and put in jail Thomas Frost, High Sheriff of our said County; upon which the Chairman called the Committee to meet this day, in order to hear the accusation which the said Dunn had to allege against the said Thomas Frost. The Committee accordingly met this day, and sent for William Dunn, in order to hear what he had to allege against Thomas Frost, High Sheriff of the County of Richmond; but the said William Dunn refused to comply; sent a messenger to inform the Committee that he would not appear unless the Committee would send a proper guard to guard him. The Committee then assured the messenger that Mr. Dunn would be very safe in coming and going; that no person should molest him. But Mr. Johnson replied that Mr. Dunn did not choose to trust to honour, and would not appear without a guard. The Committee then agreed to send for Captain Scoby, to request him to get a guard, and go to Mr. Jacob Reseau’s house, where Mr. Dunn was, and to conduct the said Dunn safe to the Committee. Captain Scoby accordingly went out in order to get his guard; but before the guard was ready, Captain Scoby went in person to Mr. Dunn, acquainting him that the Committee had ordered him to come with a guard to conduct him to the Committee, but he thought it needless; and that if Mr. Dunn would come with him, (the said Scoby,) he would see him safe to the said Committee; which he (the said Dunn) agreed to, and appeared before the Committee.

On being asked by the Chairman what reason he had for apprehending and taking Thomas Frost, and putting him in jail, and by what authority he made himself master of the jail, by taking the key of said jail into his custody; to which the said Dunn replied, that he would give no reason, enter no complaint, nor come to trial before this Committee; and added that he had sent to Amboy for assistance to carry the said Thomas Frost there to have his trial, and expected the assistance to be here very soon; and then withdrew himself.

The Committee then agreed to wait to see the event. But some time after, the said William Dunn, on his own accord, without being sent for, came to the Committee-Chamber and desired admittance, and appeared before the Committee, informing them that he would now enter his complaint against the said Thomas Frost; and said that Mr. Thomas Frost had advised one of his men to make his escape, and go on board the man-of-war, which he intended to prove by evidence.

The Committee acquainted him that he should produce his evidence; that they were ready to hear them, and come to trial. To which Mr. Dunn replied, that he could not bring his evidence till to-morrow, at one o’clock; which, accordingly, the Committee agreed to, but requested that the said Frost should not be any longer confined in jail; that he should be admitted to bail for his appearance to-morrow, to have his trial; and that the said William Dunn should immediately deliver the key of the jail to the jail-keeper; which he, the said William Dunn, at last agreed to.

The Committee then adjourned until to-morrow, at one o’clock in the afternoon.

Richmond County Committee-Chamber, May 8, 1776.

Agreeable to the adjournment of yesterday, the Committee this day met, in order to try Mr. Thomas Frost for what William Dunn had alleged against him.

The said William Dunn being sent for, appeared before the Committee, and said that he could not come to trial this day, on account of not being able to procure his evidence.

The Committee then requested the said William Dunn to give into the Committee the names of his evidence, and they would procure the evidence; which the said Dunn refused to do, and said that he would be ready with his evidence on Saturday next.

The Committee then adjourned the trial of the said Thomas Frost until Saturday, the 11th instant.

Richmond County Committee-Chamber, May 11, 1776.

Agreeable to the adjournment of the 8th instant, the Committee have this day met, and proceeded to the trial of Thomas Frost.

John Williams, examined upon oath, saith: That he was the last Sabbath-day at Mr. Romer’s Tavern, at the north side; and that he saw there a man with a surtout coat on, who encouraged him to go on board the man-of-war; and that he was told the man that was talking to him with a surtout coat was Frost; but that he did not know that it was the Sheriff, but by being told it was; and that he knew that it was not Scoby, the under Sheriff, for him he personally knew; and he went to the Captain of the riflemen, and told him that he was accused for breaking open the jail; the Captain told him to return back to the officer to whom he belonged; and that he had been that day very much in liquor; and further saith not.

William Scoby sworn, saith: That he was, on the aforesaid Sabbath-day, at Romer’s Tavern, where the said Williams was; and that he did not see nor know that the said Thomas Frost had been at the north side or tavern that day; and that he did not believe that he (the said Frost) had been at the north side that day; and further saith not.

The Committee then taking into consideration the accusation alleged by William Dunn against the said Thomas Frost, and it appearing to the Committee that the said accusation was groundless and without any foundation: We do, therefore, resolve to discharge the said Thomas Frost from the accusation and charge alleged by the said William Dunn, and he is discharged accordingly.

A true copy from the Minutes.

By order of the Committee:

CHRISTIAN JACOBSON, Chairman.

MATTHEW ADGATE TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

In Committee, Kings District, May 13, 1776.

HONOURABLE SIR: By the enclosed you will discover a glimmering of such a plot as has seldom appeared in the world since the fall of Adam, by the grand deceiver and supplanter of truth.

The surprising progress and lengthy strides that this spirit makes, according to the discoveries we have been able to make, (which is very lately,) we take this earliest and immediate opportunity to advertise you of, and pray that you would immediately consider its importance, and as you find, so act. The bearer we recommend to your examination in the premises, but must beseech that the utmost secrecy and despatch be used to carry something into execution for the fullest discovery and overthrow of this most dark and dreadful scheme to overthrow this once happy land. To some members of this Committee these things are made known; but they enjoined the oath of secreting names, which must suffice in that point. But the information pray examine, and make what you can of it, and add what you can to it; for believe it, the plan is as dark as hell.

Many other circumstances and things perfectly agree with these informations; and we depend on it that the Tories have a set time (when, we cannot find) to rise against the country. It is very near; this information we depend on to be true.

Sir, you will excuse our troubling you on this subject when the all of this country is so near ruin.

We are, sir, your very humble servants,

MATTHEW ADGATE,
Chairman of the Committee of Kings District.

To His Excellency General Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces belonging to the United Colonies.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO ALBANY COMMITTEE.

Fort George, May 13, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Some ships of war with troops arrived on the 4th instant at Quebeck, which obliged our troops to raise the siege. We lost about two hundred of the sick, who were too ill to be removed, and a few others who were out in detached parties as guards; some of our cannon and most of our provisions; so that our Army suffers for want of meat, as none is to be had in Canada. And notwithstanding the proper and immediate measures you took to procure carriages, in consequence of the last letter I had the honour to address you, very few are as yet come up, and the Army must absolutely come out of Canada, unless immediately supplied. Let me therefore entreat you to try once more. Perhaps if the principal gentlemen of the city were to go to the different Districts, it would have a good effect, and

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