The real Depreciation upon the monies received and expended by the army, you are well acquainted with; and the most eligible mode to ascertain it, we conceive, will be by taking a comparative view of the Prices of articles most used in Camp, beginning at the first Establishment of our present Pay, & thence computing at different Periods, the advance upon such articles.

You will please to have in view that the Pay of the Troops has been very irregular, and that they have seldom been with less than three months Pay in arrears, and often with more, especially in the present year, the Pay for which since the first of January is still due, the Depreciation on which can be computed at nothing less than the real value of the money on the first of August.

With Respect to the Payment of such depreciated money as may be due us, we think, that Cash, or nothing less than a real security or Transfer of Lands will by any means answer the good Intentions of the state or releive us. Certificates or notes for Payment we find, from Experience, like other Paper Credit, is subject to the Ebbs and Flows of the Times. We have had melancholy Instances of this in the Eastern states where the notes given to the Troops have been sold at the most enormous Discount, & the Distresses of the army with the Legislature had in view to releive, have by no means been removed. Good landed Interest is secure from these Failures, and is the security we wish to receive, it is such, which if conveyed to us firmly and bona Fide will always form a Capital, upon which we can draw without any Discount. When we say landed Interest, we mean, Gentlemen, improved Estates, such as have a real and immediate value, of which the state to which we belong have an

abundance by the attainder of many of its Inhabitants who have withdrawn themselves from its allegiance. It settling the value of these Lands it will be necessary for you to pay particular attention to the mode to be adopted. We would recommend that three indifferent men may be appointed under oath for that Purpose, & that we may have a voice in nominating as well the Persons to value as the Lands to be apprized.

As Congress have by a Resolve of the 24th of August last, recommended to the different states to make Provision for the widows and orphans of Officers who have died or may die in the service, we request your attention thereto, and that the Provision therein recommended or some other may be extended to the widows and orphans of the non-commissioned Officers and soldiers in the like Circumstances.

We beg, Gentlemen, that you will proceed as soon as possible upon the important Business to which you are delegated, and as we have the utmost Confidence in your zeal & abilities to serve us, we would wish you to consider these Instructions more or less absolute as you shall find Circumstances require, and to do whatever else may be necessary for our Interest though not particularly mentioned herein.

We wish you, Gentlemen, a pleasant Journey and a happy success in your Endeavours to serve us. We are, Gentlemen your hum: serv'ts

Philip Cortlandt, Colo; Robt. Cochran, Lieut. Colonel; Charles Graham, Capt. 2d N. Y. Rgt; Saml. T. Bell, Capt. Do; J. Wright, Capt. 2d Regt; Jona. Hallett, Capt. 2 N. Y. Regt; Abner French, Capt. 2d Regt; Ch. Nukerck, Capt. Lieut. 2nd Regt; C. F. Weissenfels, Lieut. 2 Regt; W. Glenny, Lieut. 2 Regt; T. V. Wagenen, Lieut. 2nd Regt; Robt. Provoost, P. M. 2 N. Y. Rgt; B. Swart

wout, Ens. 2n N. Y. Regt; Christopher, Codwise Lt. ye 2 Regt; Dan Menema, Surgeon, 2d Regt; Jno. L. Hardenbergh, Lieut. 2d Regt.

Peter Gansevoort, Colo. 3d N. Y. Regt; Ja. Rosekrans, Major, 3d N. Y. Regt; Henry Tiebout, Capt. 3d N. Y. Regt; W. Colbrath, Lt. 3d N. Y. Regt; Corn's T. Jansen, Capt. 3d N. Y. Regt; Christ'r Hutton, Liv. & adj. 3d N. Y.; Jonah Bagley, Lieut. 3 N. Y.; Benj'n Herring, Ens. 3d N. Y. Regt; Prentice Bowen, Lt. 3 N. Y. Regt; P. Magee, Lieut. 3rd Regt; John Elliot Jun'r S. M. 3 Reg; Douw J. Fonda, Ens'n 3d N. Y. Regt; B. Bogardus, Lieut. 3rd N. Y. Regt; Geo. Denniston, Lieut. 3 N. Y. Regt; Geo: Sytez Capt. 3d N. York Regt.

Israel Smith, Capt. 4th N. Y. Regt; Jonathan Titus, Capt. 4 N. York; Edward Dunscomb, Capt'n 4th Regt; Silas Gray, Capt. Do; Peter Elsworth, Capt. Lieut; Peter V Bunschoten, Lt. 4 N. York; J. Frilick, Lt. 4th N. York Regt; Saml. Dodge, Ens'n 4th N. York Regt; Stephen Griffing, Do Do; Saml. Tallmadge, Ensign & Adjutant.

J. F. Hamtramck, Capt. 5th N. Y. Regt; H. V. D. Burgh, Capt. 5th N. Y. Regt; Henry Dodge, Capt. Do 5th N. Y. Regt; James Johnston, Ens'n & Adjt. 5th Regt; Barth'w V. D. Burgh, Ens'n 5 N. York Regt; Francis Hanmer, Lieut. & Qr. Master; Samuel Cooke, Surgeon 5th N. Y. Regt; Eben'r Hutchinson, Surg'n Mate 5 N. York Regt; James Stewart, Capt. 5th New York Regt. Fred. Weissenfels Lt. Col. Commandant.

