. [No. 4056.] James Bloodgood Forwards a Phaeton to Governor Clinton. Albany 10 October 1781. Sir, at Last-I have sent your Pheaitton by Capt. Tillman which has promised me to take all the Care of it that lays in his Power. I wish it may please you as I have Dun all in my Power to have it finished as well as I cold Git it Dun. The work is all well Dun Except the Painting which is not so good as I wish. Mrs. Bloodgood Desires to Joyn me with our best Respects to your Lady and self. I am Sir, Your very Humble Servt. James Bloodgood. Received Albany 10 October 1781 of Nicholas Quackenbush A D. Q. M one Phaeton which I Promise to deliver to Governor Clinton at Poughkeepsie having Signed Duplicates. Oliver Glean. [No. 4057.] Robert Benson to General Heath in Regard to the Protection of the Frontiers. Poughkeepsie, Oct. 11, 1781. Sir, I am directed by his Excellency the Govr. who is still indisposed with a fever, to transmit you the enclosed Copies of Letters from Genl. Stark & Genl. Gansevoort, together with a letter from Genl. Schuyler which he supposes to be on the same Subject, & to inform you that the confidence he has that every aid will be given by .you to oppose the Common Enemy in that Quarter which can be done consistent with the Genl. Interest & Safety of the Department under your command, makes it unnecessary to add any Thing farther on this occasion. I have the honor to be &c &c Rob. Benson A.D.C. The honble. Major Genl Heath. [No. 4058.] Affidavit of Colonel John Van Rensselaer, Who Has Been Threatened by Vermonters for His Loyalty to New York. Albany ss: Coll. John Van Renselaer, of Hosick district in the County of Albany, being duly sworn deposeth and Saith that the farm he occupies and Lives upon Lays abt. thirty two miles north Easterly from Albany to the westward of the Massachusetts Line, Continued Northward, that since some time in May Last the people of Vermont have used every Method to Exercise the Authority of that State in the District in which he Resides, that on the raising the nine months men this Spring the Class had furnished the Bounty for a Recruit to the Head of the Class a Man was Hired but the head of the Class would not Deliver the man to the State of New York when this deponent Ordered the Head of the Class Detatched and he was taken and Rescued by the people of Vermont and threatened that if this deponent Contin'd to Exercise the Authority of the State of New York they would pull his house down, that the people of the State of Vermont have from time to time Exercised the Authority of that State in the District and have frequently during the Summer and Still Continue under the authority of that State to Seize the Effects of the friends of this State and sell them at Vendue to Satisfie for their Delinquencys to the Orders of that State; that he lately Received a Letter from the Governor of that State dated the thirteenth day of Septem. ber Last which he now Delivers to Rich. Morris, Esqr. to be delivered to the Governor and further saith not. Sworn to this 13th day of October 1781 Before me Jno. Van Rensselaer Rich. Morris Arlington Vt. 13th of Sept. 1781. Sir, I am Surprised to find the impediament you make of the orders I sent to Colo. Abbot by you as you assured me that you had no disposition or Desire to impeade or prevent the Raising the men but would incurage it only wanted to have it done Equitabely. I found that what you had don in that way was to rais onley one man for the Class and if you have paid more than your part, others are obliged to refuis it. The Exercise of the athority of this State, which assistants you may Depend on it will be supplyd. If you do not aprove of such exercise it is enough for you to be quent. If you persist in your opposition you may depend on it you will be taken care of, and that on the next acct I have of your continuing your notorious, insulting and obsene conduct, however I hope and trust on cool reflection you will consider the importance of the most strong exertions in the defence of our frontiers, especially as we are under apprehension of an immediate an attack from the enemy, you will act up to your prefetion and not only act upon but give your Assistance in every matter that leads to our mutual Defence. I am yours, &c. Colo. Rensselaer. Thos. Chittenden. [No. 4059.] James Hamilton Calls Upon the Governor to Save Him from Ruin. Little Brittain, Oct. 11th, 1781. Hond. Sir. The Attorney Genl. Informs me that Execution will be Granted immediately against me for them 4 Cattle of Mr. Laws, which every person I talk to on that subject thinks very extraordinary-after your Order on the C. G. or assist; and his being offered the money by Mr. Elmendorph-and his applying to Col. Cuyler who asserts that He offered him pay for said Cattle in Novr. 1777-after your Excellency's providing a law for the payment of all provisions Taken at that Time-and Your Last proclamation, I expected paid him or Settled the Matter for payment. The Ato. Genl. directed me to go and Settle with Mr. Law by knowing how much he must have pr lb. and to promise him payment in 5 or 6 Weeks, which I think if I do it will be involv ing myself contrary to the C G of P orders, as he would not allow me to give him any more than 6d. P. lb. N. EmmissionI have Wrote to the C. Genl. this day on the Subject. If Execution is Levyed on my little place it must go, for the Continent has got all my substance and Services, and I can get nothing Mss. destroyed. |