It will be seen, from this official statement, that there were other Militia than that of Westchestercounty on whom "no reliance at all could be placed," in that hour of extreme danger; and, when taken into consideration, in connection with the facts that the Counties of Richmond, Kings, Queens, and Suffolk had returned to their allegiance to the King; that Duchess-county was in open and armed opposition to the Convention, and was kept in subjection only by the occupation of the County and the support of the few friends of the Convention who lived there, by five hundred armed men, drawn from Connecticut; and that the Manorof Livingston, including the whole of the lower portion of Albany-county, was almost entirely " disaffected," Colonel Hay's exposition of the temper of the farmers of Orange-county very clearly established the fact that ■' disaffection " was not peculiar to the farmers of Westchester-county; and that the Declaration of Independence had not been received with any favor, by the greater number of the inhabitants of New York.

The purposes of the enemy, in sending the Phosnix and her consorts up the Hudson-river and in anchoring them off Tarry town, as we have seen, were variously interpreted by General Washington and the Committee of Safety; and they have continued to receive the scattered attention of those who have written on the subject, to this day. 2 But, while the

1 Colonel Ann Jlmolxs Hay to the Convention, "Haverstraw, Octor. " 15, 1776."

2 Marshall, (.Life of George Washington, Ed. Philadelphia : 1S04, ii., 495,496,) very accurately, stated the object of the movement was to secure to General Howe the possession of the North-river above Kingsbridge, without, however, stating more than that. Sparks, (Life of George Wathiiigtm, Ed Boston : 1842, 194,) said they " secured a free passage to " the Highlands, fhi-reby preventing any supplies, from coming to the " American Army, by water." Hildreth, (History of the United States, iii., 154,) said, only, they " cut off all supplies from the country, South " and West of that river," the Hudson.