powerful State which must have fallen a Sacrifice to a speculative System of politicks.3. The slow progress made in the Recruiting Business, notwithstanding the favorable Accounts which were at first circulated, has at length roused Congress, and they have entered into sundry Resolutions, for compleating the Battalions, which I have the Honor to transmit. It is with pleasure that I consider that the State, to which I have the Honor to belong, has pointed out to Congress the most eligible and effectual Mode of completing the army. Would to Heaven that the Spirit and activity, which has of late animated the Councils of the State of New York would diffuse itself throughout the other States! A portion of their Electrical Fire is certainly wanting. Without it, should the Enemy receive a timely Reinforcement and shew the least Spirit of Enterprize, our affairs must inevitably suffer. . . . Mr. Duane and Mr. Livingston, who arrived here yesterday, desire me to tender their respects to the Convention. A committee was appointed Apr. 9 to consider the steps necessary to be taken to oppose the enemy, and it was instructed to confer with the executive powers of Pennsylvania. This committee made its report Apr. 10. Apr. 11 a committee was appointed to take measures, in conjunction with the board of war of Pennsylvania, to prevent the provisions in Philadelphia from falling into the hands of the enemy. This committee, consisting of William Duer, Samuel Adams, and Abraham Clark, made a report, Apr. 14, which relates, not to provisions in Philadelphia, but to executive authority in the state. In accordance with the recommendation of this committee another committee was appointed to confer on the subject with the supreme executive council of the state. The latter committee consisted of Samuel Adams, William Duer, and Richard Henry Lee; that is, the membership was the same as that of the preceding committee, except that Richard Henry Lee took the place of Clark and that Samuel Adams was chairman instead of Duer. This committee held the conference Apr. 15 and made its report to Congress the same day. An extract from the minutes of Apr. 15, printed in Pa. Arch., first ser., V. 311, contains, besides a few minor variations from the journal record, the following minutes not found in the Journals: "That a Conference agreeable to the order of Congress, has been held, when the following Gentlemen were present: "His Excellency Thomas Wharton, jun. Esquire, President of the Supreme Executive Council. "Board of War. Owen Biddle, Esq., Chairman, Joseph Dean, Richard Bache, John Shee. "Delegates for the State of Pennsylvania in Congress. Robert Morris, James Wilson, Daniel Roberdeau, George Clymer, Esquires. "Committee of Congress. Mr. Samuel Adams, Mr. Richard H. Lee, Mr. Duer." In the first paragraph of the committee's report as printed in the Journals (Apr. 15, p. 268) an "and" is erroneously bracketed in the clause: at the particular instance and request of the president [and] of the supreme executive council". The meaning is that the request came from the president of the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania. The committee appointed (Apr. 9) to confer with the board of war of Pennsylvania speaks, in the preamble of its report (Apr. 14, p. 263), of "the adjournment of the legislative and executive authority of the commonwealth", and the committee which was appointed Apr. 14 and reported Apr. 15 was "to confer with the president of the supreme executive council, with such other members of the said council as can be convened", etc. The record of the conference quoted above shows that of the council only the president attended the conference. What appears to be a draft of a letter from President Wharton to some members of the council requesting their attendance at the conference is in Pa. Arch., first ser., V. 312. Cf. nos. 432, 433, 440, ante, 453, 455, 464, post. See also Duer's statement, Mar. 9, 1779, in vol. III. of these Letters. * See the Journals, Apr. 12, 14, and cf. no. 436, ante. The reply to this letter, dated Apr. 25, is in Col. N. Y. Hist. MSS.: Rev. Papers, II. 96. 5 Cf. no. 451, post. 446. GEORGE WALTON TO LACHLAN MCINTOSH.1 [April 18, 1777.] In Congress your name has never been mentioned but as their Officer in general terms with others. Your enemys have not dared to impeach you before that August Assembly yet; and I believe never will. They meant to ruin you indirectly. In my judgment it was intended to teaze you into a resignation as they have done your brother. If I had not come to Congress last summer your present Alexander would have been in your place; but I sounded the alarm when I discovered the deep laid design.. Sir, 3 447. