often the case, the board allowed them an additional amount to reimburse them for their expenses in coming before the commissioners as witnesses. 8 They summoned a man for "endeavoring by every Means in his Power to depreciate the Credit of the Paper Currency emitted by the Congress of the United States," and put him under a bond of £5,000, ' Laws of New York. Poughkeepsie: John Holt, 1782, p. 210. • Ibid, pp. 236-237. » May 13, 1778. June 4, 1778. * November 13, 1778. November 14, 1778. ' November 21, 1778; February 22, 1779. November 19, 1778.

Introduction 39

"neither by himself or his Agents to raise an Exhorbitant Price on the Sale of any Goods, Wares or Merchandizes or Purchase or sell any at an exhorbitant Price or unjust Profit."*

Deserters -- Persons who had been taken as prisoners by Brant's party and effected an escape, appeared before the commissioners, from time to time, to exonerate themselves from the suspicion of toryism. Others, who had started on their way to join Brant, reported, returned to their abodes and were placed under a recognizance and bail for their appearance at the next supreme court of judicature to be held at some were closely confined. the city hall of Albany, whilst Not a few of those whom the board released, and who returned to their homes, were afterwards implicated in robberies or proved to be otherwise troublesome. The board even granted a gratuity to a deserter from Brant and Butler for important information imparted by him and for his offer to go out again as a spy, to discover the future movements of the enemy 2 . Deserters, who had joined Burgoyne, requested reinstatement in their country's favor and took the oath of fidelity, or were put under a recognizance for their future good