[No. 3699.] Washington Reports to Congress What He Has Done for the Frontier and Declares Unless a Decided Change Occurs, It Will be Impossible to Keep the Army Together. Extract of a letter from General Washington: "May 8th 1781. Your Excellency will perceive by copies of letters from General Heath of the 6 instant and from brig'r genl. Clinton of the 30th April, and 4th instant, to what an alarming situation we are reduced at these posts and on the northern frontier. Upon the receipt of genl. Clinton's letter of 30th ult. I upon the 5th sent off to Albany 34 barrels of beef (which was every ounce in the magazine) and 50 barrels of flour. I am now upon receiving the letter of 4th sending off 100 out of 131 barrels in the magazine, of meat I have not a barrel to send. The Quarter Master is unable to transport what is at the distant magazines and the States neither do that nor send on beef cattle agreeably to requisition. I am sorry that I am obliged so often to wound the feelings of Congress with accounts of our distressed situation on the score of provisions, but duty calls upon me to represent what it is not in my power by my utmost exertions to prevent. Of this I am certain, that if there is not a very great and sudden change of measures, it will be next to impossible to keep the army together." [No. 3700.] Colonel dny Hay Speaks of the Battle at Ninety Six and of Rumors that the English Propose to Leave New York. Philadelphia, 8th May 1781. Sir, I am much affraid your Excellency may think my Conduct in staying here so long very reprehensible; it gives myself much uneasiness, and yet when I reflect on the evil consequences which much result to the State as well as the public from a farther delay in the settlement of the public accounts, I cannot think I would be justifiable in coming away till I have obtaind some answer to the Questions I have stated on that subject now laying before a Committee of Congress, who confess the necessity of answering them, and are to meet tomorrow morning for the purpose; a sense of duty added to inclination will render my journey home as expeditious as possible after my business is finishd. I have been much oblidged to our Duane for his kind attention to my every application, but the very mode in which my business is oblidged to be conducted occasions delays which cannot be prevented. I cannot allow myself to suppose I shall not quit this place by Saturday at farthest, and have, therefore, written to a Friend at Trenton to get into his own charge the paper I bespoke at that place for printing the money on, that I may not be disappointed in a matter I know to be of so much consequence to the State; I shall contrive some means or other for bringing it on with me. It is reported and believed that the Enemies post at Ninety Six is carryd and they to the amount of near four hundred made Prisoners, but there is no official intelligence of this rec'd as yet. About twelve hundred of the Pensylvania line has marchd to the northward. Various are the opinions of the Politicians here about the Enemies movements in New York; it is imagined by many they design to evacuate that place. I have the Honour to be, with every sentiment of respect, your Excellency's most obedient and very humble Servant Governour Clinton. Udny Hay. [No. 3701.] Major Van Bunschoten Reports the Levies Come in Slow. Fishkeels, 9th May 1781. D'r Governor, I am sorrow to acquaint you that the Levies coms in slow. I will not be able to make a report of the Delinquns untel Monday next. I shall dispach them to thare respective places of Destination as sune as a sofitian nomber arives & offisers to march them. I send you by Leut. Levingston, five men & a good ser't. I think the remainder will be at your Qarters this weeke. I am, your Ex❜ly most obt. Hb. Srt. His Ex'ly Governor Clinton. E. V Bunschoten. N. B. I beg indulgens may be granted to the sarg't of your gard to com dow one day this week to sittel his Business. [No. 3702.] General Scott Gives Reasons for his Unwillingness to Attend Congress at This Time. Fish Kill, May 10th 1781. Sir, On Sunday the 6th I was honored with the Receipt of your favor of the 3d instant. In answer to which, permit me to observe, that tho' my Health is sufficiently restored to enable me as well as ever to attend on the public Business, and my Inclination strongly prompts me to it; yet I have several reasons to deter me from an immediate attendance at Congress. I was on that Service & in going and returning, about 10 Months; during which I expended, and I conceive not unneces sarily, about 57,500 Dls. (exchange on an Equation of Time about 70 for one) amounting to about £328 Cur'cy and to little more than 20 per day; tho' our delegates were allowed before depreciation, (and when living at Philadelphia was not half so dear as while I resided there in the public Service) four dollars per day. Of the above Expenditure, knowing I should be long absent from home and therefore, should be obliged to leave all the Money I then had, with my Family, towards their Support, I borrowed from Theodorus Van Wyck Esqr. one of the Commissioners of Sequestration, 15,000 Dls.; for which I gave him my promisory note, expressing the Loan to be made to me as a Delegate, and to leave Philadelphia with reputation to myself and the State. I was obliged to borrow near 10,000 Dls. on my private Credit, for want of Money in the Continental Treasury. The latter Sum to my great Mortification, I have, for want of Means, been hitherto unable to discharge; and as to the former, Mr. Van Wyck yesterday, wrote me a Letter, in which he informs me, that he had presented my Note to the Auditor General, and that he had refused to allow it in account. He, therefore, desires me to settle it with the Treasurer or the Legislature; as the non settlement of it prevents the auditing of the Commissioners accounts. And thus, Sir, besides an absence of ten Months from my Family and private affairs, I stand pledged for the public, for near 25,000 Dls., on the Score of my delegation, which I am unable, considering my great Losses to pay, and incur further Expences, in attending Congress immediately; unless I receive aid from the Treasury. Add to all this, I stand personally engaged to Messrs. Sears and Broome for £1101-6-0 lawful, being Money advanced by them, in procuring written Evidence from the Eastward in the Controversy about the New Hampshire Grants; and which I have not been able to pay; tho' it has been due a full year. There is also a Reason of a private Nature, (& which therefore I mention last) against my immediately repairing to Congress. However cogently I feel its force, I shall barely hint at it. The Suspension by a Clause in a Law, whereby I am prevented for the present from the Benefit of Certificates lodged for me in Consequence of a former Law, for the House & farm now in the Occupation of John H. Sleght, has reduced my family to the dire Necessity of submitting, till I shall obtain Redress from the Justice of the Legislature, to a temporary Residence in a small ruinous House, not sufficient, were it repaired to contain a family much smaller than mine; with only eleven acres of poor Land adjoining to a bog-meadow, and entirely without fence, or even so much as an Hovel to shelter my Cattle from the weather. These, Sir, will I hope be deemed by the Legislature, Reasons sufficient (to justify my staying from Congress) till their Meeting. And in full Confidence in their Justice for a speedy removal of those Reasons, I shall make it my Business to attend in Senate with the utmost punctuality. I am, Sir, with the greatest respect, your Excelency's most obedient Servant Jno. Morin Scott. P. S. I send inclosed Copies of the acts requested by Col. Benson, by your Excellency's Order. His Excellency the Governor. [No. 3703.] Judge Hobart Writes the Governor in Regard to Captain Grenell's Dear Sir, Returning from Poughkeepsie on Sunday morning, I met a messenger with a Letter from Cap'n Grenell for me, in |