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO PHILADA. April 18th, 1777. The enclosed Proceedings of Congress will convey to you such Information as may be necessary for your future conduct in the Department immediately under your Care. I am however particularly to request your Attention to the Resolve founded upon Intelligence the Congress have recd of a Design to destroy the Ferry Boats about Saratoga, with a View of obstructing the Movements of our Army at the Time the Enemy may arrive from Canada.2 The internal Foes of American Freedom have been lately making Attempts to accomplish our Destruction in this Place. Since the Execution of Molesworth a Gang of Conspirators has been detected, and seven or eight were yesterday and today committed to Goal for carrying on a traitorous Correspondence with our Enemies or conniving at it. How far their Guilt will be made to appear, I am not able to determine. But Vigilance and Vigour in the Administration of our Affairs, will I trust defeat their deep laid Schemes, and enable us finally to triumph over the dark and wicked Machinations of our secret Foes, and the Designs of our open, tho not less cruel and implacable, Enemies.3 [446]1 Library of Congress, Force Trans., Georgia Records, Misc., 1732-1796. 2 George McIntosh. See no. 296, ante. 3" Your present Alexander" was probably Button Gwinnett, who is roundly denounced by Walton in this letter and also in a subsequent one of May I (Library of Congress, Force Trans.). In his reply to these two letters, July 14, 1777, McIntosh says: "My conduct in the attack upon Savannah in March 1776 for which I was cried up far above my merit and suit an Alexander or a Caesar ... is now brought against me." Ibid. See the Journals, Aug. 1, 6. For an account of the trouble between McIntosh and Gwinnett, see Stevens, History of Georgia, and Jones, History of Georgia. [447]1 Mass. Hist. Soc., Hancock Letter-Book, VI. 186; Library of Congress, Papers Cont. Cong., no. 58, pt. II., f. 182. 2 See the Journals, Apr. 16. & Concerning James Molesworth and his accomplices, see the Journals, Mar. 31, Apr. 3 (cf. ibid., May 15, p. 361 n.), and Pa. Arch., first ser., V. 270-282, 290, 315, 336-340. Cf. the Journals, May 21, 23 (the case of John Brown, alias John Lee). 448. THE SECRET COMMITTEE TO SAMUEL AND ROBERT PURVIANCE.1 PHILADA. April 19th, 1777 Messrs Saml and Robt Purviance Gentn Your favours of the 12th and 15th. Inst. came duely to hand the first advising your purchase of flour and enclosing Inventories of the Two Prize Vessells. We think the flour was bought very reasonably and mentioned it in Congress as proper to be delivered to the Commissary at Baltimore for the use of the army which was agreed to and he must settle with you for it. We entered into the consideration of purchasing the Prize Vessells immediately and for several reasons that need not be repeated, thought it best at present to decline a purchase however we shall be glad to know who buys them and the prices they sell for, as it may probably suit to charter shou'd the purchasers want Freight. We have seen the owner of the Brimstone here and he has our offer under consideration. Respecting the Cloathing you have purchased or have in view to purchase we refer you entirely to the Cloathier General James Mease Esqr. whose department it is to manage these affairs. It wou'd give us pleasure to hear that the Virginia Capt Nicholson was Sailed and your Bay clear of the Enemies Ships. there are several of them at Cape Henlopen where they have done much mischief. We are Gentn. Your obedt hble Servts. By order of the Secret Commee. ROBT MORRIS, Chair Man 449. WILLIAM WHIPPLE TO JOHN LANGDON.' My Dear Sir, PHILADELPHIA 19th. April 1777. The establishment of a Navy Board in the Eastern Department is now in contemplation and I imagine will soon be done. this is a necessary measure and ought to have been adopted some time ago. I am much at a loss for proper men to compose this Board. Boston, I suppose will be the place of their sitting. . . . . My dear Sir 450. ELBRIDGE GERRY TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1 PHILADELPHIA April 19, 1777 If the affairs of your Department will any ways admit of your coming to this place it appears to me necessary at this Time, as well on account of yourself as the publick. Congress are about adopting new Regulations for supplying the Troops with Vegetables and vinegar in sufficient Quanti [448] George C. Thomas Collection, Philadelphia, Signers; Thomas, Autograph Letters; Purviance, Baltimore in the Revolution, p. 213 (part). [449] Library of Congress, Force Trans., Whipple, p. 333. 2 See the Journals, Apr. 19, May 3, 6; also no. 427, ante, and nos. 457, 459, 480, 485, post. [450]1 Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers. ties to preserve the Health of the army, and also intend regulating the purchases and Issues, together with other Matters of Moment wherein You can greatly serve the Continent by being present.2 Great abuses have taken place in the Commissary's Department in the middle States, which have engaged the Attention not only of Congress but of the public at large. I have not heard any person lisp Complaints against the Commissary General, but am informed plans are on Foot relative to Contracts wch. do not yet openly appear. I am Sir in Haste 451. JOHN ADAMS TO MRS. ADAMS.1 E GERRY PHILADELPHIA, 19 April, 1777. We have now an ample representation from New York. It consists of six delegates, and they are to all appearance as high, as