[No. 3643.]

Colonel Henry Livingston Volunteers for the Levies.

Phila. April 16, 1781.

Dear Gover'r, A few days since, I was informed, that your Excellency intended raising four state Regiments, for the defence of the Frontiers, as I should wish to be employ'd in any service of the state that your Excellency should think fit, I will take the liberty, to offer my service as an officer, in one of the New Regiments for the term of three years, as I am inform'd, that it is to be the period of their enlistments; should your Excellency think my abilities in that station will be of any use to the public, I wil esteem as a great mark of your favor to exert your interest in my behalf. I am, with great esteem your Excelle'y Hum. Serv't

Henry Livingston.

P. S. I shall at Poughkeepsie in 14 days from this. To his Excellency Governor Clinton.

[No. 3644.]

Captain Elihu Marshall Volunteers, Also.

Peeks Kill, April 17th 1781.

Sir, Thinking perhaps, that my declining the army on the last establishment, might induce your Excelency to believe I was averse to the service, and being informed of the intention of the Legislature to raise a body of Levies, to serve the ensuing campaign, gives me an oppertunity of ofering my service, if required. I do not solicit an appointment, actuated by principle of love to my Country; I am always happy to serve it, yet if as good, or better men, can be procured to officer the Levies, I shall not be mortifyed, if neglected. Your Excellency (as I am told)

being invested with the power of appointments, will I doubt not, select those gentlemen whom you think best qualifyed. Should I be honoured with a Command, I should prefer a Company raised in this part of the State, because they will be the most likely to remain in this quarter, which would give me an oppertunity, of paying some attention to my family, the particular circumstances of which, was the only motive for leaving the Regular army. Your Excellency will be pleased to observe that I shall expect to rank and Command agreeable to my Continental Commission, which I believe is always customary in all Countreys when half pay officers, are called into service, that is to rank agreeable to the Commission, on which they draw half pay. Will your Excellency be pleased to honor me with an answer as soon as convenient as my other business will depend upon it; address to me at Capt. Dusenberry's Peeks Kill Hollow. I have the honor to be with much esteem, Sir, your Excellency's most obdt. H'l S

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

Elihu Marshall.

[No. 3645.]

Citizens of Newburgh Protest Against the Interference of Military Officers in Civil Affairs.

To his Excellency George Clinton, Esquire Governor and Commander in Chief of all the Melitia and Admiral of the Navy of the State of New York.

The Petition of the Major part of the Inhabitants of the German Patent at New Burgh, Most humbly Sheweth,

That among the many Difficulties your Petitioners are labouring under in Consequence of their Situation being so near the Quartermaster's Department at the Continental Dock, that of the deputy Quartermaster, Mr. Mitchel and the Deputy Clothier, Mr. David Brooks, interfering in some Instances in the most violent manner against the Civil authority at this place, that is the said Brooks in perticular, an Instance of which your Excellency has, heretofore, in some measure been acquainted with. And that of their interfereing in the Internal policy of the said Patent, a recent Instance of which happened on the 16th Instant, when the Freeholders and legal Inhabitants and only proprietors of the said Patent were legally convened for the purpose of electing a Trustee for the management of the Glebe belonging to the Proprietors and Inhabitants of the said Patent, when their appeared 40 Votes for Thomas Palmer and 8 for

Henry Smith, whereupon Uriah Mitchel, the Deputy Quartermaster and David Brooks, a Deputy Clothier, interfeared with the soldiers, mechanicks and Servants, under their Command, and demanded and Insisted they had a right to vote, which they did themselves, and those under them as aforesaid and by that means made a Majority in favour to Mr. Smith; that, thereupon, Mr. Isaac Belknap closed the Poll in favour to the said Mr. Smith; that the said Brooks in perticular came up in the most menacing, and abusive manner threatening and abusing the Inhabitants in a most scandalous manner, supporting himself by those with him by damning many of the good Citisens for Tories &c. by which means your Petitioners are, therefor, deprived of their Charter rights and Priviledges of the said Glebe by violence. As we most humbly conceive that those in the line or staff of the army altho they may for a time be stationed here, have no right to interfere in our Charter, or any of the Internal Pollicy of our affairs concerning of it. That matters in Consequence of their Interfearance has got very high between the Inhabitants and those interfearing as aforesaid, and except some moderate measures are taken, it may be attended with the most dangerous Consequences.

