able determination, and that I shall soon be happily made acquainted therewith, I have the honor to be, with great respect, Sir, Your Excellency's Suplicant, and most Obedient Servant. Jean Edgar.

Albany, 31st Aug'st 1780.

Hanah aged 18 years; James Greg 14; Jane 124; David 10. His Excellency, Geo. Clinton, Esqr.

[No. 3183.]

The Irrepressible du Simitiere Explains to Governor Clinton His Fiasco with Congress.

Sir, Although I have not been favoured with a written answer to the letter I did myself the honour to write to your Excellency in date of the 30th April last, yet I have reason to believe from the verbal message Mr. Denning delivered me some time ago that it has reached your Excellency's hands. This gentleman mentioned in general that your Excellency had some curiosities ready to send me, but could not remember the particulars. I readily acknowledge my gratitude for so much attention considering the important occupations that engross your Excellency's time, but I must also confess that ever since the recep tion of your Excellency's last letter of the 23d of February last which announced them, I have somewhat boasted of what fine curiosities I dayly expected, and that before some ladies whom I have put off from seeing my collection untill the reception of them, but now having waited so long, they ask me whether my curiosities are arrived or what's become of them, that they will no longer wait to see my collection &c. and I have not a word to say, wishing only that your Excellency might find an early and safe opportunity to forward them to me.

We have had public accounts of your Excellency's expedition after Johnson but the ennemy fled with too great precipitation

to afford an opportunity to punish their depredations. I have also lately heard that your Excellency was lately return'd from another expedition in the same party. I know not the particulars but I sincerely wish it may have proved successfull.

Having in my letter of the 23d of February last given your Excellency some account of my affair depending in Congress, I shall now give the conclusion in as few words as possible.

My memorial and the report of the committee thereupon having lain dormant ever since last December, I thought I should once more try if I could not bring this affair to a decision. Accordingly on the 11th of last month I wrote to the President, observing that it was almost a year since I presented my memorial and requested that Congress would no longer keep me in suspence, but determine; thereupon, in consequence of that application the matter was taken up a fresh, and the report of the committee debated upon. It seems (for I have not seen it) that it consisted of three articles beside the preamble; one was, that Congress would name me historiographer; another, that I should receive an annual support of two thousand dollars for three years; and the last, that Congress would recommend to the respective states to assist me in my undertaking. Amidst a croud of clamorous opponents founded on the most ignorant and illiberal principles, these articles were debated, and the first entirely set aside; it was even opposed by a friend of mine under the mistaken notion, that, I was about writing the history of the revolution, and that it would be improper for Congress to give such a title, as it would hence appear, that, whatever I should write, had the sanction of Congress, whereas I never intended to write a word about the revolution.

As for the two thousand dollars yearly support-when the committee reported that sum, money was near four times better

than it is now, and even then, it was but a very insignificant mean allowance; yet all the objections of my friends could not bring about an additional sum to be granted, and they voted me exactly the same two thousand nominal dollars but as soon as I heard of it, I requested my friends to have that vote struck of entirely, which was done the next morning. The last article of the report being a mere fattall passed, not before my opponents had smuggled out of it that part, wherein it was said that Congress would patronize and encourage the work &c. and this mutilated and ungenteel act (as it was called) with a Whereas formally prefixed to it, I received some days after inclosed in a few lines from the president. From the report I had of it, I was nearly resolved not to accept of it, but to send it back from whence it came. I waited only to see it before I fully determined thereupon, which I had no sooner done, than I was really exasperated at such ungenteel and useless paper, and the next day I did myself the honour to return it to the president, accompanied with a letter-is here enclosed for your Excellency's perusal-but not before I had shewn it to four members of Congress, to whom I also produced for them to compare a resolve of Congress on an occasion of much less importance, in favour of a Mr. Hazard who pretended to nothing more than to collect Charters and other state papers relating to the colonies; and as I was informed from the first authority, had not at that time began his collection nor had any thing to begin it with, and yet that resolve was honourable and polite to the persom for whom it was passed and as full as could be wished for. Your Excellency has no doubt seen it; it is of the 22d of July 1778.

Upon the reading of my letter in Congress, great offence was taken at my returning their act especially (as I was inform'd) by

the eastern members, and they thought I had insulted Congress; however, the majority was not of that opinion, and so my letter was left on the table. But a few days after, at the persuasion of an hon. gentelman for whom I have the greatest regard, I was induced to request him to move for leave to withdraw this said naughty letter, which he did, and by that means I am able to send it to your Excellency, but only the copy of their act, for the original they kept, to my great satisfaction, and they agreed also among themselves that nothing of that transaction should appear in their printed Journals, but that it should remain on their secret journals; and thus has the affair ended, without the least regret on my part on many weighty accounts, and I hope I shall never more have any thing to do with Congress nor take up your Excellency's time in relating similar transactions, leaving it to your Excellency to form a judgment thereupon.

I have now to request of your Excellency to make inquiry among some of the ancient inhabitants of the city of Albany to find the year of the death of a certain Luycan Wyngaert, formerly a noted Indian trader in those parts; an anecdote is recorded relating to him which I can not find in the papers without knowing the date of the year of his death.

Mr. Petrus Theobaldus Curtenius was here six weeks ago, and I show'd him my philosophical house, some account of which he will be able to give your Excellency. Gen. McDougall has been here sometimes and I was very happy to see him again, and to renew our old acquaintance contracted many years ago in the days of his persecution, and I was in great hope to have the pleasure to have continued it, but altho I have repeatedly waited on him, he has never favour'd me with a visit, but made a kind of apology the other day in the street complaining of burthen of

affairs, of attendance on great men &c. He lodges at the hotel of the New England Delegates.

I shall for the present take my leave of your Excellency with my warmest wishes for your safety and prosperity and recommending myself to your friendship. I have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, your Excellency's most obedient and most humble Servant

Philad'a, August 31st, 1780.

His Excellency, Governor Clinton, &c. &c. &c.

[No. 3184.]

Du Simitiere.

Colonel Malcom in Command of the Brigade of New York Levies Marches to the Front.

Aug't 31st 1780.

Sir, The Commander in Chief has ordered the Brigade of Troops raised by this State to reinforce the army, to our Frontiers, and they are now on their march under the Command of Colo. Malcom, whom I must request you to furnish with every aid and Information in your Power.

As you will leave Home to attend the Legislature, I must recommend it to you to give the necessary orders previous to your Departure that Colo. Malcom may have such assistance from your Brigade as the Emergencies may from time to time require & he requests. I am, Sir, your most Obed. Serv't

Brig'r Genl. Ten Broeck.

[No. 3185.]

[G. C.]

Governor Clinton to Captain Townsend on Impressments.

Aug't 31st 1780.

Sir, I have rec'd your Letter of the 29th Inst. The Embarrassm't you complain of are owing to defects in the Law which