[No. 4199.] William Wills Explains to the Governor His Reasons for Leaving the State The Governor's Reply. Philadelphia, Decemr. 7th, 1781. Sir, The many singular instances of your Excellency's favours lays me under more Obligations than I fear I ever shall be able to requite. And tho, at present I may be deprived of Power, I am not of Will, nor I trust never shall, and I hope if Providence restores me again to my former situation in life that a great fulnesse of past favours may be deeply imprest on my mind. And on that account and on the Unanimity of the People in their choice for me, both Executive & Representative, wou'd be a great objection to me to leave the State. And I esteem our Form of Government better than any I have yet been Acquainted with, And I think the Council of Revision a good check at sometimes upon the precipitate Act of Both Houses. I'll Instance that of the Confiscation Bill. And I was straniously [strenuously] for selling, but when you gave your reason to the contrary, you fully convinc't me I was wrong, and from that time I made use of your objections for suspending the sale of the Principal Estates which had the desired affect: and I strove to convince the People as much as possible that your views was for their good; For as your Family Connections ware but few, there was the more Safety to be expected, for I always was (& I hope ever shall be) opposed to 'Vest Men with much power, whose Influence might be dangerous, on Account of their numerous Relations, for I think that a designing Governor, with a Number of his Friends to answer his purpose might sap our Constitution and establish an Aristocracy in its place; but these little hints I shall submit to your Excellency's superior Wisdome. I shoud have qualified and settled the Dispute in Tryon County agreeable to your desire, But the great confusion the People was in, prevented, and when I left that Octr. 1780, I expected to return in a Month, but hearing of the Conflagration of the remainder of the Settlements, I concluded my return wou'd be of no advantage to the Inhabitants nor myself, as the Enemy destroyd my place and all the Crops. I purpose soon to Return, and if the Vacancy still remains I will Except it, if it is agreeable to you; I congratulate your Excellency on the late happy event, in the Capture of Earl Cornwallis and his Army, which I hope will be productive of Establishing the Independence of America and an Honourable and perminent Peace. I went to Virginia last Winter, and I was offerd a Deputation to Survey at Kane Tucke [Kentucky] or any other of their Settlements at Ohio, and a Number of Gentlemen offerd to purchase Warrants (as the Land Office was then open) and give me the 1-6 part of them and pay me for surveying; But I met with great opposition from Mrs. Wills, fearing I shoud fall into the hands of the Enemy (as I had often narrowly escaped) which prevented me from going; But I hope in a little time something in that way offer in our State. There is nothing new here at present, But this City is crowded with People from Georgia, the Carolina's particularly Charles Town, and many from the State of New York and from all the Frontiers; which has occasiond Rent to rise to double to what they use to be, which I think is very ungenerous In the Freeholders of the City to Take the Advantage of the distressed Inhabitants of the other States. I shoud Esteem it as a great favour if your woud Honour me with a few lines (as soon as Convenient,) Directed to the Care of the Honble Robert Morris, Esqr., Philadelphia) Which will Much oblige Your Most Obedt. Humble Servant His Excellency Governor Clinton. THE GOVERNOR'S REPLY. Pokeepsie 21st January 1782. Sir, I have been duely favoured with your Letter of the 7th Ultimo and thank you for this Mark of Attention. I trust it is unnecessary to assure you how much I regret the Calamities & Wanton destruction of Property which occasioned your leaving the State, or that I receive particular satisfaction in the Attachment you express & the assurances you give of your intention to return. No change has taken place in the different Offices to which you was appointed & it will give me great pleasure to see you in the Execution of them when the Ravages of War shall so far cease as that you may be able with safety to return to your former Residence. I am Sir, with great Regard & Esteem, Your Most Obedt. Servt. William Wills, Esq. [No. 4200.] Governor Clinton Notifies Governor Livingston He Has Granted a Passport to Sir James Jay to Assist Him in Repairing His Impaired Fortune. Pokeepsie, 7th Decr. 1781. Dear Sir, The heavy losses which the Bearer, Sir James Jay, has sustained in the Course of the War by his Attachment to the Cause of his Country and an implicit Confidence in public Credit, have reduced him to the disagreeable necessity of endeavoring to raise a sum to supply his present wants on the Credit of his Lands, & he intends to repair to your State where he has better Prospects of effecting it than in this. Should he be unsuccessful, his next Resource is to attempt drawing a Sum of specie from within the Enemie's Lines and from a Desire of serving him and because I have always considered the acquiring of specie from that Source when it can be done unconnected with Traffic as a real Advantage to the Country, I have granted him my Passport for any Sum which may be forwarded to him from New York or Long Island, trusting that shoud it be necessary, it will receive your Excellency's Sanction. I take this Opportunity (tho a late one) to acknowledge the Receipt of your Excellency's Favours of the 23d July, 31st Augt. last and to thank you for the Transmission of the Counterfeit Bill of the Massachusetts New Emission & for the marks by which the Deception is discoverable. I beg your Excellency to believe that I was influenced to interest myself in Mrs. Bancker's Favor by a Representation of her Character directly opposite to that which by your Excellency's Letter I am informed is her true one, and as it was not my inten tion to sollicit an Indulgence for a Tory, I do not in the least regret the Fate of her Application. I am with the highest Esteem & Respect &c. [No. 4201.] General Heath Asks the Governor's Assistance in Despatching Clothing to the Naked Troops. Head quarters, Highlands, December 7th, 1781. Sir, A large quantity of clothing is on its way from Boston to Newburgh for the use of the army, in which the troops of all the States from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania are equally interested. For the ease of transportation, a large proportion is sent to Claverack-unfortunately the river has frozen sooner than was expected. The naked situation of the troops forbids that a moment should be lost, and the clothing must be brought down by land. I pray your Excellency will give orders for such assistance of teams to be immediately furnished to the Deputy quarter master as will ensure the certain and speedy transportation of the goods to Newburgh. I have the honor to be With the highest respect Your Excellency's Most Obedient Servant, Excellency Governor Clinton. [No. 4202.] General Heath Reports to Governor Clinton a Scrimmage with De Lancey's Men―The Protection of Westchester County. Headquarters, Highlands, December 7, 1781. Sir, I am this evening honor'd with yours of the 4th instant; and thank you for your opinion where it may be most eligible to station the troops destined for the Northern district; which I shall hint to General Stark. I had mentioned to the commander in chief the sending Hazen's regiment to the Northward; but he thinks that regiment has already had a large share of fatigue, and that the two New Hampshire regiments will be fully sufficient for the Northern frontiers during the winter. General Stark writes me he is informed by Colonel Willett that he has between eighty and one hundred men in his regiment engaged for three years. Are these designed to remain where they are, or, what are your intentions respecting this corps? You may depend the protection of the inhabitants of WestChester county shall claim my attention, as far as is compatible with the other objects of my command. It is my intention to |