for the money, haveing a very large family of 18 Persons to maintain. I would not ask any favours hear, as I have been used very ill some time ago, but was cleard with Honour. Miss Rapalje has 3 Brothers on Long Island, who are good Whigs, as well as her self, who she has a great Desire to see and if any Dought should arise she will be quallifued not to carry any Inteligence or whatever you will ask. regard your Sincear friend & very Humble Servant With due Governor Clinton State of New York. Garrit Rapalje. [No. 3544.] VERMONT'S REVOLUTIONARY PROPOSITION. An Act to Confiscate a Huge Slice of Territory Belonging to New York. To the Grand Committee consisting of his Excellency the Governor, the hon'ble Council and House of Representatives, your Committee to whom was refer'd the several Papers from the Committee of the Convention at Cornish and also the Requests of the Inhabitants living north of a Line being extended from the north Line of the Massachusetts to Hudson's River and East of the same River & south of Latitude forty five Beg leave to report vizt: That, whereas, the District of Country formerly known by the name of New Hampshire Grants, was peopled in consequence of Grants of the Lands from New Hampshire, and, whereas the former Government of N. York did, by cunning, in the year 1764, obtain a royal order to exercise Jurisdiction to the west Bank of Connecticut River, which when known was against the Consent of the People of the said District, N. York proceeded to grant subsequent Patents, erect Courts, issue writs of Ejectment Possession &c. in prejudice to the first Grantees and occupants; the Inhabitants necessitated to it, declared a defensive war on the Government of N. York, and that Government made acts of outlawry against said Inhabitants and warlike PrepIn the Interim, the People governed themselves by arations was making on both sides. Conventions, who at several Times made application to New Hampshire to exert themselves to obtain Jurisdiction, who by a Proclamation &c. wholly rejected any such Connection. Thus stood the Case at the grand area of American Independence, when in kingly Government, all Jurisdiction & Jurisdictional Lines ceased, and all governmental Power devolv'd on the People, whom they continuing, said Convention emerg'd into Independency, declaring themselves on the fifteenth Day of January, 1777, to be a sovereign free and independent State. And, whereas, the general Court of New Hamp "Meshech Weare, President' shire did, on the 19th of July 1777 by a Letter signed Secretary of the State of Vermont" acknowldirected to "Ira Allen, Esqr." (then) ege the Independence of this State. And, whereas, on a Representation of a Committee (inhabiting several Towns east of and contiguous to Connecticut River) representing to the Assembly of this State at their Sessions in March 1778, that a number of Towns east of and adjoining to said River were unconnected with any State in regard to their 66 * See Governor Clinton's letter to General McDougall, document 3616, page 741. Internal Police, this State (upon said Representation) did admit sixteen Towns east of said River to union, and extended Jurisdiction over them. And, whereas, the general Court of New Hampshire, did by their Letter dated August 22d 1778 signed, Meshech Weare, President of the Council of New Hampshire, to the hon'ble Thomas Chittenden, Esqr., demanding of the State of Vermont a surrender of their Jurisdiction east of said River, which will appear by the following Paragraph in said Letter vizt: "I beseech you, Sir, for the sake of the People you preside over, and the People, for the sake of their future Peace & Tranquility to relinquish every Connection as a political Body with the Towns east of Connecticut River who are Members of the state of New Hampshire intitled to the same Priviledges as the other People of the said State from which there has never been any attempt to restrain them." The Legislature of Vermont at their Session in Feb'y 1779 on the reception of President Weare's said Letter, considering their Territory to be larger and more fertile than that of N. Hampshire, allowing the latter s'd sixteen Towns east of said River and being unwilling to have a Controversy with a neighbouring State, did close with the Demand of N. Hampshire and relinquish'd Jurisdiction east of said Connecticut River. In this, the Minds of the two Governments met and virtually settled upon the River as the boundary Line between the respective States. An Agent was then appointed to transmit the Resolution of said Union to the general Court of N. Hampshire, who on his arrival