decisive, and as determined as any men ever were or can be. There is a new hand, a Mr. Duer, who is a very fine fellow, a man of sense, spirit and activity, and is exceeded by no man in zeal. Mr. Duane and Mr. Philip Livingston are apparently as determined as any men in Congress. You will see, by the enclosed newspapers, that Duane and Jay have arrived at the honor of being ranked with the two Adamses. I hope they will be duly sensible of the illustrious distinction and be sure to behave in a manner becoming it..... 452. RICHARD HENRY LEE TO ARTHUR LEE.1 My dear Brother, 1 PHILADELPHIA April 20th 1777. Before this reaches you, the former dispatches will be arrived, by which you will see that Congress had proposed Doctor Franklin to attend the Court of Spain whilst you remained at Paris, but I suppose you have jointly considered that it may do as well for you to be at Madrid, and perhaps the Doctors age might render it inconvenient for him to travel so far. However, proper powers have long since been sent to Doctor Franklin appointing him to the Court of Spain altho he is not deprived of right still to represent these States at the Court of France.2. May 31st. By this opportunity Congress sends you a particular Commission as their Representative at the Court of Spain. In my judge 2 See the Journals, Apr. 14, 18, 19, 23. In regard to the deficiency of vegetables, etc., cf. the remarks of Gerry and Williams, nos. 145, 162, 166, 266, 419, ante. Concerning the investigation of the commissary's department and the new regulations, consult the index to the Journals, Commissaries. Cf. nos. 450, 457, 458, ante, 490, 495, note 2, post. [451]1 Familiar Letters, p. 260. In the 1452]1 Univ. Va. Lib., Lee Papers; Letters of Richard Henry Lee (ed. Ballagh), I. 277. 2 See the Journals, Jan. 1, and Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 242. Journals (ed. Ford) Franklin's commission is found under July 1 (p. 521, note). 3 See the Journals, May 1. Cf. ibid., May 31, June 5. In the Journals (ed. Ford) Lee's commission of June 5 is found under July 1 (p. 522, note). Cf. no. 473, post. ment, and it is an opinion founded on the most accurate information, the Independence, and security of N. America, cannot be said to be certain until an Alliance with Spain and France is procured, and in consequence, the British Arms, and Arts not solely employed for our ruin. You may be assured that this is of infinite consequence to your Country and therefore you will conduct yourself accordingly. And for the assistance of our finance, an extensive loan is indispensable. 453. THE NEW York DelegatES TO THE PRESident of the New York CONVENTION (Abraham Ten BROECK).1 Sir PHILADELPHIA April 21st. 1777. We Yesterday moved for a Copy of the Representation from our revolted Subjects, to Congress. A Member from the Massachusetts would have made it a Condition that a Copy of your Remonstrance should be delivered to him, for the Use of the Revolters, insisting that we and they were perfectly on an equal Footing, stiling us the parties etc. This brought on some altercation, not to the Advantage of this open and avowed Advocate for the Disturbers of the public peace and general Union. In the Conclusion, the paper we moved for was ordered to be delivered. On our parts we assured the House, that tho' we should not suffer the State of New York to be put on a Level with a small part of its disaffected Subjects, yet we had no Secret on this Occasion; that any Member had our free Consent to take a Copy, and make such Use of it as he might think proper. Here it ended.2 We have obtained and transmit a Copy of a printed address from Doctor Young to the Insurgents in our State, in which he positively asserts that he has taken the Minds of several of the leading Members of Congress and then proceeds to give them their advice. This paper, corresponding with the Hints we had from the Committee sent into Cumberland, renders it unnecessary to trouble you about further proof. Doctor Young is on the Spot, if he has injured his Friends they have the Means of ample Satisfaction, for they can call him before the House. However, we do not observe that the Imputation gives any Uneasiness to the suspected Members, tho' we are well assured, it has made strong Impressions to their Disadvantage on the Minds of other Gentlemen. What Notice Convention ought to take of this insolent Address does not lie with us to determine; nor have we yet concluded on the part we shall pursue in Congress.3 [453] N. Y. State Lib., Revolutionary Papers, XI. 119; Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., II. 475. 2 The 66 representation" referred to was the petition from the inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants presented to Congress Apr. 8. See nos. 428, 431, 445, ante. 464, 465, post. The Journals make no record of this discussion. By "yesterday is probably meant Saturday Apr. 19. The letter of the delegates was read in the New York convention Apr. 30. See Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., I. 906. 3 See the Journals, June 23, 25, 28, 30; also nos. 524, 526, 532, 533, post. |