Pokeepsie 27th May 1781.

Dear Sir, Your Favour of the 22d & 23d Instant was delivered me Friday afternoon. I immediately forwarded its inclosures to Head Quarters; His Excellency the Genl. was at Weathersfield, & did not return before late yesterday Evening, which will account for your not receiving any Dispatches from him by the present Messenger. I intend to set out early Tomorrow Morning for New Windsor, to confer with the Genl. on the State of the Frontiers; you may rely on my using every Argument in my Power to induce him to order as great a Force for their Protection as can possibly be spared, & I am not without Hopes that he will give you the remaining part of your Brigade for this Service. I will also endeavour to have the Embarrassments you labour under, for want the means of Subsistence, removed, & acquaint you with the Result on my Return. Please to appologize to Genl. Schuyler for my not writing him by this Conveyance. I am &c.

[To General Clinton.]

[G. C.]

[No. 3742.]

General Scott on a Legal Proposition.

Fish Kill, May 23d 1781.

Sir, Mr. Edward Hicks, a Refugee from Long Island, has applied to me for a Sight of the Law enabling the person administering the Government to exchange persons as prisoners of war, for Subjects of this State Prisoners of War with the Enemy. He informs me that he applied to your Excellency on the Subject of an Exchange of John Halsted of this County and his wife & six Children for his (Hicks's) wife and six Children now on Long Island, & that for want of a Copy of the Law you referred him to me; at his request, I have framed for him a written application to your Excellency, founded on the Law which I suppose he will produce to you; should Halsted subscribe it, in order to obtain your approbation of the Exchange, to be indorsed thereon & filed and recorded in my office as the Law requires, there is nothing in the Law, which will prevent Halsted from converting his personal property into Cash; but his real Estate should the Exchange take place, will be ipso facto forfeited to the people of this State. And as Mr. Hicks is desirous to Exchange his place on Long Island for that of Halsted in this County for the Term of the Continuance of the war only, this can be done (if your Excellency should approve of the Exchange) by Execution of proper deeds of Exchange between the parties previous to your indorsing your Consent as abovementioned. In which Case, the Exchange being thus consented to, Halsted's deed will amount to a bona fide Lease to Mr. Hicks during the war and the Reversion will vest

in the people of the State. I am, with great respect your Excellency's most obedient Servant John Morin Scott.

His Excellency the Governor.

[No. 3743.]

Petition for Exchange of William and Martinus Devoe, Taken from Albany County under Trick, Coercion and Violence.

To his Excellency George Clinton, Esqr. Governour Captain General and Commander in Chief of the State of New York and Admiral of the Navy of the Same.

The Petition of the Parents and Neighbours of William and Martinus Devoe, Inhabltants of the Destrict of Halfmoon, Humbly Sheweth

That the two above mentioned young men, William and Martinus Devoe, having allways been attached to their Country, was a few Days ago pravailed on to Inlist in the nine Months Service, by a certain Philip Riley (who proves to be an Imposter and grand Villian) who enticed the above mentioned young men to come to a certain House some little distance in the Bush, where he said the Classes where to meet. As soon as they came there, a party of Tories headed by one, Joseph Bettes, took them Prisoners, and are now carried Captives to Canada. Your Petitioners understanding your Excellency entends a Flag shortly for that Place, therefore, humbly pray if it may be possable, your Excellency would order an Exchange of the two aforesaid young men, William and Martinus Devoe; as their aged Parents take it much to Heart and grieve about them Continually, for they are much wanted in the Families. And your Petetioners as in Duty bound will ever Pray. Halfmoon, May the 24th 1781.

Isaac Devoe & Ruliff Devoe Fathers of the two young men.

Jacobus V'n Schoonhoven and many others.

this 24th May 1781.

[No. 3744.]

Return of General Van Rensselaer's Brigade.

Return of the Brigade of Militia of the County of Albany com

manded by Brigadier General Robert Van Rensselaer.

Dated

[No. 3745.]

Draft of Letter to Governor Trumbull Requesting Copies of Laws for Emitting Money.

Poughkeepsie, May 25th 1781.

Sir, The Legislature of this State have made it criminal, knowingly to pass not only our own, but also the counterfeit Currency of any other of the States; and, considering the great Intercourse between the several States, the Policy of the Law must be evident.

There is now a Person indicted at Albany for passing Coun-terfeits of the last Emissions of your State, and the Atty. Genl.. has reported to me that in order to a conviction, it is requisitehe should be furnished with Exemplifications of the Laws in consequence of which the Bills were emitted, as Evidence of a. less nature will not answer. I have, therefore, taken the liberty to request from your Excellency, exemplified Copies underthe great Seal of your State, of the Law or Laws passed by your Legislature for the purpose of emitting monies in the course of the year 1780. I have requested all the Laws, passed during the year, relative to this Subject, as the Culprit is charged with passing Counterfeits of various Dates. The Trial will come on in the ensuing July Term, and I, therefore, could wish to be favored with the exemplifications early in that month at farthest. I have the Honor to be &c.

