more than 20 per day; tho' our delegates were allowed before depreciation, (and when living at Philadelphia was not half so dear as while I resided there in the public Service) four dollars. per day. Of the above Expenditure, knowing I should be long absent from home and therefore, should be obliged to leave all the Money I then had, with my Family, towards their Support, I borrowed from Theodorus Van Wyck Esqr. one of the Commissioners of Sequestration, 15,000 Dls.; for which I gave him my promisory note, expressing the Loan to be made to me as a Delegate, and to leave Philadelphia with reputation to myself and the State. I was obliged to borrow near 10,000 Dls. on my private Credit, for want of Money in the Continental Treasury. The latter Sum to my great Mortification, I have, for want of Means, been hitherto unable to discharge; and as to the former, Mr. Van Wyck yesterday, wrote me a Letter, in which he informs me, that he had presented my Note to the Auditor General, and that he had refused to allow it in account. He, therefore, desires me to settle it with the Treasurer or the Legislature; as the non settlement of it prevents the auditing of the Commissioners accounts. And thus, Sir, besides an absence of ten Months from my Family and private affairs, I stand pledged for the public, for near 25,000 Dls., on the Score of my delegation, which I am unable, considering my great Losses to pay, and incur further Expences, in attending Congress immediately; unless I receive aid from the Treasury. Add to all this, I stand personally engaged to Messrs. Sears and Broome for £1101-6-0 lawful, being Money advanced by them, in procuring written Evidence from the Eastward in the Controversy about the New Hampshire Grants; and which I have not been able to pay; tho' it has been due a full year,

There is also a Reason of a private Nature, (& which therefore I mention last) against my immediately repairing to Congress. However cogently I feel its force, I shall barely hint at it. The Suspension by a Clause in a Law, whereby I am prevented for the present from the Benefit of Certificates lodged for me in Consequence of a former Law, for the House & farm now in the Occupation of John H. Sleght, has reduced my family to the dire Necessity of submitting, till I shall obtain Redress from the Justice of the Legislature, to a temporary Residence in a small ruinous House, not sufficient, were it repaired to contain a family much smaller than mine; with only eleven acres of poor Land adjoining to a bog-meadow, and entirely without fence, or even so much as an Hovel to shelter my Cattle from the weather. These, Sir, will I hope be deemed by the Legislature, Reasons sufficient (to justify my staying from Congress) till their Meeting. And in full Confidence in their Justice for a speedy removal of those Reasons, I shall make it my Business to attend in Senate with the utmost punctuality. I am, Sir, with the greatest respect, your Excelency's most obedient Servant

Jno. Morin Scott.

P. S. I send inclosed Copies of the acts requested by Col. Benson, by your Excellency's Order.

His Excellency the Governor.

[No. 3703.]

Judge Hobart Writes the Governor in Regard to Captain Grenell's

Property.

Sharon, May 10th 1781.

Dear Sir, Returning from Poughkeepsie on Sunday morning,

I met a messenger with a Letter from Cap'n Grenell for me, in

which he states the dificulties that occurred to him in bringing off his Effects under the impress warrant. He says that should the curiosity or jealousy of the Connecticut People induce any of them to examine the packages, and any goods being found which could not be included in the Instructions which Davis and he have received, it would subject them to many inconveniences, the least of which would probably be the expence of a Lawsuit, and perhaps the loss of the goods, with a stigma fixed upon his Charecter as having abused the Confidence of government, and under the disguise of serving the state, carrying on a trade, universally acknowledged to be pernicious.

I came up with him at Pleasant Valley and found these considerations had made so strong an impression on his mind, that he was determined to risk the loss of his property on the Island, rather than bring it off without a formal permit from your Excellency. I told him that I beleived you had no objection to granting one, at least that you had mentioned none to me; that I would write to you on the subject and did not doubt but it would be obtained; Mr. T. Grenell, the Bearer, will wait upon you for the purpose, and will carry the permit directly to his Brother at Midletown. I have the Honour to be, with very great respect and esteem, your Excellency's most obed't Serv't Jno. Sloss Hobart.

His Excellency Gov'r Clinton.

[No. 3704.]

General Clinton Acknowledges the Receipt of Supplies.

Albany, May 12th 1781.

Dear Sir, Your two favours I have been honored with the

inclosed Impress warrents. Two of them for five hundred Bar

rels of Flower each and one for two hundred Barrels of Beef; I have put in the hands of Stoutenburgh, who has promised to have them faithfully executed. One for five hundred Barrels of Flower, and one for two hundred Barrels of Beef, I have sent to Genl. Schuyler, to be disposed of in such Hands as he shall think proper. The remaining one for five hundred Barrels of Flower I have directed Lt. Colbrath of the 2d Regt. to put in force amongst the Disafected in Albany & Tryon Counties, where that Regt. is cantoned.

The Escort with the Supply for Fort Schuyler went off the 10th, but the Boats will be much retarded by the uncommon Flood, which has prevailed in this Quarter, tho I hope it will arrive in good Time.

Your Caution respecting the arrival of Cloathing was unnecessary, as the Information was received previous to the Receipt of your Letter. The men who are now with Major Davis, may continue with him, but those whom he requests to be sent to him, are at Fort Schuyler, & the Escort was gon before I received your Letter. I am, Dear Sir, yours affectionately

James Clinton.

Gov'r Clinton.

[No. 3705.]

Governor Clinton Explains Why Certain Scotch Families Cannot be Permitted to Pass to New York at This Time.

Cats Kill, May the 12, 1781.

Sir, The Scotch people who have with Mr. Cumming settled in this Quarter, upon being warned to remove from our frontier have presented us with a petition which they mean to have laid before your Excellency. The person who will present you their petition, can inform you by what means they wish to leave the

State. We are of opinion, that if there are any Families in the Enemies lines desirous of an exchange, that this wou'd be a fair opportunity, and we believe that they have as Foreigners, done us as little injury as any other people of their principle. We, however, wish not to dictate or point out any measures for you to pursue, but do this only by way of Informatin. We are with respect, yr. Excellency's most Obed. and very hum. ser

vants.

His Excell'y Gov'r Clinton.

Anthony Van Bergen, Colo. Cornelius Dubois, Lieut. Col.

To His Excellency George Clinton Esqr. Governor of the State of New York. The petition of the Subscribers, Humbly sheweth, that we are Natives of N. Britain and came to this state in July 1774, along with John Cumming, Esqr., upon whose Land we have resided ever since. Upon the commencement of the present war being ignorant of the nature, Cause and Consequence of the Dispute, being poor and strangers, we declined having any hand or concern in the War. Thus refusing Militia duty, we were brought before the committee, and giving our reasons, we were by the gentlemen of the Committee disarmed and acquitted from militia duty, and gave our word of Honour that we would not during the present contest, neither take up Arms nor hold any correspondence nor be any way assisting to either the Continent or King, which neutrality we have strictly adhered to, as the officers of the District can inform your Excellency.

This District having now become a frontier and especially this Tapugieht where we live, the Inhabitants of this District in general, do not think it proper that we shall remain on our place, and have consequently warned us to move on the other side Hudson's River and not return on any pretence whatever until they should deem it consistant with their safety unless we obtained a written permit from your Excellency; the which and our being intirely deceived with regard to the Ideas we entertain'd of this Country before we came to it, we have determined to return to the place of our nativity, if it would please your Excellency to grant us permission. Subjoined is a List of our Families, In hopes of Compliance, we remain your Excellency's most obed: and very hum'e Servants,