west of you the Bald Hill near Davis's west of you will be usefull to be occupied by our army-and they should be prevented from geting into the good Roads back of the manor of Courtlandt leading up to Quaker Hill.

Mr. Duer has a number of Carpenters & a great Bustle here about Building Barracks in the mouth of the High Lands three miles from Hence for two thousand men. However he has got Egbert Benson & Melanton Smith, two honest fellows, as overseers but they have not half enough of the Devil in them for that Buisiness. I don't see the Humour of lodging 2000 men this side of the High Lands. Two sides of each Barrack are to be mudwalls. Your Family were well this morning (as Mr. Dubois tells me) except Mrs. Blau & her son.

My best respects wait on General Scott.

General Clinton.

I am, Dear Sir, yours most sincerely,

John McKesson.

P. S. King & Bogardus of Capt. Godwin's Company have promised to join their Company with Bunschoten who calld on and now waits for them.

From six this Evening till very late we have seen in South East the Light of a great Fire. I have been told it was seen at four o'clock-we conjecture it about Rye.

D'r Sir,

[No. 228.]

Strengthening the Works in the Highlands.

Fishkill Saturday night 9th Nov'r 1776.

I enclose you Copies of Genl. Schuyler's & Mat. Vischer's Letters* rec'd by the Albany Rider this Evening. I am sorry

These two letters not found.

it was not in my Power to send them by the Rider sent of with a Letter from Schuyler to Washington.

A Certain Capt. Henry Godwin in Colo. Swartwout's Regim't is desirous of a Continental Commission. Can he be recommended as a brave, active, cool, vigilant officer of few words and many Deeds.

I am respectfully your

John McKesson.

General Clinton

near White plains.

P. S. It appears by Tilghman's Letter of yesterday, that 3000 men are ordered to the High Lands to be rady to strengthen the Garrisons of the Forts, and that a proportion of the army will be thrown into Jersey if necessary.

As you are under

marching orders advise me when & where you go.

[No. 229.]

D'r Sir,

John McKesson Advances a Loan to General Clinton.

Saturday night Nov'r 9th 1776.

Colo. D'Witt told me yesterday that he was to have borrowed of the Treasury 600 or 700 £ for Mrs. Clinton-that on Examination he found the Treasury could not bear it.

He desired me to inform you that I could lend her between 4 & 500 £ now, and the Residue in a Day or two when I can get orders on the Treasury or Committee of Conspircies for money lent them. Mr. D'Witt promised to take the first mentioned sum to Mrs. Clinton this Afternoon, but by some mistake is gone over without it. However it is ready & you can give your orders accordingly.

One Condition attends this Loan, that it be repaid in Continental money (and not the Bills of credit of any particular State). It is now in Continental money, not my own a great part of it— and to be replaced to the owners in like kind—as they live out of this State in Connecticut & East Jersey.

I'm almost the only one in the family that is capable of informing you of the situation of it. During the late melancholly accident in taking out the furniture, Dady (Daddy) received an additional Cold which brought on a fever more malignant then is commonly the case with Intermetting ones, which only confine the Patient to the Bed during the Days of the Paraxism, but thank God he is now in a great measure of recovring & at present is neither well nor ill but unwell.

I wish Uncle would write him to take special care of himself; we cant keep him in the house; mamma is as well as can be expected. Mr. Addison set out last Sunday with aunt Clinton for the Camp, but were terrified almost out of their wits at fish Kill; I think they are both Cowards. Mrs. Van Gasbeck died here about 10 o'Clock last night.

O Uncle how much I'm distressed when I think on the Setuation of this Country. Do you think we are in great Danger here this winter; we have the news here that the Court of France has proclaimed war against Britain. Heaven confirm it. What is the situation of both Armies at present? if amidst the din of arms and the demands of a Camp you have time to Drop me a few lines It will be very agreeable.

(Gen. George Clinton.)

From yours affectionately,

Mary Tappen.

[No. 231.]

Looking Toward the First Constitution of the State of New York. In Committee of Safety for the State of New York-Fishkill

November 12th 1776.

RESOLVED that notice be forthwith given to the County Committees of each respective County in this State, (not in possession of the Enemy) that the Convention are now proceeding on the Business of framing a system of Government, and that it is necessary that the members give their attendance without Delay.

RESOLVED that a Copy of the preceding Resolution be entered by the Secretary to the Convention and sent to the Chairman, of Each of the said County Committees.

RESOLVED that the like notice be given by the Secretary to the Members of New York Suffolk Queens and Kings Counties who are not in the power of the Enemy.

Extract from the Minutes.

John McKesson, Secry.

D'r Sir,

[No. 232.]

George Clinton Furnishes a List of Honor.

Peek's Kill 14th Nov'r 1776.

Agreable to Promise I now inclose you a List of the Officers of Colo. DuBois Regiment who served under my Brother last year's Campaign before Quebec & most of them this Summer in my Brigade. Those marked thus × have actually served under me & I can with great Justice recommend them to the Convention as active brave Officers.

I imagine shoud Colo. Du Bois' Regiment be continued it woud be most agreable to them to retain their present Appointments, if not it woud be a public Loss to leave them out of the Service & in my Opinion it woud be great Injustice to such of them as wish to continue in it. You have also a List of such of his Officers as were not in the Service to the Northward last year but have for some Time past served under me with Propriety & been useful Officers. I cant with Justice omit recommending my Brigade Major, Pawling, in a special manner as a most useful, active, brave Officer, well deserving the Rank he now sustains in the Army.

The Charecter you have heard of Him from some of our General Officers, especially of the Major Genl. of the Division, in which I have served during the whole Campaign, & whose Certificate in his Favour I now inclose you, will induce you to agree with me that if he can consistently, he ought to be provided for in such manner as will induce him to continue in the Service. I have many other brave Officers in my Brigade who have much Merrit & I doubt not but woud be willing to continue in the Service of the Country in the Military Line, but as they have not