Nothing but the strongest necessity could induce us to trouble you with an application of so extraordinary a nature, but if we are esteemed worthy of your confidence as friends to our struggling country our sincerity will atone for what in common cases might appear indecent. Our invaded State has not only been an object of the special designs of our common enemy, but obnoxious to the wicked, mercenary intrigues of a number of engrossing Jockies who have drained this part of the State of the article of bread to such a degree that we have reason to fear there is not enough left for the support of the inhabitants. We have for some months past heard of one Holmes who has been purchasing wheat and flour in these parts with which the well affected are universally ill-provided. This man with us is of doubtful character, his conversations are of the disaffected sort entirely. He has now moving from Fishkill toward Newark we think not less than one hundred barrels of flour, for which he says he has your permit, the which we have not seen. However we have, at the universal call of the people, concluded to stop the flour and Holmes himself until this express may return. We ourselves think from the conduct of this man that his designs are bad.

We have the honor to be your humble servants,

To the Honorable the Council of Safety for the State of N. Y.

More than two months later Crane and Ludington wrote to Governor Clinton on the same matter:

Southeast Precinct, 16th February, 1778.

May it Please Your Excellency,

We about Two Months ago presumed to stop a parcel of Flour said to be the property of one Helmes made immediate Report thereof to the Council of Safety in answer we were favoured with a coppy of the Licence Granted by the Council to the said Helms, with a Coppy of the Oath on which said Licence was Granted & with Directions from the Council that in Case the Conduct of sd Helms was not Correspondant with the Tennor of sd Oath and Licence to apprehend and committ him for Tryal and Detain the Flour. Previous to the Return of the Express Dispatched with our Report to the Council Helms made his Escape and has not appeared here since. The Flour was Hurried up some in old Cyder Hogsheads the Rest in Barrels not well secured has been exposed to wett and is in Danger of Spoiling. Your Excellencies Directions Respecting this matter will be Esteemed as a favour done to your most Obedient and Humble Servants

His Excellency Governor Clinton.