there found, after delivering his message, that there was a Plan on foot for laying a Jurisdictional Claim to the Territory of Vermont under pretext of friendship and to baffle the Claims of N. York. Said agent made strenuous Efforts against such Claim being laid; arguing that could not be of much Service to Vermont as she had but little to fear from N. York and the further consideration was postponed to their next Session. In the interim, an agent was again sent to attend said genl. Court with a Letter from the Governor of this State, requesting the Legislature of N. Hampshire in the most urgent manner not to lay claim to this State. After a hearing before both Houses, and the most pressing arguments used, the Legislature did insist that they would do Vermont a favour; accordingly laid their Claim and directed their agents to lay s'd claim at Congress which together with the Claims of the other neighbouring States has prevented this State from obtaining a seat in Congress. N. Hampshire have from the Time of laying afores'd Claim indeavor'd to support internal Broils in the easterly Part of this State contiguous to Connecticut River. Some Gentlemen Inhabitants of the County of Chester that are or have been members of the general Court of N. Hampshire have not long since in Convention when fatal necessity obliged them to it, publickly declared that their Intentions were to unite the whole of the Grants (meaning Vermont) to N. Hampshire. And, whereas, sundry applications have been made by the People inhabiting west of a Line known by the name of the Mason Line and east of Connecticut River, to unite with this State in one distinct Government; their last application is in the words following vizt: "To the hon'ble Assembly of the State of Vermont now sitting in Windsor, the Committee appointed by the Convention holden at Charlestown on the sixteenth of January last to confer with the assembly of said State, beg leave to inform, that the Convention are desirous of being united with the State beforementioned in one separate independent Government, upon such Principles as shall be mutually thought the most equitable and beneficial for the whole, desiring an answer as soon as may be.-By order of the Committee, Elisha Payne." Windsor 10th Feb'y 1781. Wherefore, your Committee do recommend (that in order to quiet the present Disturbances on the two sides of said River, and the better to enable the Inhabitants of the said two sides of said River to defend her frontiers) that the Legislature of this State do lay a jurisdictional Claim to all the Lands situate east of Connecticut River, north of the Massachusetts, west of the Mason Line, and south of Lattitude 45, and that they do not exercise Jurisdiction for the time being. Whereas, the Government of N. York, have for more than sixteen years last past, made use of every Art & Cunning in their Power to usurp the Rights and Properties of the People of this State; while every Measure hitherto adopted have proved abortive for settling a Controversy of such a magnitude so necessary to be settled for the Peace and welfare of the United States at this critical Period, this State, unfortunately situate, having an extensive frontier of more than one hundred miles in length to defend against Invasions from the Province of Quebec, by the avaricious and ambitious Claims of the neighbouring Governments, and by the Power assumed over them by Congress, have at several Times been embarrassed in raising Men and Money for the Defence of her Frontiers, by Resolutions of Congress obtained by claiming Governments, notwithstandevery article ing the brave Exertions of this State in the Bennington Battle &c., belonging to the Continent has been called for & ordered out of this State, even to pick axes and Spades, at the Time when this State was erecting a new Line of Forts their Post at on her frontiers, at which Time the State of New York evacuated Skeensborough, which necessitated the People to Petition to this State for Protection, when this State reinforced her Guards & directed her Scouts to cover said People; was to have And, whereas, it appears that by the best accounts hitherto obtained, that there was a Government established by the Court of Great Britain before æra of American Independence, including all the Lands this State at present exercises Jurisdiction over, as also a much greater western extent; over which Governor Philip Skeen presided; and which overturns the Claims of New York on their own stating. And, whereas, it appears that the Government of N. York is still determined to do every thing in her Power to embarrass and