Resolved, That the Sums assessed shall not be considered as the proportion of any State but being paid into the treasury shall be placed to their respective credit bearing an interest of six per cent per annum from the time of payment untill the quotas shall be finally ascertained agreeably to the articles of Confederation. And if it shall then appear that any State is assessed more than its just quota of the said tax it shall continue to receive interest on the surplus and if less it shall be charged with the interest upon the deficiency untill by a future tax such surplus or deficiency shall be properly adjusted. Moneys Exspend from the 26th Decem'r to the 12th Jan'y 1781 In Regard to the Fortifications at Schenectady. Albany 24" March 1781. Gent'n, As the Season is fast approaching in which Incur sions of the Enemy into our Frontier settlements may be appre hended from the Ravages of the Enemy last year, & as your Town is now in some Measure become a Frontier & an Object of the first Importance, I have to recommend that you will without Delay proceed in making such alterations in and additions to the works calculated for its Defence, as I pointed out when I was last with you & have the same compleated as expedi tiouslly as possible. As Major [Nicholas] Fish was present & is fully possessed of my Ideas, he will give you from Time to Time, while he continues with you, such Directions as may be necessary for carrying them into Execution. I have not the best prospects of being able to procure a competent Supply of artillery, artillerists or of amunition. I woud, therefore, recommend that the Works be calculated as much as may be for Defence by Musquettry. There are some small small Pieces of Cannon & Swivels scattered in different Parts of the Country near the Banks of the River whether these are public or private property I am not informed. If the latter it will not be in my Power to command them without the Consent of the owners. If either Provission shoud be made for the Expence of transporting them to Schenectady & making & repairing Carriages for them which I will mention to your Members that they may give the necessary attention to this Business. I have Confidence in your Exertions & you may rely on every assistance I shall be able to afford for your Protection and safety. I am &c. [To Magistrates and Field Officers of Schenectady. [G. C.] * Memorandom of Several Matters to be Laid Before his Excellency George Clinton, Esqr. Governor of the State of N. York &c. &c. at the Request of the Field officers & the Justices of the Township of Schonectady, the 27 Feb'y 1781. * This document numbered 3562 in the Clinton MSS is transferred from page 600 for reasons that are obvious.-STATE HISTORIAN. 1th. To acquaint His Excellency in what Manner the Gentlemen above, think will be Necessary to Fortify the Town of Sch'y which is Seven Block houses exclusive of the Pickets at the Following places: 2dly. One Battery at Mr. DeGraff's; -One Block house at V Eps; One Do at Doctor Specker's; One Do at Mr. Ab. Groet's; One Do in Alb'y Street at the house of Isaac Merselus; One at or back of David Frank's; One at or near the Continental Stables. 3dly. To apply to his Excellency for a number of small Cannon. 4dly. For a proper Person who is to be an Engineer. 5dly. For an officer of the artillry with a sufficient 8dly. His Excellency will be pleas'd to give Directions in what manner these Blockhouses shall be Mann'd & what number in each of them. 9dly. Whether the field officers & Justices have a sufficient power by the Law which past last Session for to take in people's property for to cary on the Fortifycations. 10dly. To Inquire of his Excellency in what manner we shall Raise some Cash to pay for the Ranging Scouts which will be of the greatest Importance for its Savety of the Town. [No. 3595.] Injustice Done Ensign Carpenter in Rank While He Was a Captive. Sir, I beg leave to inform your Excellency, that soon after my releasment I was at Albany, and by the advice of the Genl. wrote to your Excellency, representing that I have been Commissioned as Qr. Master from January 5th 1776, in three different Regiments, 1st in Coll. Nicolls of minute men, 2d in Genl. Clinton's of Continental, and lastly in Coll. Dubois's, in which I received a Commission from Congress, dated November 21st 1776; but my being a prisoner and not able to represent my own case, are now returned as the youngest Ensign in the 2d NewYork Regiment, and those that were Serjts. and privates in the same Regiment with me before I was captured, are now the eldest in the Regiment. My Commission as Ensign has not come out, therefore, if your Excellency could see fit to give me rank agreeable to a resolve of Congress, or that which would not injure my honor, I could serve with the greatest pleasure. I am Sir, your Excellency's most obedient Serv't New-Windsor March 24th 1781. Nehemiah Carpenter. His Excellency Governor George Clinton. [No. 3596.] Judge Hobart in the Matter of Clothing and Funds. Saybrook, 25th March 1781. Sir, I was in hopes before this to have had it in my Power to inform your Excellency of my success in the Bussiness upon which I came here, but so many difficulties have arisen that I am almost discouraged in the hopes of obtaining any considerable supply of cloathing. I have sent Capt. John Grenell to the Island whose accounts are not very encourageing; no persons who have assortments of goods choose to brake the assortment, and a great part of them are such as will not answer the warrant; however, some gentlemen of pretty strong Interest have engaged to try to bring down such an assortment as we want, but they consider it as a very doubtfull case. Mr. Grenell is to have a definite answer the first of next week; should we be disapointed in this atempt, I know of no way in which we can obtain any considerable supply, unless your Excellency should think proper to grant permits to some persons to bring their effects from the Island. Mr. Grenell who wishes to obtain such a permit, says he will bring off as large an assortment for our use as possible and let the state have them upon the same termes that he can procure them. I have procured about £800 which I shall deliver to Mr. L'Hommedieu, and have a prospect that the whole or the greater part of the sum proposed, will be obtained, in the course of a few weeks. I intend to set out on my return tomorrow, and hope to meet Mr. L'Hommedieu at Midletown, who I trust will be able to inform me how the important session has ended. Major Davis tells me they have published in New York that the British Court declared war against the Dutch on the 22d Dec'r last-what glorious fellows these Englishmen are! to fight the whole world rather than give up a point of honour. I am, with the greatest respect and esteem your Excellency's most obed't h'ble Serv't His Excellency Gov'r Clinton. Jno. Sloss Hobart. [No. 3597.] Jonathan Lawrence Brings Further Charges Against Refugees and Plundering Militiamen. Pokeepsie, March 25th 1781. Honoured Sir, I came here in expectation of finding you returned from Albany. I had something to mention which I should have been happy to have done verbally, but the Uncertainty of your Excellency's returning soon, made me conclude it best to write to you. Several well disposed persons liveing on the lines have waited on me & begd me to acquaint your Excellency of the Robberys Committed by the Militia and the Refugees of our party, on their propertys, and as their Circumstances are such, should they be obliged to Quit their habitations, they would be reduced to the Extremitys of want. On acc't of the loses they have sustained by the Plunderers, they could wish to continue in their habitations, provided a Stop is put to their being distressd by our people. It is from the very Persons that |