[No. 512.]

GEORGE CLINTON'S RESIGNATION REFUSED.

New York's Representatives Pass Commendatory Resolutions in His

Honor.

In Convention of the Representatives of the State of

New York; Kingston May 13th 1777.

RESOLVED, that General Clinton's Resignation be not accepted of, and that the Council of Safety write to him assigning the Reasons for this Refusal; and among others, that the high Sense this Convention entertain of his Abilities to serve his Country in this important Hour, forbid their complying with his Request at present.

Extract from the Minutes.

Robt. Benson Secry.

Kingston May 22d 1777.

Sir,

The Convention shortly before their Dissolution took into Consideration your Letter of the Ninth of May Inst. It was with Regret that they were informed of your desire to resign your Command of the militia; and tho' disposed to adopt every meas ure agreeable to you, they could not prevail upon themselves at this critical Juncture to accept your Resignation. By an Order of which the enclosed is a Copy, they directed this Council to inform you of the Reasons which influenced them in that Determination and among others "That the high Sense they entertained of your Abilities to serve your Country in this important Hour," the Confidence reposed in your Zeal and abilities by the Militia in General, the Convention just arrived at the time of its Dissolution, their being undetermined as to the Person proper to succeed you in that Command, all conspired in inducing them

to request that your Resignation may be postponed for the present. It will not be long before the Governm't will be organized and the Legislature meet, and there is great Reason to believe you will then be relieved from a Burthen which your necessary and daily Attention to the Business of your other Department has rendered inconvenient. In the meantime, Sir, the Council requests that you will continue as heretofore to consider the Militia of Orange, Ulster, Dutchess and Westchester as under your immediate command.

I am, with great Respect and Esteem Sir

Your most Obedient and very humble Servant

I send you By Colo. Stary two Deserters, Belonging to Colo. Spenser Regt. of Newjersey, of Capt. James Broderick Comp'y -Taking near Kingston, the named David Conkalton & Anthoney Berney off the Same Regt. & Company; those Soldiers has Behaved well & was put In Goal with some Torryes To Discover some of their Plotts, which I Do Recommend for mercey. I am D'r Sir yours,

Egbert Dumond, Sheriff.

N. B. Your Daughter Caty Remmember her Compl's.

Kingston May 24, 1777.

To Brigadier Genl. George Clinton.

[No. 514.]

RENDERING OFFICERS SUPERNUMERARY.

Necessary by the Failure of the Militia Regiments to Recruit to the

Dear Sir,

Full Limit.

Fort Montgomery 24th May 1777.

From your Return I find the Number of Privates in your Regiment so small & very short of what I had Reason to have expected they would have been, that I cannot Justify retaining in Service the Present disproportionate Number of Officers, more especially as I have but little Hopes of your being able to get in from the Country those who ought to join you, faster than you will decrease in Numbers by Inlistments out of your Corps in the standing army, the which I woud wish to incourage & I doubt not but your Officers will by every Means in their Power. For these Reasons I must begg that you will dismiss from your Regiment in the Present Service, all Supernumerary Officers conforming as nearly as maybe to the Resolve of the Continental Congress, fixing the Number of Privates which is to compose a Regiment to be commanded by a Colonel &ca. I am sensible from the strong Attachment that the Militia have to their Captains & Subaltern Officers, you will not be able without Injuring the service to comply exactly with that Resolve, in Respect to Companies you will however come as near it as you can. This will occasion your leaving the Command of the Regt. to your Lieut. Colo. or Major, but I know you to well to make any Appoligy to you for directing what I conceive to be my Duty & I am sure whatever is most agreeable to order & the good of the service you will cheerfully submit to.

I am with much Esteem, your most obed't serv't,

Geo. Clinton.

Be kind enough to acquaint Genl. Putnam with the substance of this Letter which will explain the Reasons of your Officers returning Home.

[To Col. Graham.]

[No. 515.]

"WITH A RINKEL'D COCKT'D KNOS."

Lieut. Connolly's Description of Mr. Cantine and What Led to and

S'r,

Followed It.

Esopus, May 24th 1777.

I have Inlistd six of those young fellows Confin'd aboard of a brigg at this landing (by the Advice of Some of the Convintion), the Honouerabel house hereing that I had Engaug'd Some & was in a faare way of getting a great Many more; the Opoint'd a Committe, Close confin'd those 6, threatin'd me, Oblig'd them to Return me the monies Again, (at the same time gave privit orders to Capt'n Bovier and Left'n Pawling to Inlist them & those in Goal of which the have Inlis'd 6 of them), but I wo'd not take it, but sent it back again with Some old Cloathes & a barral of beer, forbidding them to Inlist with any other. I am not Suffer'd to Speake to them; as Soon as I found the wo'd Inguage, I Aply'd to the Counssel (but first Made sure of these 6); the finding I did not belong to the Quotto of this Stiate, the wo'd not permite me, but Charge me or Rather Abus'd me for Doeing what I had Done. I Told them I Judged I was in the line of my Dutey but I wo'd Say or Do no more Until I Aquaint'd General Clinton; Mr. Contine Answerd with a Rinkel'd Cockt'd Knos, that he wo'd have General Clinton & me to know that the Military was Not to Rule Civil, & that I was

Not Judge; the were the Judges; be all that as it will, I Intind to Stay a few Days yet, (Unless I am Call'd) Untill Bevier & Pawling goes Abroad of thoes Vesales to Inlist. I am to know when the go. Indeed, the Cant Do much without me, for as I have Engaug'd Some, the rest (as I Supos) wo'd Lieke to be togeather; a Day or 2 Ago I Inlist'd a man in the Steatehouse About 10 O'Clock, Amoungest the thick of the Counsell; the Look'd Very grim at me, but I am Resolv'd to part with No man that will

Inlist for money. I wo'd been over in Dutches County Amoungest the frightn'd Torries was it not to See the Event here. Coll. Snyder is not yet discharg'd; the publick is Impatient to know the Event; if it is given Against him (or Against the poore as it is Call'd) I dread the Consquance. What few Recrutes I have got here I'll Send them to your garrision by Every Opertunity. Capt'n Bovier & Mr. Pawling seems Very Desirous

I sho'd Joine their Regiment if the was a Vacancey; I told them I Co'd say Nothing to that for General Clinton had the Dissposal of me but if the pepol Call'd me out, Capt'n Oh how well it Wo'd please your Most Obeedant Serv't,

To Genrl. Geo. Clinton.

Mich'l Connolly.

[No. 516.]

Lieutenant McArthur Asks George Clinton for the Reason of His

Arrest.

[May 26, 1777]

Sir,

New Barracks, Saturday Evening &c.

I would be under very great Obligations to you if I could obtain the Satisfaction of knowing the Necessity of my being ordered under an arrest this Evening, I know no other Reason,