Letter from the New-York Convention to Leonard Gansevoor

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"GENTLEMEN: I am directed by the Convention to enclose you a copy of two resolutions of this date, together with a letter to Brigadier-General Gates, at Ticonderoga, which we leave open for your perusal.

"It is the wish of the Convention that you should immediately wait on General Gates with his letter, and that you should likewise exert yourselves in obtaining every intelligence, from your own observation, which you think will tend to give this House a full insight into the state of our Northern Army.

"In the letter which this Convention has ordered to be wrote to General Gates, they have chiefly confined their inquiries to the number of our forces, the stale of health they are in, and General Burgoyne' s designs.

"From motives of delicacy, this Convention has not thought proper to inquire of General Gates whether proper harmony prevails amongst the officers, and subordination amongst the troops. These are objects of infinite consequence, and on which the fate of a battle has often depended. The Convention, therefore, wish you will pay particular attention to obtain proper information on these points. Your own prudence and knowledge of the world will lead you to obtain these inquiries in the most delicate manner possible.

"You will be pleased to transmit General Gates' s answer by express, together with your own observations, in writing, in case you should be detained in joining the Convention.

"I am, &c.

"To Jacob Cuyler and Leond˙ Gansevort, Esqs˙, Albany.

"July 23."