months perform a work which Wisdom ought to have effected many months ago.11 11 These things Your Excellency ought to know. I do not hold it necessary to disclose my Sentiments to every body. This Morning is to come under consideration the Quota of General Officers for each State. I mean to move the appointment of two Brigadiers for South Carolina. I shall most candidly represent the two worthy men who if I mistake not are the proper Candidates. if Congress shall judge it necessary to give us only one, seniority will probably have preference. 12 Mr. Deane by a Vote is recalled from the Court of France, Mr. John Adams elected to succeed him.18 Sir, 767. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO THE SPEAKER OF THE I beg leave to refer you to what I had the honour of writing the Ist. Inst. by Messenger Alexr. Tais.2 Congress ever watchful over the Interests of the United States of America and diligent to defeat the numerous and various practices of our grand Enemy equally cruel and subtle have taken under consideration a device calculated for depreciating the Value of the Paper Money issued by authority of Congress and of the several States after the good People had found it necessary to assert their Rights and to take Government into their own hands. the pernicious Stratagem now in view, although the discovery of it is not quite new appears more glaring from a late Publication in Philadelphia subscribed by a very great number of those misguided persons who chose to remain in the City and welcome the Enemy to rivet their fetters." It is also notorious that many timid and lukewarm friends in several of the States have, from motives probably more avaricious than Inimical, long given a great preference to what is called the old Money, which evidently tends to lessen the Estimation and Currency of the New and does in the same Instance demonstrate, if not an Inclination to overturn 11 See the Journals, Nov. 7-Dec. 3. Cf. no. 627, ante. 12 There is no record in the Journals of the quota of general officers being considered Dec. 2. See the Journals, Dec. 31 (p. 1073). 13 See the Journals, Nov. 21, 28; also nos. 753, 760, ante, nos. 768-770, post. [767]1 Mass. Arch., CXCVIII. 327; Library of Congress, President's Letter-Book, I. 56. This is a circular letter to all the states. In the letter-book is found the following notation: "Introduced by recital of my last date, etc., as each case required.” 2 The letter of Dec. 1 is addressed to R. T. Paine, speaker of the Massachusetts assembly, and merely encloses resolves of the day. 3 The "late publication in Philadelphia " was probably a document which appeared in the Pennsylvania Evening Post, Nov. 6, to which three columns of names are attached. After reciting that a total stop had been put to "the currency of the continental resolve and commonwealth money by the arrival of the British forces in the city, the subscribers agree to use the old paper money on an equality with gold and silver. our Independence, apprehensions which ought to be banished from the mind of every Inhabitant in the Union. From an earnest desire therefore to counteract the wicked projects of our Enemies and to rectify such errors of our almost friends, Congress have confirmed a Resolution of this date recommending to the States respectively to enact sufficient Laws for accomplishing these good ends. A Copy of the Resolve will be found enclosed with this, which you will be pleased Sir to lay before the Legislature of Massachuset Bay.* I have the honour to be with great Esteem, Sir P. S. 4th. Your obedient hum Servt. HENRY LAURENS. Presidt. of Cong. While this lay open Congress took before them a Representation of the necessity for preserving from waste Pine Timber fit for Masts and other purposes of Navigation and framed a Resolution thereupon which you will receive with the one above mentioned, H. L. The Honorable The Speaker of the General Assembly of Massachusetts Bay. Boston. Dear Sir 768. JAMES LOVELL TO RICHARD HENRY LEE.1 Decr. 8th. [1777-] The day after you left York, I moved Congress for an order in the following words. "Whereas it is of the greatest Importance that Congress should, at this critical conjuncture be well informed of the State of affairs in Europe, and whereas Congress have resolved that the Honble. Silas Deane Esqr. be recalled from the court of France and have appointed another Commissioner to supply his place there. Ordered That the Committee for foreign affairs write to the honble. Silas Deane, and direct him to embrace the first opportunity of returning to America and upon his arrival to repair with all possible dispatch to Congress.