It may be that, " on board these ships, there may be troops for that " purpose, who, expecting to be joined by the disaft'ect- "ed, in that quarter, or confiding in their own " strength, may endeavour to seize those defiles, in " which case the intercourse between the two Armies, "both by land and water, will be wholly cut off, than "which a greater misfortune could hardly befall the " Province and Army. I must entreat you to take " the measure into consideration, and, if possible, " provide against an evil so much to be apprehended. " I should hope the Militia ofthose Counties might be " used on such an emergency, until further provision " was made.

" I have also thought it very probable these ships

* General Washington to General George Clinton, " Head-qvaiiters, " New York, 12 July, 1776."

''The Convention to General Washington, "Saturday morning, July 13, " 1776."

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, 1774-1783.

"may have carried up arms and ammunition to be " dealt out to those who may favour their cause, and " c()()j>erate with them, at a fixed time. I would, to "guard against tliis, submit to your consideration the "propriety of writing to the leading men, on our "side, in those Counties, to be very vigilant in ob- " serving any movement of that kind, in order that "so dangerous a scheme may be nipped in the bud; " for that purpose, to keep the utmost attention to " tiie conduct of the princi|vil Tories in those parts, "any attempts of intercourse with the ships, and all " other circumstances which may lead to a discovery "of their schemes and the destruction of their meas- " ures.