might be made of it by the Disaffected; from which I concluded it was a true copy as to Date & every other respect of the original Draft in the Office of Finance-this I will be much obliged to you to have ascertained.

Sir James Jay's Capture at Second River was attended with some Circumstances of Suspicion but knowing the man I rather charitably imputed them to his Folly than any worse Cause. His going to Europe on Parole & his Correspondence on that Subject with Sir Guy Carlton, Copies of which I am informed he transmitted to Chief Justice McKean, I confess renders his Integrity very Suspicious-'tis, however, a Matter of no great Importance. You know the man. He is no great loss to us & the Enemy will gain as little by him if he should be disposed to serve them.

Messrs. Root & Montgomery on their way to the Eastward passed an Evening with me. I endeavored to explain to them as fully as I was able, our reduced & distressed Circumstances & the impracticability of our complying with the Requisitions of Congress on the subject of Finance. We had much Conversation on this and other Matters relative to the Affairs of this State in which I thought it my Duty to express myself with some Degree of freedom. However, before we parted, I agreed to issue my Proclamation for convening the Legislature on the first Wednesday in July, warning them at the same time of the uncertainty of getting the Members together at the Eve of Harvest & at a time when our Frontiers would be most subject to the Incursions of the Enemy, and of course the Members residing in those Parts would, if at all, attend with great Reluctance.

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I have nothing that can be new to you, worth communicatingthe Northern & Western Frontiers have suffered no capital Injury

this Season & to the southward we appear to be in a State of perfect Tranquility. I am &c &c &c

G. C.

Genl. Ganssvoort called upon me a few days ago on his Way to Congress. He claims Rank in the Army in Consequence of his Appointment as Commandant of Fort Schuyler, which he conceives could not be affected by his Derangement as Colo. of a Regt. on the last Reform of the Army. His present Business is to procure a pointed Determination on this Subject & he requested of me to mention it to you & ask your Assistance in facilitating his Application, which I am confident you will readily grant him, as far as you shall conceive his Claim consistent with Justice.

The houble. Jno. Morin Scott, Esqr.

MANUSCRIPT VOL. XVI.

[No. 4626.]

James Duane to Governor Clinton-In Regard to French Exchange and Private Financial Accounts.

Private

Philadelphia, July 1st, 1782.

Dear Sir, I lost no time after my arrival to enquire the Exchange of French bills. I find the French Agents sell at 6/6 pr. Dollar and the Sale is dull. I shall, therefore, agreeably to your Excellency's directions return those Bills which you entrusted to my Care by the first safe Opportunity.

We have no late Intelegence from any part of the World. It is observable by the last arrivals that the Dutch were on the point of acknowledging our Independance. Six of the provinces have Instructed their Deputies to that end. Guilderland where the Prince Stadtholder has his Estates and chief Influences, alone had not acceeded. The People in every Quarter cry out aloud to their Rulers to secure for them in Time the Friendship and a share of the Commerce of America, and their Importunity seems to be too great to be resisted. It is, therefore, an Article of my political Creed that we shall soon enter into an alliance with the Dutch. The new British ministry are exerting every nerve to draw that nation into a separate Peace, and the Russian Ambassador has interposed his mediation with a Zeal which is not very pleasing: but it appears to me that if even the Dutch had an Inclination, they have proceeded too far to retract. The

papers enclos'd will lead your Excellency to better Reflections on this subject than I can suggest.

General Scott seems determined to attend the Legislature and I fear nothing I can offer will keep him here. Mr. l'Hommedieu will, therefore, be called upon to take his tour unless it should be more convenient to Col. Floyd. I must trouble your Excellency to enforce on the Legislature the Justice of returning me the money I advanced for my support in Congress, especially as I borrowed a part of it, for which I am pressed. I am in advance about £800. If I could get half that Sum, it would make me for the present easy with my Friend who has assisted me, and enable me to purchase some necessities with which my Family cannot dispense. I have an Account unsettled, but I only speak now of what is adjusted and actually passed to my Credit at the Treasury. Believe me, it is with pain that I mention this subject but my past forbearance has reduced me to dificulties from which 1 ought to be relieved.

Be pleased to make my Compliments acceptable to Mrs. Clinton and believe me to be, with the utmost Regard, Dear Sir, Your Excellency's Affectionate & most Obedient Servant

Jas. Duane.

[No. 4657.]

James Duane to Governor Clinton-Interception of Letters by

Private

the British.

Philad, 16th July, 1782.

Dear Sir, I am much obliged to your Excellency for your favour of the 11th by Mr. LeRoy and particularly for the Attention you pay to what regards me personally. I shall suffer great Embar

resments if no provisions shoud be made for my Reimbursement and I shoud be continud on the List of ordinary Creditors of the State.

The Bills on France I shal retain til I have your further orders how to dispose of them; unless I shoud meet with an opportunity to negotiate them at the limited Exchange.

I shall not neglect to apply for the naval Commissions & transmit them. Mr. LeRoy's unexpected departure puts it out of my power to consign them to his Care.

General Scott retains his Resolution to visit his Family and I shall be in pain to see the state so soon again unrepresented. I, therefore, hope one of my Colleagues will come forward without loss of time.

I wrote largely to your Excellency by last post but the Letter was intercepted. If Sir Guy does not publish it, he will have more politeness than his Predecessors. I am in no pain for the Contents. The most * the Declarations of Several Legislatures on the Charge of the British ministry and their fixed purpose to adhere

subject was the Light in which

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to

our federal Union and National Treaties, was considered here; and an enumeration of some of the good Consequences which may be expected from this seasonable and Judicial measures. They will undoubtedly occur to your Excellency and need not be enlarged upon. A long letter to General Schuyler giving an Account of my wants and some strictures on publick affairs was intercepted at the same time. Nothing can be achieved from t that will give the Enemy Information or pleasure: Unless they can be gratified at the pecuniary misfortunes of an Individual. We have no news from Europe or the West Indies; nor any

*MSS illegible.