The Secretary for the Department of War to whom was referred the petition of Robert Connelly withe 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, here unto 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.