Resolved therefore, That two extra chambers of accounts, consisting of two commissioners each, be appointed, to continue in office as long as may be necessary for the settlement of the said accounts, or any others which may be referred to them:

That the commissioners of the chamber of accounts be respectively under the direction of the board of treasury, to repair to such posts or places as the public service may from time to time require, for the purpose of examining and adusting any of the said accounts:

That, when thus employed, their reasonable travelling charges be allowed, in addition to their pay:

That the pay of the said commissioners respectively be the same as that of those already appointed:

That the board of treasury be authorized to apply to the executive power of any state to appoint a temporary commissioner or commissioners, for the special purpose of joining with a commissioner sent from the said board to receive and liquidate any of the aforesaid accounts, within such state, who, being duly qualified before a magistrate, and the qualification lodged in the treasury, shall respectively have the same power, and be entitled to the same emoluments for the time he is in office, as a commissioner of the chambers at the treasury.

The committee appointed to consider and report a plan for the department of foreign affairs; and the committee to whom were referred the letter from governor Livingston and major general lord Stirling, and the motion thereon; and the committee ap pointed to devise means for the more effectual preventing and punishing the making or uttering counterfeit paper bills of the similitude of the bills of credit emitted by Congress; and the

committee to whom was referred the petition of John Garcia Duarti; delivered in their several reports:

Ordered, That to-morrow be assigned for electing commissioners of the chambers of accounts.

Governor Clinton Makes a Suggestion to Washington Regarding the Assignment of Invalid Soldiers to Light Duty.

Albany, 31st Jan'y 1781.

D'r Sir, I arrived here the 21" Inst. My Brother will deliver you this; it will be, therefore, unnecessary for me to particularize the Situation of the Military. The Spirit of Discontent which had reached the Troops here and discovered itself by a Mutiny, not of a very aggravated nature, has subsided and I am in Hopes a Repetition is not to be apprehended.

There are in the Troops of this State, a Number of Invalids incapable of perform'g Duty in march's Corps, who as their Families & Connections are here, wo'd prefer a Discharge to being sent to join the Invalids at Philadelphia. Those Men I conceive might be usefully employed, if formed in a Company under supernumerary Officers & stationed at some of the Posts in this State w'ch wo'd be agreable to them & they wo'd then supply the Place of an equal Number of other Troops fit for active Duty. If we discharge them as soon as they return home and get in some Degree recovered, they are again introduced as Recruits and the Consequence must be the loss of the Bounty & a second Discharge w'ch form'g them into a Company of this kind wo'd prevent.

[To General Washington.]

[G. C.]

[No. 3511.]

Colonel Hay Writes to the Governor That Only a Small Quantity

of Supplies Can be Collected under the Present Plan.

Poughkeepsie, 31 Jan. 1781.

Sir, I was honoured with your Excellency's letter of 26th, since which time a very considerable quantity of flour and some Cattle as well as salt beef has gone on for the army below; but am now distressed about those to the northward, have wrote pressingly to the Commissary General whose answer about the suplies of beef expected from the eastward I shall be able to give you on my arrival at Albany, for which place I shall sett out as soon as Mr. Loudon can print me a few certificates which it is absolutely necessary I should take along.

By the returns I have yett gott in am affraid we are not so far advanced in the Collection of our Quota as I expected.

Colonel Wadsworth with the intendant of the French Army were here this day, and are gone on to Albany; they will undoubtedly apply to your Excellency for leave to export a large quantity of flour; would, therefore, beg leave to mention that unless the State either takes the Contract upon themselves and then buys of none but such as will give a certain portion of wheat or flour upon certificate, or oblidges the Contractors (if left in their hands) to deliver to the agent or his assistants a quantity in such proportion as may be thought proper to what they export, We shall not be able upon the present plan to collect but a very small quantity more. As the Honour as well as safety of the State is engaged in a certain degree in the Collection of the Quota, I hope your Excellency will excuse the

above hint. I am, w'h every sentiment of esteem & respect, your Excellency's, most obed't & very humble Se't,

Governour Clinton.

Udny Hay.

I saw Mrs. Clinton last night who with all the family was very well.

[No. 3512.]

Petition from Essex County, New Jersey, to Governor Clinton in Regard to Prisoners Captured and Confined in Canada.

May it Please your Excellency;

The Humble Petition of us the Subscribers, inhabitants of Essex County state of New Jersey, in behalf of a Number our poor distressd Countrymen, Neighbours Friend & Children now in Captivity at Cannada, who were taken by the enemy at Fort Vreland, on the West Branch of Sesquehanna, 28th July, 1779, viz. Peter & Isaac Williams, Henry Townsly, Elias Williams, Cornelius Vincent, Saml. Gould, Daniel Bethuel, & Benj. Vinvent, Michael Vreland, John Loitle, James Durham, John Neily, Martin, Thomas Tyrgit, John Watts, Will'm Miles, one Baily & Armitage, John Doyg, John Furney, & others, who are now at the Three Rivers & Fort Chamblee, Humbly beseecheth your Excellency would be pleased to exert your Power & influence to effect if possible, their Exchange; application has been made to N. York by the Commisary of Prisoners without success; by the advice & Direction of Col. Skinner we now look up to your Excellency, in hopes by your great Benevolence, Power & influence their Exchange may be speedily effected and that your. Excellency may be blessed, directed & assisted in this & every

matter before you & that the Blessing of many ready to perish may rest on your Excellency, your humb Petitioners in duty bound shall ever pray.

To his Excellency, George Clinton, Esqr. Goven'r and Command'r in Chieft in & over the State of N. York &c.

Jed❜h Chapman, V. D. M., John Peck, Esqr., Jerem's Wool, Capt., Alpheus Hews, Jonathan Hedden, John Treat Crane, Esqr., Benjamin Mun, Jonathan Shores, Stephen Harrison, David Coeman, Abraham Byvanck, Thomas Cuningham, jur., Jacob Smith, Garrit Brewer, Lewis Baldwin, Amos Baldwin, Daniel Young, Phinehas Cambbell, Ebenezer Canfield, John Range, Esqr., Joseph Crane, Capt., John Crane, Joseph Crane, Lieut., William Crane, Nanan'l Dodd, Isaac Dodd Esqr., Ralph Post.*

[No. 3513.]

The Governor Returns His Acknowledgments to the Citizens of

Albany.

Gentlement I think you for the polite address and the favourable Sentiments you have been pleased to express of my Reelection to the Chief Magistracy of the State.

While with you I lament the late Devastations upon our Frontiers, it affords me great Sattisfaction that by the vigorous Exertions of the Country and the Attack upon the Enemy at Cannajohary, they were prevented from the Compleation of their cruel Purposes and compelled to seek their safety by a "aceful & precipitate Flight.

iment is not dated.

ent on this document: "This is a reply to No. 3308 [page 338] and is out A. H. [Henry A. Homes] Lib'n."