Enemy have been, and are still possessed of, that their Retreat would be intercepted by the Troops from those Posts, and the militia of this State. Thus by guarding the Frontiers. has this State secured the friendship of a part of the private gentlemen and yeomanry, even of those States, whose Representatives it seems, are seeking its Destruction; and having the general approbation of disinterested States, this People are undoubtedly in a condition to maintain government; but should they be deceived in such Connexions, yet as they are not included in the 13 United States, but conceive themselves to be a separate Body, they would have still in their Power other advantages; for they are if necessitated to it, at Liberty to offer, or accept Terms of Cessation of Hostilities with Great Britain, without the approbation of any other man, or body of men; for one proviso that neither Congress, nor the Legislatures of those States which they represent, will support Vermont in her Independance, but devote her to the usurped government of any other Power, she has not the most distant motives to continue Hostilities with Great Britain, and maintain an important Frontier, for the Benefit of the United States, and for no other Reward than the ungrateful one, of being enslaved by them.

True, Vermont has taken an active Part in the War, subsisting between the United States and Great Britain under an expectation of securing her Liberty, considering the Claim of G. Britain to make "Laws to bind the Colinies in all Cases whatsoever without their Consent" to be an abridgment of the natural Rights of Mankind; and it appears that the said Resolves of the 2nd and 9th of June, are equally arbitrary, and that they furnish equal Motives to the Citizens of Vermont, to. resist the one as the other. For if the United States have de

parted from the virtuous Principles, upon which they first commenced the War with Great Britain, and have assumed to themselves the Power of usurping the Rights of Vermont; it is Time, high Time for her, seriously to consider what she is fighting for, and to what purpose she has been more than five years last past, spiling the Blood of her bravest Sons.

This government have dealt with Severity towards the Tories, confiscated some of their Estates, imprisoned some, banished some, and hang'd some, etc. and kept the Remainder in as good Subjection as any State belonging to the union. And they have likewise granted unto worthy Whigs in the neighbouring States, some part of their unappropriated Lands, the inconsiderable avails of which, have been faithfully appropriated for the Defence of the Northern Frontiers, which eventually terminates in the Support of the Interest, and securing the Independance and Sovereignty of the United States; and after having faithfully executed all this have the mortification, to meet with the Resentment of Congress circulated in Hand Bills, and in the N. York public Papers, representing their Conduct "In contravening the good Intentions of Congress, as being highly unwarrantable, and subversive of the Peace and Welfare of the United States." Those Resolves serve only to raise the aspiring Hopes and Expectations, and to revive a languishing Flame, of a few Tories and Schismaties in this State, who have never been instrumental in promoting the Common Cause of America.

With regard to the State of Massachusetts Bay, they have not as a legislative Body, laid any Claim to the Territory of Vermont; nor have they enacted Laws, judicially authorizing Congress to take Cognizance thereof, agreable to the aforementioned Resolves; a majority of their legislative Body, con

sidering such Pretensions to be an Infringement on the Rights of Vermont and, therefore, the State of Massachusetts-Bay, cannot be considered as a party in this Controversy; and as to the State of New Hampshire, although they have judicially authorised Congress to make a final adjudication of their late started, and very extraordinary Claim to the Territory of Vermont, yet by securing back to original Proceedings between the two States, it appears that the general Court of New Hampshire had, previous to laying their said Claim, settled their boundary Line with the State of Vermont, and established Connecticut River for the Boundary between the respective Governments, and so far as the approbation of the government of New Hampshire can go, have previously conceded to the Independance of Vermont; the particulars of which are too prolix to be given in this Letter, but are exhibited at large in a Pamphlet entitled "A concise Reputation of the Claims of New Hampshire and Massachusetts Bay to the Territory of Vermont" etc. which is herewith transmitted, as a Bar against the Right of New Hampshire to a Tryal for any Part of Vermont. The Government of New Hampshire, ever since the Royal adjudication of the boundary Line between them and the government of New York in 1764, have cast the Inhabitants of the contested Territory, out of their Protection, and abandoned them to the Tyrany of New York, and have very lately over the Head of the settlement aforesaid, laid Claim to the said Territory, and enacted Laws as aforesaid, to enable Congress to judicially determine the merit of said Claim.

How glaringly illegal, absurd and inconsistent, must their conduct, as a Legislative Body, appear in. this Respect? Such irregularities among Individuals, arise from the Ill Govern

ment of the Human Passions, but when it takes place in public Bodies it is unpardonable, as its Influence is more extensive and injurious to society. Hence it appears that (legally speaking) neither of the States of New Hampshire or Massachusetts Bay, can be with propriety considered as parties in the Controversy; and consequently, New York alone is left a Competitor with Vermont, even admitting that Congress are possessed of sufficient authority to determine those Disputes, agreable to their Resolutions, which by this Government is by no means admissable.

Notwithstanding the Usurpation and Injustice of neighbouring Governments towards Vermont, and the late Resolutions of Congress, this Government from a principle of virtue, and close attachment to the Cause of Liberty, as well as a thorough Examination of their own policy, are induced once more to offer Union with the United States of America, of which Congress are the legal Representative Body. Should this be denied, this State will propose the same to the Legislatures of the United States seperately, and take such other measures as self preservation may justify.

In Behalf of the Council, I am, Sir, your Excellency's most Obed't Humbl. Servant

Thos. Chittenden.

To his Excellency Samuel Huntington, Esqr. President of Con

gress.

A true Copy. Attest,

Thomas Tolman, P. Secry.

[No. 3385.]

The Governor Provides for Vacancies Consequent upon the Expiration of the Term of Service of Officers of the Levies.

Poughkeepsie, Nov'r 23d 1780.

Gentlemen, As the Times of the service of the Officers who at present command the Levies on the frontiers of Ulster & Orange, will soon expire & the Levies last raised from your Regts. for that Service will be without Officers, I have to request that you will order out of your Regiments, a Captain & two Lieutenants (such as you shall agree on) to take the command of them. Let them apply to Lieut. Colo. Pawling, at Warsing by next Thursday at farthest who will give them the necessary Directions. Major Hatfield is directed to order a Lieut. from his Regt., I am &c.

Lieut. Colos. Jansen & Newkerk.

[Nos. 3386-3387.]

G: Clinton.

General Heath Discovers Irregularities with a Flag Permitted by the Governor-The Latter Indulgent.

Head Quarters West Point, Nov'r 23, 1780.

Sir, Yesterday afternoon the Sloop Sally, Capt. Bogardus came too off the Fort, when the Capt. presented me your permission for several women and Children to go within the Lines by Land, or into New York in a Flag, if there was one returning; there not being one of the latter at this time in the river, I told Capt. Borgadus that he should this day have permission to go as far down the river with the familys as Tarrytown, & directed the Officer of the day to search the vessell & report which he did. Your Excellency will find the report enclosed.

I have thought it my Duty to detain them, untill I know your Excellency's pleasure; whether all the provissions they have