The direct authority for this statement has been mislaid ; but a contirniation of it nniy be seen in tieneral Howe's statement, in his despatch to Lord George Germaine, (" St.vten Isl.\ni), 8 July, 1776,") that no more than the Pht£nix SLUd Hose con\d have been spared, at that time, from the protection of the transports, even for the important service in which those two ships were employed.

" General Washington to John Augustine Washington, " New-Y'oRK, -2 i "July, 1770."

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.

purpose, since the same movement which would have cut the line of communication between the two Armies, would, also, have cut off the supplies intended for the City. It was feared, also, by General Washington,* that troops were on board, intended for the seizure and occupation of the passes in the Highlands ; and it was also supposed, by the same vigilant commander,'^ that Arms, for the use of those who were inclined to declare for the King, were carried up the river, by these ships and by their tenders.

The success of the expedition, in the purpose for which General Howe said it was principally sent out -- to cut off the supplies for the City -- was unquestionable ; but if that had been the real and principal purpose of the movement, in view of its complete success, the ships would not have been withdrawn after so short a stay -- the command of the river, for such a purpose only, would have been just as useful, ])ermanently, as it had been during the short period of their limited stay on the river. There must, therefore, have been '' other good consequences dependent on '■ that measure;" and we are not inclined to admit that any Arms were aboard the ships, for the equipment ol' Westcliester-county Loyalists, nor that any design against the Highland piusses wiis on the programme of their proposed operations -- we incline, rather, to the belief that only ostensibly were those ships sent up the river to cut off the suj>p]ies ; and that, really, they were sent up to sound, not only the river but the inhabitants of the Fhilipsborough and the Cortlandl Manors, on the eastern bank of the river, and, to some extent, those of Orange-county, below the mountains, on the western bank, as to their disposition to declare themselves favorable to the Royal cause.