for your Excellency's Inspection. I have the Honour to be, Sir, your very humble Serv't George Fisher. His Excellency George Clinton, Gov'r &c. of the State of New York. [No. 3538.] General Washington Vetoes Governor Clinton's Plan for the Employment of Invalid Soldiers. Head Quarters New Windsor, Feb'y 8th 1781. Dear Sir, I have been duly honored with your Excellency's favor of the 31st of January. I have also conversed with your Brother on the temper and disposition of the Troops of New York; and from his representation am led to expect, the discontents among them, which were so happily suppressed, will' not revive again. With respect to the mode your Excellency recommends for employing the Invalids of the New York line, I have the honor to observe, that altho, the forming these men into a Company under supernumerary Officers, might be attended with some good consequences, yet I conceive (besides being contrary to the spirit of the late establishment of the Army, by which all Independant Corps are reduced) it would not, on every consideration, be an eligible measure. If the men are proper subjects for the Corps of Invalids, they are not to be discharged on any pretext whatever. If they are so entirely useless as to be discharged, and are reinlisted by any Recruiting Officer, by the pointed Orders on that subject, he will inevitably incur the loss of all the expence & bounty paid to such Recruits. I will only add, that from long experience, I have almost invariably found Independent Corps to be such an imposition upon, and (moth [?]) to the Public, that I cannot consent to give any countenance to the revival of them. I have the honor to be with great esteem & respect your most obed. Serv't His Excellency Gov'r Clinton. [No. 3539.] Go. Washington. Colonel Hawkes Hay Asks for Time Because of the Poverty of the People. Haverstraw, February 8th 1781. Dear Sir, There's nothing in this World that gives me greater Pain, that my being under the disagreable necessity of troubling your Excellency. I am extremely unhappy to inform you that I have as yet been able to raise no more than five men out of my Regiment; it is I can assure you, not for the want of attatchment to the American Cause, but it is because we are so very poor that we are not able to raise the money in the new Emission, as there is none in circulation among us, & the greatest part of my Regt. are without a farthing of Specie, those they have it are mostly disaffected and will not part with it. The generallity of the Inhabitants are well disposed & are using their utmost endeavours to get the men or the money & to my certain Knowledge they have offered and dispose of any thing they are possessed off to procure Specie, I must, therefore, entreat your Excellency to favor us with a little longer Time or it will distress a number of good whiggs in this Part of the state. Please let me hear from you as soon as possible. I am, Dear Sir, your Excellency's most ob. Serv't [To G. C.] A Hawkes Hay. [No. 3540.] Assessment on Marbletown Tories. Marbletown, Febry. 10th, 1781. Sir, Agreeable to an Act to complete the Quota of the troops of this State to serve in the army of the United States during the war, passed the 9th of Octo'r 1780. The Following Persons Son or Sons are gon off to, and joyned where Returned to me in obedience to said act. I, herewith, transmit it to your Excelency. I am, your Most obedient Humble Se't His Excelency Gov'r Clinton. Matthew Cantine, Sup'r [No. 3541.] Lieutenant Weissenfels' Haverstraw, Feb'y 12th 1781. I am happy to Inform your Excellency of my Success in Recruiting; freequent applycations I have made to this County for money, but could not get any, and as I was doing nothing hear for the want of the same, made applycation to the County of Westchester where I was immediatly suppled and have recruited several men for them. As I have the greatest oppertunity to Ingage more, will, if it meets with your Excellency approbation, recive more money from the same County, untill money come to me from this County. Inclosed I send the names & &c. of the men I have inlisted, together with what I have recived from Col. Hay's Regt. I am, with due Respect, your Excellency most obediant Humble Ser't Gov. Clinton. Weissenfels. [No. 3542.] James Hamilton Makes a Questionable Financial Proposition to the Governor. Hon'd Sir, I went to William Barber and inform'd him about what you spake to me of, and he told me he had got it and wou'd endeavour to keep it for you. But I think you'll get it Cheaper in Albany, if so and you Encline to procure it, there, I'd be glad of a Line from you. Another favour I've to ask of you, I. E. to let me know if I can get one of these Confiscated Farms for Loan Office Certificates, as I have the value or 6 or 700 pounds worth of them N. Emmission, but Taxes runs so high here that I dare not let it be known. In hopes your Excellency will pardon my Impertinent requision, and write me a Line, you'll oblige, Hon'd Sir, your m. obt. and m. H'ble Sirv't Feb'y 12th 1781 Little Brittain. his Exc'y Governor Clinton. (private) James Hamilton. [No. 3543.] Mr. Rapalje Asks for a Pass for His Wife to Visit New YorkSimeon De Witt Succeeds Mr. Erskine. New Windsor Feb'y 13, 1781. Sir, The inclosed from Mr. Rapelje will shew that he wants permission for his wife and daughter to go to New York. He says that he is a good whig, but on bad terms with Governor Livingston. His hospitality at his house put me under the obligation of promising to transmit his Letter. I told him a magistrate of one State would not Concern himself with the subjects of another, but he resolved to make the Experiment. Since the Decease of Mr. Erskine, Congress have been pleased to appoint me to his office. My sincerest acknowledgements are due to your Excellency for introducing me into this Department with so valuable a person. I am, with great esteem your Excellency's most Obt. Humble Serv't His Excellency Governor Clinton. Simeon DeWitt. Sussex County, Squires Point, Jan. 6th 1781. May it Please your Excellency I have taken the Freedom from our old acquaintence and Friendship to your Family and friends to ask the favour of your Excellency for a Pass for Mitr's Rapelje & Daughter, or Mit'r Rapalje only, to go to Long Island only, as we Properly belong to New York State and are fled hear from the Enemy. I have sent an order to a very Near Relation to Receive a Sum of money for me on Long Island, who I hear has Receivd the same: who is a Prisoner, and as I also hear is like to spend the same; therefore, must beg of you to be so kind to send Pas as soon Possible, as I am in Distress |