82 Staten Island Association of Arts and Sciences 



Writing from Halifax, April 24, 1776, to J. Ogilvie, presumably 

 on Staten Island, he adds : 



" I am at a Loss to know whether we shall have rank or half 

 pay — if we Shall not the Ministry will be guilty of the most bar- 

 borous Cruelty that ever was known. Especially to us who has 

 been Cumfortably Situated and Left our wives and Children to 

 the Mercy of a Merciless Enemy, and at the Risque of our Lives 

 flew to the defence and preservation of the honour intrest and 

 dignity of our King & Country. Should Such of us as Survives 

 these troubles be turned about their business, without rank or 

 half pay, after this Unnatural Rebellion is Quelled — might be 

 Attended with bad Consequences upon a future Occasion but for 

 my own part I don't believe we shall meet with so Much in- 

 justice," etc. 



In the early summer of 1776, Captain McDonald writes to 

 General Howe, in a very unhappy vein, in consequence of his 

 failure in promotion, beginning : " Tho I find the footing I am on 

 at present, irksome from its unpromising Prospect, & tho from 

 Your Excellency's Rank & Character, you are the Personage to 

 whom I would naturally look up for any relief, it might require, 

 or reasonably Admit of ; yet. Sensible that Amidst the Weight 

 of publick Affairs which Occupied Your Mind, it would have 

 been improper to trouble you while here, I take the Liberty of 

 Laying My Case before You in this manner & time, humbly 

 persuaded that if anything worthy your Attention will happily 

 Occurr, you will be pleased to forgive the freedom & in that 

 event also will experience in You the Patron of An Old Soldier. 



" It is now going on thirty two Years since I enter'd the Service, 

 in the Course of which I lost many Chances, tho I Underwent 

 All the Vicissitudes, fatigues & dangers that commonly fall to the 

 Share of a Man without Money or any Considerable Interest. 

 However as I enjoy'd, so I flatter Myself I never deserve to for- 

 feit the Esteem & regard of my Superior Officers. I was in the 

 Most Active Scenes of the last war that were exhibited in the 

 West Indies & the Southern Provinces of this Continent, was 



