proceeded to the trial of Thomas Hickey, a private sentinel in his Excellency the Commander-in-Chiefs Guard, commanded by Major Gibbs, brought prisoner before the Court, and accused “of exciting and joining in a mutiny and sedition, and of treacherously corresponding with, inlisting among, and receiving pay from the enemies of the United American Colonies.”

The prisoner being arraigned on the above charge, pleads not guilty.

William Green sworn, deposes, That, about three weeks ago, I was in company with one Gilbert Forbes, a gunsmith, who lives in Broadway, and we fell into a conversation on politicks. I found Forbes’s pulse beat high in the Tory scheme. I had repeated conversations with Forbes afterwards, and he was always introducing politicks, and hinting at the impossibility of this country standing against the power of Great Britain. He invited me to dine with him one day; and a day or two after asked me if I would not inlist into the King’s service. I asked him where the money was to corne from to pay me for the service; Forbes replied the Mayor would furnish money. I was pleased with the notion of getting some money from the Tories, and agreed to the scheme, with a view to cheat the Tories, and detect their scheme. I mentioned the matter to several, and, among others, to Hickey, the prisoner. I told him the principle I went upon, and that we had a good opportunity of duping the Tories. Hickey agreed to the scheme, but did not receive any money, except two shillings which I gave him. Forbes left it with me to inlist and swear the men. Forbes swore me and one Clark on a Bible to fight for the King; but I swore Hickey to fight for America. After the prisoner was engaged, I proposed to him to reveal the plot to the General, but Hickey said we had better let it alone till we had made further discoveries. All that Forbes proposed to me was, that when the King’s forces arrived, we should cut away King’s Bridge, and then go on board a ship of war, which would be in the East River to receive us. I inlisted ten or a dozen, and told them all my plan. The prisoner wrote his name upon a piece of paper with five others, which I gave to Forbes, and this was all the inlist-ment that I knew of the prisoner’s signing.

Gilbert Forbes : A night or two after General Washington arrived in New- York from Boston, Green fell into company where I was. We were drinking, and Green toasted the King’s health, and I did so too. A day or two afterwards Green called upon me, and said, that as I had drank his Majesty’s health, he supposed I was his friend, and immediately proposed to inlist some men into the King’s service, and told me he could procure considerable numbers to join him. I put him off, and declined having any hand in the business. But in repeated applications from him, I at last fell into the scheme. Green was to inlist the men, in which I was not to be concerned, nor have my name mentioned. In a day or two Green gave me a list of men who had engaged, among whom was the prisoner, Hickey. Soon after which, Hickey asked me to give him half a dollar, which I did, and this was all the money Hickey ever received from me. Green received eighteen dollars, and was to pay the men who inlisted one dollar apiece, and we were to allow them ten shillings per week subsistence money. I received upwards of a hundred pounds from Mr. Matthews, the Mayor, to pay those who should inlist into the King’s service, who, after inlisting, were to go on board the King’s ships, but if they could not get there, were to play their proper parts when the King’s forces arrived.

William Welch : Between a fortnight and three weeks ago I met the prisoner in the street; he asked me to go with him to a grog-shop. When we got there, he told me he had something to tell me of importance, but insisted on my being sworn before he would communicate it. I accordingly swore on the Bible to keep secret what he should tell me. He then said that this country was sold, that the enemy would soon arrive, and that it was best for us Old Countrymen to make our peace before they came, or they would kill us all. That we Old Countrymen should join together, and we would be known by a particular mark, and if I would agree to be one among them, he would carry me to a man who would let me have a dollar by way of encouragement. I did not relish the project, and we parted.

Isaac Ketchum : Last Saturday week the prisoner was committed to jail, on suspicion of counterfeiting the Continental currency, and seeing me in jail, inquired the reason of it. I told him, because I was a Tory. On this a conversation ensued upon politicks. In different conversations he informed me that the Army was become damnably corrupted; that the fleet was soon expected; and that he and a number of others were in a band to turn against the American Army when the King’s troops should arrive, and asked me to be one of them. The plan, he told me, was, some were to be sick, and others were to hire men in their room. That eight of the General’s Guard were concerned, but mentioned only Green by name. He further told me that one Forbes, a tavern-keeper, was to be their Captain, but that the inferior officers were not yet appointed, lest the scheme should be discovered.

The prisoner being here called upon to make his defence, produces no evidence; but says, “he engaged in the scheme at first for the sake of cheating the Tories, and getting some money from them, and afterwards consented to have his name sent on board the man-of-war, in order that if the enemy should arrive and defeat the Army here, and he should be taken prisoner, he might be safe.”

The Court being cleared, after mature consideration, are unanimously of the opinion that the prisoner is guilty of the charge against him, and of a breach of the fifth and of the thirtieth articles of the Rules and Regulations for the government of the Continental Forces; and the court unanimously sentence and adjudge that the prisoner, Thomas Hickey, suffer death for said crimes by being hanged by the neck till he is dead.

SAMUEL H. PARSONS, President

CONNECTICUT COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

At a meeting of the Governour and Council of Safety, at Lebanon, Wednesday, June 26, A. D. 1776:

Present, his Honour the Governour, Eliphelet Dyar, Ja-bez Huntington, William Williams, Jedediah Elderkin, and Nathaniel Wales, Esquires.

Convened by his Honour’s order, to advise and assist him about filling up and supplying many vacancies in the new-ordered Regiment which have fallen, &c.

Dr. Skinner came P. M. with a letter from Captain Harding, &c., and by order drew on the Pay-Table for a customary allowance for his going express from Hartford to Boston, and returning via Lebanon.

Many things to do and consider about; many Officers, &c., and sundry supplies, &c., not entered here, as they belong to the Governour, &c.

Adjourned until to-morrow morning.

Thursday, the 27th. Met again, &c.,

Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson here for many directions, &c.; Lieutenant-Colonel Danielson to resign his appointment; Captain James Steadman appointed Captain, instead of Captain Ripley, promoted; and many others coming in for directions, and with requests, motions, &c.

P. M. Voted, That Captain Tinker, of the Crane Galley, be empowered to receive so much of the stores of Pork, Beef, and Peas, or any other Provisions, being at Saybrook, in the care of Captain Dickinson, belonging to this Colony, taken out of the Brig Minerva, as he shall need for the use of said Galley, and all the Bread, and 166. . . .; and Captain E. Bill is directed to order and see the same delivered accordingly, taking his receipt therefor, and the same transmit to his Honour the Governour.

Voted, That said Captain Tinker may receive two of the Nine-pounders of the Continental Cannon at New-London for the use of his Galley, and Mr. Shaw is directed to deliver the same accordingly; and Calvin Ely is appointed Master of said Row-Galley, and Elias Lay is appointed Second-Lieutenant; that a Drummer and Fifer be allowed the same wages as in the land service; a Drum for the use of the said Galley, to be by him kept and secured for the use of the Colony. Copies of the above given.

Letter prepared for General Schuyler, &c., to go by post to-morrow morning.