New York March 11^th 1786. Gentlemen [undecipherable] the [undecipherable] of yesterday, that [undecipherable] Shattuck, was author-[ized] by the Commander[s] in Chief sometime in the latter end of [last] year [1785], to [go] over to the New [Hampshire] [Grants], and immediately, to apprehend and convey [undecipherable] [Hamilton] of [Newfane?] and [Sam?] Wells of [Bennington?]. That this authority was [charged?] given to the Commander[s] in Chief, by a resolution of [Congress?] of the [undecipherable] of Nov[embe]r 1783, on an [information] received by them that these Persons were about to head an insurrection, in that Country in favor of the British Government. I that [the?] [Shattuck?] did [not?] convey any of these orders [until?] the [undecipherable] of Nov[embe]r 1785, deliver[ed] up to the commander in Chief [undecipherable] [Hamilton?], one of the above described persons. On the state of facts above [described], I [doubt?] not [undecipherable] [after?] [waiting?] so long [a] time after [receiving] [them], without executing them, [undecipherable] render it [undecipherable] being [in the] Treaty of [peace?] to [release?] all fear from [the] insurrections and [undecipherable] granted [ample?] [security?] to the persons who had been [enemies?] to the United States. I must [confess?] that I am led to suppose, that this Person was taken up either from personal [resentment?] [that he was] or for his being considered, as M^r Shattuck states in his petition as insurgent against the government and Laws of New York, in which case it may appear [to] your Honorable Board to be an expence which ought rather to be defrayed by the State. [undecipherable] of the contingent expences of the service, and I am not in possession, of any information that can explain the reasonableness of M^r Shattuck's charges— had his orders been executed, while a fear existed [as to?] [in?] respect to the people of that country [were?] being in favor of the British, I suppose the guard he had taken was not more than sufficient, and the recompense [on?] [account?] he demands for his own [services?] would not have been more than what he [would have] had a right to expect for so material a service— but at present without further and more explicit [evidence?] I am unable to make up [an opinion?] that would be founded in justice. [Copy?] March 11, 1786 [undecipherable signature]