Pokeepsie 26th July 1780.

Dear Sir, I am favoured with yours of the 20th Instant. I perfectly agree with you that every Man taken from the Frontiers whether Militia or Levies is diminishing the Strenghth of the Frontiers; but you very strangely impute to my orders what is really the Effect of the Law. Surely a Moment's reflection will convince you that it is the Law that directs the raising of every fifteenth Man for Reinforcing the Army of the United States. That points out the particular Service they are to [be] imployed in & that extends the present Drafts to every Regiment in the State not exempting any on account of their Situation without leaving anything to my Discretion. My orders are barely calculated to carry the Law into Execution. I likewise agree with you that the Militia of the Neighbourhood attacked do not generally act with the same Energy as if they were not perplexed with the immediate Care of their Famillies, but at the same Time I insist that the Frontier Militia are not only generally better marksmen & having a general Knowledge of the Woods & Geography of the Country, far better adopted for the Frontier Service that the Militia of the Interior Parts of the Country? This I have often heard you remark with respect to the Militia of Tryon County. By my orders it did not follow that they were to be stationed in the neighbourhoods in which they were raised. My Intentions were very different; For you well know my Sentiments are to keep our Guards advanced to all our Settlem'ts & in this Case your Objection ag't the Frontier Levies for that Service is fully obviated. I am certain it woud ease the Inhabitants in procuring their Levies & this with me was a great object. Surely you woud not wish me to counteract a possitive Law. This I should do if I was

to apply any of the present Levies to the Frontier Service without replacing them with an equal Number & should consider it as Criminal stretch of Power.

Believe me, Sir, we shall after all the Pains I have taken, fall short of the number of men required of us to reinforce the Army, and I am very apprehensive I shall be oblidged very soon to convene the Legislature to make some further & more ample Provission for this Service; & I am sorry to say the Deficiencies will be in Genl. Ten Broeck's Brigade cannot be that the..... Regiment ought to furnish but 27 Men.

[No. 3091.]

Levies Raised in Colonel Cantine's Regiment, Detached to Replace the Seven Months' Levies Enlisted in Continental Army.

List of the Levies raised out of Colo. Cantine's Regt. and detained to replace such of the 7th months men as enlisted by

[No. 3092.]

Return of Levics from Colonel McCrea's Regiment.

Fort Edward July 21the 1780.

A Return of the levis from Colo. Mac Cray's Regt.

A return of the Levies raised from Saraghtoga Regt and now in actual Service at Fort Ann under the command of Capt. Sherwood.

August 11th, 1780.

[No. 3093.]

John McCrea, Colone.

John Williams Informs Governor Clinton of the Situation in Vermont-Ethan Allen's Threat.

White Creek, July 21st 1780.

Hon'd Sir, I am sorry my writing you hath been so long omitted, but the sentiments of the people hath been such, that I scare knew what to write. I have been on the Grants, as much as once a week since your Departure from the frontieers, so that I have acquired the knowledge of most of their Proceedings, and I believe your presant proceeding, hath given a severe check to their new system. Collo. Warren, Major Allen, and other their officers, as well as their men, acknowlidgeth your benevolence, and says it was far beyond what they ever mett with or that they could expect. The former hath laid down his commission, having lost the use of one of his hands and having a chargable family, which renders him incapable of officiating in that important post, & says as he was a captain commanding a company at Ticonderoga, and then acknowlidging the Jurisdic

tion of this state, he ought to be taken notice of as a pentioner agreeable to the act of Congress. Mr. Lyon, the gentleman that was at Lake George with Genl. Allen and after which followed your Excellency to Fort Edward, is so condem'd for his conduct when with your Excellency, that he is about to leave this side of the Mountain.

The late resolutions of Congress hath caused great uneasiness amongst them & I have reason to believe that the majority of their men in office thinks they will lose their state. As for Allen he swears that he will fight, nay even run on the mountains & live on mouse meat before he will subject himself to New York, or Congress. He shew me a letter last week, which was going to the Council for approbation, in order to be sent to Congress, to this effect, that as the state of Vermont never had waged war with G. Britain, nor had not joyn'd Congress by confederation, it was at the option of Vermont which to joyn, and refered Congress to Bradleys Peice, (should this be sent to Congress) which I make no doubt but it will. I hope the matter will soon be settled. For my own part (tho' I shall leave an independant fortune) yet I cannot see the justice in depriving these people of their prior grants, (provided they would acknowlidge our jurisdiction).

I had a great dispute with some of their leading men last week, respecting this matter; they say that admitting the Legislature of New York would confirm them in their prior grants, yet, if Vermont acceeds to the Jurisdiction of N. York. the Patentees of N. York would prosecute their title as its not in the Legislative power to give those lands which are patent'd. I gave them for answer if the Legislature, gave the Patentees, unappropriated lands, & took up their patents, it could be done, &