[No. 4182.]

Representative William Floyd Writes to the Governor for the Key of a Box to State Papers which James Duane Forgot to Deliver to the Governor.

Philadelphia, December 3d 1781.

Sir, I have been here about ten days but am not able to give a Vote in Congress as my Collegue is not yet arrived. Several States being unrepresented as well as ours, which makes a very thin house and Difficult to do Business as every Question Requires seven states to agree to it before it can pass.

I have not got the key to the Box which contain all the papers which belong to our State here. Mr. L'hommedieu informed me that Mr. Duane Intended to leave it with your Excellency. I hope Mr. Scott will bring it on with him if he Comes; if he does not, I hope another of my Colegues will come on as soon as possible, for it is very Disagreable for me to be attending here without being able to give a Vote on Interesting Questions. I would, therefore, beg that you would urge the Attendance of some one or other of them.

There is nothing material passed Congress since my Attendance here and for the News I must beg leave to refer you to the Inclosed papers, and am Sir with the greatest Respect your most Obedt. and humble Servt.

[No. 4183.]

Governor Clinton Asks the Intercession of William Floyd in the Matter of a Financial Obligation which He Incurred in Behalf of the Government Five Years Previous.

Pokeepsie, 3rd Decr. 1781.

Dear Sir, As I have for these several years past by an Attention to the public utterly neglected my own private Business,

I find I want the assistance of a Friend to procure the settlement of an Old Account contracted out of zeal for the public service, especially as I am apprehensive should it be longer neglected I may loose the Ballance which I can by no means afford & I know of no Person but yourself that I wou'd venture to Trouble on the Occasion. In the year 1776 when I lay with my Brigade at King's Bridge, Commissary Trumbull (the Army likely to fall short of Bread) requested me to send one of my officers up the river to purchase 5000 Bushells of Wheat or an equivalent in Flour for public Use. I accordingly complied; the Quantity was purchased, but the Military chest being exhausted he was either unable or neglected to furnish cash to make Payment & I was obliged to advance of my own and money I borrowed (which pay interest for to this day) for the Purpose. After some considerable Time, Wm. Paulding one of the Deputies paid me a part in a depreciated State, but there yet remains due £1003..9.7 which I am informed is, as some Time since, audited & settled with Com'y Trumbull's or his Depy. Paulding's Accounts, & Paulding in my absence left at my house a Certifi cate or Note for the Ballance. I do not, however, find myself more likely to obtain the Cash or proper security for it than before the settlement & his certificate does not intitle me to Interest, & whenever I apply for Payment I am told Congress have not enabled him to make it. In this Situation I have, therefore, to request that you will be kind enough to inform yourself by making the necessary Enquiry at the proper Offices and advise me in What manner I am to proceed to recover or secure the Ballance due me with Interest. I am sensible the Estate of Mr. Trumbull & his Dep'y. Paulding are answerable for my debt, but a suit agt. them woud be hard & disagreeable to me.

If Colo. Trumbull the Gen'l. Secr'y. should be at Philadelphia, I wish you to speak to him on this subject, as he was appointed to settle his Brothers Acct's. & may perhaps conceive it proper to interest himself in the settlement of mine. I have not a Word of News. Judge Smith who will deliver this, will be able to inform you of everything relative to the State. You will oblige me by an Answer on his Return. I am &c G. Clinton. The honble. Wm. Floyd, Esqr.

[No. 4184.]

Governor Clinton to General Gansevoort as to Providing for the Defence of the Frontiers During the Winter.

Pokeepsie, 3d Dec'r. 1781.

Sir, The Legislature having at their late meeting provided for the further defence of the Frontiers, by authorizing the Person administering the Government, occasionally to draw out into actual service from all or any of the Districts of the Brigades or Regt's of the Militia as often as he shall deem it necessary for the defense of the State, and as in our present distressed situation, it is my earnest desire as much as may be consistent with my duty to the Frontier Settlements to avoid burthening the inhabitants with unnecessary expenses or trouble. I have, therefore, to request your opinion and the sentiments of such of the Field Officers & other principal Gentlemen within the district of your Brigade as you can with conveniency and Expedition consult on the occasion, whether it will be necessary to carry into execution the above provision before the opening of the Spring, if so, the number of Men wanted for the protection of the Frontiers of Albany, Charlotte and Tryon counties in the Winter Season, and that you

will transmit me the result with the least possible delay. To enable you to determine upon this subject, it is proper to inform you that I am advised by Gen'l Heath (to whom I applied for the winter arrangement of the Army, particularly as it related to the frontiers of this State) that it is his intention. that the 2 New Hampshire Regts. now at the Northward, and which he mentions as being each between 3 & 400 strong, shall garrison the Northern Posts, & those on the Mohawk river. I am, &c

Brigr. Gen'l Gansevoort

[No. 4185.]

Governor Clinton Solicits the Views of General Van Rensselaer in the Matter of Providing Defence for the Frontiers During the Winter.

Pokeepsie, 3d Dec'r. 1781.

Sir, The Legislature having at their late Meeting provided for the further Defence of the Frontiers by authorizing the Person administering the Government, occasionally to draw out into actual service from all or any of the Districts of the Brigades or Regt's. of the Militia as often as he shall deem it necessary, such Number of Men, not exceeding 1500, & for such term of Time not exceeding 1 year from the 1st Day of Jan'y. next, as he shall deem most conducive to the safety of the State, and as in our present distressed situation, it is my earnest Desire as much as may be consistent with my Duty to the Frontier Settlements to avoid burthening the inhabitants with the least unnecessary Expenses or Trouble, I have, therefore, to request your opinion and the sentiments of such of the Field Officers & principal Gentlemen of your County with whom can with conveniency & Expedition consult on the Occasion, whether it will be necessary to carry the above Provision as far as it respects

the Western Frontier of your County into execution before the opening of the Spring & if it shoud, what Number of Men will be necessary for its protection in the, Winter Season & that you will be pleased to transmit me the Result with least possible Delay. I am &c.

Eadem die A similar letter to Colos. Allison & Snyderleaving out in Snyder's the words with whom you can with conveniency and expedition consult, & insert'g instead thereof who it is my desire may be consulted.

[No. 4186.]

Governor Clinton to John Morin Scott in Relation to New York State Matters to be Considered by Congress.

Poughkeepsie, Decr. 3d, 1781.

Dr Sir, About a week since a safe conveyance offered for Philadelphia by which (as your setting out depended on a Contingency which might detain you sometime) I transmitted to Congress & Colo. Floyd all the Papers respect'g Vermont agreable to the Request of the Legislature. I also sent forward by the same opportunity, my letter to the Presd't. cover'g a Copy of the concurr't Resolutions of both Houses on the liability of the State under a Flying Seal to Colo. Floyd. There now remains no other Matters to be sent to Congress except the Cases of Colo. Van Schaick & Sir James Jay; on which I have not yet prepared my Letters neither do I conceive it very necessary until our State is represented.

Colo. Hay I am persuaded is using every means to procure money, but I really do not believe that he has yet effected any Thing, from which it can be determined when you may expect