(which God prevent) and our Army be without a proper Head. You did not enclose me Mr. Cortland's Letter as you thought.

86. JOHN ADAMS TO SAMUEL HOLDEN PARSONS.1

PHILADELPHIA, 19 August, 1776.

Your favors of the 13th and 15th are before me. The gentlemen you recommend for Majors, Chapman and Dyer, will be recommended by the Board of War, and I hope agreed to in Congress. . . .

With regard to encouragements in money and in land for soldiers to enlist during the war, I have ever been in favor of it, as the best economy and the best policy, and I have no doubt that rewards in land will be given, after the war is over. But the majority are not of my mind for promising it now. I am the less anxious about it, for a reason which does not seem to have much weight however with the majority. Although it may cost us more, and we may put now and then a battle to hazard by the method we are in, yet we shall be less in danger of corruption and violence from a standing army, and our militia will acquire courage, experience, discipline, and hardiness in actual service."

Flight was There was a If we do not

I wish every man upon the continent was a soldier, and obliged, upon occasion, to fight, and determined to conquer or to die. unknown to the Romans. I wish it was to Americans. flight from Quebec, and worse than a flight at the Cedars. atone for these disgraces, we are undone.

A more exalted love of their country, a more enthusiastic ardor for military glory, and deeper detestation, disdain, and horror of martial disgrace must be excited among our people, or we shall perish in infancy. I will certainly give my voice for devoting to the infernal gods every man, high or low, who shall be convicted of bashfulness on the day of battle.

P. S. Since the above was written Congress has accepted the report of the Board of War, and appointed Dyer and Chapman, Majors. I had much pleasure in promoting Dyer, not only from his own excellent character, but from respect to my good friend his father.*

Dear Sir

87. WILLIAM WILLIAMS TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1

1

PHILADEL: Augt 20 1776

convinced that it was the surest way I had sundry times pressed sevl. of the board of War, to recomend Cap Dyer for a Majr. they promised to consider it etc. and yesterday brot in a report reccomending him and Cap Chapman of Tylers, and after some Consideration, the Votes

[86]1 Works, IX. 431.

2 Cf. no. 74, ante.

3 Cf. no. 92, post. These expressions are no doubt the outcome in great measure of Adams's work on the Articles of War. See no. 85, note 6, ante.

See the Journals, Aug. 19. Cf. nos. 71, 78, ante, and no. 87, post.

[87]1 Conn. State Lib., Joseph Trumbull Papers, no. 565.

were calld for and They are both appointd. conclude the Prest. has or will send their Comissions. Your Letter came just Time enow for me to Strengthen the Recomend" by informing the House that the Objection of Rank was removed. I just knew of the Conveyance by Mr. Colt, and had but a minutes Time. pray let me know every thing material passing among you, and am your affect. Friend and Bro".

My Lord

W WILLIAMS

88. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TO LORD HOWE.1

PHILA Aug 20, 76

The Temper of the Colonies as professed in their several Petitions to the Crown was sincere. The Terms they proposed should then have been closed with, and all might have been Peace. I dare say your LP as well as my self, laments they were not accepted. I remember I told you, that better wd never be offered, and I have not forgotten your just Comparison of the Sybyl's Leaves.

But the Contempt with which those Petitions were treated, none of them being vouchsaf'd an Answer; and the cruel Measures since taken, have chang'd that Temper. It could not be otherwise To propose now to the Colonies a Submission to the Crown of Great Britain, would be fruitless. The Time is past. One might as well propose it to France, on the Footing of a former title. . . . .

Dear Sir,

89. JOHN ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN.1

PHILADELPHIA, August 21, 1776

Yours of Aug. II reached me Yesterday. Mrs. Temple shall have all the assistance which I can give her, but I fear it will be without success. It will be a Precedent for So many others, that there is no seeing the End of it. I shall answer her Letter by the next Post, and if I cannot promise her any Relief, I can assure her of Mr. Temple's Arrival, and of his having Leave to go home, which I presume will be more welcome News.3

2 Cf. nos. 71, 78, 86, ante.

[88]1 Am. Phil. Soc., Franklin Papers, vol. XLV., no. 110.

2 See no. 25, note 2, ante, no. 94, post.

[89]1 Warren-Adams Letters, I. 270.

