one news paper, of the latest I could get, but in a short time, it will be in my Power to get them every week; and likewiss send you the last news from New York of thare movements. I am, Dear Sir, your Excellency's most humbel servent

His Excellency Gorg. Clinton, Esq.

Rich'd Sackett.

Pokeepsie 18th May 1781.

Dear Sir, I have received & thank you for your Favour of the 15th & shall be blidged by your continuing to communicate the earliest Intelligence with the York Papers as they come to Hand. I am happy to learn that the Levies of your County are so near Compleat & I have hopes that the Detachment from Dutchess will soon join you. It is my Desire that they be disposed of so as to give the best general Security to the different exposed Settlements & that you woud procure a Meeting of the Field Officers of the different Regts. & be governed as far as may be with their advice, on forming the Disposition, as this will be most likely to give Sattisfaction & make your Command agreable. I am &c.

[To Captain Sackett.]

[No. 3717.]

[G. C.]

Congressional Legislation for Raising Funds.

Albany, May 15th 1781.

D'r Col: By Mr. Sebring I wrote you a few Days ago and agreable to your request inclosed an account of the Taxes laid & paid into the Treasury. I omitted mentioning two Tax Laws, which tho' they had yet brought nothing into the Treasury, may

be necessary for the Governor's information.

them are,

The Titles of

"An act approving of the act of Congress of the 18th Day of March 1780, relative to the Finances of the United States, and making provision for redeeming the proportion of this State of the Bills of Credit, to be emitted in pursuance of the said act of Congress" passed June 15th 1780.

"By this Law there was ordered the raising the Sum of 2,500,000 Dollars by the 1st October; 2,500,000 Dollars more by the 1st January last; & 2,500,000 Dollars more by the 1st April last.

"An act for raising by Tax a Sum equal to 150,000 Dollars in specie" passed the 10th October 1780. I am yours &c.

Col: Benson.

[No. 3718.]

G. Bancker.

Micah Townsend Roughly Treated by Westchester Refugees-He Brings the Case of Colonel Holmes Before the Governor.

Fishkill, 16th May 1781.

Sir, I have to thank your Excellency a thousand times for your kind Permission to go to Long Island, as I have been enabled to do my Business to my entire Satisfaction & should now wait on your Excellency to return you my thanks in Person, but have been detained at least a Fortnight longer than I wished, & left Mrs. Townsend in such Circumstances, that I feel great anxiety to be at home as speedily as possible.

I met with abuse from some of ye W. Chester Refugees; in the City have been once carried before his Worship, & have rea son to think my life was in danger from a son of Lounsberry & others when I came out, which was oblidged to do by way of

Elizabeth Town to avoid my old enemies. A thousand Pounds would not tempt me to a similar Visit.

As Mr. Loudon has ye last Papers do not mention ye news. I leave with Mr. Loudon for your Exe'y, a Newspaper & one of Gaine's Registers. If you are already supplied with a Register wish Mr. Loudon may have it. The paper I got when I expected to come out, but was afterwards delayed. Some of ye Long Island Whigs insist upon my speaking to your Exc'y in favor of Colo. Holmes. They say he first went to Rockaway & disagreed with his Landlord (a_warm tory) so much about Politicks that he left ye Place, & came to Cedaw Swamp, where he kept company only with Whigs. That the Refugees declined keeping company with him, he talked so much like a Rebel. That he was generally called by the Tories about his neighbourhood "ye rebel Colonel." That they have the highest evidence that he came back fully determined to join ye Country in support of its Independ'e, & they are fully convinced he would prefer staying in the Country, at liberty, to going within their Lines, as he must be exposed to great Insults there, which he well knows; they, therefore, wish the offer might be made him of being at Liberty to dwell in such safe Place as your Exc'y shall think proper; the upper part of Dutchess or Albany perhaps; & that he may not be compelled to be exchanged. Hope your Exe'y will pardon this incorrect Scrawl & believe me to be your most obed't & grateful Servant

Gov'r Clinton.

Micah Townsend.

[No. 3719.]

FORT SCHUYLER RUINED BY FLOOD AND FIRE.

A Disastrous Conflagration at Midday-General Schuyler Forwards Disturbing News from Saratoga.

Albany May 16, 1781.

Dear Sir, This morning I received a number of Letters from Fort Schuyler and Saratoga, the former containing the disagreeable account of the loss of the Barracks by fire, the latter anouncing the appearance of the Enemy on the Frontiers; my Letters to Colo'ls Cortlandt and Cochran, copies of which I inclose for your satisfaction, will inform you of the measures I have taken on this occasion, as I conceive it a matter of the utmost consequence. I would request, that if circumstances will admit, you should wait on the General in Person, and represent to him the difficulty of rebuilding the Barracks and repairing the works at this time and under our present circumstances, and that, however, necessary the Post may be, that it will be impossible to maintain it unless they are repaired; taking this Circumstances into consideration, would it not be best to remove the stores and take post at the German Flatts? this Query is suggested, the affirmative supported by the united opinions of the principle Inhabitants of this place, the principle reason for maintaining it being removed to wit: the Onida Indians returning to Schonectady. I inclose you a Letter from Genl. Schuyler for Genl. Washington, unsealed for your perusal, which you will seal and forward immediately. I am, Dear Sir, yours sincerly

Gov'r Clinton,

James Clinton.

Albany [Fort Schuyler] May 13th 1781.

Sir, Since I wrote you last, the heavy Rains have almost ruined the works of this Garrison. Anxious to do every thing in my power and to justify myself, I called the office[r]s in Garrison togather in Council to advise what was best to [be] done, the result of which I enclose you. I have put the Garrison on half allowance of Beef, and added one Quarter of a pound of flower. The General will doubtless consider, that it is much harder for men to be cut short of their allowance in this Post, than almost any other on the Continent, as there is nothing to be had but what they draw from the public store. I am &c. Robt. Cochran.

Gen. Clinton. (Copy)

At a Council of officers in Garrison at Fort Schuyler held on Saturday the 12th of May one thousand and seven hundred and eighty one, to inspect and examine the works of said garrison. Officers present:

of the 2d New York Regt. Lt. Colonel Cochran, Commdt. Capt. Hamtramck

Report 1st that after having personally examined the Fortification of this Garrison, do find more than two thirds of the works broken down occasioned by the late heavy rains and as