and shall only repeat that if he is dismissed the service it will be a heavy loss, especially as the next in Command (Capt Manly) is vastly his inferiour in abilities, and knowing as I do how much your Excellency wishes to promote the Service of America, I cou'd not refrain from mentioning my notions on this Subject. There is also another matter that gives me concern and that is the detention of Continental Troops on the Eastern Shoar to keep Tories in order at a time when Genl Washington cou'd strike a Capital stroke was he reinforced by those and others that ought to join him. I wish you wou'd think of this and order them to march on, other means may be found to keep the Tories in order there, you will merit and require the thanks of the continent if you think proper to improve this hint. the resolve of Congress for detaining them was obtained in consequence of your letter to me on that Subject. Sir 470. BENJAMIN RUMSEY TO THE GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND Congress being informed to Day by Genl. Schuyler that 100 Men of Colo. Richardson's Men were now in this City have ordered them up to Camp and given You a Power to detain 100 or as many out of any other Men of any of the weaker Battallions in Maryland as are here of that Battallion.2. I am afraid the 2000 arms will not be granted by a Lre. from A. Lee of the 20th of Febry from Bordeaux in his way to Paris Burgoine with 10,000 Germans and 3000 British Troops are to attack Boston How Philadelphia Carlton the back settlements etc. yet we will take every favourable oppertunity we can to procure them. this will be from Carlisle I imagine. I need not Apologise for the Delay of the Express. My Colleague and myself have done all We could to send him off sooner but the House have been 3 Days squabling abt. what might have been done in three minutes.5 May I PHILADA. [1777.] 2 See no. 468, ante, and nos. 470, 474, 505, post. 3 See the Journals, Apr. 19. Cf. no. 443, ante. [470]1 Md. Hist. Soc., Red Book, IV. 68; Arch. of Md., XVI. 236. 2 See the Journals, May 1, and Arch. of Md., XVI. 228, 236, 242. The resolu tion is summarized in a letter from Hancock to Gov. Johnson, May 2 (Mass. Hist. Soc., Hancock Letter-Book, VI. 198; Library of Congress, Papers Cont. Cong., no. 58, pt. II., f. 194. 8 See no. 463, ante. See also the last paragraph of note 4, below. Arthur Lee's letter written from Bordeaux is dated Feb. 18 (Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 272). Rumsey must also have had in mind Lee's letter of Feb. 11 (ibid., II. 266). See also the letter from the commissioners, Feb. 6 (ibid., II. 261), and cf. no. 473, post. The last two sentences of this paragraph ("yet . . . . imagine ") appertain to the subject of the 2000 arms, mentioned above. In the letter, however, they occur as here given. 5 The allusion is doubtless to the affair of Capt. James Nicholson. See nos. 468, 469, ante, 474, 505, post. Dear Sir 471. DANIEL ROBERDEAU TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.1 PHILADE. May 1st. 1777 Being one of the Committee for Foreign applications I had it in my power to pay the more immediate attention to your recommendation of le Chevalier de Mauduit du Plessis and through Favor of Congress immediately procured him a Commission for Capt. of Artillery and he was without delay in two or three days after his arrival here forwarded to General Washington.2. . . Sir 472. JAMES LOVELL TO HORATIO GATES.1 May 1st. [1777.] You will see by the resolutions sent to you at this time that new Ideas are taking place here in regard to the western side of Tyconderoga.2 I apprehend you will be better informed than we are what expectations you can form with confidence about the number of eastern troops and the exact time when they will arrive to a certain necessary amount for your plans. An absolute order to relinquish the western Lines and fort was pushed for, but you find did not prevail. You certainly have not such a predilection for them as to run great risques of losing yr. Reputation in their defence with a few Troops, if only a few can be had. Nor are you of such a disposition as to leave them without much consideration, if they appear to be highly essential to our defence, and you receive according to yr. wishes troops and military stores. . . . . But, another matter besides the foregoing will be upon yr. mind, on which you will expect to hear from me by this bearer. The affairs to the northeast are in a critical situation for the state of N: York in particular. Disaffection, as you see, is greatly prevalent; and those who profess well to our cause judge and say that there is but one single man who can keep their subjects united against the common enemy, and that he stands on our books as commandr. in chief in the middle, or, as it is sometimes called, the northern departmt; that his presence is absolutely necessary in his home quarter for their immediate succour and service as well as that of the united states necessarily connected; that if he returns, he is a Genl. without an army or Military Chest. And, "why is he thus disgraced"? It is said that it is nonsence to give you