1st. Why a Connecticut Commissary at Albany?* I think it right that they have a Commissary who may see that their Troops have provisions & do not want, & who may be accountable by Law to their own Governm't. But our Commissioners, who are good men, might they not have answered as well or better? Our people have forwarded either 400 or 500 Bls. of Pork, least it may not so easily be done in the future; and a Considerable Quantity of Flour, some Rice &ca., and have ordered 25 of the largest Batteaus; they also, that is two or three of them, have obtained money on their private security and sent to Albany. Will the Commissary, or our Commissioners, bear the Expence of transportation from Albany? But let me tell you no delay is made for the present. What will become of the Companies that the people of Albany have raised & sent and are sending to Ticonderoga? I hear that George Palmer at Stillwater (who has been very active) has sent upwards 70 men in a Company-and is bound to them to indemnify them. No matter how many men this Colony raises into Regular Regiments as a Continental Army at Continental Expence it will make us respectable, prevent our slinking away from our sister Colonies & preserve our Extent of Territory. I wish none but Connecticut Troops may be introduced until we have Troops of our own. Applications have already been frequent to the Congress here for military Employment. Troops will easily be raised, if the Cash can be provided. And the Command so placed, and in such Hands, as may tend to secure both our Liberty & Property. Your Brothers have not returned to report on the fortifications *An allusion to Joseph Trumbull, subsequently appointed Commissary General. to be erected on Hudsons River; 'tis tho't by some that any expensive fortification at King's Bridge will not be necessary or useful. It is best to have Troops raised to make the Fortifications. I want to know (on account of my own affairs) how long your Body will yet set. But if it is inconsistant with your Fidelity, don't tell me. The only news I think of at present is, that the few soldiers who were in Barracks here were Yesterday put on Board of the Asia man of war. A few men with little opposition stopped the Baggage Carts, made them return to Van Dyck's and kept two Chests of spare arms & three half Barrels of powder; they insisted that tho' they permitted the soldiers to go away armed, it would be criminal to let spare arms and ammunition be carried awayespecially as arms were some time ago seized & sent on Board of a Frigate and powder taken out of their whaling sloops coming into the Harbour. I have wrote almost night and day since the Congress sat, and have not slept since I arose yesterday morning. I enclose a Copy of our Congress French Letter to Canada-it was wrote and printed last week. But Mr. Scott who wrote it was out [of] Town the day it was printed, the Corrector of the press and another person made some alterations which occasioned it to be retained and I think it will be reprinted. I am your affectionate Wednesday morn'g, 5 o'clock, John McKesson.* June 7th, 1775. George Clinton Esq'r. John McKesson was one of the most active Americans in the State of New York during the Revolutionary War. His relations with the leaders were close and intimate. He was appointed secretary to the Provincial Convention which met in New York on the 20th of April, 1775, for the purpose of choosing delegates to represent the colony in the Continental Congress, and subsequently acted as secretary to the Council of Safety. P. S. Peter T. Curtenius is directed by this Congress to be their Commissary at New York. He is the most active man-what is ordered hitherto is done without Delay. [No. 60.] William Smith Sends his Compliments to George Clinton. My dear George: My servant John this minute asks Leave to visit his sister at Marlborough and will be gone before I shall rise in the morning so that I have only Time for our friendly Respects to you & Family and to intreat your and Mrs. Clinton's company whenever you can spare Time and find your Compassions rise in favor of a sett of People moping under the melancholly change from a Life of Society to the profoundest solitude in an outcast corner of the Creation. We heard from Town to-Day & have yesterday's Papers. The King will not tell the City of London whether any Terms shall precede the operations of his arms or not. But Gov'r Franklin* I believe has had dispatches by the vessels lately arrived at the Hook and he has called his Assembly for the 20th Instant upon Business of very great Importance. The Buzz at Hackinsac is that Terms of Peace are sent out. Nothing transpires respecting their nature. Adieu, I am truly yours, W. Smith. July 31, 1776, he was appointed by the Provincial Convention, Register in Chancery, which position he held for a number of years. He acted as one of the secretaries to the State Convention which was called to ratify the Federal Constitution. He was the first Clerk of the Assembly of the State of New York, which convened September 1, 1777, and held the position continuously until 1794. *William Franklin, governor of New Jersey-the Tory son of Ben. Franklin. [No. 61.] D'r Sir: The Colonists lose 1500 pounds of Saltpetre. I do not want to know one Secret from you. But let me beg leave to tell you, that the Committee of Albany & the present Commandant at Ticonderoga are continually sending for stores of every kind. The Merchants who retained Blanketts Duck & other Things, at the request of the New York Committee want leave to sell them. The Colony has NO MONEY-where shall they have credit. The Albany men are sending up men & want everything for them. No money to buy. If this Colony is to raise men let your Omnipotent House give very positive Directions. Yesterday Evening or this morning a few men took away without any noise or Trouble about 1500 lb. of saltpeter and some other Trifles of a like nature from Turtle Bay. These stores had long been there in a place of safety, and were not known even to the storekeeper. But Mr. Stevens the storekeeper having Knowledge of the matter complained to the mayor— both complained to the Congress. In consequence of your Resolve & the Letter from our Delegates of the May, this Congress made a Resolve sent a Committee & ordered all the Effects restored which is done. I am sorry we lost the saltpeter. But you see we are very obedient. Don't say I wrote this matter. I am yours affectionately, Thursday Evening June 8th '75. (George Clinton, Esq.) J. McKesson. [No. 62.] COLONISTS BY NO MEANS UNITED. Pacificatory Tactics toward the English-Rumors of two American D'r Sir: Republics. Col. Clinton (James) & Mr Tappen returned two days ago with a handson Draft of Hudsons River thro' the Highlands, and have reported the Building a fortification on each side, the one to contain 300 & the other 200 men-and also a proper place on the East side of the river for a magazine. A copy of their Draft on a small scale, & a Copy of their Report are ordered to be transmitted to the New York Delegates, & are Ready. With this you will receive a Letter of this day from Mr. Tappen. On Tuesday last some of the Inhabitants took out of the military baggage Carts three Chests of spare musketts (without locks) & a Bag with about Twenty Locks, which have been put into different hands. The officers then ordered all the arms left at the Barracks to be destroy'd, & they were accordingly made the bottom [of] a large fire pile by the soldiers who yet remained at the Barrack, & the Barrells were afterwards broken & cut with axes. Yesterday the provincial Congress made an order to restore the arms taken out of the Baggage Carts, & have appointed a Committee to see it done. Some of the Inhabitants are dissatisfied with the order. 'Our Congress says the former order from your grand Body and Expanatory Letter from the Delegates which attended it obliges them to see those arms restored. As you can't write me any news, I will take the Liberty to write you a little. 1st. Some time ago we heard a report that the Delagates of |