R. CAREY, A. D. C, TO GENERAL MIFFLIN.

Head-Quarters, New-York, July 2, 1776.

SIR: I am ordered by his Excellency General Washington to return you for answer to your favour of this day’s date, that it is not in his power to supply you with any arms, as there is a great want of them in the camp here, which he supposes you are not insensible of. There is a number of rifle-guns which are retained for the recruits, and which the General will lend you for the present, if there are any men in Colonel Magaw’s or Shea’s Regiments, who know how to use them, otherwise he thinks they will be sent to no purpose.

Colonel Moylan has this day despatched some armourers and tools, agreeable to your directions.

You may depend on receiving a reinforcement as soon as any considerable number of Militia arrives. As yet so few have reached this, that none can possibly be spared.

The General has not the least expectation that in your present situation you will be able to do more than defend your own lines, though he is fully persuaded your most vigorous exertions will be manifested in every respect. He also much approves of your intentions to exercise with the artillery those men who are not armed.

I am, with respect, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

R. C ARET, A. D. C.

To Brigadier-General Thomas Mifflin.

DAVID MATTHEWS TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS.

New Jail, July 2, 1776.

SIR: I wrote a few lines to Mr. Livingston on Saturday last relative to my situation; but his departure for Philadelphia prevented (as I suppose) an answer. I therein requested that some persons whom I named might be sent for before the Committee, who would have entirely cleared up my character against the cruel aspersions that have been cast on it. I think you won’t deny me some kind of certificate relative to this horrid plot, in order to take off that resentment which the citizens harbour against me on a supposition of my being concerned. I should not deny this, Mr. Morris, to the greatest enemy I ever had, and I am not conscious of ever having injured any man; notwithstanding which there are numbers who would now willingly take my life. If it was not that a wife and ten small children depend on my hands for their support, it would be of little consequence what became of this earthly tabernacle of mine.

I shall commit this matter to your candour and humanity, and doubt not but that you will take such steps therein as you think in justice ought to be done to clear up my character from such infamous reports as have been propagated against me.

I am, sir, with esteem, your very humble servant,

DAVID MATTHEWS.

To Gouverneur Morris, Esq.

JAMES COGGESHALL TO GOUVERNEUR MORRIS.

New Jail, (New-York,) July 2, 1776.

DEAR MORRIS: Residing peaceably upon Long-Island, I was taken prisoner, brought to town on Sunday evening, and confined in Jail. As there neither is nor can be any crime alleged against me, I flatter myself that for merely being a servant to his Majesty it cannot be the intention of the Congress to keep me in this situation. You may be assured that I am in a very bad state of health, and my constitution unable to sustain the dismal and weary hours of a prison. This, added to the precarious situation of every person confined here at present, makes me more than anxious to be free. I make no doubt of your readiness to afford every generous and humane assistance to relieve me.

Wishing you all health and happiness, I am, dear sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

JAMES COGGESHALL.

FREDERICK PHILIPS TO THE COMMITTEE OF NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Philipsborough, July 2, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I was served on Saturday evening last with a paper signed by you, in which you suggest that you are authorized by the Congress to summon certain persons to appear before you, whose conduct had been represented as inimical to the rights of America, of which number you say I am one. Who it is that has made such a representation, or upon what particular facts it is founded, as you have not stated them, it is impossible for me to imagine; but considering my situation, and the near and intimate ties and connexions which I have in this country, (which can be secured and rendered happy to me only by the real and permanent prosperity of America,) I should have hoped that suspicions of this harsh nature would not be easily harboured. However, as they have been thought of weight sufficient to attract the notice of the Congress, I can only observe that, conscious of the uprightness of my intentions, and the integrity of my conduct, I would most readily comply with your summons, but the situation of my health is such as would render it very unadvisable for me to take a journey to New-York at this time. I have had the misfortune, gentlemen, of being deprived totally of the sight of my left eye, and the other is so much affected and inflamed as to make me very cautious how I expose it, for fear of a total loss of sight. This being my real situation, I must request the favour of you to excuse my attendance to-morrow; but you may rest assured, gentlemen, that I shall punctually attend as soon as I can, consistent with my health; flattering myself in the mean time that, upon further consideration, you will think that my being a friend to the rights and interests of my native country is a fact so strongly implied as to require no evidence on my part to prove it, until something more substantial than mere suspicion or vague surmises are proved to the contrary.

I am, gentlemen, your most obedient, humble servant,

FREDERICK PHILIPS.

To Leonard Gansevoort, Philip Livingston, Thomas Tradwell, Lewis Graham, Gouverneur Morris, Thomas Randall, Esquires.

THOMAS MOFFAT TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

Blooming-Grove, July 2, 1776.

SIR: Enclosed you have a copy of the evidence of Ephraim Dunning, and the examination of John Samson, relative to the plot contrived against the liberties of the United Colonies, which contain the substance of all ihe examinations that came before the Committee whilst sitting upon that business, and is the evidence in principal agaiast Thomas Cayne, now confined in New-York. The Committee thought proper to transmit the same to you, in order that the Committee of Congress, or any others who may have the examination of Cayne, might be the better prepared to interrogate him closely, as he mentioned to Dunning several persons of distinction, who, if they were concerned, ought to be confined immediately. Most of those persons were before the Committee, but no evidence appearing against them were discharged, although there was reason to think that Mr. Gale was at least knowing to the affair, as several persons in his employ absconded as soon as the County Committee appeared in Goshen. Great pains have been taken to discover the leaders of the plot in this County, but no evidence has appeared against any one but Ebenezer Seely, who absconded when it first came out, and may possibly endeavour to get on board the man-of-war; a strict watch should be kept to prevent it if possible. Captain Seth Marvin will be able to give a description of him.

Nicholas Dean, who moved from Sugar-Loaf to New-York last spring, is the man that Cayne told Samson was to be their Captain. Cayne ought to be strictly examined relative to him.

The Committee thought proper to retain the following persons in close confinement, viz: James Haff, Julius Smith, Matthew Sweny, John Samson, James Smith.

You will be good enough to give the earliest information of what is further to be done with them.

I am, with the most profound respect, sir, your most obedient and very humble servant.

By order of the Committee:

THOMAS MOFFAT.

To Colonel William Allison, Esq., at the Congress in New-York, or, in his absence, to any other Member belonging to Orange County.

William McCray, Samuel McCray, and John McKinstry, absconded from Mr. Gale’s employ.