John Davis Maj'r 4th N. Y. Regt.

Ph. D. Bevier, Capt. 5th N. Y. Regt; J. Brown, Ens. 2 N. Y. Regt; H. D. Bois, Capt. 5th N. York Regt; Saml. Lewis, Lieut. 3 N. York Regt; Eph'm Woodruff, Ens. 4th N. Y. Regt; Tjerck Beekman, Lt. 2d N. Y. Regt; Aaron Aorson, Capt. 3d N. Y. Regt; Leonard Bleecker, Capt. 3 N. Y. Rg; Peter Vosburgh, Lieut. Colo.

Livingston; J. Reed, Capt. Lieut. 2nd Regt. Artill'y; Geo: Fleming, Capt. Artill'y; John Waldron, Lieut. 2nd Regt. Artilly; Alex'r Thompson, Lieut. 2d Regt. Artly; J. Giles, Lieut. 2d Regt. Artillery; John Santford, Capt. Col. Spencer's Regt; Abr'm Neely, Capt. do; P. Taulman, Lt. & Adjt. in do; Finch Gildersleeve, Lieut. do; Anth'y Maxwell, Lieut. do; Jno. Stagg, Lieut. do; Andrew Moodie, Capt. 2d Batt'n Artillery; Henry A., Williams, Leiut. do; Jno. Doughty, Brig. Maj'r Artillery; I. Guion, Capt. Lieut. & P. Master; Gershom Mott, Capt. 2d Regt. Artillery.

STATUS OF OFFICERS AND MEN OF LIGHT DRAGOONS AND OF THE ARTILLERY CORPS.

In Congress, 15th March, 1779. Resolved, that all officers, non Commissioned officers and Soldiers now belonging to the Corps of Light Dragoons, & Artillery & Infantry, and the Corps of Artillery Artificers, Commission'd and Inlisted since the 16th Day of Sept'r 1776 for three years or During the War, or which shall hereafter be so Commission'd and Inlisted, not being part of the 88 Batta'ns originally apportioned on the States, be Considered as part of the Quotas of the Several States to which they did or shall respectively belong, when so Commission'd or inlisted; and that where it has happened or shall happen, that any non Commission'd Officers or Soldiers of those Corps shall not have gained a settlement in any part of the United States, they shall be Considered as belonging to the State in which they were or shall be Inlisted and credited, accordingly as part of the quota of such State.

That for the purpose of ascertaining the States to which the Officers & Soldiers now in the Corps aforesaid shall be deemed to belong, the Commander in Chief be Directed to cause returns to be made to him without delay, of the Names of all the officers, Non Commissioned Officers and Soldiers in the said Corps, and the States, Counties and Towns to which they belonged, or in which they were inlisted as aforesaid; which returns shall be Transmitted to the Board of War, who shall send to the respective states, lists of the Names & ranks of all officers and soldiers to be Credited to them as aforesaid: The like returns to be made afterwards once every three months of all officers Non Commission'd Officers & Soldiers who shall have Entered into those Corps after making the said first returns.

(Copy)

Extract from the minutes.

[No. 3217.]

Cha. Thomson, Sec'y.

Mrs. Allison Asks for a Pass to New York for Herself and Mrs. Halsted.

Goshen September 12th, 1780. Good S'r, I would beg to know whether ther is aney applications to your Excellency, that makes in favour of my getting to New York; and as it seems to be the prevaling opinyon of

the people here, that the Campain against New York is over, for this Season, should be glad to go as soon as your Excel. lency can pave the way for my getting in, and Lt. Halsted's Wife, will be my companey.

Your Excellency was pleased to tel me when I saw you last, that you expected to have a conferrence soon with General Washington, and that you would speak to him about the prisnors, should be much obliged to you, If you will let me know If there is any incorragement for them; your Answer much oblige your verry humbl s'r

His Excellency George Clinton, Esqr.

Mary Allison.

[No. 3218.]

Governor Clinton Vouches for Captain Wiley's Credit.

Poukeepsie 12th Sep'r 1780.

D'r Sir, The Bearer, Capt. Wiley, is returned from the Eastward without being able to effect any Thing towards obtaining Supplies for our Troops on Credit. He is now on his Way to the Treasury in hopes it may be in a better situation to answer his Draft than when he was last with you. He tells me that without knowing that it wo'd be necessary for him to go to Albany when he left Fishkill, he has omitted bringing the Certificates with him, & as it woud put him to Trouble and Inconveniency to return for them, I have advised him to proceed without them, being convinced, that you woud make no Difficulty of advancing him the full Sum mentioned in his Warrant, taking his separate Receipt for the Certificates, till he can return them to you, & I will readilly do any thing which may be proper to justify it. I am, Sir, your most obed't Ser't [G. C.]

[To State Treasurer.]