["]2 This I have sent with the other Papers to Mr. Adams, and shall send tomorrow a duplicate to Baltimore to go with the packet which you left there. * See the Journals, Dec. 2, 3. [768]1 Univ. Va. Lib., Lee Papers. 2 This order is in the Journals, Dec. 8. Deane's recall was ordered Nov. 21. See nos. 753, 760, 766, ante. Lee himself says that he left Congress Dec. 6 (Letters, I. 381). He was evidently in Congress as late as Dec. 4, for a letter of that date from the committee of foreign affairs to Deane transmitting the order of recall is signed by Lee and Lovell (Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 444). Lee was also appointed on a committee on that day. Cf. no. 748, note 8, ante. Lovell's letter to John Adams, Dec. 8 (no. 769, post), does not suggest that the motion was made earlier than the 8th. I did not think it necessary to move that the Committee should be filled up on such a petty occasion, and therefore I spread a small Plaister for a large wound myself, by the following "Sir "By accident I find myself called upon singly to execute the duty of the Committee for foreign affairs, in communicating to you an order of Congress of this day respecting your return to America. "The order stands in need of no comment from the Committee to elucidate it; and, being drawn in terms complimentary to your abilities of serving these United States upon your arrival here, I take pleasure in conveying it, being Sir, your very humb. Servt." " I hope, Dear Sir, you will consider this proceeding as giving some sort of definition to the Recall, and in moderate language; as it stood before, he was to be recalled, but the time when was not in any measure marked out. . . . Dear Sir 769. JAMES LOVELL TO JOHN ADAMS.1 Decr. 8th. [1777.] 2 . . . . Having opposed several attempts of Jemmy to do away the resolve of Recall, I found a necessity to offer something this day myself, as no limited time had been fixed to Dean's powers. I send a letter for you to seal. I think I have spread as small a Plaister as possible for a great Sore. 3 Mr. Dana is a most thorough and active member; has been put into the Board of War, marine Committee, and afterward put at the head of the Treasury by the sollicitation of the members of that Board at Duanes Departure; upon which Mr. Dana was excused from the Board of War.* Mr. Geary is yet at Head Quarters.5 we hope there was a general Engagemt. last friday. Mr. Read has refused to go a Commissioner to the western Frontiers." He is greatly chagrined at not being put upon the new Board of war, after his name had been mentioned to Genl. Washington.' If you should refuse to go over the water, which I pray you may not, He or Livingston would be chosen." This letter to Silas Deane, dated Dec. 8, is in Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 444. [769] Adams MSS., Boston. 2 James Duane. The "resolve of Recall" was that of Nov. 21, for the recall of Silas Deane from France. 8 See the Journals, Dec. 8, and no. 768, ante. 4 Dana was also chosen on the committee of appeals. See the Journals, Nov. 17, Dec. 3. 5 Elbridge Gerry. See the Journals, Nov. 28, and no. 774, post. • Joseph Reed. See no. 746, note 7, ante, and the Journals, Nov. 20, Dec. 4, 10, II. 7 See nos. 700, 757, 759, 761, ante. 8 The memorandum of Henry Laurens, Nov. 21 (see no. 753, note 6, ante), includes Reed among the nominees for the French mission, but does not mention Robert R. Livingston. Elbridge Gerry stated, however, in a letter to John Adams, Sept. 29, 1779 (Adams's Works, IX. 491; also in vol. IV. of these Letters), that Livingston was nominated by the delegates of New York. Excuse me to Mr. S. Adams. I am obliged to sit steadily in Congress to make up 9 Colonies, and I have a deal of drudgerey to go through from a deficiency of Clerks. Dear Sir 770. JAMES LOVELL TO SAMUEL ADAMS.1 Decr. 8th. [1777.] I send you a Maryland Paper in which by the great indiscretion of somebody in Congress parts of Bingham's letter are printed which ought not to have seen the light.2 Among friends, we have received a most impudent letter from Mauroy. tis impossible to take any notice of it to him without putting him in Jail. We could not confirm Deane's contracts without deranging our Army; but, we could take up Individuals without the same Effect. What is there