and Resolution of Congress to be exemplified in guarding against frauds and deceptions of an Enemy who have hitherto practiced without remorse every act of violence, injustice, and cruelty in the prosecution of the present War. 792. DANIEL ROBERDEAU TO THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF PENNSYLVANIA (GEORGE BRYAN).1 Sir, YORK TOWN, Decr 29th, 1777. I wrote Council, two days ago, to which please to be refered. Revd Mr Batwell, on an application to be enlarged on security on his parole, accompanied with a certificate from his Physician, that fresh air and exercise were absolutely necessary to his recovery, obtained the following resolution: "That in the opinion of Congress the Revd Mr Batwell should be discharged out of confinement on his taking an oath of allegiance to the State of Pennsilvania, or on his refusal that he should be allowed to go with his family into the City of Philada." The delicacy of interfering with this State was agitated, together with the very low condition of the petitioner whose life was reported to be in iminent danger, and might add to the number of marters in the esteem of the disaffected, who interested themselves in his behalf, nevertheless the prayer of the petition was not attended to, but the above alternative given, for Congress did not know how, otherwise, to get rid of importunity, and apprehended this Step from all circumstances, would not be disagreeable to the State. I think the above resolve is a specimen of treatment Congress would wish to other disaffected persons in every State, as was at large said in debate, with much concern that decisive measures had not long since been taken with all Enemies to the Independence of America. A Committee are appointed to take into consideration the deplorable condition of our army, and to report to-morrow. I make no doubt that the most vigorous measures will be recommended to be immediately taken, as without, the army must disperse as mentioned in my last. My situation is extremely delicate on this occasion; the ruin of our Army, or the interference with the police of the State, I apprehend will be the alternative set before me; under these circumstances I should be glad of advice and assistance. The House of Burgesses, in Virginia, have unanimously consented to the confideration, as handed to them with orders to their. Delegates, to confirm it on the 10th March. I could wish the State would favr their Delegates with Dunlap's paper constantly. I should be glad you would furnish me with the two or three last papers. Our State, I understand, have published a bill, which I have not seen, respecting the measures recommended to the northward, and I [792]1 Pa. State Lib., P. P., XLIV. 45; Pa. Arch., first ser., VI. 144. 2 See the Journals, Dec. 27, and no. 735, ante. Batwell's petition, dated Dec. 26, is in Pa. Arch., first ser., VI. 95. 3 See no. 790, note 2, ante. am told have recited the recommendation of Congress, which exposes the views of Congress; this was never intended, and may frustrate their designs.* 793. HENRY LAURENS TO JOHN LEWIS GERVAIS.1 My Dear Friend, 30th. Decem. 1777 I am now sitting both feet and Legs bound up in a Blanket in the room where Congress meets, between the adjournment at p: one oClock and meeting hour at 3, and where a scrap of some what will be sent for my repast to serve till tomorrow's breakfast. perhaps two, it may be three, hours after dark I may be permitted to hobble on my Crutches over Ice and frozen Snow or to be carried to such a homely home as I have, where I must set in Bed one or two or three hours longer at the writing Table, pass the remainder of a tedious night in pain and some anxiety. I hear you reply-why fait [h] if I was you I would resign the president ship. believe me my dear Sir that was my solid determination on the 2d. or 3d. day after my present troublesome companion had taken possession of me, when by reflection comparison with former attacks and making a proper allowance for the rigor of this Climate I foresaw a continuance of pain and Crippleism for many Weeks. I then dictated a Letter to be written to Congress expressing my apprehensions and earnestly intreating an acceptance of my resignation. an answer was returned by a Member, that Congress were not disposed to grant my request but would in preference to appointing a new President, address the Chair and Secretary during my unavoidable absence. this seemed and indeed was very kind and a little flattering-a Compliment which laid claim to my gratitude. I summoned patience and fortitude to my Aid, I adopted every measure I could think of in order to restore me to strength and abstained from everything, except hard work, that could have the smallest tendency