Copy of the Report of the Secretary of War of the 25th of February 1791, on the pe- tition of Robert Connelly. That Robert Connelly states, 64. That he entered the service at the commencencement of the late War__That he served in Canada, and afterwards of New York__that he was taken prisoner on the 16th 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 65. 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. Jn. Stagg Junr. Chf. Clk. March 14th 1794.