G. Clinton.

His Excellency Jona. Trumbull, Esqr., Gov'r of the State of Connecticut.

[No. 3746.]

Congress Forwards a Communication from General Greene Depicting the Situation in the South.

(Circular).

Philadelphia, May 28, 1781.

Sir, I am directed to transmit your Excellency, the enclosed Copy of a Resolution of the 26th Instant,* together with a copy

*On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Witherspoon, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. M. Smith, Mr. Clymer, to whom was referred a letter from Mr. R. Morris, with the plan of a bank:

Resolved, That Congress do not approve of the plant for establishing a national bank in these United States, submitted to their consideration by Mr. R. Morris, the 17th May, 1781; and that they will promote and support the same by such ways and means, from time to time, as may appear necessary for the institution, and consistent with the public good:

That the subscribers to the said bank shall be incorporated agreeably to the principles and terms of the plan, under the name of "the president, directors and company of the bank of North-America," so soon as the subscription shall be filled, the directors and president chosen, and application for that purpose made to Congress by the president and directors elected.

On the question to agree to this paragraph, the yeas and nays being required by Mr. T. Smith,

Resolved, That it be recommended to the several states by proper laws for that purpose, to provide that no other bank, or bankers shall be established or permitted within the said states respectively during the war.

Resolved, That the notes hereafter to be issued by the said bank, payable on demand, shall be receivable in payment of all taxes, duties and debts due, or that may become due or payable to the United States:

Resolved, That Congress will recommend to the several legislatures to pass laws, making it felony without benefit of clergy, for any person to counterfeit bank-notes, or to pass such notes, knowing them to be counterfeit, also making it felony without benefit of clergy, for any president, inspector, director, officer or servant of the bank, to convert any of the property, money or credit of the said bank to his own use, Plan for establishing a national bank for the United States of North America.

of General Greene's Letter therein referred to.

I have the

Honor to be, with very great Respect Your Excellency's most

obedient & most humble Servant

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

Sam. Huntington, President.,

or in any other way to be guilty of fraud or embezzlement as an officer or servant of the bank.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Jones, Mr. Jenifer, Mr. Matthews, to whom were referred letters from major-general Greene:

Ordered, That a copy of major-general Greene's letter of 22d April, be transmitted to the executives of the states from New-Hampshire to New-Jersey, both inclusive; that the said states respectively may have before them, as fully as the same is communicated to Congress, the dangerous situation of the southern states; and from a knowledge of their circumstances, and consideration of their distress, may be prompted to make the utmost exertions for sending forward to the main-army their quotas of men, agreeably to the requisitions of Congress of the 3d and 21st day of October last, whereby alone the commander in chief can be enabled to give effectual succour to the southern states and prosecute with vigour the operations of the ensuing campaign.

On the report of a committee, consisting of Mr. Varnum, Mr. Motte, Mr. Carroll, to whom was referred a letter of J. Howell, auditor of accounts in the main-army:

Resolved, That the officers of the flying-camp, lately returned from captivity, be allowed depreciation by their respective states, in the same manner as officers of the line in such states:

That in settling the accounts of officers returned from captivity, and who are entitled to the benefit of the resolutions of the 24th November, 1778, and 22d May, 1779, the auditors allow the year's pay mentioned in said resolutions in bill of the new emission, issued agreeably to the resolution of 18th March, 1780, and which shall be paid by the pay-master general:

That auditors of the army cannot take notice of breaches of parole till the same bo ascertained by courts-martial, and that the pay of such officers will vary from that of other officers, according to the sentence, and not otherwise.

I. That a subscription be opened for 400,000 dollars, in shares of 400 dollars each, to be paid in gold or silver.

II. That the subscription be paid into the hands of George Clymer and John Nixon, Esqrs; or their agents.

III. That every subscriber of less than five shares, pay the whole sum on the day of his subscription.

IV. That every subscriber of five shares, or upwards, pay one-half the sum on the day of his subscription, and the other half within three months of that day.

V. That every holder of a share shall be entitled to vote by himself, his agent, or proxy properly appointed, at all elections of directors, and that he have as many votes as he holds shares; and that every subscriber may sell or transfer his share or shares at his pleasure, the transfer being made in the bank books, in preference and with the approbation of the proprietor, or his lawful attorney, the purchaser then to become entitled to the right of voting &c.

VI. That there be twelve directors chosen from among those entitled to vote, who, at their first meeting, shall choose one as president.

VII. That there be a meeting of the directors quarterly, for the purpose of regulating the affairs of the bank; any seven of the directors to make a board, and that the board have power to adjourn from time to time.

VIII. That the board of directors determine the manner of doing business, and the rules and forms to be pursued, appoint the various officers which they may find necessary, and dispose of the money and credit of the bank for the interest and benefit of the proprietors, and make, from time to time, such dividends, out of the profits, as they may think proper.

IX. That the board be empowered, from time to time, to open new subscriptions, for