547. WILLIAM DUER TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.1 PHILADELPHIA 9th. July 1777 My Dear Friend, I have the pleasure to inform you that Congress have adopted Sundry resolutions respecting the Insurgents in the Counties of Gloucester, Cumberland and Charlotte, which if our new Legislature acts with spirit and wisdom will I think be attended with happy Effects. We transmit them by this Opportunity to the Council of Safety." I believe no matter has ever been more solmenly argued in Congress than this. The house were in Committee for three days, and very warm opposition was given to [sic] by some of our Eastern friends against the resolution for dismissing the Petition of Jonas Fay etc and that answering Dr Youngs incendiary production. Mr Sherman was quite thrown off his bias, and betrayed a warmth not usually learnt within the Walls of Yale College. 3 I am sorry to inform you that Col R: H. Lee is returning to Congress crowned with Laurels. His smooth discourse and art of Cabal have blunted the Edge of his countrymen's resentments and they have loaded him with encomiums on his patriotism and attention to business, which he modestly says, he is conscious of deserving. for particulars I refer you to the Pennsilvania Papers. I suppose he will return here more rivited than ever to his Eastern friends; I assure you they lost in him no contemptible Ally. . . . . At present there are no very great matters in which our state is particularly interested before Congress; and indeed if they were Mr Morris 5 can supply my place with great advantage to the reputation of the State, as well as his own. His coolness of temper, and happy vein of Irony are qualifications, which would render him a very powerful antagonist to Mr R: H. Lee. Dear Sir 548. ELBRIDGE GERRY TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1 PHILADELPHIA July 9th 1777 Your Petition of November last has been this Day revived at the Board of Treasury, and It appeared to be the Desire of the Board that You [547]1 N. Y. Pub. Lib., Bancroft Coll., Livingston Papers, I. 487 (copy). 2 The resolutions, June 30, relative to the New Hampshire Grants. See nos. 524, 526, 532, 533, 539, ante. 8 Cf. nos. 511, note 2, 539, ante. Lee took his seat Aug. 12. The Virginia credentials are in the Journals, Aug. II. 4 See Richard Henry Lee to Landon Carter, June 25, Letters (ed. Ballagh), I. 303; also John Banister to Theodoric Bland, June 10, Bland Papers, I. 57. Cf. no. 506, ante. In the election of delegates to Congress, May 22, Richard Henry Lee had been defeated, the delegates chosen being George Mason, Joseph Jones, Francis Lightfoot Lee, and John Harvie. Mason having declined, Richard Henry Lee was elected in his place, June 24. Meantime the house of delegates (June 20) and the senate (June 21) had passed votes of thanks to Lee for his services in Congress. These resolutions, together with Lee's responses, are found in the Virginia Gazette (Purdie), June 27. They appeared in the Pennsylvania Journal, July 9, and in the Pennsylvania Evening Post, July 10. 5 Gouverneur Morris. He was elected a delegate May 13, and again Oct. 3, 1777, but did not attend until Jan. 20, 1778. [548] Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers. should be present and heard, previous to their considering the prayer and reporting thereon. this will probably occasion no great Delay, and may be the Means of producing a Decision that will be agreable on all sides.2 I remain Sir yours with Esteem E GERRY. Colo Trumbull 549. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO THE MASSACHUSETTS ASSEMBLY.1 PHILADA. July 10th 1777. Gentlemen, 1 I do myself the Honour to enclose to you Copies of sundry Papers, transmitted to Congress by the State of North Carolina, accompanied with the Resolution of Congress founded thereon. From these you will learn, that a Brig belonging to two Gentlemen of that State, Mr Smith and Mr. Hewes, was some Time ago captured by a certain Brazilla Smith, Commander of the Privateer Eagle, said to be owned by Mr Elijah Freeman Payne, of the Town of Boston. The Congress therefore have recommended it to the State of Massachusetts Bay, to enquire into the Matter; and unless the Master and Owner can shew sufficient Cause to the contrary, to order full Restitution to be made, and the offenders to be punished. I beg Leave to refer your Attention to the Resolve and also to the Papers. Mr Hewes, who is the Bearer hereof, and one of the Owners of the Brig, was a Member of Congress for a considerable Length of Time in the Representation from the State of North Carolina. From the enclosed Memorial you will perceive the Sense his Constituents entertain of his Merit-to which I shall only add, that his Conduct as an inflexible Patriot and his Liberality as a Gentleman, justly entitle him, not only to their Protection, but to the Notice and Protection of every good Citizen, and Friend of America. I have the Honour to be, with great respect, Gentlemen, Your most obed and very hble Servt. Honble Assembly of the State of Masstts Bay. Dear Sir, 550. JAMES LOVELL TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1 July 11th [1777.] Yours of the 9th and 10th are come to hand. Mr Aylet's letter was read, and several of yours also. As the Committee you mentioned is 2 See the Journals, Nov. 18, 1776. Cf. no. 239, ante. [549]1 Mass. Arch., CXCVII. 