October 28th. Doctor Lyman Cook, of Ohio, formerly of Westchesta "I have not seen Jackson Odell for fifteen or twenty years, and have no recollection of the particular papers you mention, (formerly in General Thomas's possession) and relating to Colonel Greene, Major Flagg, and the attack on Davenports house, and the destruction of the black part of the Rhode Island regiment at Pines Bridge. General Thomas, however, had some valuable papers relative to the American Revolution, which, after his death, I endeavoured to procure from his widow, but she refused to part with them, saying that she meant to give them to some of the Floyd's, her relatives. Previous ly to this I had endeavoured to get them from the General. He refused to part with them, however, or to allow me to take copies, observing that they would

probably be published after his death My intention was to give them to James Fenimore Cooper to aid him in his historical novels.

General Philip Van Cortlandt's papers are interesting and would be of great service to you. They include the papers and letters of his father Lieut Governor Van Cortlandt. I have seen these as well as General Thomas's papers. By all means obtain access to the papers left by General Philip Van Courtland. Among them is an attempt account of the attempt made by Governor Tryon in the early part of the troubles to bring over Governor Van Cortlandt and his family to the Crown. Failing in the attempt he left the Manor house in great disappointment, and went on board a vessel in the river refusing to stay to dinner which he had agreed to do.