discover any Thing to justify the Prosecutions, or to change the Sentiment expressed in my former Letters to you on this Subject.

If your Excellency will be pleased to advert to the different Communications which I have had the honor to make to you, particularly through Mr. Benson in the first Instance, afterwards personally at Tappan and by my Letter of the 23rd of May last inclosing Copies of Resolutions of a Council held at this Place on the 20th of that Month, I flatter myself you will no longer be at a Loss for the Reason why the Laws of the State enacted during the War have not hitherto undergone a Revision, as you will perceive that one principal object of these Applications, was to sollicit of your Excellency a Removal of Obstacles which on a Pacification, and while the Possession of the Southern District of the State was withheld from us, might render the forming of a Legislature impracticable. If, therefore, any Evils or Inconveniences should arise on this Head, I trust they will be ascribed to the true Cause. I can, Sir, with Confidence assert that it has been my earnest and invariable wish to give immediate and full Operation and Effect to the provisional Treaty; and it has been with the greatest Regret, I have disavowed, from different Transactions which more immediately related to this State and which have been the Subject of former Discussion, that this Sentiment, in my Opinion (so conducive to harmony and Conciliation) has not mutually prevailed.

The Cases of Fowler, Ward and Hunt recommended to my Consideration by your Excellency shall be immediately attended to: but I am led to believe, however, as it would appear from Ward's own Information that the Farm he claims was long since confiscated and that the other two may be under similar Circumstances;

in which Case it will be readily conceived they can derive Relief only from legislative Revision.

With respect to any personal Abuse they may have received, the

Courts of Justice are open and competent to give them any Redress they may be entitled to.

On Saturday the 16th Instant, he had conversation with William Dewitt again on the subject of the project of plundering this City on the Evacuation, and he said he would plunder some people to the bone; that the Whig Refugees intended it to be a general business. For himself he was determined to make up his losses out of the people here. The party intended to proceed at Midday, and do as they pleased. That he kept a barrel or two of spirits in his Cellar for the purpose. That he could raise himself three or four hundred men for the purpose.

He had another interview with him yesterday; when he said he had a particular account from Fishkill, that General McDougal would have nothing to do with the business, but that the leading men were to wink at what should be done by the people.

There is a Mr.

who is a Loyal Refugee now in town; from this person he has learnt, that he overheard several persons

from the County (two he thinks from Albany) conversing together upon the subject of mobbing the Loyalists. They appeared to be disinclined to act in it themselves, but said there would be people enough for the purpose of punishing those who had been against them. Mr. don't know the names of these persons but in public he says they spoke against Mobbs. One of them was called by the other Colonel, and they appeared to be leading men.

Sworn, 19th Aug't, 1783 before me.

(Signed)

[No. 5165.]

Mr. l'Hommedieu Reports to the Governor Sir Guy Carleton's Complaints Against the New York Authorities—Plans for the Evacuation of New York City Again Under Discussion.

Prince Town, August 22, 1783.

Dear Sir, Since I did myself the Honour of writing to your Excellency last Week, we have received Letters from Mr. Lawrence (who is in England) as late as the 17th of June; who says, that a few Days before he wrote, I think it was the 14th of the same month, Mr. [Charles James Fox] assured him, that Orders were actual gone for the Evacuation of New York, and Mr. Lawrence does not seem to doubt it. This Information respecting the definitive Treaty is not so favorable; in short he says nothing about it further than is connected with the Treaty of Commerce. He informs that after Mr. Hartley had been in Treaty with our Commissioners at Paris for near a Month, it Appeared that he had no Powers to ratify any One Thing. The Commissioner's from the United States made Proposals to the British Commissioner respecting the Regulations of Trade between the Two Nations; as the British Commissioner had no Powers to agree

he proposed sending the same to his Court; he did so, and they were there rejected. At present it seems far from British Policy to make any Treaty with America on the Principles of Reciprocity. They have now every advantage of our Commerce without any obstruction on our Post, given to others.

Mr. Lawrence observes that if a Change of the Ministry in Great Brittain should take Place, which he does not think unlikely, our Affairs with that Kingdom will probably be greatly embarrassed.

The Day before yesterday we received Dispatches from Sir Guy Carleton informing that he had received orders to leave New York, which he should do as soon as he could, but he was not able to determine when, being, as he says, obliged to provide for great Numbers, who by the Threats of Committees, and the Proceedings of the Commissioners of Sequestration, are greatly alarmed and are afraid to stay in the Country. He complained loudly against the State of New York for suffering the Commissioners to bring Actions of forcible Detainer against Persons in Possession of their own Farms in Westchester, by which means many have been lately turned out of Possession and subject each to Costs of about ten Pounds, he has sent on the Records of Two or three Tryals: some of the Correspondence between your Excellency & himself he has also transmitted. He finds fault that the Legislature of the State of New York has not been convened. I conclude the Reasons he would urge for calling them and the Reasons why it would at present be improper for them to meet. All these Papers are committed to a Committee. I forgot to mention that he endeavours to justify his Conduct in carrying of the Negroes. Mr. Parker went thro' this Place Two Days ago

on his Way to Philadelphia, being imployed by Sir Guy to procure a Number of Transports for his governments Service.

Last Week a Question, whether Congress should adjourn the last of this Week, to meet at Philadelphia the first of next Week, being put, & the ay & no being called, it passed in the Negative, two States only, Pensylvania & Maryland, voting in the Affirmative. Nothwithstanding this Vote I should not be surprised to find Congress in Philadelphia before Winter. The Expectation of the sudden Arrival of M. Van Borkel is now urged for their removal to that City, where he, with the other foreign Embassadors, who will probably be over this fall, can be better accomodateed than in this Place.

With respectful Compliments to Mrs. Clinton, I am with great Respect & Esteem Your Excellency most obed. Sert. Ezra L'Hommedieu.

Gov'r. Clinton.

[No. 5166.]

Mr. l'Hommedieu Notifies the Governor Congress Will Adjourn from Princeton to Annapolis-Erection of Public Buildings Ordered at Georgetown, in the Present District of Columbia. Princeton, August 23, 1783.

Dear Sir, In Expectation that some general Questions might be put in a few Days relative to a peace Establishment in which our State might be much interested, I determined to tarry one week longer than I had determined to do when I had the Honour of writing to your Excellency last. This Business is now under Consideration but I fear it will not soon be finished. Congress have resolved to adjourn on the 12th of next Month to meet on the 26th of Same Month at Anapolis, and have also agreed that Buildings