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. I hope that what I have said on the subject of the Claverack Regiment may be satisfactory, to which I shall add any farther Informations that I may receive being with the paost perfect regard,

The Honble Lt Gov^ Colden, Y^s W J

964 MANUSCRIPTS OF