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N° 32.

My Lord,

Governor Tryon to Lord George Germain.

[New-York Papers (3. P. O.) OLXIX.]

New York. 11. February 1777.

The success that accompanied my endeavour to unite the Inhabitants of this City by an oath of allegiance and Fidelity to His Maj' and His Govern', has met my warmest wishes. Two thousand nine hundred and seventy of the Inhabitants having qualified thereto in my presence, the Mayor Recorder and Alderman Waddle1 were employed in administering the oath.

I have the satisfaction to assure your Lordship as the invitation to the people to give this voluntary testimony of their Loyalty to His Maju & his Govern' was made even without a shadow of compulsion, it gave me peculiar satisfaction to see the cheerfulness, with which they attended the summons; I verily believe, there are not one hundred Citizens who have not availed themselves of the opportunity of thus testifying their attachment to Government. The Mayor since I went through several wards, has attested fifty more Men, (and is daily adding to the number) which makes the whole sworn in the City Three thousand and twenty which added to those attested on Staten Island, in the three Counties on Long Island, and in Westchester County, (all which amounted to upwards of two thousand six hundred) makes the whole amount to five thousand six hundred Men.

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Thus, My Lord, I have used my best endeavours to secure the fidelity of the Inhabitants of this Govern', within those districts, thro' which the King's troops have moved. I have assured the General, that sh he remove all his Troops from this City, there would not be the least risk of a Revolt from the Inhabitants, but on the Contrary was confident, large numbers would take a share in the defence of the Town against the Rebels.

The Loyal Inhabitants of Queen's County received the eight hundred stand of arms distributed by the General's permission, with demonstrations of Joy and with a professed resolution to use them in defence of the Island.

I am anxious that some Grace from Govern' may speedily be extended to this Loyal Quarter of the Province.

I am with all possible respect

My Lord,

Your Lordship's most obed' & humble servant

W" Trton.

Governor Tryon to Lord George Germain.

N° 33. My Lord.

[New-York Papers (S. P. O.) CLXIX.]

NY 12 Feb1? 1777

Having compleated my view in securing the attachment of the King's subjects within the limits of his Troops in this Province, I waited on Gen1 Howe last week to offer my service to

1 William Waddli Was Alderman of the Ninth Ward of the city of New-York from 1778. Valtntxne's Manval. — Er. Vol. VIII.

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command the Provincials the ensuing campaign, if he would make the proper and creditable appointments for that corps, & give me an establishment, suitable to the situation His Maj* has placed me in here.

Sir Wm Howe was pleased to approve the proposition, but has not as yet appointed the staff, or other arrangement for that Command.

This offer, My Lord, flows from the warmest Zeal to promote His Maj's service in the line in which I esteem I could be most serviceable in the present war. Should this measure be honored with my Sovereign's approbation, and Your Lordp's countenance it will afford me the highest encouragement and satisfaction.

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Inclosed, is a copy of the instrument now carrying about the several Wards of this City and County; the Inhabitants thereby revoking and annulling all powers and authorities of Congresses, Committees and Conventions over them. This measure I recommended as salutary for the purpose of making known to the Province and other Colonies that the Delegates in Continental and Provincial Congresses for the City and County of New York, were no longer acting under the Colour of the, even unlawful, authority; and should these Delegates presume longer to Act after such revocation; their doings must appear still more flagrant and arbitrary than when veiled under the sanction of their Constituents.

I am with all possible respect and esteem

My Lord,

Your Lord's most obedient and

very humble servant

Wm TRYON.

N° 34.

Inclosure in Governor Tryon's Letter to Lord George Germain. 15. Febr* 1777.

WHEREAS certain persons now Members of What is called the Provincial Congress of the Province of New York, do claim and actually exercise the power of representing this City and County, and are with such Congress pursuing measures totally subversive, as well of His Maj Govern', as of our liberty and Happiness; we therefore, the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the City and County of New York, whose names are hereunto subscribed, do

hereby in the most explicit manner, disavow, renounce and disclaim such their assumption of power and all submission or obedience to any orders or resolutions of the said Provincial Congress, and of any Continental Congress Committees, or Conventions whatsoever, claiming to exercise any such unlawful power over us, hereby recognizing and acknowledging our submission to His Maju'* Govern1, under which alone, we wish nnd expect to derive those solid and permanent blessings, which are peculiar to the British Constitution, and the inheritance of a British subject.

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I lately by desire, laid before Sir William Howe, the State of my Department, with such hints as I thought best for the service, and which I flatter myself the General will countenance as far as he sees eligible; but the Indians, tho' they faithfully observed the promises they made to me, and assembled in great numbers last year both in Canada and at Niagara, were little employed, and by the arrangement of Indian Affairs my authority does not extend to Canada, neither has there been any communication yet formed by which we could bring those Indians who are under my Super Intendency to act with General Howes army, where they could be very serviceable. This consideration moved me to represent that if such an opening was not likely to be effected this way, I would willingly, if a body of troops went around by the Lakes or otherwise to the Northward, accompany them and do what service I could in that country on being properly authorized; but as General Howe is sensible of the advantages the Indians would be of to this army, and as I have sent messages to prepare them to avail themselves of the first opportunity to joyn it, I at the same time took the liberty to suggest my thoughts as to the mode of effecting such a junction, which in my conception deserves particular attention for any early movement that will facilitate their meeting us, will afford great advantage to the troops & promote the success of the subsequent military operations; and the terror of their name, without any acts of savage cruelty, will tend much to the speedy termination of the Rebellion, I presume on your Lordship's indulgence to mention these matters by the opportunity which Gen1 Robertson affords me; hoping to write soon on those of more importance, for I wish to render myself acceptable to His Majesty by an attention to my duties, and I trust in your Lordships support and countenance for rendering them more effectual.

