The Secretary for the Department of War to whom was referred the petition of Robert Connelly with the instructions to examine the same and report his opinion thereon, respectfully Reports, That the case of the petitioner was in the year 1791 a subject of the subscriber's anxious enquiry, as will appear by the copy of a Report made to the House of Representatives, hereunto annexed. That it is to be observed the Petitioner's time of service ceased in May 1776 and he discharged from the army. That the British troops did not enter the City of New-York until the month of September following. That whether he was taken a prisoner or joined the British troops, are circumstances not particularly ascertained. That as he then was a private individual unconnected with the service, it would rather appear that his continuance in New York had been optional, as unequivocal circumstances for some time previously, had indicated that the City must be evacuated. That the hardships he underwent in New York while with the British troops, the employment he was in, or the manner of his coming out, are conceived irrelative to the petitioner's claim. His poverty, and his blindness, are well attested and indisputable. But it does not appear that such evidence is produced, as to convince the mind that a cold which the petitioner alledges to have taken in the year 1775 was the cause of the blindness which afflicted him twelve years afterwards to wit in the year 1787. The subscriber therefore is constrained to adhere to the opinion heretofore given upon this case to the House of Representatives. All which is humbly submitted to the Senate of the United States. H Knox Sec^y. of War. War Department March 14^th 1794. [Copy] Copy of the Report of the Secretary of War of the 25^th of February 1791, on the petition of Robert Connelly. That Robert Connelly states that he entered the service at the commencement of the late War. That he served in Canada, and afterwards at New York— that he was taken prisoner on the 16^th day of September 1776, the day the British troops entered the said City— that from the hardships he suffered in Canada, and more particularly in prison, he is totally blind— he therefore prays a pension. It appears on investigation of this claim, and by the acknowledgement of the Petitioner, that he was discharged the service about the month of May 1776;— that he remained in New York, when the British Troops took that City— that after some time, they put him into prison— that finally he fell blind in 1787. The Secretary of War, deploring the situation of this unfortunate blind man, was desirous of finding some just principle, whereon to ground a favorable report. But it is by no means proved, or is it probable that his blindness in 1787, arose from the hardships of 1775, or until May 1776, the time of his discharge; but that it might have arisen from a variety of causes after he left the service— and that therefore, he has no well founded claim, to be placed on the pension list of the United States. True copy from the records of the War Office. March 14^th 1794. Jn^o. Stagg Jun^r. Chf. Clk.