the command of the northern army at Tyconderoga and confine you to that fort and mount Independence where you cannot have an extensive idea of the defence of the frontier of the eastern states, but only of one spot where the enemy are not obliged to confine their operations, and, as it were knock their heads [471] Amer. Phil. Soc., Franklin Papers, vol. VI. (1.), no. I. 2 See the Journals, Apr. 15, 16. [472]1 N. Y. Hist. Soc., Gates Papers, VIII. 2 See no. 466, ante, and nos. 473, 502, post. against a single Rock. And, if you are not so confined you intirely destroy the idea of their Chief to whom they profess devotion unbounded. [How] this matter will be untangled I cannot now exactly determine but I suspect not intirely agreable to yr. sentiments: I wish to have these explicitly and minutely by the first opportunity after the receipt of this.*. In every condition I wish you health prosperity and honor, being sincerely yr. friend and humb Servt. J. LOVELL 473. THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO THE Gentlemen: PHILADELPHIA, May 2, 1777. Your dispatches, dated February 6 and 8, were safely received by us about the middle of April.2.. The Congress highly approve your dividing yourselves to foreign courts, and have sent commissions for that purpose, and likewise commissions for fitting out privateers in France.* The Mercury, from Nantes, is safely arrived in New Hampshire. The Amphitrite and Seine we are yet in hopes of." We shall notice the conduct 4 Cf. nos. 453, 461, ante, and see the Journals, May 15, 22. See also nos. 483, 495, 502, 511, 515, post. [473] Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 313. 2 A letter of Feb. 6, signed by all three commissioners, Franklin, Deane, and Lee, to the committee of secret correspondence, is in Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 261; one of the same date from Deane is on the same page; and one of the same date by Franklin and Deane is ibid., II. 265. No letter dated Feb. 8 has been found. It is evident from Rumsey's letter of May 1, ante, that Arthur Lee's letters of Feb. 11 and 18, and presumably his letter of Feb. 14 (ibid., II. 266, 270, 272), had also been received. Cf. nos. 423, 436, 439, 470, ante. "We can assure our readers, that some late arrivals from France, bring the most agreeable and interesting intelligence." Continental Journal and Weekly Advertiser (Boston), Mar. 20. 3 See the commissioners' letter of Feb. 6, cited above. Cf. no. 452, ante. 4 See the Journals, May 1, 8. Since Oct. 1, 1776, Silas Deane had been suggesting that such commissions be sent. 5 The vessels mentioned were laden with arms, etc. See Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 276. The Mercury arrived at Portsmouth, N. H., Mar. 17: "On Monday the 17th instant arrived here a French ship of about 350 tons, called the Mercury, commanded by Capt. John Heraud [Herand], in forty days from Nantz, having the following very valuable cargo on board, viz. . "The captain and passengers (among whom is a brigadier general, and a captain of artillery) gives us the following most agreeable account of the situation of affairs there. Continental Journal and Weekly Advertiser (Boston), Mar. 27. A somewhat less circumstantial account is found in the Independent Chronicle (Boston) of the same date: "A vessel, of 14 Guns, lately arrived in a safe Port, of one of the United States of America has the following Cargo, viz. . . .' The brigadiergeneral and captain were the Chevalier Prudhomme de Borré and the Chevalier Mauduit Du Plessis. Their arrival in Boston Sunday, Mar. 23, is mentioned in the same issues. See James Warren to Mercy Warren, Mar. 21, and to John Adams, Mar. 23 (WarrenAdams Letters, I. 301, 303); also the Journals, Mar. 31, and no. 421, ante. The Amphitrite arrived at Portsmouth Apr. 20 or 21: "Sunday last arrived a French ship of 20 guns from Burdeaux, laden'd with dry goods, hardware, wine, etc. etc. etc. . . . . Same day arrived in a safe port at the Eastward, after a passage of three months, a vessel from Nantz, in France, with a valuable cargo; among which are the following, of Nicholas Davis. We have presented Marshal Maillebois's sentiments on the mode of war to Congress, who are greatly pleased therewith, and entertain a high respect for the author.. The Congress have it in contemplation to remove the garrison from the present fort, in the district of Ticonderoga, to Fort Independence, in the same district, which they judge will command that pass with greater advantage, and is a much healthier situation. We mention this, as the enemy will probably give an air of triumph to the evacuation, should it be done. The distance between the two is about a quarter of a mile." . We are, gentlemen, your obedient, humble servants, Sir: BENJAMIN HARRISON. 