to impede my recovery. writing in Bed, and especially one particular Nights discipline when I kept the Pen in hand till one in the Morning and resumed it again before five, shook me. however on Christmas day I found myself so far relieved from severe paine as to encourage hopes that three or four days indulgence would produce a little Strength in my Ankles, but late that Evening and again very early next Morning I received visits from a Zealous Member of Congress pressing me if possible by any means, to attend the House the 26th. adding, the request was made by desire of many Members not so immediately to the President as to a Member who solely represented a State, intimating that the business which I had set or encouraged to set in motion of the highest importance was to This may refer to a resolution of the Pennsylvania general assembly, Dec. 6, found in Pa. Arch., first ser., VI. 66. November 28 a committee of Congress (Roberdeau, Dyer, and Penn) was appointed to confer with the general assembly. The committee made its representation to the assembly Dec. 2, and a committee of the assembly brought in a report Dec. 6. See the Journals of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania. Issues of Dunlap's Pennsylvania Packet at this time have not been accessible. [793] S. C. Hist. Soc., Laurens Letter-Book, 1776-1778, p. 222. 2 See no. 774A, ante. be agitated that it ought to be treated with the greatest Solemnity in a full Representation. this address to a State, made an impression which would not have been felt, if it had been directed to the president. I know the business it had been the subject of my meditation and contemplation through several painful and Sleepless nights and Days. believe me my dear friend I have been obliged to pause here a minute to wipe away a falling tear which in my present low and weak State of bodily health, rose irrisistibly with my reflections upon the great affair which I allude to, and to which my duty has already required me to affix my signature—a signature which will probably be brought before the Tribunal of the whole Civilized World. possibly I may find my self at liberty to be more explicit to His Excellency the President-but to return. the summon animated my Soul, which is more vigorous in my present condition than the Body" South Carolina shall not be quite unrepresented I will be carried into Congress." I was carried,-two whole days trenching deep upon each Night were passed in a Committee of the whole. late last Saturday Night the business was so far matured as to enable me to dispatch a special Messenger immediately to Major General Heath at Boston. these exertions have thrown me back I cannot tell how far, but I am in a condition which would meet more compassion were you present from you than it seems to do from my self. I attend Congress from the motive premised and while I can bear to be carried and to sit here, my State shall not be totally Absent. the great business is not yet completed on our part. God only knows what will be the final end of it. 3 I have laboured hard very hard to advance it to its present State, conscious that I am doing eminent service to my country. if my Country Men shall be of opinion with a few in this House who appear to me to be timerous dunces, I shall be very unhappy, but I shall ever enjoy that satisfaction which attends good designs. whether it shall be determined by the World to be good or bad, the Act is great and great good or Evil will follow as its consequences. there are other matters of very momentous concern on the tapis which duty requires me to attend to, without regarding my own Ease and being here since 'tis the desire of Congress, I may as well sit president as any other Character. a good seat near a warm fire must compensate for additional labour. 30th. January 1778. A whole Month has rolled over since I threw my thoughts upon the preceeding pages. I have just passed my Eye over them again and determined imperfect as they are to submit them to your candor. I could add a long and affecting paragraph on the Subject of Non Representation. I could tell you truly, the House has been reduced to nine States represented in Units-that we have sometimes been stagnant from a want of Members-and oftener running whole days into weeks of unmatured conversations from a want of able Members. . . . * Laurens alludes to the debate concerning the Saratoga Convention. See nos. 786, 791, ante. 794. FRANCIS Lightfoot Lee TO THE PRESIDENT OF PENNSYLVANIA.1 WAR OFFICE Decr. 30th 1777 Sir, Congress have received such unexpected and distressing Acounts from the General relative to the Situation of the Army that they have appointed a Committee to fall upon immediate Methods for supplying