Washington, or yourself. &c…Enable us to allay the fears of the inhabs [inhabitants] … For these reasons we conceive yt [yet] a just regard for the public cause, & our duty to take a prudent care of the City, dictate the impropriety of provoking hostilities at present &…We therefore ardently wish to remain at peace for a little time, & doubt not we have assigned sufficient reasons for avoiding at present, a dilemma in wh [which] the present entrance of a large body of troops into this City, will al: =most certainly involve us. Should you have such an entrance in design, we beg, at least, that the troops may halt on the Western confines of Connecticut, till we shall have our explanation &c." p. 259. / Genl.
Char. Lee - to - The N.Y. Committee of Safety "in answer." Stamford 23d. January. 1776." …With respect to the alarm of the inhabitants, on the suspicion that my business was to commence active hostilities against the men of war in yr [your] harbour, I can assure you that they may be perfectly easy. Such never was the intentions of the General. [Washington] or….the motive of the Genl. for detaching *, was solely to prevent the enemy from taking part in the City, in lodging themselves in Long Island. & c. . . . If the ships of war are quiet. I shall be quiet. &…In compliance with yr [your] request, I shall only carry with me into Town, a force just strong enough to secure it against any designs of the enemy, until it shall please the Continental Congress to take measures, for its permanent security.
The main body I shall leave on the Western frontiers of Connecticut, according to your directions. &c." p. 266.