again take Place unless our Affairs are suffered to relapse into that Irregularity from which they are beginning to emerge. The second consists of as few as were ever appointed to perform the Business of a Nation. For what relates to the Expence of both I must observe that those who labor for the Public are at least to be subsisted. And the Proof that their Salaries do not amount to more than a decent Subsistence is the Difficulty with which Men qualified to fill the several Offices can be prevailed on to accept them.

Shortly after my Appointment, a special Order was passed to defray the Expences of the civil List, but should Congress think proper to repeal that order I will suspend the Payment and apply the Money to take up my notes. But whether the Gentlemen of the civil List will continue their Services after they know that their Salaries are to be withheld is a question which I shall not agitate.

With perfect Respect I have the Honor to be, Sir, Your Excellency's most Obedient and Humble Servant.

His Excellency the President of Congress.

[Nos. 5146-5147.]

The Governor Receives a Congratulatory Address from the Citizens of Albany and the Magistrates of Tryon County on the Restoration of Peace and Establishment of Independence.

To his Excellency George Clinton, Esq.

Governor &c of the State of New York.

We the Mayor, Aldermen & Commonalty of the City of Albany, congratulate your Excellency on the Establishment of the Independence of the United States.

We cannot refrain from expressing our gratitude on this Occasion to you, Sir, who have, both as a citizen and a Soldier, so eminently contributed to produce it.

The Citizens of this State, at an early Period (in the midst of dangers and difficulties) called your Excellency to the exalted Station which you have ever since so worthily filled; and it affords us a pleasing Reflection, that your being re-elected, is a Proof of their uniform Sentiments in your Favour.

The distinguished Services you have rendered the State, manifest the wisdom of continuing the Reins of government in your Hands, and afford us Reason to expect the happiest Consequences from your future Administration.

FROM THE MAGISTRATES AND SUPERVISORS OF TRYON--THE GOV

ERNOR'S REPLY.

To his Excellency George Clinton, Esquire, Governor of the State of New York; General and Commander in Chief of all the Militia and Admiral of the Navy of the same.

The Address of the Magistrates and Supervisors of the County of Tryon in behalf of themselves and the Freeholders and Inhabitants of the said County.

Sir, We desire your Excellency to accept of our warmest Congratulations on the Re-establishment of Peace in the United States and on your Re-election to the chief Magistracy of this State. Esteem for your person and a long continuance of great and important services for the good of the State, unanimously determined us to promote your Excellency's Election, and you may be assured, Sir, that we are happy in this opportunity Personally, to render your Excellency this grateful and Publick Testimony of our Entire Approbation of your Conduct.

As we mean to give your Excellency every possible support in your Administration of the Government, we wish to impress on your Mind a favourable Opinion of this Distressed County, With Sentiments of Affection and Regard for your Excellency, we are, Sir, Your Obedient and Humble Servants.

THE GOVERNOR RETURNS HIS THANKS.

Genl. I most sincerely thank you for your very kind address and congratulations. The Pleasure that I receive from the happy establishment of Peace is considerably heightened by the reflection that it will relieve the worthy Inhabitants of this County from those horrid Cruelties & devastations they have so long and so severely suffered from an exasperated & Savage Enemy.

The very kind Manner in which you are pleased to mention my services is extremely flattering to me to have my conduct approved by my fellow citizens will always be the most grateful reward I can receive and the situation and sufferings of the Inhabitants of this Co. during my Administration of the Government gives a value on their approbation, that makes this public testimony of it highly agreable.

I beg you, Gentlemen, to accept my thanks for your kind assurances of support-be assured that I shall ever bear in mind the spirited exertions of the Inhabitants of this County, and that no effort of mine shall be wanting to relieve their distresses &

hasten the enjoyment of those blessings-their conduct has so richly merited.

(signed)

Fort Plain, on ye Mohawk River, Aug 1/83.

Geo Clinton.

Copy

[No. 5153.]

Mrs. DeLancey Resents the Action of the Sequestration Commissioners in Leasing Her Westchester Property-An Appeal Made to James Duane Who Lays the Matter before Governor Clinton. Extract from Mrs. DeLancey's Letter, dated 5th August, 1783: "I wrote you yesterday, & mentioned that Captain Hopkins of the Continental Army had taken our place at WestChester, & had sent me a very civil message, with an offer of reserving all the House, except one room, for our use. I sent a Note to him that I wished to speak to him, & requested he would meet my Daughter, & myself this day at Kings Bridge, & go with us to our place. An hour ago I was informed that Captain Hopkins is not allowed to hold the place, and that Jacob Lent, to whom Mr. Honeywell, & the other Commissioners have leased that, & my other places, is immediately to take possession of it. Perhaps if I put myself in their way, I may be sued, as Oliver is, for the pasturing of my own Cattle. Those places were the only reliance I had remaining, for my present support. By living in a saving manner there, I hoped to be the better able to discharge the debts I have been obliged to contract for my past subsistence. Sometimes I think of writing to the Commissioners to know on what pretence they can form a plea for taking my place. I have been told that it is for leaving it, & going to reside among the British. I never left it with any view of staying away. The leaving my Cloaths furniture, papers, & everything that I had on it, serves as a convincing proof that I meant to return. My Daughter Nancy & I lived there two years in a situation that few Women could have supported. Our House was repeatedly broken open in the Night, by parties of armed Men; & our bed room door has been burst open before we had time to put on our Cloaths. These insults, & alarms were so often re

peated that I found it too much for my age to sustain ; & for that, & no other reason, I left my place, & came to Long Island. Since the publication of the Preliminary Articles of Peace, it has not been a proper place for Women to live in, until the Continental Troops arrived there. As soon as we found there was a probability of our living there in safety, we concluded to return. I only waited to see, & assist my Children first, who were preparing to · leave the Country, & whom it is more than probable I may never see again. My Servants have all along been in possession of the place. I never allowed any Person to live in the House, who might be obnoxious, & refused to rent it on that account. I give you this account of the above facts, that if having left my place, is really given as a reason for taking, or leasing it, you may have it in your power to justify me. Had Capt'n. Hopkins had it, I would have gone to the House, & made some proposals to him. I now shall do nothing in it till I have your advice."

JAMES DUANE TO GEORGE CLINTON.

On publick service, Princeton, 12th August, 1783.

Sir. We yesterday received the enclosed Communication from the hon❜l. Mr. Izard, who is sensibly affected with his mother Mrs. De Lancey's situation, and has pressed us earnestly to interpose as far as propriety will admit. As we are wholly unacquainted with the Principles on which Mrs. DeLancey's property is supposed to be sequestered, we coud give Mr. Izard no other satisfaction than a promise to transmit her Case to your Excellency, and an assurance of your inflexible Regard to Justice good order and the publick Faith. We think it our Duty to put the Subject into such a Train of Enquiry as will vindicate the Honour of the State