tories. I hear he has offered his service again; it should not be accepted. Anthony Hoffman, who was his Lieutenant-Colonel, was never before the Regiment; such disregard consequently makes him unfit, besides other reasons. Robert R. Livingston, Jun., should be Colonel, and Robert G. Livingston, Jun., should be Lieutenant-Colonel, in their stead, and they should choose their own Majors. Gilbert Livingston has doubtless given information that none of the Field-Officers in the Regiment that was commanded by Leonard Van Kleek ought to be such again.

These abovementioned Dobs ought not to be allowed to come to New-York with their sloop. When they are here they are strong tories, and when at New-York they feign themselves on the other side; and it is the same with one Nathan Clason and Peter Thorpe, who, with one John Halleck, own a boat. They also carry wood to New-York, and land it on the North River docks; are well known there; none of them have subscribed the Association. Mordecai Lester, mentioned in my last, has not appeared since; it is said he is on board the man-of-war.

These my informations and opinion are not out of malice, ill-will, nor flattery, but impartial, and sincerely for the good of the common cause; but beg you will not use my name, to prevent the venting of malice. I intend this per Captain John L. Hardenburgh, who I shall desire to deliver it into your hands; he knows nothing of the contents.

I am, with the greatest respect, honoured Sir, your very humble servant,

P. DE WITT.

Peter V. R. Livingston, Esq.

CORNWALL (NEW-YORK) COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Committee of Cornwall Precinct, in Orange County, held at the house of John Brewster, on Wednesday, the 30th of August, 1775, especially convened—present:

Hezekiah Howell, Esq., Archibald Little, Esq., Elihu Marvin, Nathaniel Satterby, Nathaniel Strong, Jonathan Brooks, Stephen Gilbert, Zachariah Dubois, Thomas Moffat.

Several persons appeared and entered complaints against Captain Phinehas Rumsey, for violating the Resolves of our Provincial Congress, in the election of Military Officers (held on the 23rd instant) for the Company whereof he was formerly Captain, and the allegations being supported by a number of evidences,

Upon motion made, Resolved, That the said Captain Phinehas Rumsey be ordered to appear before this Committee to-morrow, at four o’clock in the afternoon, at the house of John Brewster, with such evidences as he shall think proper to produce in his favour; and that his accusers, with their evidences, be ordered to attend likewise.

Evidences ordered to attend, viz: Joseph Concklin, Moses Carpenter, William Heard, Jonathan Sears, Silas Person.

And then the Committee adjourned till to-morrow, at four o’clock, P. M.

Thursday, August 31, 1775, 4 o’clock, P. M.

The Committee met according to adjournment. Present:

Hezekiah Howell, Esq., Archibald Little, Esq., Elihu Marvin, Nathaniel Satterby, Nathaniel Strong, Stephen Gilbert, Thomas Moffat, Zachariah Dubois.

The business of the day being called, upon examination it appeared that the said Captain Phinehas Rumsey had received the citation from the Chairman of this Committee of yesterday, and that he did not intend to answer it; upon which, the evidences against him were called in, who declare, that the said Captain Phinehas Rumsey prevented the said Company from choosing their Non-Commissioned Officers; and when the people insisted on it as their right, by virtue of the Resolve of the Congress, he declared that he did not regard the Congress, or any other set of men whatever, or words to that purpose; which evidence being supported by Archibald Little, Esquire, and Nathaniel Satterby, (Members of this Committee, who attended the election aforesaid,) the Committee are unanimously of opinion that the said ejection ought to be set aside.

Resolved, therefore, That the said election be set aside, and it is hereby accordingly set aside, to all intents and purposes whatsoever, as much as if it had never been; and that the said Company be ordered to meet at the house of Daniel Reeve, on Saturday, the 2d of September next, at one o’clock in the afternoon of said day, for the purpose of choosing their Officers, agreeable to the directions of the Congress; and that Archibald Little, Esq., and Zachariah Dubois, attend the election.

THOMAS MOFFAT.

GUNNING BEDFORD TO CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

[Read September 13, 1775.]

Ticonderoga August 30, 1775.

HONOURED SIR: Enclosed I send you the muster-rolls of the Companies I have already mustered. You will accept them in the confused manner in which they are done, owing to the great hurry of the Captains, in being ordered away immediately after their arrival here, and having so short a time to prepare them in. I am induced to make this apology, as well for myself as for the Captains, as I would not wish to send in my rolls so irregularly finished and almost unintelligible, were it not through the most pressing necessity. I was obliged to take them as you will find them, or suffer the men to pass unmustered. I chose the latter, and hope they may be received.

There are none other of the New-York Troops yet arrived, but General Schuyler informs me that there are several Companies on their way from Albany. His Honour leaves this place this evening, and thinks proper I should accompany him to St. John’s, where I can muster the rest of the York Troops when they arrive.

I have to inform you, Sir, that after receiving my commission I made the best of my way to New-York, when I waited on General Wooster, to know whether he had any orders for me to muster his Troops. He told me had none, neither did he think he had authority to give me any, not thinking himself a Continental officer; however, he gave me a general return of his forces, which I brought forward to General Schuyler.

On my arrival here, Gen. Schuyler gave it out in orders that the Captains should prepare their muster-rolls for a general muster, according to the forms to be given out by the Muster-Master. When I gave them the forms, I showed them the articles (in the general body of rules for the regulation of the Army) which respect my particular department. I found the Connecticut Troops had none of them signed them; on which I applied to the General, who told me it had been given out in general orders that they should sign them, and he thought it had been done. On calling the officers on the subject, they told the General they knew they had disobeyed orders in not urging the matter to the soldiery, but they found it would raise a defection in their minds which would injure the cause, as the soldiers thought their signing the articles would dissolve their present obligations, for a limited time, to their own Colony, with many disadvantages to both officers and soldiers, and involve them in a service, the end of which was uncertain, and would leave them, perhaps, on no better footing than that of Regulars.

On hearing the many reasons that were urged against it, the General thought prudent to drop the matter for the present; however, thought proper the men should be mustered. The same reasons were urged against signing the muster-rolls, as against signing the rules and articles for the regulation of the Army. On this I was obliged to give up the matter, and thought it best to state my particular situation, as to the Continental Troops, to the Congress.

I shall be happy to have acted on this, as well as on every other occasion, so as to give satisfaction to that honourable body, and should, be glad some order might be taken therein for my future direction. There is little prospect of doing any thing effectually at present, as the scene of action is just coming on here; but it may be matter of consideration, whether something could not be done at the close of the campaign, or to provide in case we take the field again next Spring.

I. have the honour to be, with the greatest respect, Sir, your Honour’s most obedient very humble servant,

G. BEDFORD, D. M. M. G.

The Honourable John Hancock, Esquire.