Your Petitioners, therefore, most earnestly pray that your Excellency will, as far forth as may be within the Power and consistent with your Honor, and the Justis of our Complaint, interfere in favour to your Petitioners and order and direct that justis may be done them in the Premisses, grounded upon the facts aforesaid, assuring your Excellency at the same time that we want nothing more than our rights and Priviledges, and if the matter can be setled by a line from your Excellency to the said Mitchel and Brooks, we shall be satisfied, at least as to Mr. Mitchel and the others at this Post, but as for Mr. Brooks we think him too abusive and dangerous a Person to remain in the place. Therefore, Pray, that your Excellency in behalf of your Petitioners and for the future peace and safety of the place, will apply to the proper office for his Removal. One Instance of his abuse to the Legislature we think too heinious to pass over without notise and that is, because he was displeased at the law for Classing and raising men for the Defence of the Frontiers, did on the day aforesaid viz. on the 16th Instant Publickly declare that all Persons concerned in Framing that Law or such of them as give their assent to it, were dam'd Rascals and desired people to take notise, and repeated again and said that he called them dam'd Rascals and that he would tell them so to their Faces. In Confidence, that your Excellency will do us all the Justise in your Power concerning the Premisses, your Petitioners as in Duty Bound, will ever Pray.

Dated at New Burgh, 18th of April 1781.

Jno. Graham, Reed Albertson, Alexand'r McCrary, Solomon Buckingham, John Bishup, Isaac Brown, Hugh Stevenson, and many others.

[No. 3646.]

Mat Visscher Renews the Charge of Treason Against Ethan Allen.

Albany, 18th April 1781.

Dear Sir, In my attendance at the Court in Charlotte County last week, I found that several Petitions had been set on foot in that and parts of this County by agents of Vermont to come under the Jurisdiction & government of that State. Granville and Skenesborough have almost to a man signed it, and so has Cambridge. White Creek are in general against it; at this place, I was informed that Letters had been received in a secret manner from New York by some Persons in Vermont, This I

found to be true upon a Conversation, with a Man from that State, and by the best information I could obtain, they were from Genl. Robertson to Ethan Allen, and that they were on the subject of treating with them on the Terms of the Proclamation of the Enemy, as a distinct People not under the authority of Congress.

I last night received the enclosed Paper* and note from Dr. Williams, which I have the Honor to transmit your Excellency for your Consideration. Mr. Marsh is waiting, therefore, cannot enlarge. I am with the greatest respect your Excellency's most obt. Serv't

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

Mat: Visscher.

Little White Creek, April 15th 1781.

Dear Sir, This was put into my hands this day, & in conse quence of a promise to his Excellency, the Governor, I transmitt it to you requesting you will forward it to him with all posable Dispatch, so that the necessary precaution may be taken as the urgency of the Case requires; remain yours

Jno. Williams.

P. S. The greatest Secrecy is required in this.

[No. 3647.]

John Younglove's Letter Covering Proceedings in Vermont.

Cambridge, 18 April 1781.

Honired Sir, I take the Liberty to enclose you a paper which actidentally fell into my hand yesterday but without the design of some of our people who now take the lead here about matters

See document 3625, page 760.

The third document under No. 3636 is the same resolution &c. of Vermont, which appears under No. 3625.

1

relitive to s'd paper. Mr. Ira Allen & others has bean taken much pains threw the different destricts around us; the People or many of them are in grate disorder; they have had many meetings on the subject of joining the people of the Grants. A Convention of Committees from different destricts meats here today on the subject. A trustee from hear has just returned home from over the mountain. I have bean at but one of the meetings & then advised the people to be cairful of ther conduct. I am told that Mr. Whitesid & Col. Blair are much in favor of the plan & as near as I can find about one hundred more of the others also. You will pleas, sir, not to let this came abroad, for if our people shold find that I am buisy agains the plan, it wold be high treason & cost me some troble as they are very zealos. A line of direction by the barer, James Colter, wold much oblige, sir, your very humble sarvent

John Younglove.

To Robert Yates, Esqr.

[No. 3648.]

Colonel Klock Making Progress in Raising His Levies-Suggests Names for Officers.

Tryon County, 18th day of Aprill 1781.

Sir, According to general orders to raise levies to continue in service untill the first day of January next, I have form'd all the male Inhabitants of sixteen years and upwards into Classes, twenty in each class; some of the Classes have alrady delivered their man, and the others are busy to git theirs. I have appointed three officers to receive the Recruits, namly at Fort Walrath, and Fort Nelles, which two Plasses are intire fronteer, and each of them Plasses is a christ mill, and the only mills we