them with Provisions. They are so much in Want of an instant Supply owing to Delays and Embarassments in the Commissary's Department and other unexpected Causes that however plenty we shall have them in future, at present at least a Removal out of this State must be the immediate Consequence of even a short Continuance of their present Circumstances. An instant Supply must be procured from this State for the Support of the Army until the Supplies expected from the neighbouring States arrive. As it may give Umbrage to the Inhabitants the Committee deplore the Necessity they are under of sending Officers with Parties to collect such Cattle, Flour and Grain as the Army wants without the least Delay as the Crisis is too alarming to admit of the Business being postponed on any Consideration. It will be improper to communicate the real Situation of the Army, but with the utmost Prudence and Caution. Your Excellency will therefore judge in what Manner the Concurrence of this State is to be procured as their vigorous Exertions are necessary in Co-operation with those of the Comittee who will at least 'till they see the Business properly conducted as doubtless it will be by the Government of this State be obliged to give orders for the taking conveying and driving all Cattle, Hogs, Pork, Flour and Grain fit for their Consumption to the Army the Persons employed for this Purpose giving Certificates to the owners expressing as nearly as possible the Weight and Quality of them and agreeing to pay for them at such Prices as shall be settled by the Convention of Comittees from the several States who are to meet at New Haven the 15th of Jany. next agreeable to a Resolution of Congress of the 22d Novr last. I have the Honour to be Your very obed Servt FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE, for the Committee." [P. S.] The Committee request you will be pleased to inform them whether the Proclamation ordering the Inhabitants of York and Cumberland Counties to thresh out their Grain has been issued. His Excellency President Wharton [794]1 Library of J. Pierpont Morgan, Declaration of Independence, II.; Pa. Arch., first ser., VI. 147; Va. Hist. Soc., Lee Trans., V. 95. 2 The committee for which Lee is acting is that committee consisting of the board of war and three additional members, appointed Dec. 29, on Washington's letters of Dec. 22 and 23. Cf. the Journals, Dec. 26, and nos. 790, 792, ante, no. 795, post. A letter of similar purport to this and the next following, addressed to Governor Clinton, is in Cal. of N. Y. Hist. MSS.: Revolutionery Papers, II. 308. 795. FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE TO THE GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND.1 WAR OFFICE Decr. 31st 1777 Sir, Congress have received the most alarming Accounts from General Washington of the Distress of the Army for Want of Provisions. A Comittee is appointed by Congress to take effectual Means for preventing so fatal a Blow as the Dispersion or Dissolution of our Army would be to our Liberties. They have been obliged from the Necessity of the Case to give Orders for siezing all the Provisions in the Vicinity. of the Camp in this State which will afford a small but temporary Supply. They have written to the adjacent States and earnestly besought their immediate Assistance. Much Dependance is placed in your Exertions at this important Crisis and the Comittee need but state the Facts to induce you immediately to take measures for the remedying the Evil. I beg Leave to suggest to you whether an immediate Seisure of all Cattle, Hogs, Pork and Salt in the State of Maryland is not indispensibly necessary and Certificates given payable by Congress to the Possessors. You are the best Judge of proper Measures to be taken within your State and therefore the Comittee will not trouble you with their Ideas of the Plan to be executed for procuring the Articles wanted. They are confident you will be as speedy as the Nature of the Case will admitt convinced that immediate Supplies can only be had from the nearest States and the Comittee have taken Steps for obtaining Relief in future from those more remote.2 The Comittee rely strongly on the Exertions of Maryland and Virginia in laying up Magazines for future Supply as well as obtaining present Relief. They have the most flattering Ideas of receiving that Assistance from those of which they have been unhappily dissappointed from other States, and must depend on them for their principal Supply. I have the Honour to be with great Respect Your very obedt Servt His Excellency Govr Johnson [795]1 Md. Hist. Soc., Red Book, XIV. 27. 2 Cf. no. 794, ante. FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE for the Committee |