474. THOMAS BURKE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA (RICHARD CAswell).1 PHILADELPHIA, May 2d, 1777. I wrote you day before yesterday by an express going to Charlestown, and after I had sealed up the letter, some intelligence was opened in Congress, which I wrote on a slip of paper and put into the cover. I doubt not you will receive it.2. . . An insulting letter written by the Captain of one of the Continental Frigates to the Governor of Maryland has excited great indignation in Congress. The officer is suspended, and ordered in five days to make such satisfaction as the Governor and Council shall accept or, failing, to be dismissed the service. Every gentleman, (a few only excepted) seem to feel his own State injured in this insult, and they are determined viz. . . . . Came passenger in the above vessel a colonel and 24 officers of the train." Continental Journal and Weekly Advertiser, Thursday, Apr. 24. "Last Monday arrived at a safe Port, a large ship, from France, with the following valuable Cargo, viz. . . . A Colonel, and 24 Officers of Artillery came Passengers in the above ship." Independent Chronicle, Apr. 24. In a postscript to a letter to John Adams, Apr. 23 (Warren-Adams Letters, I. 316), James Warren mentions the ship, cargo, and passengers in similar terms, and closes with this line: "3 Mo. passage arrived last Sunday." See the Journals, May 8. The colonel was Du Coudray. Lists of the French officers who came with him are found in the Journals, Aug. 5, Sept. 2, Nov. 7. In the Amphitrite came also the notorious Thomas Conway. See Warren to Adams, Apr. 27, Warren-Adams Letters, I. 318; also Washington to Congress, May 9, in Writings (ed. Ford), V. 353, (ed. Sparks), IV. 411. The Seine reached Martinique, but was afterward captured. See the letter of the committee of foreign affairs, May 30, Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 327. 6 The Journals make no mention of Marshal Maillebois's work. [474]1 N. C. State Recs., XI. 463. 2 The "slip", dated Apr. 30, is in N. C. State Recs., XI. 463. The intelligence was an account of the affair at Danbury, Apr. 25, received by Congress, Apr. 30 (see the Journals), in a letter from Washington, dated Apr. 28. See also Washington to McDougall, Apr. 28, Writings (ed. Ford), V. 343. A further account, sent by Washington Apr. 30, was received by Congress May 1. See no. 476, post. 3 See nos. 468, 469, 470, ante, 505, post. that nothing less should do, than what would satisfy Maryland, and convince officers that they were very inferior to the Magistrates of States, and must treat them with the most profound respect. I never had more hopes of Congress than I have now. All seem sensible that the honour and dignity of the Magistrates of the States ought to be preserved sacred and inviolable; whether for applying the force of the State, or restraining abuses, and suppressing ambition. Your Excellency knows enough of my political creed to believe that this disposition is exceedingly pleasing to me. I have not time to add more, but that I have the honor to be, My dear Sir, 475. JOHN ADAMS TO JAMES Warren.1 PHILADELPHIA, April [May,] 3, 1777 Yours of April 3d I recd. I must confess, that I am at a Loss to determine whether it is good Policy in Us to wish for a War between France and Britain, unless We could be sure that no other Powers would engage in it: But if France engages Spain will, and then all Europe will arrange themselves on one side and the other and what Consequences to Us might be involved in it I don't know. If We could have a free Trade with Europe I should rather run the Risque of fighting it out with George and his present Allies, provided he should get no other. I don't love to be intangled in the Quarrels of Europe. I don't wish to be under Obligations to any of them, and I am very unwilling they should rob Us of the Glory of vindicating our own Liberties. It is a Cowardly Spirit in our Countrymen, which makes them pant with so much longing Expectation, after a French War. I have very often been ashamed to hear so many Whiggs groaning and Sighing with Despondency and whining out their Fears that We must be subdued unless France should step in. Are We to be beholden to France for our Liberties? France has done so much already that the Honour and Dignity and Reputation of Great Britain is concerned to resent it, and if she does not, France will trifle with her forever hereafter. She has recd. our Ambassadors, protected our Merchant Men, Privateers, Men of War and Prizes, admitted Us freely to trade, lent Us Money, and supplied Us with Arms, Ammunition and Warlike Stores of every Kind. This is notorious all over Europe, and she will do more, presently, if our dastardly Despondency, in the midst of the finest Prospects imaginable, does not discourage her. The surest and the only Way to secure her Arms in this Cause is for Us to exert our own. For God's sake then don't fail of a single Man of your Quota. Get them at any Rate, and by any Means rather than not have them. I am more concerned about our Revenue than the Aid of France. Pray let the Loan Offices do their Part, that We may not be compelled to make Paper Money as plenty and of Course as cheap as Oak Leaves. There is so much Injustice in carrying on a War with a depreciating Currency that We can hardly pray with Confidence for success. [475]1 Warren-Adams Letters, I. 321; Works, IX. 462 (dated Apr. 27). 2 Warren's letter of Apr. 3 is in Warren-Adams Letters, I. 309. |