In the mean time I sincerely congratulate your Excelency on the present glorious prospects. It may be clouded for a time by the Claims and Views of the belligerent powers; but we may, with submission to Heaven, I expect, that our utmost Expectations of Peace, Safety and Independence will be gratified.

With Compliments to Mrs. Clinton and the utmost Respect and personal Attachment to your Excellency, I beg leave to spare you that, I am, Dear Sir, Your Affect & most Obed huml Servt

P. S. We are not hon'd. with a Line since the rising of the Legislature, but from my good Friend Col. Benson to whom I beg leave to convey my particular Regards.

[No. 4713.]

Colonel Hamilton Renews His Request for Information to Robert Benson Who Writes in Reply.

Duplicate.

Albany, Augt. 18th 1782.

Sir, In obedience to Mr. Morris's instructions: I lately wrote to His Excellency, The Governor, requesting information on a variety of points which it is of the greatest importance to Mr. Morris and to the public to know. The Governor in his answer tells me that the returns lately made by different public officers and on the files of the legislature will answer most of the questions stated by me.

The principal ones were concerning:

"The supplies of every kind money, provisions, forage, transportation &c. which have been furnished by this State to the United States since the 18th of March 80."

"The amount of the different paper currencies in circulation in the State, and the respective rates of depreciation."

You will materially serve the public and personally oblige me, by letting me have copies of these returns as speedily as possible. Without these data the Superintendent of Finance far from being able to liquidate the accounts between the United States and this State, an essential object to both, will be able to form no idea of the comparative extent of the compliances of the respective states with the requisitions of Congress; consequently he will neither know how to proportion future demands, nor how to regulate any reasonable scheme of Finance.

I trust the Governor will have anticipated my request, as you are on the spot with him; and as he is no doubt convinced, that this is a business of importance to the public in general and to this State in particular; and as he assures me of his disposition to give me every aid in his power.

If these returns should be on the files of the Assembly and not of the Senate, you will do me a particular favour by communicating this letter to Mr. McKesson, to whom I make the same request. I am with very great esteem, Sir, Your most obed. Servt.

I beg the copies may be certified.

ROBERT BENSON'S REPLY.

Poughkeepsie Septr. 10th, 1782. Sir, In consequence of the Request in your Letter of the 18th ulto. I have with great chearfulness searched the Senate Papers for the Returns you allude to. Inclosed are all I find in my Possession-What Papers Mr. McKesson may have relative to this subject I know not, but I dare say he will on your Application give you every Information in his Power. He is now in Albany and has the Returns of the State of the Taxes made last Winter by the several County Treasurers.

I also enclose you the last Sheet of the Laws which Mr. Holt says is wanted to compleat the Sett he sometime since sent you by the Govr's. Orders.

Colo. Hay's absence during the late Meeting of the Legislature & his Indisposition since, has prevented his making any Returns. to them or the Gov'r. for the present Year.

As the enclosed Papers are official & entrusted to our Care, I must request you, Sir, when you have done with them to return them to me or Mr. McKesson. I am &c

Colo. Hamilton.

[No. 4715.]

James Duane to Governor Clinton on His Election to the Senate and Hamilton's Appointment to Congress-Mystifying Conduct of the British Authorities.

Philadelphia, 20th August 1782.

Dear Sir, Your Excellency's dispatches of the 5th Instant I had the honour to receive three days since; and have once more an occasion to express my grateful sense of your kind attention to my personal Concerns. I can only lament that the Sum I am in advance for my support here, inconsiderable as it is in itself, is so necessary for the Accommodation of my Family, that the delay of a reimbursement leaves me in a situation little short of actual distress.

The recent proof of the Confidence of my Constituents in electing me to the vacant Seat in Senate, deserves my grateful acknowledgments, and your Excellency will be pleased to accept my best Thanks for your Congratulations. I feel, with equal satisfaction, the Honour of being so uniformly entrusted with a place in the Delegation; as it is a high mark of publick esteem

which I know how to value. But, however flattering to my Reputation, the Exercise of this last office, from domestic Considerations, is become painful and indeed next to impracticable; and I look forward with Impatience to the Period when I shall be able to decline it with the approbation of my Friends.

Col. Hamilton's Talents qualify him eminently for a seat in Congress, and his Appointment is a strong proof of the discernment of the Legislature. I am doubly pleased with it, as it may facilitate the Accomplishment of my wishes to be once more united to my Family after a separation of more than seven years.

The Measures taken by our Legislature to aid the Finances, and strengthen the system of Continental Government, will do them the most permanent Honour. The Act, on the last Subject, is under the consideration of a grand Committee; & the dispatches for the States transmitted thro' their Delegates.

I hope, with your Excellency, for substantial benefits from Mr. Mont's (Montgomerie) present Sentiments, whenever Congress shall be prevailed on to resume the Vermont business: but the critical state of our publick afairs strongly opposes the Determination we have a right to expect. It seems to be a general wish, that a decision should be suspended until we can form a Judgement of the Views of the present British ministry which are involved in no small obscurity. The first Intelligence from our own ministers will unravel them. The Act which the Vermont (people) have presumed to pass, must injure them in the opinion of their best Friends in Congress; tho' I fear it may fall with a heavy weight on the Towns which retain their Attachment to our State.

I feel most sensibly for our fellow Citizens in Tryon County. While the Enemy remain posted in Force at Oswego, we have

nothing to expect short of total Desolation of the scattered remains of that once flourishing district. I do not trust myself with Reflections on this Subject which may be ill founded. I hope to enclose with these dispatches, an Act of Congress to give our new Corps the full benefit of the former Resolution in their favour. A report is made on the principles I wished and steps recommended for the more comfortable support of our faithful Indians.

We daily expect Mr L'hommedieu, when Mr. Scott will proceed homeward, his subsistence money being already expended. He will give your Excellency every Information in which I may be deficient. For the news of the day be pleased to be referred to Mr. Livingston.

I anxiously wish for Intelligence from our Ministers which may unravel the equivocal Conduct of the Enemy. While they profess an Intention to withdraw their Troops from this County, it is positively asserted that upwards of 1500 Hessians and 500 British are arrived within Sandy Hook in a large fleet of Transports, under Convoy of 6 Ships of the Line. While Sir Guy Carleton and Adm Digby write of Propositions for peace,officiously publishg this Letter before it reached Congressone of their ministers insults us in parliament with the offer of an Irish Independance. While their General calls aloud on the Americans to soften the Rigours of War and lay aside Acts of Barbarity which are disgraceful, & even proposes to set the Example, Tryon County is made a scene of Blood, Devastation & Wanton murders. While they irritate, provoke (and we have Reason to apprehend) chicane and deceive, they have the Effrontery to charge us with a want of Moderation and a Thirst for War; and to hold us up to the world as implacable Tyrants!