him in his Proposed Plan, and if the collector shoed call by him for Tax, he would Refuse to pay, and if the collector laid hands on his goods he would kill him, and you are the cause of the murder that will not join me. Wynkoop applyed to two different Persons to write the Proposed obligation; he would dictate them what to write; they as wise & Prudent men both Refused to write. So there was nothing done at that meeting; but Wynkoop had severall meetings since, but whether any Instrument was signed to oppose the administration of the State is yet unknown, but I am informed this day that last Sunday, Capt. Wynkoop on his way to church, he met two men from the other side of the River, with whome he returned home and collected a number of his friends, and then signed an Instrument brought by those men. What was called a Protection or Proclamation from the British Genl. Clinton; since that, the Torys are in high Spirits; and that with the conduct of Capt. Wynkoop has Incouraged many indifferent and ignorant Persons to follow him, so that the number of wiggs is the smallest Party of the two, and, therefore, oblidged to suffer abuses and threatenings and have no Spirit to Resent it for fair of suffering great Losses by fire, or being taken captive & carried to the enemy, as severall good men in that neighbourhood is done already by the means and assistance of said Tory party. It is no matter of Doubt, but there are severall of those Rascals that deserted from that neighbourhood along the frontiers by the advise of their Parents, and now concealed there and supplyed with the necessaries of life, and watching an oppertunity of taking and carrying of to the enemy as many good People as they can get. To gaurd against them is impossible; the militia cannot stir, but they have Intilligence esspecially in that Quarter; the Torys

are so mix'd among the wiggs, that the wigg Party is Realy under great fair, and some are moving away, and I am afraid it will be the case with too many. The Torys say that before May, no wigg shall live on this side the River; it will be entirely over with the wigs. Time is approaching, and I do not know but it is necessary now to order a Detachment of the militia out to gaurd the frontiers, but do not know where to station them; the militia Proclaims against being stationed at any place along the frontiers among the Torys to be worst of enemy, and I think it highly necessary that the Commissioners of Defeating Conspiraties should take notice of the conduct of Capt. Wynkoop & others. I do not know that the civil majesstrates can interfere, the power is by Law of this State solely vested in the commissioners.

Albany March 20" 1701.

Sir, I have rec'd your Letter of the 9" Instant not signed. I conceive it necessary for you to keep out upon the Frontiers constant Scouts, and the more so if there are a great Number of the disaffected there. A Law is now before the Legislature for removing the disaffected from the Frontiers into the more interior Parts of the Country; this Law, should it pass, will prob ably give the Inhabitants greater Security. I am surprized that you should be in Doubt how to proceed with Wynkoop & others if there is full Proof agreable to the information you mention; they are guilty of Treason, or at least sedition; & you can as a Civil Magistrate by your warrant commit them to goal.

[To Colonel Snyder.]

[G. C.]

[No. 3571.]

Judge Paine in Trouble as a Consequence of Absence from the Senate.

Sir, Your Excellency is acquainted in what Charracter I was lately at Albany. I moved the house (upon the Consideration of the Deranged Situation of my affairs) for leave to return; the motion was seconted but the house were not in humour to Determine the Question; at the adjourment of the house from Saturday to Monday, I thought best to visit my family whome I left in no favourable Circumstances, and as I did not attend at the time the house was adjourned to unless I had reasonable excuse should be subject to be reprimanded from the chair; but as Mr. Tilman called at my house this day, you, Sir, may suppose that I had some Reason to suspect that the house had sent him to take me into Custody again for contempt, and of which I am sure they could have no knowledge, as they could have no evidence of what was become of me, as the Sergeant perhaps through delicacy did not inform me of his business, and as I had purposed a journey into New England upon some affairs of importance, I thought it best prosecute that view without informing Mr. Tilman of my intentions. I think, Sir, the Senate are a little hard upon me, as they know that I beged leave to resign my seat in the house for Reasons which to me, and I supposed to them, would appear of weight; whether they had a Right to accept the Resignation I will not determine, but I had great Reason to believe they had, as the case of Doctr Jones was a Precedent, but since our house is so loath to part with me, I purpose to put my affairs in the best Situation so as to attend punctually the next meeting. I beg leave to inform your Excellency, a Considerable uneasiness attends the people in

general within the Circle of my acquaintance, respecting our Publick affairs, and that unless People of influence use all their address to feed them with hopes that matters will shortly take a turn for the better, there will be Danger of a mutiny before this Campaign is ended. I have Recommended it to several of the members of our County [Dutchess] Committe, who are to meet next week to make it a Principal object at their meeting to address the people and urge them in the strongest terms to afford every supply in their power for the support of the army this Campaigne, lest they report when it is to late. I trust in your Excellency's Candour to pardon the length of this, which will be another token of your favour to your most obedient humble servant

March ye 9th, 1781.

Ephraim Paine.

Governor Clinton.

[No. 3572.]

Colonel Lamb's Letter Respecting Clothing.

Fredericksburgh, 10th March 1781.

Dear Sir, When I had the pleasure of seeing you last, you informed me, that you had a prospect of procuring Cloathing for the Troops of this State. If your Plan for doing it should succeed, I shall esteem a singular favor, if you will please to remember me, in the distribution of that which is destined for the Officers. I am, with every Sentiment of Respect, Dear Sir your Obdt. Servant

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

John Lamb.

[No. 3573.]

·Christopher Tappen Recommends John Sleght as Sheriff of Ulster

County.

Kingston, 10th March 1781.

Dr Sir, I have been informed that the Council of Appointment will soon reappoint Officers in the Room of those whose Term by the Constitution will shortly expire. It is conjectured by some that the present Sheriff of this County will Endeavour to get one of his Friends appointed as a feigned Sheriff, and he to serve as his Deputy; what foundation there is for this I am [un]able to determine,-this I know that the profits he had during the continuance of his Office is by no means adequate to his Services; if Mr. Dumond Shou'd make application in that way I could wish him to succed. But if not, I take the Liberty to recommand to your consideration Mr. John Sleght whom you well know; should, therefore, not presume to say any thing more. respecting his abilities than this, that from the connection in Trade with him, I have always found him honest, and tho' he appears naturally slow, he is both correct and expert in Business, and in my Judgment fully competent for that Office.* I had almost taken a determinate Resolution never to make a request to you of this kind, for reasons too obvious to be mentioned, but influenced by these motives that he is under a necessity from his exposed situation to remove his Family into the interior part of the County and consequently out of all kind of means to support a growing Family.

I have never known the People of this Town so eager to raise Troops for the Frontiers than what they are at present, unless

John J. Sleght was appointed Sheriff of Ulster County by the Council of Appointment, March 26, 1781.-STATE HISTORIAN.