2 Warren's letter is found in Warren-Adams Letters, I. 267.

3 See the statement at the close of the letter, and the Journals, Aug. 23-28; also no. 107, post. The Temple claim was not finally settled until 1779. See a letter from James Bowdoin to Washington, Apr. 23, 1778 (Mass. Hist. Soc., Collections, sixth ser., IX. 415), and the Journals, Feb. 27, Mar. 6, 1779. Concerning Robert Temple see Sabin, American Loyalists, and Winsor, Memorial History of Boston, II. 540. General Howe wrote Washington, Aug. 13 (Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 932), asking permission for Temple to land at New York and go to his family in Massachusetts. The permission was granted by Washington in a letter to Howe, Aug. 17. A copy of this letter (Library of Congress, Washington MSS.) was enclosed in a letter to the President of Congress, Aug. 18, read in Congress Aug. 20. An entry in the Diary of John Rowe (Mass. Hist. Soc., Proceedings, second ser., X. 104) reads: "Sept. 26-Robt. Temple is come to town."

There is a Marine Committee, who have the Care of every Thing relating to the Navy. Hopkins and his Captains, Saltonstall, and Whipple, have been summoned here, and here they have lingered and their ships laid idle. I cannot, I will not explain this Business to you; because if I should, it would get into a News Paper, I suppose. You must come and see.*

We suffer inexpressibly for Want of Men of Business.-Men acquainted with War by Sea and Land, Men who have no Pleasure but in Business. You have them, send them along."

I took a Hint from your Letter and this day obtained a Resolution authorising and desiring General Ward to continue in the Command in the Eastern Department, untill further orders. . . . .

[P. S.] Since the foregoing was written I have procured Mrs. Temple's Letter to be committed.

Dear Sir,

90. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TO THOMAS MCKEAN.1

PHILADA. Augt. 24, 1776

3

I heard your Letter read in Congress relating to the Disposition of the German Troops; 2 and understanding from Col. Ross, that they are canton'd on the Island opposite to the Jersey Shore, I send you herewith some of the Resolutions of the Congress translated into their Language, as possibly you may find some Opportunity of conveying them over the Water, to those People. Some of the Papers have Tobacco Marks on the Back, it being suppos'd by the Committee, that if a little Tobacco were put up in each as the Tobacconists use to do, and a Quantity made to fall into the Hands of that Soldiery, by being put into a Drift Canoe among some other little Things, it would be divided among them as

* See the Journals, June 13 and passim; also nos. 73, 83, 84, 85, ante.

5 Cf. Adam's letter to Joseph Hawley, Aug. 25 (Works, IX. 433), also his letter to Samuel H. Parsons, Aug. 19 (ibid., IX. 431).

• See no. 93, post.

[90]1 Hist. Soc. of Pa., McKean Papers, I. 8. Addressed, "To The honble Colonel McKean of the Pennsylvania Forces, East Jersey".

2 There is no mention of McKean's letter in the Journals, nor has the letter itself been found. From a letter of Caesar Rodney to Thomas Rodney, Aug. 28, it would appear that McKean was in Philadelphia within a few hours after Franklin's letter had been written. Caesar Rodney had written to Thomas Rodney, Aug. 21: “As Mr. Read will go to the Convention, and our Colony requires two Delegates to make a representation, I shall come home next week if possible." Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 1092. Aug. 28 he wrote: "I intended to come down, but have been prevailed on by the other Delegates to stay and attend Congress during their absence, the business in Congress being important to each Colony, especially ours. . . . . As soon as I received the accounts from Kent and New Castle of the elections, I wrote to Mr. McKean at Amboy, and desired he would give immediate attendance at the Convention. He got my letter, and in consequence thereof came to Philadelphia on Sunday night last, and set out yesterday morning very early to New Castle." Ibid., I. 1192. See no. 58, note 3, ante.

George Ross, delegate from Pennsylvania.

Plunder before the Officers could know the Contents of the Paper and prevent it.*

With great Esteem, I am, Sir,

Your most obedt hume Servt

B FRANKLIN

[P. S.] Inclos'd is the English Copy, wch. is requested to be return'd, it belonging to the Congress-mislaid

Col McKean

5

Sir,

91. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO
GEORGE WASHINGTON.1

PHILADA. August 24, 1776.

