establish, such ordinances, orders and laws as may tend to the good and wholesome government of the said college and all the students, and the several officers and ministers thereof, and to the public benefit of the same, not repugnant to the laws of this state of New York; and such ordinances orders and laws which shall be so made as aforesaid, I do by these presents ratify allow and confirm as good and effectual to oblidge and bind all the said students and several officers and ministers of the said Clinton College; and I do hereby authorize and impower the said trustees of the said College, and the president professors and tutors by them elected and appointed, to put such laws and ordinances into Execution to all proper intents and

purposes.

And by virtue of the authority to me as aforesaid given, I do further by these presents give and grant unto the said trus tees of Clinton College in Schonectady and to their successors that they shall have a common seal under which they may pass diplomas and Certificates of advancement in literature as aforesaid and that the said trustees of said College by deed or deeds of conveyance leases or other legal instruments duly executed under the hands of seven of the trustees at any public meeting convened as hereinbefore directed, and with the seal of the corporation affixed thereto, may pass the estate of the said corporation in lands or tenements, in fee or for years to any person, or persons; and the same deeds or leases, shall pass the estate thereby intended to be granted or leased, to all intent and purposes; and to notify all the necessary affairs and business of and Concerning the said Corporation or of & concerning the said Clinton College in Schonectady; which common seal shall

be engraven in such form and with such inscription, as shall be devised by the said trustees of the said college, or the majority convened as above directed; and shall have a book or books of entry for the use of the trustees to be in such custody, with all other writings as they shall appoint.

And I do further give and grant unto the said trustees of Clinton College in Schonectady and their successors or any thirteen of them as abovesaid full power and authority from time to time to nominate and appoint all other inferior officers and ministers, which they shall judge necessary for the use of the College, not herein particularly named or mentioned; which officers or ministers, I do hereby impower to execute their offices. or trusts as fully and freely as any other the like officers and ministers in any other colleges lawfully may or ought to do.

And lastly by virtue of the authority to me as aforesaid given, I do, by these presents give and grant unto the trustees of Clinton College in Schonectady, and their successers forever, that these letters patent or the enrollment thereof, shall be forever good and effectual in law, to all intent and purposes, against me and my successors, and against this state of New York, without any other licence, grant or confirmation from me or my successors or from the people of this state, hereafter by the said trustees to be had and obtained; notwithstanding the not reciting or misreciting, or not naming or misnaming of the aforesaid officers franchises privileges, immunities or other the premisses or any of them, and notwithstanding a writ of Ad Quod Damnum hath not issued forth to enquire of the premises, or any of them before the ensealing hereof, any Statute act ordinance provision, or any other matter or thing to the con

trary notwithstanding: To have, hold, and enjoy all and singular the privileges, advantages, liberties, immunities, and all other the premisses herein or hereby granted and given or which are meant, mentioned, or intended to be herein and hereby granted unto them the said trustees of the said Clinton College in Schonectady and to their successors forever.

Given under &c.

End of Manuscript Volume XI.

!

MANUSCRIPT VOL. XII.

[No. 3468.]

Benjamin Smith Offers His Farm for Sale.

Newburgh Jan'y 1, 1781.

Sir, As you have Often Requested of me in times Past to give you the first Refusal of my Farm if I sold, as I have now Concluded to sell, and you are well acquainted with the Title of the same, if you have any Inclination to Purchase the same, you will be Pleased to let me know as soon as Permits. I am, your Very Humble Servant

To His Excell'y G. Clinton, Esq.

[No. 3469.]

Benj'n Smith.

Letter from Judge Yates, Respecting Pardon for Criminals.

Kingston, Jan'y 1st 1781.

Sir, The Pardon your Excellency ordered to be expedited for

Should it

the Criminals recommened, is not yet come to hand. not come during the sitting of the Court (and it is near drawing to a Close), the prisoners will remain in Custody, until another Court can be summoned, where they can plead such a pardon against an attander. It is for the purpose of avoiding this Inconvenience that a special messenger is sent, in order to bring the pardon up. I am, with the greatest respect, Your Excellency's most obedient hum. ser.

Rob. Yates.

To George Clinton, Esqr. Governor of the State of N. Y.

[No. 3470.]

Colonel Webster's Return.

A regimental Return of Collo. Alex'r Webster's Regt. of Militia

in the County of Charlotte & State of New York Jan'r 1st 1781.

Lieutenant Van Wagenen Asks to be Relieved from Duty.

Kingston, Jan. the 3rd 1781.

Sir, Inclosed is a return of the names, number & descriptions of the men engaged by some of the classes in this county for the War, pursuant to an act of the Legislature &c. &c.

Upon my arrival at this place after my departure from your Excellency, I found it was out of my power to inlist the several persons that were convicted by the Court of Oyer & Terminer, unless I would pass certificates for them to the classes of some of the Justices, which classes had engaged them before I had an opportunity to make them any proposals, and give them more than continental Congress allowed.

The classes have just began to exert themselves & I have a better prospect of getting recruits than upon my first arrival. As they have not as yet collected any money, the want of it has as yet prevented my going to New Windsor. I expect, however, to go to Marbletown tomorrow, and shall borrow as much as will answer the purpose of going to Rochester & Shawengunck, & by that time I believe some will be collected.