•• Unhappy am I to add that amidst all our sufferings, the army employed for the protection of ^Vmerica, have not refrained from embhtering the calamities of war, at a time when the utmost resources of this State were laid open to theiiwants, and the mcrubers of Convention personally sulimitted to the labour and fatigue which were necessary on a sudden emergency, and after frequent losses of provisions and barracks, to supply two numerous armies, augmented by. the militia, with every article which they required, the Court-house and the remains of the village at the White Plains, which had been sp.ared on the retreat of our forces, were, even after the enemy had in their turn retired, wantonly destroyed, without the orders and to the infinite regret of our worthy general, besides, in spite of all his Excellency's efforts, wherever our troops have marched, or been stationed, they have done infinite damage to the property of the people.

"I am directed, sir, to sutimit it totheHon'ble Congress, whether some effectual remedy ought not to be provided against such disorderly and disgraceful proceedings. The soldier, whti plunders the countrj- he is employed to protect, is no better than a robber, and ought to be treated accordingly ; and a severe example, m tlie opinion of tl\o committee, ought to be made of the officer who, without any necessity, or his general's permission, sa fire to the Court House and other

a Extract from a.Ulies-i of -J. W. Touipklns, Esq.

6 Ibi.l.