Letter to Peter Van Gaasbeek in Kingston from Col. Jacobus Bruyn at Fort Montgomery, June 29, 1777. Bruyn was also a Kingston native, but was defending Ft. Montgomery in the Hudson Highlands in June of 1777. Just 4 months after this letter was written, on October 6, 1777, Bruyn was captured at the Battle of Fort Montgomery and held prisoner on board a British prison ship almost until the end of the War.

Dear Sir
As I was enumerating the many Circumstances, that seem to conspire against my Peace in this Life, it struck my mind that in some of my Observations for this While past I had Reason to suspect an Indifference in your Behaviour to me, which I must confess (tho’ I scorn an Intimacy without mutual Attraction) gave me no little concern when I considered that the same might have arose either from a wrong Construction of Appearances or some Artifice of treacherous and deluding Persons; but having carefully perused your favour of the 29th Ul.t wherein you have fully testifyed the Sincerity of your Regard, I think I should be unworthy a place in your Esteem, did I not in some manner retaliate the good Offices you have lately done me and which I cannot avoid assuring you have in a great Measure contributed to any comfortable Satisfaction ~ I should enlarge a good deal upon this Subject with an Addition of my own Sentiments respecting some matters Matters in which you have been lately entrusted as a Confident and which tell then I could not be justifiable in communicating, but here I must beg your Pardon and break of 10th it, as I am just now furnished with a Letter directed to me by Capt. Jansen, upon Perusal of which I am much surprized to find that that Gentlemen disregarding all his Protestations of sincere Friendship (not to mention his blackguard Language) has so far forgot himself as to deviate from those Principles of Truth Honor and Equity which I ever expected would have marked his conduct as a gentleman if not that of a Friend But to say no more till I have further Satisfaction respecting the Matter I shall conclude with my Respects to Miss Blandma if that will not be too much of a trouble and accept of the same yourself
From your Friend
and humble Sv’t
Ja’s Bruyn