He has good reason to apprehend that a combination is formed, to seize the first opportunity to turn the Goods of the Inhabitants of this City into the Streets for the purpose of a general Riot and Plunder.

A person told him that there were four hundred persons in the combination, and that he was himself a Signer to it, and that it was the intention of the party here, to engage four or five hundred persons more in the project from New England, and that he believed some of his own acquaintances of the City, would fall on the accomplishment of it.

The same person added, that Expresses were now going backwards and forwards on this business.

The informant knows the name of the person from whom he had this intelligence. He was a Captain in the Continental Service, and the informant will name him to the Commander in Chief, as soon as it shall consist with his own safety. The person has large connections and is a native of this City. He intimated his wish that the Informant was a Mason, by which he imagined that he would have revealed more, if he had more confidence in the Informants Secrecy. Sworn 14th August 1783. (Signed) before me.

What Mr   had from the person not named was on Friday last, and he has hesitated ever since about revealing it with great anxiety of mind.

On Saturday 16th Instant, he had conversation with William Dewitt again on the subject of the project of plundering this City on the Evacuation, and he said he would plunder some people to the bone. That the Whig refugees intended it to be a general business. For himself he was determined to make up his losses out of the people here. The party intended to proceed at Mid-day, and do as they pleased. That he kept a barrel or two of spirits in his Cellar for the purpose. That he could raise himself three or four hundred men for the purpose.

He had another interview with him yesterday, when he said he had a particular account from Fishkill, that General McDougal would have nothing to do with the business, but that the leading men were to wink at what should be done by the people.

There is a Mr   , who is a loyal Refugee now in town; from this person he has learnt, that he overheard several persons from the Country, (two he thinks from Albany) conversing together upon the subject of mobbing the Loyalistes. They appeared to be disinclined to act in it themselves, but said there would be people enough for the purpose of punishing those who had been against them. Mr   don’t know the names of these persons, but in public he says, they spoke against Mobbs. One of them was called by the other Colonel, and they appeared to be leading Men.

He retains his opinion that there is a design to commit acts of violence here, whenever the evacuation takes place. He believes William Dewit to be intent upon mischief. He has colurs prepared for the collection of a Mob on that occasion. He has been absent from home six weeks, five days excepted, but in what part of the surrounding Country he is, the Deponent knows not, nor what the strength and numbers of his Associates in this design may amount to. He has reason to be suspicious of the family of Webbers who live about four miles off, at the house of one Hopper.

The Deponent thinks it would be expedient to send him out to General Washington, or such General as may command the Continental Troops on their entry into this City, and for the preservation of the general tranquility, he is, willing to go out upon that errand; that due warning may be given, and suspected characters secured.