rations daily. A great number of those Troops of the field, for want of Provisions in Camp, Under those Circumstances, a failure of two days supply, might be attended with the most fatal Consequences, which might not be in the power of his Excellency the Commander in Chief to prevent. Have, therefore, in the most pressing Terms to request your Excellency and Council to use every possible measure which may facilitate the Purchases required of your state, and order Punctuality in delivering and forwarding the same. I have great reason to doubt the want of spirit & Exertion in many of the agents who are Impowered to Purchase, which I hope will be a sufficient appology for my being so Pointed on that head, Shall take it a particular favor to have a line from you, informing what your prospects are respecting supplies. I have the Honor to be very respectfully, Your Excellencies Most Obedient and most Humble Serv't

Governor Clinton.

[No. 3145.]

Eph. Blaine, C. G. P.

Ab'm Yates Reports to the Governor the Receipt of the New Bills.

Albany 14th Aug't 1780.

D' Sir, I have rece'd the new mony yesterday accompanied with a letter from M. Hillegas C: T: and a Receit the Escort had given; Copy of both I enclose as also an abstract of the Resolves of Congress of the 18th March last; but have not r'd any appointment or authority to sign the Bills which I suppose should have been sent, you will observe in said Resolve the words "a Commissioner to be appointed by Congress for that purpose."

Whilst I am writeing, Genl. Schuyler calls in and in Conversation about the matter, and the letter the Legislator r'd at

Esopus from our Delegates, to name two Persons to sign on Behalf of Congress, and the answer of the Legislator and Nomination of myself and Mr. Ab'm Y. Lansing, he advised me to go on immediate and sign, that the situation of the Contry will not admit of Delay, and inform Congress of it: he supposes that it is done and probably neglected to be sent-which however, as the Commissioners that are to sign on Behalf of the State have not yet their Commission (so the Speaker tels me) if otherwise it was adviseable would answer no valuable Purpose.

I am not without my hopes that you may have some account of it that may cast light on the matter and that it may be adviseable to proceed; in such case you will be pleased to send me your opinion, and the Commission for the State signers by the Bearer.

But should you be of opinion that it is absolutely necessary to have the appointment from Congress, before I sign, I will be obliged to you to write to Congress, Treasury Board, or our Delegates which you may judge most adviseable to get the matter compleated.

As it is a matter of the first Importance, every body looking out for it, and Congress and the State more espetially interested in it, I have applied to Coll. Lewis for this Empress, who I furnish with mony 200 Dollers to bear his Expence as far as Poghkepse; if you have no rider or yours otherwise imployed. he has leave to go on, but in that case will want money to bear his Expences, which you will please to furnish him with, and if required shall be returned, in either case a few Lines will be very acceptable to, your very Hum. St.

Gov. Clinton.

Ab'm Yates, Jun.

[No. 3146.]

Captain Norton Suggests to the Governor a Method of Raising Hard Cash.

Camp Tappon August 15th 1780.

- Sir, Agreeable to your Excellency's Orders I Proceeded up to the frontiers on the Recruiting Service, & thro' much Difficulty, & without Cash, have Inlisted a Considerable number of men about twenty of which is during the War, who now Insist on having their Bounty Paid them, which if I had it, I might Engage three times the Number.

Your Excellency may Remember in Conversation, I mentioned that there was a probability of getting some hard Cash from Long Island if thought proper, the Importance of the affair and the probability of filling up the Regt. in the Occasion of my taking the Liberty once more to mention the method, I proposed, Viz. Major Davis & myself on the Credit of our State, might Procure hard Cash of our friends upon the Island by our Connections with them; it is well known by those who are acquainted in Suffolk County that the Inhabitants in General are our Stanch friends, and am apt to think would, in a Secret manner, aid and assist us all that Lays in their power, Major Davis & myself have had Considerable Experience with them Since the Commencement of this war, and know of numbers who have Considerabe Quantity of hard Cash, I am with all due Respect and Esteem your Excellency's most Obed't Humb'e Serv't

Nath'l Norton, Capt. 4th New York Regt.

His Excellency, Governor Clinton.

[No. 3148.]

Artillerymen Complain That They Have Been Badly Treated in the Distribution of Donations.

Sir, The Artillery belonging to the State of New York have long been flattering themselves with the Idea of receiving from their State an equal Participation of the Donations from the State, with the Troops in Gen. Clinton's Brigade. A Supply has lately arrived of Shirts, Overalls &c. some of which have been contributed by the very Friends of the men in the Artillery. Application has been made to the Comdg. Officer of the above Brigade on the Subject, & we are told that we are not included in the Supplies. Thus are our Expectations constantly dissapointed; & we are just now, after all our applications to Congress & to the State left where we first sett out-& our Prospects of Succour from our State no better than they were before any application on the Subject, tho we have received the most flattering Promises from them. I leave you to judge, Sir, what must be the Feelings of both Officers & men in the artillery belonging to New York. They have never yet rec'd any Donations from their States who have Creditt for them as well as for their other Troops without any of the Expence of raising them; & still these men are left to suffer.

I am requested by the officers to beg an Explanation of your Excellency's Letter to Lt. Connelly of the 2d of Aug't accompanying the last supplies from the State; & to know from your Excellency, whether it is the Intentions of the State that we shall be excluded from these or any future supplies or not. I beg your Excellency will excuse the Liberty I have taken in addressing you on this disagreeable Subject, & belive that nothing prompts me to it but the application of my Brother