American Historical Ephemera & Photography

1 page, 7 1/2 x 12 1/2 in., bifolium, old folds, old repairs to multiple separations, staining throughout, chipping, docketed on terminal page. 

Manuscript orders issued to William Johnson Esq., by the "Honble. George Clinton, Capt. Generall [sic] Governour & Chief of the Province of New York &c. Vice Admiral of the famed Admiral of the White Squadron of his Majesty's Fleet." 

The orders state, in part: "...It is absolutely necessary for the Defence of the Frontier of the Province that a Competent Number of Militia ___ belonging to the Regment [sic] under your Command should be Constantly Posted at Oswego. You are hereby Required and Commanded to Detach a Lieut. of Thirty Men belonging to the Regment [sic] under your Command to Oswego together with a Detachment of the Kings Troops (who have orders to be in Readiness for that Purpose when you apply to the Commanding Officer at Albany at the Proper Season of the Year in order to Relieve [sic] now Posted there..."

While Governor of New York, George Clinton led an administration whose governance resulted in a permanent increase in popular control and weakened influence from the royal government.