[No. 3214.]

Reports that Vermont Tories Are Meditating Mischievous Work. To His Excellency, George Clinton, Esq.

We having receiv'd information of an alarming nature, some of which we have sent your Excellency in writing; and for a more particular account we refer your Excellency to the bearer hereof: as we are destitute of authority, we humbly conceive that the appointment of a Committee if they were invested with some degree of authority, might be of great service for detecting such Inhabitants amongst us as we have reason to sopose, are Conspiring against us with our Enemies, who secretly lurk amongst us; and we further, beg leave to sugest to your Excellency whether something by way of scouts will not be best to be done.

The bearer hereof, will inform your Excellency what measures we have taken, and by him we hope to receive from your Excellency such directions as your Excellency's wisdom shall direct. We are, Dear Sir, your Excellency's loyal Subjects,

Eleaz'r Paterson, Colo'l; John Sargent, Lt. Colo; Timothy Church, Capt; Seth Smith; Saml. Warriner; Benja. Butterfield, Lieut; Jonathan Church; Aaron Nash; Artimas How; Henry Seger; Lemuel Hendrick; William Harris. Brattleborough, September 11th, 1780.

BENJAMIN BUTTERFIELD'S STATEMENT.

I, Benjamin Butterfield, being at Fort George about the 25th of June last, saw one John Shadford, who came in there from St. Johns, and by examining him about the people that went from Cumberland County to the Enemy, he inform'd me that he knew several of them; especially one Oliver Church, who for

merly belong'd at Brattleborough the Town which I now belong at; and he furthermore informs me that those people have ben and are continually scouting from St. Johns over to the Inhabitants of that quarter; and likewise, from the best information he could git, that they intended to go with a strong party to distroy the Inhabitants of that quarter. I being concern'd about the Inhabitants for fear of their being distress'd before they could have any information of their design, I obtain'd leave of absence the last of July, and returning to the Town aforesaid, and by seecret inquiry found that the s'd Oliver Church had lately ben in the Town; and likewise a number more of his party was then at New Fane.

JONATHAN CHURCH'S STATEMENT.

I, Jonathan Church, by the above intelligence and a desire of the Inhabitants of Brattleborough, thought proper to go to New Fane in order to see what discoveries I could make, which accordingly I did the 13th of August last, and by discourcing with one of the Inhabitants of s'd Fane, he inform'd me that he had discourced with one Shaderick Ball, who now belongs to the Enemies Forces in Canada; he further says that s'd Ball informed him that there was a private Expedition a forming to the number of about four Thousand to come against the Inhabitants of this quarter; he further sayeth that said Ball inform'd him their intentions was, some time this Fall to come on with small scouts in order to take the leading men amongst the Inhabitants and secure them; and then to come on with a large party to burn and distroy all who they came acrost, except them who were their friends; he furthermore informs me that said Ball was their poilet, and that the s'd Ball had ben six times back and forth as a poilet from St. Johns to New Fane, since March last upon that business.

Brattleborough, August 26th, 1780.

In Consequence of orders receiv'd from Col. Serjeants, I march'd with eight men under my Command, from Brattleborough, acrost the woods to the south Branch of West River, in New Fane; and from thence up said Branch to westward of the Inhabitants of said Town; from thence acrost to Bakers Brook, from thence up the Brook to the great Croch, in the Town of Summersett, to the westward of s'd Fane, where I found Trees lately fell acrost the River, soposed to be for people to cross the River on, and from thence finding a considerable of a track up the West Mountain towards said Fane, which I soposed to be the track they traveled in to the Inhabitants to the westward. I then turning my cource Northardly to a little Meadow on the head of Smith's Brook, there being the place where said Ball did inform was the place which they steer'd to from St. Johns; s'd place being in New Fane, and there I found that there had ben some passing very lately. From thence I returned home through said Fane, and there privately discourcing with a young lad who inform'd me that he had ben at the place in the woods where s'd Church and Ball did resort, with a number of others of the same party; I also got intelligence that said Church and Ball had return'd to St. Johns, in order to bring on a party upon these Inhabitants.

And finding no more intelligence of any consequence I return'd on the 30th of August.

These may Certy that what we the subscribers have inserted in the within premises is the truth; witness our hands.

Benja. Butterfield, Lieut.,

Jonathan Church, Lieut.

[No. 3215.]

Mr. Knoulton Introduced to the Delegates in Congress.

Pokeepsie, 12 Sep'r, 1780.

Gent. This will be handed to you by Mr. Knoulton, a gentleman from Cumberland, for whose Character and Business I beg leave to refer you to the inclosed Copy of a Letter and to his Credentials. I should be happy if he may be enabled to return with such Intelligence as will prove satisfactory to his Constituents, whose Patience in their present disagreable Situation appears to be nearly exhausted.

The Legislature is now sitting and will soon adjourn. I would, therefore, wish if Congress have any Matters which may require their attention that they be forwarded without Delay. 1 am &c.

Officers of the Line Submit a Serious Grievance to the Legislature—
Transfer of Land Suggested as a Substitute.

Poughkeepsie, Sept'r 12, 1780.

Sir, The officers of the Line of this State, have appointed us their Committee, for the important Purposes of representing to the Honorable the Legislature, the unhappy and distressed Situation of the Troops they have the Honor to command, and the necessity thence arising of a speedy compliance with the several Resolutions of Congress in their Favor, particularly those of the 17th of August, 1779 and of the 12th & 24th ulto. From our Profession unacquainted with the usual Mode of transacting Business in the civil Departments, we have taken

the Liberty of communicating the Nature of our Embassy to your Excellency and to request that your Excellency will be pleased to represent it to that Hon'ble Body, that we may be favored with ther Direction in the execution of it.

Possessing the fullest confidence in the Legislature, we are persuaded that from a conviction of the Justice and Propriety of our application, the necessity there is of our Presence with our men at this critical Period, and from a tender Regard to our Feelings while necessarily absent, they will adopt such Measures, as shall appear most consistent with Justice, and best calculated to give Dispatch to the Business with which we are charged. We have the Honor to be with due Respect your Excellency's most obedient & very humble Servanst

Marinus Willett,

Nich's Fish,

His Excellency Gov'r Clinton.

Thos. Machin.

Camp, Steenrapia, September 7th 1780.

Gentlemen, We have chosen you our Committee to wait upon the Legislature of the State of New York for the important Purposes of representing to that Body the unhappy & distressing situation of the Troops under our Command, and their immediate Care and Direction, and of enforcing the necessity of a speedy Execution of the Resolves of Congress relative to the supplies necessary for the comfortable subsistence of the army; and as well to ascertain & liquidate the Loss sustained by the army by the Depreciation of the Currency, as to obtain proper security for the Payment thereof. These, Gentlemen, are the essential Objects to which we would call your attention.