The late Conduct of Lord Drummond is as extraordinary, as his motives are dark and mysterious. To judge the most favourably of his Intentions, it should seem that an overweening Vanity has betrayed him into a criminal Breach of Honour. But whether his Views were upright, or intended only to mislead and deceive, cannot at present be a Matter of any importance. In the mean Time, I have the Pleasure to acquaint you, that Congress highly approve of the Manner in which you have checked the officious and intemperate Zeal of his Lordship. Whether his Designs were hostile, or friendly, he equally merited the Reproof you have given him; and I hope for the future he will be convinced, that it is highly imprudent to attract the Attention of the publick to a Character, which will only pass without Censure, when it passes without Notice.

The Congress having considered the Matter thoroughly, are of Opinion to decline taking any public or farther Notice of his Lordship, or his Letters; and particularly as you have so fully expressed their Sentiments on the subject in your Letter to him. It was the Consideration of this Point that induced Congress to detain the Express till now.2

Genl Washington.

4 See the Journals, Aug. 9, 14, and no. 96, post. Cf. Washington to the President of Congress, Aug. 26 (Writings, ed. Ford, IV. 369). Lieutenant-Colonel Zedtwitz, who was employed by Washington to translate the document into German, sent the contents to Governor Tryon and offered to become a spy (see ibid., p. 370 n.). The court-martial of Zedtwitz is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., Ï. 1159-1163. Cf. the Journals, Nov. 18, 22. 5 This postscript is erased in the original.

[91]1 Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XI. 200; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 1135.

2 See Washington's letter to Congress of Aug. 18, and the propositions of Lord Drummond, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 1025-1028; also Washington's letter of Aug. 26, enclosing a letter from Lord Drummond, dated Aug. 19, ibid., I. 1158-1159, and Writings (ed. Ford), IV. 369. See also the Journals, Aug. 20, 22, 28. Cf. no. 94, post. For an earlier Drummond episode, see the Journals, Feb. 29, Mar. 5, and vol. I. of these Letters, nos. 527, 536. Cf. the conference with Lord Howe in September (nos. 102-132, passim, post).

Dear Sir

92. JOHN ADAMS TO HENRY KNOX.1

PHILADELPHIA August 25, 1776

I am a constant Advocate for a regular Army, and the most masterly Discipline, because, I know, that without these We cannot reasonably hope to be a powerfull, a prosperous, or a free People, and therefore, I have been constantly labouring to obtain an handsome Encouragement for inlisting a permanent Body of Troops. But have not as yet prevailed, and indeed, I despair of ever Succeeding, unless the General, and the officers from the Southward, should convince Gentlemen here; or unless two or three horrid Defeats, should bring a more melancholly Conviction, which I expect and believe will one day, or other be the Case.2

Coll Knox 3

Sir:

93. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO
ARTEMAS WARD.1

PHILADA. August 26th 1776.

The Service in the Eastern Department requiring an Officer of Rank and Experience, and Colonel Whitcomb having declined accepting his Commission, the Congress have been induced, both from a Regard to your Merit while in the Army, and your Zeal and Attention since you left it, to request you will, if consistent with your Health, take the Command of the Forces in that Quarter. As soon as Congress can fix on some Officer to relieve you, they will do it, and only desire you, in the mean Time to continue in Command until such Appointment. Your readiness to comply with the Wishes of your Country, gives me the strongest Reason to believe, you will not resist their Application at this Juncture.2

[92]1 Mass. Hist. Soc., Knox Papers, III. 25.

2 Cf. no. 86, ante.

3 Knox was made brigadier-general Dec. 27. "I am ashamed and grieved to my inmost soul for the disgrace brought upon the Massachusetts in not having its proportion of general officers. But there is not a single man among all our Colonels that I dare to recommend for a general officer, except Knox and Porter, and these are so low down in the list, that it is dangerous promoting them over the heads of so many." Adams to Joseph Hawley, Aug. 25, Works, IX. 433. Cf. nos. 71, 72, 85, ante.

[93]1 Mass. Hist. Soc., Hancock Letter-Book, VI. 23; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 1156. 2 See the Journals, Aug. 21, and a letter from the Massachusetts council, Aug. 8, signed "Richard Derby, Junr., chairman", Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 859. Ward's resignation had been accepted by Congress Apr. 23. See vol. 1. of these Letters, no. 615; also the Journals, Nov. 7.

A recent life of Ward, by Charles Martyn (The Life of Artemas Ward, the First Commander-in-Chief of the American Revolution, New York, Artemas Ward, 1921), avows the purpose of both author and publisher of assuring General Ward his proper place in American history, which, in their opinion, has hitherto been lower than he deserved.