farther south than Haverstraw, or west than Ringwood, 'till the farther orders of this Convention;

RESOLVED, that Colo. Malcom with the militia under his Command be annexed to General George Clinton's Brigade;

RESOLVED, that a Copy of the above Resolutions be immediately transmitted to General George Clinton.

RESOLVED, that a Letter be written to his Excellency General Washington enclosing the Resolutions passed on Monday laststating the dangers attending the leaving the passes thro' the High Lands unguarded; and requesting that the order for General Heath's division to march may be countermanded;

RESOLVED that the said Letter go by Express who shall be & hereby is empowered to impress Horses every ten Miles & to ride night & Day both going and returning;

RESOLVED that if the Express shall go & return in less than six days that he shall be paid three pounds per day over & above his wages for every day short of that Time in which he shall perform the same. That is if he shall perform the same in five Days he shall receive three pounds if in four Days six pounds.

Extract from the Minutes.

[No. 263.]

John McKesson, Secr'y.

The Committee of Safety Determined to Eradicate the Westchester

Tories.

In Committee of Safety for the State of New York,

Sir,

Fishkill-December 12th 1776.

The Convention on the application of the Inhabitants of West Chester County who complain of Inroads made upon them by a

party of Rangers under the command of Major Rodgers, have come to a Resolution to detach Colonels Malcom and Thomas with their Regiments, who will be joined by some of the militia of West Chester County and three Companies of Rangers in order to fall upon the Troops of the Enemy and remove the Stock & Grain from the said County. You will be pleased therefore immediately to give the necessary Orders.

I am with great respect sir your very humble serv't,

By order of the Committee.

Matthew Cantine pr. tem Chairman.

Brigadier General George Clinton.

[No. 264.]

Col. Malcom's Instructions from the Committee to Carry the Plan

into Effect.

In Committee of Safety for the State of New York, Fishkill,

December 12th 1776.

RESOLVED, that an Expedition be made into the County of West Chester under the Command of Colo. Malcom, for which purpose the said Colo. Malcom be immediately ordered over with his Regim't to Peeks Kill.

That the Commanding Officer at Peeks Kill be requested to put Colo. Thomas with his Regiment under the Command of Colo. Malcom.

That the Militia of the said County be encouraged to join the Troops aforesaid, with four days' provisions for which purpose Major Lockwood be immediately sent among them and to concert a place of Rendesvous for those who are willing to serve with Secrecy & dispatch.

That such militia be allowed continental pay and rations, and that the Commissary at Peeks Kill be requested to furnish such Rations, & in default thereof that the said Major Lockwood be empowered to appoint a Commissary for the purpose aforesaid.

That the Rangers daily expected from Albany be also put under the Command of Colo. Malcom immediately upon their arrival. That the Troops under the Command of Captains Scribner & Dellavan be also subjected to Colo. Malcom's command.

That Colo. Malcom be ordered to take the most effectual measures for apprehending or destroying such of the Enemy's Rangers & other their Troops as may be found in the said County; as also for the Bringing away from such parts of the said County as are more immediately exposed to the Enemy, all Forrage Grain Cattle Sheep Horses &ca. giving receipts therefor to the parties from whom the same are taken respectively; and burning all Boats along the sound as far eastward as Rye inclusively, if necessary; and for these purposes he be empowered to press Teams carts waggons Horses &ca. the Expence thereof to be paid by Stephen Ward Esquire.

That Major Lockwood be ordered to wait upon the said Commanding officer at Peeks Kill with a Copy of these Resolutions & of the said Petition, and also concert measures with the said Stephen Ward & Colo. Malcom; and that he be furnished with the sum of five hundred pounds for defraying the incidental Expences of the said Expedition, & account, therefor, with this Committee or Convention of this state.

That a Letter be written to General George Clinton, requesting the Regiments of Colo. Malcom and Colo. Thomas for the purposes afores'd and that Major Lockwood wait on him with the same.

That Major Lockwood explain to General Heath the reasons

upon which this Committee have formed this Expedition, & inform him that in the opinion of this Committee it will not hazard the Loss of the Defiles; to which they can return upon the earliest notice.

That he endeavour to obtain from General Heath, Provisions, particularly hard Bread, and whatever else may be necessary for forwarding the Intention of the above resolutions.

That he apply to the Quarter Master at Peeks Kill for his aid in removing Forrage from the County of West Chester; and to the Commissary requesting him to purchase such Cattle as may be driven in for the use of the army:

That he have power to devise and carry into Execution any plan for obtaining ammunition and to use of the Lead and powder belonging to this state at Peeks Kill or at this place.

How it hapned that In Mr. Levingston's Report To the house, that your Bregade was to Rendisvouse at Chester, Contrary as it appears, to your orders to the Colonels, I am not able to account for, when I mentioned to you yesterday, gen'rl Scot's opinion that the Meliti might, with propriety, be withheld, Untill the pleasure of Convention was known, and which I thought, seem'd to be your sentiments; a Doubt Did not Remain with me but that you was to meet the Bregade at Chester; but sir, the Regement Under my command, is now collecting in order to march

this day to the New City in the Lower End of this County; but as no time would be Lost by this Express, I have thought it advisable to acquaint you of our Movement, and, if your orders for marching the Bregade should Be countermanded, you will pleas to acquaint me by the Bairer, as the marching a melitia at this Inclement season is attended with many Difficulties, and cannot be Justified but on the most Urgent necessity.

I am sorry to Informe you that our people gethers Very slowly, and numbers of those few met makeing Excuses.

I am with Due Respect Sir, your Very Humble Serv't,

To Brigadier gen'rl, George Clinton.

Wm. Allison.

[No. 266.]

The General Strongly Endorses a Young Man's Appointment. Fort Constitution, 14th Dec'r 1776.

D'r Sir,

When I was at Convention yesterday old Mr. Lawrence ap plied to me to recommend his son a Lieut in Colo. Swarthoud's Regiment in my Brigade to your Committee in which Case he said you woud appoint him an Officer in the New Army. I was surprized at his Application as I had recommended him for a Lieutenancy in a former Letter to your Committee. I did not chuse to give him a Second Recommendation least I might have been mistaken in his Charecter & I did not know but you might know more of him than I did. I thought it therefore best to refuse till I coud see his Colonel & inform Myself more fully about him which I have this Day had an Opportunity of doing. The Colonel tells me on his Honor that he believes him to be brave;