I have the honor to be, with much respect

My Lord

The Right Honorable

Lord George Germain

Your Lordships most obedient

& most obliged humble Serv
G. JOHNSON.

Colonel Clans to Secretary Knox.

[ Plantations General (9. P. O.) CCLXIII.]

N° 1 Ryder Street 1 March 77. Sir. Before my departure for America I take the liberty of inclosing you my feeble thoughts about the management of the Northern Indians in America, but am afraid I have not been able to express my ideas so as to be very intelligible. However as you are very well versed in those matters, I dare say you will guess at what I mean. They are my sentiments without partiality, interest or view, and according to my notion of carrying Indian Affairs, will after this rebellion in particular, prove of utility to government, which should appropriate Ind matters entirely to itself, by confining them to His Majesty's guarrisons on the Frontiers.

I must entreat you Sir not to leave me to the mercy of a stranger in assigning me a vessell at Cork for a passage across the Atlantic. As to myself, I never made myself uneasy, and always leave those matters to chance; but when women and children (some of which not being my own) are in the case, one would willingly use as much precaution as possible, to guard ag" blame and self accusation in case of accidents. I understand the Alexander is a fine vessell, and wish I could go in her or such like.

I likewise humbly conceive that a hint to Gen1 S Wm Howe with regard to my allowance, might be of service. Lord G. Germaine was pleased to tell me a short time ago, that anything you could suggest to him with consistency, to be of service to me, he would with pleasure agree to.

I intend setting off by next Monday's Chester Coach; wishing you every happiness you can desire, and am, with the greatest esteem and gratitude for your many kindnesses and good offices while in England

Sir

Your most obedient and

most obliged humble Servant DAN. CLAUS.

To William Knox Esq

Colonel Claus' Remarks on the Management of the Northern Indian Nations.

The Indians in North America in general and those in particular that live any distance from the European settlements, consider themselves a free and independent people, liable to no subjection or subordination and consequently must be managed and ruled, either by persuasion or influence or some kind of awe, or military authority & parade.

The persons therefore who are to have the care and superintendancy of their affairs under government and would carry on business with them by persuasion and influence, ought to be possessed of an even temper, great patience and good nature, being well acquainted with their customs manners and language, persons of authority and consequence, of merit and character in publick life, and, according to the Indian phrase, have been great and successfull Warriors in their time.

Any one who has had a moderate acquaintance with the late Sr Wm Johnson, will allow that gentleman to have been possessed of the above qualifications, as much as any mortal

possibly could be, keeping up a uniform conduct in every one, for upwards of 30 years. And these were the motives which indeered1 the Indians to have so universal and firm an attachment to, and regard for him; even those that never saw him, held him in respect and esteem from the report of others, and received his messages and speeches with due attention. But with him all these necessary qualifications were burried, and it may with confidence be ascerted that there is hardly one to be found to equal him, in that respect, in America; and yet without some of the most essential of the above requisites, no one can be of much service to the Crown in Indian matters, particularly if a man cannot keep a private conference with an Indian it is a great defect, as their most consequential business often consists in such interviews. Indians in general are fond of carrying secrets to their Superintendant, which they would not choose should come thro' the mouth of an Interpreter, and such defects have already been noticed and regreted by them. To convene a body of all sexes & sizes of Indians is an easy matter when there is a prospect of presents and provisions; but to get them to perform any business or service for government, without the person that requires it commands some awe and respect with them, they will give evasive answers and seldom or never comply.

Wherefore the above alternative, which will as near as possible or perhaps better, answer the ends of government in preserving the friendship and attachment of the Indians and make them serviceable to the Crown, is to endeavour to draw some awe and respect from them by a military show and parade, which they are fond of, and may be brought about by having their affairs superintended under the direction of the Commanding Officers of the respective posts in the Indian country, whom the Indians always regard as the King's Representatives and respect them as such. At the same time no meeting of public Business ought to take place, without the whole garrison being present and clean, the Officers to assume an air of consequence & decorum on the occasion, which is very striking and taking with the Indians, and was always practiced by the French in the Indian Country & procured them that respect & awe the Indians used to have for them.—Indians in general show a greater esteem for the Military while used friendly by them, than any man in civil life, 'all their politics being founded upon war; and the more they are accustomed to the soldiery the better, as they may easier be brought to act together upon an emergency. Wherefore it appears more natural and reasonable to carry on their affairs in a military channel, the services chiefly required of them being of a military nature.

The late SW Johnson was very sensible that Niagara or Detroit, were the properest and most central places to convene Indians at, after the reduction of Canada, having held Congresses himself at each, and would have done it frequently had his health permitted him latterly.

A Superintendant therefore in a Civil Capacity ought by all means & at least constantly reside at Niagara, & visit the other posts and Indian countries in their turn; as the calling of Indians living about the Upper Lakes to the settlements of any of the Provinces is very inconvenient & disagreeable to them, besides expensive to the Govern'. And some ill minded inhabitant may overset the proceedings of a Congress by a malicious & disaffected discourse in broken Indian, and in general Indians on their return from such a meeting, have liquor sold them by bad people, to get their presents or other necessaries from them, and often come home to their families strip'd of every thing, & perhaps bruised & beat in the bargain, which

'Sic. Qu! induced. - ED.

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