HISTORY OF VERMONT. 187 



government of Vermont found it necessary, to 

 put an dnd to these hostile associations ; and 

 colonel Ethan Allen was directed to raise a part 

 of the militia, for that purpose. Upon this in- 

 telligence, a colonel, bearing a commission un- 

 der the government of New York, wrote to 

 governor Clinton for his advice and direction, 

 suggesting the necessity of having the militia of 

 Albany held in readiness to attack any armed 

 force, that should gather with that design ; and 

 that it would be an easy thing to get intelligence, 

 by employing the enemies of Vermont, in their 

 own towns, to give information.* In answer 

 to this application, the governor of New York 

 recommended in general, firmness and prudence, 

 and in no instance to acknowledge the authority of 

 Vermont, unless where there was no alternative 

 left between submission and inevitable ruin : He 

 assured them, at the same time, that if any at- 

 tempt was made by Vermont to reduce them 

 by force of arms, he v/ould instantly issue his 

 orders to the militia, who were properly equip- 

 ped, and who v/ould be led against the enemies 

 of the state, wherever they might happen to be.f 

 Alarmed with these prospects, Mr. Clinton 

 wrote to the president of Congress, May the 

 18th, that matters were fast approaching to a 

 very serious crisis, which nothing but the im- 

 mediate interposition of Congress, could possibly 

 prevent ; that he daily expected he should be 

 obliged to order out a force, for the defence of 

 those who adhered to New York ; that the 



* Patterson's letter to governor Clinton, of May 5, I779 ; 3o4 

 Minot's Petition of May 4, I779. 

 + ^liatoj^'s letter to S. Miaat, of May 14, 1779. 