grossly inconsistent in this? I am rejoyced we did not employ him.3 Dear Sir: 771. CORNELIUS HARNETT TO THOMAS BURKE.1 YORK, PENNSILVANIA Dec. 8th 1777. The several resolutions of Congress sent to the Governors of the States will require particular attention. That of taxation, is essential above all. The credit of our Continental Currency depends upon it. The opening the Courts of Law, for the recovery of Debts, surely ought to be attended to. The calling in your paper Currency, especially that issued under the Authority of the British Government (as a distinction is made by the Tories and sordid Whigs already of at least 100 per cent. which in its consequences must ruin our public Credit) ought to command the attention of our Legislature.". . . . We are daily entertained by Members of Congress, with paragraphs of Letters, giving an account of the surprising exertions of their Constituents. I beg that you will inform me what has been done by our General Assembly in this way. We have often been before them, I hope we shall never be behind them. . . . 772. CORNELIUS HARNETT TO WILLIAM WILKINSON.1 Dear Sir, YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, Dec. 8th, 1777. Inclosed is a Hand Bill printed by order of Congress relative to the late Convention at Saratoga.2 this only came to Congress three days [770]1 N. Y. Pub. Lib., Samuel Adams Papers. 2 This is presumably the letter of Bingham read in Congress Oct. 18. See no. 722, ante. Cf., however, Richard Henry Lee to Adams, Nov. 23, in Letters, I. 353. See the Journals, Dec. 8. Cf. no. 632, ante. See also nos. 734, 741, ante. [771] N. C. State Recs., XI. 693. 2 Cf. the letter to Wilkinson, Dec. 8 (no. 772, post); also his letter to Burke, Dec. 16, in N. C. State Recs., XI. 695. [772] N. C. State Recs., XI. 818. 2 The order to publish the convention was given to the committee of intelligence Oct. 31. Harnett also enclosed one of the handbills in his letter to Burke, Dec. 8 (no. 771, ante). See the Bibliographical Notes, in the Journals, IX. 1089. ago, as we have had no press here until within these few days and no Gazette as yet published. I shall send you the first.. You will be pleased first to observe that Congress knows no more of the intentions of the Army than you do, until some event or other takes place. Congress have very wisely determined to put it in Genl Washington's power to keep his own secrets. I hope the Assembly will open your Courts for the recovery of Debts, That you will immediately begin to lay Taxes as other states have done, that you will call in all the Currency emitted under the authority of the King of G. Britain etc. these are matters of the utmost Consequence, and Strenuously recommended by Congress to the several states. Our very Existence as a free People depends on Vigorous measures immediately to be adopted.* . Your sincere friend and obedt. Servt. CORN. HARNETT. Dear Sir 773. ELIPHALET DYER TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1 YORK TOWN Decembr 8th 1777 recievd yours from Boston of the 20th Ultmo. I hope before this comes to hand you will recieve my last 2 (by Express to Govr Trumbull) which as I depend you will recieve shall not repeat what I so fully wrote you at that time on the Subject of a Board of Warr of which you are. unanimously chose one and hope Nothing will prevent your attending at least two or 3 months. you mentione often as in your last the ill Treatment you have recieved you know it was effected only by a small faction, who had art enough by specious pretences of publick Utility to Impose upon others just enough to make a Majority (Rhode-Island not represented) that faction is now no more the greatest Union and Harmony subsists in Congress. I hope before this time Mr Gray has recieved the assignment of his District and appointed such Deputies as may recieve the remaining Stores on hand.3 beside Govr Trumbull has power to appoint both Issuing and purchasing Commiss3. so far as he thinks Necessary.* the Treasury Board have rendred Valid all yr receipts in Consequence of orders from the Genlls. as to what Coll. Williams hinted to you is but of little Consequence, it is not Improbable but some might Imagine that you had some Influence on those whom you had employed to prevent their 3 See no. 692, ante; cf. Harnett to Wilkinson, Nov. 19, 20, in N. C. State Recs., XI. 806, 808. 4 Cf. no. 771, ante. See also nos. 753, note 3, 760, ante. [773] Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers. |