tion of this state, he ought to be taken notice of as a pentioner agreeable to the act of Congress. Mr. Lyon, the gentleman that was at Lake George with Genl. Allen and after which followed. your Excellency to Fort Edward, is so condem'd for his conduct when with your Excellency, that he is about to leave this side of the Mountain.

The late resolutions of Congress hath caused great uneasiness amongst them & I have reason to believe that the majority of their men in office thinks they will lose their state. As for Allen he swears that he will fight, nay even run on the mountains & live on mouse meat before he will subject himself to New York, or Congress. He shew me a letter last week, which was going to the Council for approbation, in order to be sent to Congress, to this effect, that as the state of Vermont never had waged war with G. Britain, nor had not joyn'd Congress by confederation, it was at the option of Vermont which to joyn, and refered Congress to Bradleys Peice, (should this be sent to Congress) which I make no doubt but it will. I hope the matter will soon be settled. For my own part (tho' I shall leave an independant fortune) yet I cannot see the justice in depriving these people of their prior grants, (provided they would acknowlidge our jurisdiction).

I had a great dispute with some of their leading men last week, respecting this matter; they say that admitting the Legislature of New York would confirm them in their prior grants, yet, if Vermont acceeds to the Jurisdiction of N. York, the Patentees of N. York would prosecute their title as its not in the Legislative power to give those lands which are patent'd. I gave them for answer if the Legislature, gave the Patentees, unappropriated lands, & took up their patents, it could be done, &

that I had heard Mr. Duane, (who had the greatest share, except those gone to the Enemy) was fully sattisfied to give up his right. Other objections they have, that in case they joyn New York, they will be troubled, respecting the sale of confiscated lands, and lands which they have granted. How far Policy may induce the Legislature to confirm these proceedings, I am not able to determine. But Vermont hath done this in order to strengthen them in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut, as the Patentees are residenters in those places, as well as the purchasers of the confiscated lands. A few days since some gentlemen came to me from Otter Creek who have allways acknowledged the Jurisdiction of New York, in order to know how it went on. I gave them the resolves of Congress, which they had not seen nor heard of, it being kept secreet from them. They inform me that the people in general are disattisfied with the proceedings of the new state; and some who have taken the freemans oath are requesting to recant.

I am of opinion if a proclamation was issued that the prior grants should be confirm'd; in plain words so that the vulgar might readily understand it, the majority on this side the mountain would comply. I believe the greatest number that could be perswaded to fight against Jurisdiction would not amount to more than three hundred. As for the other side of the mountain, they are so much divided, some for New York, some for New Hampshire, & others for Vermont that there will be no great dificualty. It gives me pleasure to here the York party are raising their quota of men under New York jurisd' with the greatest cheerfullness, but I w'd submitt it to your Excell'y Judgm't whither prudence respecting the num' to be

rais'd ort not to be us'd, as the contention on the east side of the mountain is beneficiall.

We have cause to be thankfull that since you left us, we have remain'd in peace; the men ordered to be raised in this district are gone to Fort Edward. Notwithstanding your Excellency's orders, the men did not go to Skeensbrough, nor do I learn that any are ordered there. The inhabitants are generally moved of from there. Major McCraken went to Skeansbrough to pitch on a place for a pickett, & the inhabitants of Granvill would have charefully went with there teems to draw them, but the men not going there hath prevented any thing being done, so that the faithfull subjects are now open to the insults of the enemy, while the people on the Scotts Patent (who are in generall disaffected), are protected. Notwithstanding your Excellency's orders for a generall Court Martial, those people (in the Scotts Patent) who ought to have suffered, have been excus'd by reason of warning. It seems that those people by some pretence or other are

*

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duty, (because they deny

doing any) but of all fines or punishments. This hath been the case since the retreat. Collo. Webster hath appointed sundry regimental courts martial for the tryall of delinquents, but suldom any officers appears, by which means there is nothing done; whether its done out of contempt to him, or neglect I know not, When Collo. Yates was at my house with the Court Martial, Collo. Webster requested one Shaw of the Scotts Pattent to take a Lieut's Commission which he had ready for him. Shaw inform'd the Collo. that he dare not, for fear of being kill'd; the Collo. urg'd him much but I inform'd Collo. Webster that Shaw had been at Burgoyn's camps and would insist on

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1

being sworn to the King (tho not desired) and no wonder of his being afraid of being killd, and thro the perswation of Collo. Yates & myself, Collo. Webster omitted urging him any more and if some officer is not appointed in that Patent, that knows how to act like an officer these people will not only free themselves of going out on duty, & draughts, but also of fines and punishments.

I am inform'd that the men did not proceed to Skeansbrough agreable to your Excellency's orders, by reason of there [not being]* supplied with provisions; a request for cattle came to me last week from the Commisary for cattle saying if they could not be supplied with that article, the men must abandon Forts George & Edward. I sent them a pair of oxen & a cow; and Major McCraken, Esqr. Hopkins & self collected near twenty head on the faith of the public, & I hope before they are gone a sufficient supply will arive. I have nothing to inform you from the Norw'd, only one man being kill'd & scalp'd about a mile from the Fort on the fronteers of the Grantssupposed to be Indians. I have the Hon'r to be, with the greatest respect & esteem, your Excellency most obed't & most Humble Serv't,

To Governor Clinton.

John Williams.

[No. 3094.]

The Enemy Contemplates Destroying the Crops on the Frontier of New York-Governor Clinton's Letter.

Sir, For your Excellency's Information we have thought it proper to inclose an Extract of an Examination of Peter Van Campen and from many corroborating Reports and Insinuations

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of the disaffected and other Circumstances, we are led to believe that the Enemy have it in view to (and will if possible). destroy all the grain to the Northward & Westward, a measure which is carried into Execution will certainly greatly distress us; we would, therefore, suggest the necessity of sending a strong Party to the Westward for the Purpose of aiding the Inhabitants in gathering the grain, threshing the same, and bringing it down to a Place of Safety. The Crops are so great they are not able of themselves to gather them and perform the Duties the Country requires. We have the honor to be, your Excellency's most obedient & hum: Servants,

Mat: Visscher. John M. Beeckman. Sam: Stringer.

Albany 22nd July 1700.

His Excellency, George Clinton, Esq. Governor &c. of the State of New York.

Extract of Peter Van Campen's Examination taken on oath the 20th July 1780.

Who saith that John Buys who went off to Canada with Sir John Johnson in 1776, and has been lately with him at Johnstown is a Serjeant in his Regiment; that this Buys came to the Examinant's House last Friday evening a week, to see his wife, who is a Daughter of the Examinant & lives with him; that this Buys in conversation informed the Examinant that Sir John was gone down to Quebec for the Purpose of obtaining a Flag to fetch the women at Saragtoga; that they expected in Canada daily to hear of the Reduction of the Forts in the Highlands, when an Army would instantly move down from the Northward and Westward; that if this failed, Parties would come down the Mohawk and North Rivers immediately after the Harvest was