253; Library of Congress, Papers Cont. Cong., no. 58, pt. II., p. 220; ibid., Force Trans., Massachusetts Records, Letters, 1777. 2 See the Journals, Feb. 4, June 4, and nos. 278, 282, 358, ante. 3 See a letter from John Adams to his wife, July 11, Familiar Letters, p. 282. [550]1 Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers. appointed, it is needless for me to say any thing about your Department.2 I hope Brother Geary will be disposed to do every thing proper to make those regulations practically useful about which he has already had a vast deal of perplexity. I shall be very sorry if you cannot have the aid of two such men as Aylet and Wadsworth. You know how little I like the slow manner of conducting business in large popular assemblies. I do not better like the short way in which the Depy. Issuers have managed their matters: if the army was not in such a very critical state just at this time I should rejoice to have every man, heretofore employed in that way, dropped, and others found to whom I would give 10 pr Ct. rather than retain the old ones at the lowest Salary. Mr Hoops is an example to them which they ought to follow. He will take up at present tho' he does not think to continue. He accompanies the Committee; so that I hope you will have some Leisure to mend a bad scheme. 5 If Bucannan should not accept I hope yr. old friend here will find it worth his pains. I am sure it may be made so, to the public advantage. Sir, 551. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO BENEDICT ARNOLD.1 PHILADA. July 12th. 1777. I have the Honour to enclose you an Extract of a Letter from Genl. Washington, from which you will perceive the General is of Opinion, "a brave active and judicious Officer" should be immediately employed in collecting the Militia to check the Progress of Genl. Burgoyne, as very disagreeable Consequences may be apprehended, if the most vigorous Measures are not taken to oppose him. The Congress therefore concurring in Opinion with General Washington who has strongly recommended you for this Purpose, have directed you to repair immediately to Head Quarters to follow such Orders, as you may receive from him on the Subject. I have the Honour to be with respect Sir Honble Major Genl Arnold Philada Your most obed Serv. 2 See the Journals, July 11. Cf. no. 554, post. J. H. Presid 3 William Aylett of Virginia and Jeremiah Wadsworth of Connecticut were elected deputy commissaries-general of purchases June 18. Wadsworth resigned Aug. 6 and was succeeded, Aug. 9, by Peter Colt. Apr. 9, 1778, he was elected commissarygeneral of purchases, serving until Jan. 1, 1780. 4 Robert Hoops. See no. 544, note 3, ante. He resigned and was succeeded, Aug. 6, by Archibald Stewart. Stewart declined (Aug. 11), and Robert White of Maryland was chosen in his stead (Aug. 14). 5 William Buchannan. See no. 544, note 4, ante. 6 This may refer to Ephraim Blaine, who was elected deputy commissary-general of purchases Aug. 6, 1777, and commissary-general of purchases Dec. 2, 1779. [551] Mass. Hist. Soc., Hancock Letter-Book, VI. 225; Library of Congress, Papers Cont. Cong., no. 58, pt. II., p. 221. 2 See the Journals, July 11. 552. THE PRESident of Congress to the MASSACHUSETTS Assembly.1 PHILA. July 14th. 1777. Gentlemen, The enclosed Resolve of Congress recommending it to your state to send such reinforcements of militia to the Armies under generals Washington or Schuyler as may be requested, comes with such peculiar force at this juncture, that I am persuaded any arguments to induce you to comply with it will be unnecessary. From the Continental battalions not being compleated agreeably to the original plan there is indeed an absolute necessity for adopting the measure in our present situation. Give me leave therefore most earnestly to request your compliance with this requisition of Congress, as the only effectual mode of checking the progress of our enraged and cruel Enemies.2 I have the honour to be, Gent Your most obdt' and very hble. Servt. JOHN HANCOCK Presidt 553. SAMUEL ADAMS TO RICHARD HENRY LEE.1 My dear Friend PHILADE. July 15 1777 We have letters from General Schuyler2 in the Northern Department giving us an Account of the untoward Situation of our Affairs in that Quarter and I confess it is no more than I expected, when he was again instrusted with the Command there. You remember it was urged by some