overturn the Jurisdiction of this State and have made no answer to Governor Chittenden's Letter, dated Nov'r 22d, 1780, which was sent to the Legislature of New York, demanding of them to relinquish their Claim of Jurisdiction to this State & inviting them to join in the mutual Defence of the Frontiers of the two States, against British Invasions from the Province of Quebec; wherefore, your Committee, do recommend that the Legislature of this State, do lay a jurisdictional Claim to all the Lands situate north of the north Line of the State of Massachusets and extending the same to Hudson's River; then east of the center of the deepest Channel of said River to the head thereof, from thence, east of a north Line being extended to Latitude 45, and south of the same Line, including all the Lands & waters to the Place where now exercises Jurisdiction and not to exercise Jurisdiction for the time being. In Council 14th Feb'y 1781. The aforegoing Report read & accepted. By order Joseph Bowker, Chairman. State of Vermont In General Assembly 14th Feb'y 1781. The within Report was read & accepted, Read & Concurred. attest attest Ros. Hopkins, Clerk. State of Vermont In Council, Windsor, 14th Feb'y, 1781. Thos. Tolman, Secry. pro tem. [No. 3545.] Dr. Tillotson Demands Restitution for Confiscated Specie. Sir, I take the liberty to enclose you the account which you were kind enough to promise me your interest and trouble to procure for me; as the Specie at this time would be no unexceptable thing, and I'm informed that the Commissioners appointed for the sale of confiscated Lands has made some sales for Specie, and think my debt ought to be amongst the first paid. I have the Honor to be, your Excellency's most obedient &c. Clermont Feb'y 15th 1781. His Excellency, Governor Clinton. Th. Tillotson. The State of New York Dr. 1777 To cash in Specie taken from Robt. Miller (of mine) by Colo. Taylor, and sent into New York for the use of their Prisoners, by order of Genl. James Clinton £32 0 0. Clermont, Feb'y 15th, 1781. Errors Excepted by Th. Tillotson. [No. 3546.] Governor Clinton Makes a Recommendation to Congress in Favor of Colonel Malcom. Albany, 16th Feb'y, 1781. Gentlemen, I have been honored with a Letter from his Excellency the President of Congress inclosing certain Resolutions of the 9th Ultimo respecting Colo. Malcom which I immediately communicated to him. Bu his Letter of the 6th Inst't inclosed, you will observe that he conceives Congress by not attending to a former Resolution in his Favour, have injured him by their present Determination. I have, therefore, at his Request taken the Liberty of referring his Case to you that if not before fully understood it may be in the proper Train for Reconsideration. With respect to his Pay for occassional Services (altho employed as a Continental Officer) he is intitled to it & will receive it in the first Instance from the State & as to his Depreciation he stands on the same Footing with the other Officers of the Army who are Inhabitants of this State. I have the Honor, to be &c. The Delegates of the State of New York. [G. C.] [No. 3547.] Benjamin Birdsall Complains Against Tories. Dover, Febuary 17th 1781. S'r, I am unhappy to Inform your Exelency that the un A setteld and expos'd Cituation of family Renders it so ill Convenient, together with a late Conspiracy, happening by a wicked Sett of Torys Plotting together, in our neighbourhood, I cannot att present attend the legislature, unless sum mode can be adopted, to prevent the wicked Clandecent trade with our enemy and the torys prevented from Harbouring emisarys from the enemy, If it is equally through the State as it is in our neighbourhood, the whigs will soon be worn out and must remove. Capt. Volentine Whelor, is a gentleman whom I could wish might be valued equal to his merit. In hast, I am your most obedient and very Humbl. Ser't Benj. Birdsall. N: B: the loud Calmours through our State against Refugees, and their Sufferings, together Renders it exceeding unhappy for them, will I fear compell them to take up their arms against their internal enemys amongst us, but never without your Exelency's approbation, unless necessaty compels them. To His Exelency Gove'r Clinton. [No. 3548.] Mr. Hogle Assessed for His Son's Disloyalty. Cambridge, 17th Febr. 1781. Sir, Agreable to a law of the State of New York, Passed ye 9th day of October 1780, for assessing Persons whose Sons have joined the enemy, I now send your exelency a return of all that comes under that Law in our Destrict, to wit, Barnibes Hogle, whoes real Estate is assest at £80 & Personal at £55, which makes |