[No. 3674]. General Return of Provisions up to 1 May 1781. No. 1. A General Return of Provisions purchased and delivered under the Direction of Udny Hay Agent for the State Pounds Pounds Barrels Pounds Pounds Bags Barrels Cwts. Qrs. 6,720 1 13 24,2152 48 2,614 6,720 11324,2154 1,597 695, 855 3,021 141 6,018 021 141 6,018 [No. 3675.] General Return of Short Forage up to May 1, 1781. No. 2. General Return of Short Forage Purchased and Delivered under the Direction of Udny Hay Agent for the [No. 3676.] General Return of Hay up to 1 May, 1781. No. 3. General Return of Hay &c. purchased and Delivered under the Direction of Udny Hay Agent for the State of New York By whom purchased Weight Hay purch'd Straw Weight of Hay Deliver'd Straw Benjamin Lightbourn Tons Cwts. Qrs. lbs. Bandles Tons Cwts. Qrs. lbs. Bundles Matthew Dubois 182 18 William Brown 1223 17 5,044 182 18 2223 17 Cornelius Bradford James Clinton Predicts Desolation for the Country Unless Provisions Albany, May 1st 1781. Dear Sir, Capt'n Machin informs me that he has enlisted a Fort Schuyler as well as every other Post in the Department be committed to Persons who are ignorant of it. The Spirit of Desertion has prevailed; and if Provision is not very speedily sent up, every Post in the Department must inevitably be abandoned and the Country desolated. Accounts have been received that the Enemy have sent three Ships to Crown Point. What Situation am I in to make opposition to a party, if they thought fit to send one into the Country. Some inconsiderable Damage was done on Bowman's Creek last week. Particulars have not yet come to hand. I am, Dear Sir, yours affectionately Gov'r Clinton. [No. 3678.] James Clinton. Representative L'Hommedieu on Clothing and Finances. Middletown, May 2, 1781. Dear Sir, I was honoured with your Letter, favoured by Major Woolsey, a few days ago. I did not see him, nor the messenger by whom the Letter came, so that I could not at that Time return you an answer. I wrote a Line to him at Hartford, which I heard he received, which no doubt he has informed you of. I beg you will not think that I have been unmindful of your Commission; every thing being so extravigently dear in this part of the County, I thought it not advisable to purchase, especially when I made no doubt you could be well suited with such articles as you wanted out of the goods sent on to you by Major Davis which will come vastly cheaper. I wrote to you by him, desiring that you would take any articles you might want for yourself and family; had I been well, I should have taken out such things as I thought would be agreable to you & have put them seperate, but 'tis likely you will better suit yourself than I could have done. I have advanced my own monies, & stand engaged for considerable sums on account of this Cloathing, so that there cannot be any difficulty in your taking what you want, keeping account of the same, in order for settlement (if necessary) when we see each other. I am informed today that more Cloathing is ready, which tis likely will soon come on after Major Davis's Return. I am at a loss how to act respecting the procuring monies for the use of the State on my personal security or account, since the appointment of Comissioner, and should be glad of your advise. I would not by any means be thought to interfere in their Business. I have taken measures since my Return Home for procuring considerable sums which I am incoraged will be ready in June. I can now easily counteract the orders if it should be judged expedient. Captain Norton, the Bearer of this & who is now with me, is desirous of obtaining a Commission to cruise the Sound in an armed Boat; as he is out of Business without any means to support his Family I believe such a Commission would be profitable to him, as he might (if permitted) bring a number of Families from Long Island who are selling their Estates in order to remove into the more interior Part of the state of New York. I have no suspicions that Captain Norton will abuse any Commission, and his having one may be advantagious to the Public as well as to himself. Tomorrow comes on the Tryal here for Goods & Cloathing taken from the whig Inhabitants of Long Island to the amount of ... should the owners loose them in this Court, they |