Ranslaer, another Circumstance is, that they have left out Kenderhook intirely, and that they have taken the Officers from such places and in such manner as Joyned to what I have already Mentioned manifests a Notorious partiality arising in all probability from very Interested motives, and I have y<^ greatest reason to think that Col Schuyler made himself very busy on that occasion as he does

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 963

on many other!?, and that to his eagerness & ignorance in these matters some of the egregious blunders may be attributed. -- he found means to attach himself very Closely to Sir H Moore, who I presume thought he might be of use & therefore I am informed suffered himself to be influenced and directed by him in many matters, with which he had no pretensions to Concern himself.

Upon the Whole 1 should think that the bounds of that Regiment would be well to be altered & made to begin where the Reg* to the Northward ends, & to Extend to Livingstons Mann or, and in case the Number of Inhabitants are too large within these Limits to divide it into 2 Reg^^^ and I submit it to you whether some of the Gents gho'l be Continued in their present Commissions, & whether new Ones should not issue to be filled up at N York in a more equitable manner, The Readiest way to do which will be to Issue New Commissions for the Whole Regiment, describing its bounds so as to give no appearance of favor to any Land Claim, & putting in or Leaving out such of the Officers as are most fitting. Capt Hogebooms Case deserves Consideration as I know him to be an old Unexceptionable Officer, & a man of property in that Country -- and that I may in future be enabled to know & report the true State of the Militia within my District, I could wish you would please to Issue an Order to all the Colonels within My Brigade to pay due regard to the orders they shall receive from me or from the Adjutant General of the District, which some of them I imagine purposely neglect, & which I think ought to be taken Notice of. -- I know you will Excuse the freedom of my hints on this Subject, and as to sending blank Commissions for the Militia, I am equally convinced of its Impropriety, I think it my duty, from my Station & acquaintance in the Country to recommend Officers to the Governor for the time being, and tis true that I Generally received them blanks, of which I flatter myself it can appear that I never made a bad use, but I am really of opinion that such a Practice should not be Extablished, as I am aware of its ill Consequences, of which there are recent proofs.