[No. 3480.]

Colonel De Witt's Letter on the Tory Proposition in His District.

Sir, As Supervisor of the Town of Hurley, I am by law directed to Transmit a Copy of the assessment made on Persons whose Son or Sons are gone off to the Enemy, of whom I conceive there are none in this Town whish the law reaches, for altho the People of Woodstouk, Great & Little Shandekan, are by an act of the Legislature annexed to the Town of Hurley, I do not find that they ever were under the Command of the Captain of Hurley, or ever were considered as being within his Beat. I confess it is a Pity that such notorious offenders as some of them are, should escape Taxing, and yet it is fortunate for Capt. Lafever that they are not in his Beat, as very great uneasiness and discontent hath Prevailed among the People of Hurley since that extraordinary addition to Hurley, which every Person that has the least knowledge of the Situation of the three Towns can easily see, would have better Suited the two adjacent Towns.

If some Folks in Kingston had not appeared so very officious with their assistance to me, to Tax these men, I should perhaps not have entertained so strong a suspicion that their Design was only to forge another Rivet, to fix them fast to, Hurley; and least any misrepresentations should take place, I thought it my Duty to acquaint you, Sir, that in my opinion I could not cali upon these People as lying within the Captain's Beat, which the Law expressly mentions. I have enclosed his return. I suppose the Field officers must know that the Capt. of Hurley never made any returns of these men to them in raising Troops

&c. and yet endeavours have been used to shew that it was my Business to Tax them. I am, Sir, your most Humb. ser.

Green Kill, Jan'ry 11th 1781.

His Excellency George Clinton, Esquire.

Ch. D. Witt.

According to your Desire to make a return of all Persons sende out within the beat of my compinion, whose Son or Sons shall have gone off to the enemy, I return by this, Direk Kyser & Jacob Slouter, who have each a son gone of to the enemy; but there sons having moveth from them some years before the went of to the enemy at the first place he moveth under Marbletown, and the both, that is to say Abraham Kyser & Johannis Slouter, did each of them took a wife under Marbletown and did live there for some years before the went of with Jacobus Rosa to join the enemy; and the abovesaid Dirck Kyser & Jacob Slouter are so poor that the excessessors of the Destrect have them not on the tax list, for the have nothing, and I am fully of oppinion that the said Dirck Kyser and Jacob Slouter was not noing at the time or before that, there sons was to go of and join the enemy; as for Woodstock and Shandaka I shall make no return of, for the do not belong in my distrect or beat. Sir, I am your frind and Humble Servant

Novem. the 24th 1780.

To Mr. Charls Dewitt, Suppervisor.

Simon Lefever, Capt.

[No. 3481.]

THE PENNSYLVANIA LINE MUTINY.

British Emissaries Who Tried to Seduce The Troops, Turned Over to Lord Stirling as Spies.

Head Quarters, New Windsor Jan'y 11th 1781.

Sir, I have it in command from the General, who is gone to West Point, to transmit your Excellency the purport of the favorable intelligence received last night by Express from Trenton. The Pennsylvanians have given a decided & unequivocal proof of their attachment to the Country, and determination not to join the Enemy, by delivering up to General Wayne, an Emissary sent by the Enemy to tamper with them, together with his Guide & Papers. These Agents of the Enemy were sent under a guard to Governor Reed, who was in the neighbourhood of Prince Town, and were to be delivered over to Lord Stirlings's Orders, who had ordered a Court Martial at Trenton for their Tryal. A Copy of the paper found on the Negotiator, I do myself the honor to enclose to your Excellency. This, with the above intelligence comes from Lord Stirling and the Committee appointed by Congress to quiet the disturbances in the Pennsylvania Line.

It appears from a variety of circumstances that this was the first Overture, and that a number of Agents were employed on the same business, as General St. Clair who is at Morris Town, had just before detected one set of Proposals, and transmitted a Copy (similar to the enclosed) to His Excellency. It is now hoped & expected, from the good disposition shewn in this instance, that the affair may yet be happily settled. I have the honor to be with the most perfect respect & esteem your Excellency's most Obedient H'ble Servant

His Excellency Gov'r Clinton.

D. Humphreys.

Copy of the Enemy's letter to the Pennsylvanians:

It having been reported at New York that the Pennsylvania Troops and others having been defrauded by Congress of their pay, Cloathing and provisions, are assembled for a redress of their grievances, and also that notwithstanding the terms of their inlistments are expired, they have been forcibly detained in the service where they have suffered every kind of misury and oppression.

They are now offered to be taken, under the British Government, to have their rights restored, a free pardon for all former offences and their pay due to them by Congress faithfully paid to them without any expectation of military service (except it may be voluntary) upon laying down their arms and returning to their allegiance, for which purpose if they will send Commissioners to Amboy, they will be there met by people empowered to treat with them, and faith shall be pledged for their security.

It is recommended for their safety, to move behind South River and whenever they request it, a Body of British troops. shall protect them.

It is needless to point out the inability as well as want of inclination in Congress, to relieve them, or to tell them the severities that will be used toward them by the Rebel leaders, should they think of returning to their former servitude.

It will be proved to the Commissioners they may choose to send, that the authority from whence this comes, is sufficient to ensure the performance of the above proposals.

To the Person Appointed by the Pennsy'a Troops to lead them in their Present Struggle for their Liberties and Rights.

[No. 3482.]

Colonel Bostwick to Governor Clinton Respecting the Adjustment of Public Accounts.

Poughkeepsie, 11th Jan'y, 1781.

D. Sir, The Important necessity there is of bringing my public accounts to a speedy settlement, together with the Constant applications of the Inhabitants for what is due to them, from my late department, makes me Exceedingly anxious to enter fully on that business as soon as posable; and it is now only impeeded for the want of the necessary mode to be observed, relative to the depreciation to be allowed agreable to Resolve of Congress of the 26th Aug't last, which, by a Law of this state your Excellency is to make known by Proclemation. And as there is very Considerable arearages due the Inhabitants for Forage &c. it is suggested that a settlement of those accounts would greatly tend to remove some of the obstacles that now Interupts the geting Present Supplies; my duty, therefore, as a person to whom the Inhabitants look for a settlement of those accounts, as well as the attention I ought to pay the public & myself in closing them with the utmost dispatch, Induces me to give your Excellency this Information, hopeing that such measures may soon be adopted as will render all posable Sattisfaction to the Public & Individuals. I am, with real Esteem & Regards, your Excellency's most Obt. & very h'ble Serv't

His Excellency Gov'r Clinton.

And. Bostwick.