am apprehensive that the quantity of provissions proposed has Whatever your pleasure may be,

not been reported to you. whether to determine the quantity yourself, or rest it entirely with the Civil or Military of the State, and their Certificate to be the Criterion, will be strictly observed by the Officer on the Lines.

Permit me to request your answer as soon as may be agree able. I have the honor to be with the greatest respect, your Excellency's most Obedient Servant

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

W. Heath.

[No. 3411.]

Several French Officers, Unable to Call on Governor Clinton, Forward James Clinton's Letter of Introduction.

Count De Cutine, Marquis De Laval, Count de Deux Ponts, & Fleury, are very sorry to be depriv'd of the honour of waiting on His Excellency, & delivering to him the inclos'd Letter:

The ice has prevent'd their coming to Pookepsie as they intend't; they hope to have the honor to see his excellency when they return from Philadelphia.

I have the honor to be with great Respect your excellency's most obedient humble servant

New Windsor 5th 9ber 1780.

Fleury.

Albany, Dec'r 1st 1780.

D'r Sir, Count de Cutine Brig'r, Marquis de Laval Col., Count de Deuxponts, Col., Major Fleury, and Capt. de la Larbiere, are gentlemen of distinction in the French army on their Tour to Virginia, via, Head Quarters and Philadelphia. At their pertic

ular request, I woud beg leave to recommend them to your especial attention, and as they woud wish to be introduced to the principal Personages in the different States thro' which they intend to pass, request that you would take the necessary Steps for that purpose. Major Flury, who speaks English, will introduce them to you by name, and convey your Sentiments to them. I am, with great Esteem, yours sincerely

James Clinton.

Gov. Clinton.

[No. 3412.]

A Lamentable Outlook for Provisions for the Army in Albany.

Albany, Dec'r 5th 1780.

D'r Sir, Your favor of the 20th ulto. is now before me. However great the Exertions of Col. Hay and his assistants may be, it is a melancholy certainty, that they have not been attended with the desired success. It has been with the utmost difficulty that scanty, very scanty supplies (perticularly of flower) have been furnished from hand to mouth to the few Troops stationed in this quarter. I have spoken to Lush repeatedly, who tells me nothing can be done without money. Where Mr. Stotenburgh is, I know not. I have not seen him these three weeks.

I presume you are apprised that the remaining part of the New York Brigade are on their way to this Place. Col. Hay is notified of it, and he knows that there is not as much flour in this whole Department exclusive of Fort Schuyler, as will furnish them with one day's allowance, an alarming truth, especially at this time when we expect to compleat our army, and which, when duly considered, will necessarily excite the most strenuous Exertions.

1

Seventeen of the new Levies from Dutchess County, deserted a few Days since from Saratoga on account of the scarcity of provisions; the remainder of them I sent off to Fort Schuyler as a guard to fifty head of Cattle.

I have discharged McGinnis and reprieved V Driesen agreeable to your request. I am, with great Esteem, yours sincerely James Clinton.

Gov. Clinton.

[No. 3413.]

Touching the Proposition of Shoes for the Army.

Newburgh, 6th Decem'r 1780.

Sir, Enclosed your Excellency will receive the copy of a letter from Lieut. Connoly, Paymaster to the fifth Regiment, respecting shoes delivered to the Levy's; some of the other Regiments have issued Shoes in like manner. These shoes are charged to the State, and as Congress have forbid the delivering of any articles of clothing to Levy's, they no doubt must be paid for by the State. I beg that your Excellency would let me know whether the Paymasters shall make them pay for the articles of clothing received from the public, and if at the price current in the Country when Issued; and who the money shall be paid to after its kept.

During the course of the present year I have delivered to the four Regiments in Brigade, nearly five pairs of Shoes per man; if the demand (for shoes) be as great the ensuing year, I appre hend the Supplies will fail. I, therefore, applied to Mr. Curtenius, and received from him, a few sides of Soal Leather, which I purposed to issue to the different Regiments for halfsoals. When I receive any articles from the State, for their

Troops, not a part of their bounty cloathing, I am to apply to the executive authority of the same for directions. Will your Excellency be pleased to inform me, whether, or not I shall deliver the leather to the Troops; and if I do on what conditions. I am, sir, Respectfully your Excellency most Obedient most Humble Servant

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

Jas. Black.

Sir, I have been nessecetit to Isue a few Pr Shoes to the Levis anex'd to our Regt; be ples'd to let me know what I must

Sir, I have received your two Letters of the 4th Inst. With this you will receive an Order for drawing forth 70 of the militia, of Westchester County for the protection of the Inhabitants, which (as I have not been lately furnished with Returns of all the Regts.) you will apportion among the diff't Regts. accord❜g to their comparative strength. Unless I can prevail upon His Excellency, Genl. Washington, to give a Company or two for this Service, I will issue my order to Genl. Swartwout to embody 50 Men of his Brigade, but as he is possessed of my Orders for compleating the Continental Battallions, I am apprehensive he may at this Juncture, meet with great Difficulty in

yielding a Complyance with this New Demand & at any Rate it will be attended with Delay; you will, therefore, in the Interim dispose of those of your County in such Manner as to afford the best general Protection to the Inhabitants.

I sincerely wish that the step you have taken with the disafected on the Lines may be attended with the salutary Effects you expect. Your good sense will readilly dictate the Impropriety of expressing my Approbation of any Measure not authorized by Law. I, am with great Regard, your's &c.

pd. the Contents the 15th Dec'r 1780 in presence of Colo.

Benson.

[No. 3416-3417.]

Colonel Drake's Communication in Regard to the Removal of Suspects and Provisions Allotted Them-The Governor's Reply.

Peeks Kill, December 6th 1780.

Sir, I am under the nesesety of trubling of you with the State of our afairs; the Civel and militery met together and Considered who was dangros parsons and who in thair opinion did harber the cow boys; we ordered such who we thought dangrous to remove, and apinted five of the Civel and militery officers