that as he had a large Interest and powerful Connections in that Part of the Country, no one could so readily avail himself of Supplys for an Army there, than he. A most substantial Reason, I think, why he should have been appointed a Quartermaster or a Commissary. But it seems to have been the prevailing Motive to appoint him to the Chief Command! You have his Account in the inclosed Newspaper, which leaves us to guess what is become of the Garrison. It is indeed droll enough to see a General not knowing where to find the main Body of his Army. Gates is the Man of my Choice. He is honest and true, and has the Art of gaining the Love of his Soldiers principally because he is always present with them in Fatigue and Danger. But Gates has been 3 [552]1 Mass. Arch., CXCVII. 282; Library of Congress, Papers Cont. Cong., no. 58, pt. II., p. 222; ibid., New Hampshire Records, Council Corr., 1777; Jour. N. Ý. Prov. Cong., I. 1008. 2 See the Journals, July 12 (p. 549). This letter was sent to the assemblies of all the New England States and to the Convention of New York. [553] N. Y. Pub. Lib., Emmet Coll., no. 496; ibid., Samuel Adams Papers (draft); Writings (ed. Cushing), III. 386. 2 See the Journals, July 11; also Lossing, Life of Schuyler, vol. II., chs. x.-XII. John Adams wrote to his wife, July 13: "We have a confused account from the northward of something unlucky at Ticonderoga, but cannot certainly tell what it is. I am much afraid we shall lose that post, as we did forts Washington and Lee; and indeed, I believe we shall if the enemy surround it." Familiar Letters, p. 283. 3 See nos. 453, 461, 472, 483, 495, 502, 504, 511, 515, 517-520, 522, ante. Cf. nos. 555, 556, 560A, 561, 562A, 563-566, 568-572, 574, 578-580, 587, 597, 598, 609, 611, post. disgusted! We are however waiting to be relievd from this disagreeable State of uncertainty, by a particular Account of Facts from some Person who was near the Army who trusts not to Memory altogether, lest some Circumstances may be omitted while others are misapprehended.* I rejoice in the Honors your Country has done you. Pray hasten your Journey hither. R. H. Lee, Esq Dear Sir Your very affectionate, 554. ELIPHALET DYER TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1 8 S. ADAMS PHILADELPHIA July 15th 1777 2 Recievd your favr. of the 9th Instant yours to Congress was recievd at the same time and the Matter Immediately taken up in Congress there is so many fond of their New plan that it is difficult to make them attend to the Objections against and cannot bare so soon to throw up What they have entertained so great a fondness of but however they soon agreed to send a Comtee of Congress to goe to the Army and see and hear and report. the Congress is very thin and most Gentn. had a Very great Aversion to goe on this business. Except Mr Gerry I think there could scarce been one more unsuitable. Mr Livingston was chose one principally because he was gone that way before and would be in the way. I much fear the Consequence arising from this New Regulation but hope for the best every thing must be Endured before the Army must fail it is said in Congress by some that you must goe on your Old way till the New one gets into a proper regulation and employe purchasers as formerly I know not what or how to advise you only in General to do the Utmost in your power to advance and promote the general good and service am sure I should at once advise you to quit if I did not apprehend the worst Consequences would follow and if you do not it may possibly be as bad unless Congress should place the purchasing Commissy. business in the same line as formerly. if the Comtee should report favorably that way it may possibly be done. if you had the appointment of your Depty Commiss of purchasers and to 5 4 See, further, Adams's letter to Lee, July 22, in Writings (ed. Cushing), III. 389; also nos. 560A, 562A, post. The newspaper item referred to was probably an extract of a letter from Schuyler to Washington, dated at Saratoga, July 7, found in the Pennsylvania Packet of July 15 and in the Pennsylvania Gazette of July 16, announcing St. Clair's retreat from Ticonderoga and Mount Independence Sunday, July 6. [554]1 Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers. 2 See the Journals, July 11; cf. no. 550, ante. 3 The committee was appointed July 11 and made its report Aug. 5. See also the Journals, July 24, Aug. 6, 7, 28. 4 Philip Livingston returned to Philadelphia July 24, in advance of the committee. James Lovell wrote to Trumbull, July 15: “I do not suppose you yourself would have balloted for Envoys just as others have done on this occasion but I hope you have a Ball[an] ce to yr liking." Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers. 2. 5 See nos. 529, 530, 543, 544, ante. Trumbull again offered his resignation Aug. See the Journals, Aug. 2, 7, and no. 585, post. |