of the Council of Safety, 1776. 443

there are not more than enough for four Battalions. There
are five of the Flying Camp, and two of the Regulars the
German and Rifle companies will make the eighth, surely
then you have not sent commissions enough. I should be
oblidged to you to send up a Copy also of the Resolves of
Congress relative to the raising the eighty eight Battallions as
we have not got it, and would be as little troublesome as pos-
sible to the Congress.
Four thousand of our Troops under General Putnam have
crossed the North River to reinforce Gen^l Green who has six
thousand under his command to prevent the Enemy's plun-
derring the Jerseys or penetrating to this place and I suppose
they will be followed by a more considerable Number if the
Enemy pass that River.
Very little of the Transactions of Convention have trans-
pired here. You are exceedingly concise on that head. You
tell me they are still engaged about the constitution. I should
naturally have concluded they were so, but pray what sort of
a constitution have they framed ? how far monarchical aristo-
cratick or democratick, how far a mixture, how Balanced each
power? It is a matter of great Importance to a Subject of a
State that Power should be well and equally balanced.
I am, Sir,
If we stay here much longer the Your most humble Serv^t
flying Camp will come near us Benjamin Rumsey
or to us.

[B. Rumsey to Jenifer.]

Philadelphia Nov. 13^th 1776.
Sir.
A man who has contracted to furnish M^r Green on account
of our State with fifty Reams of Paper called on me the other
Day and informed me that they were ready, that M^r Green
had directed him to send them down by water, but reflecting
on the orders given by the members of Congress from our
State not to hazard a former Quantity by water, he was appre-
hensive that he should do wrong to risk them now, a Thought
which did not strike him, till after the Departure of M^r Greene,
and that he would on notice send them by waggon.
I forgott in my two former dispatches to mention it but
informed him he would receive a line from our State relative
to it. I am Sir,
Your most humble Servant.
100 Sail of Transports under Benjamin Rumsey.
sufficient Convoy have sailed
from New York to the Southw^d

C.S.C.