put them into the Loan office on receiving their Intrest in Europe by bills of Excge. drawn on our Commissrs. it would in fact be equal to 15 pr Ct. for the present if you have any to put in you had best wait a few days for a decision for I yet know not whether that Advantage will be given Culy as Incouragement to those who will now throw in their money into the Office as it may soon be wanted, or shall extend to those whose money we have allready got I mean to past Loans.*. 632. JAMES LOVELL TO VICOMTE DE MAUROY.1 PHILADA Sept 8th 1777 In answer to the letter with which you favoured me of the 5th from Darby, I would assure you that I have been continually attentive to the very disagreable situation in which, as a man of military spirit, you must have thought yourself, ever since the near approach of the enemy. But, Sir, as something is begun, at length relative to your departure for France, I am of opinion that you should not now be desirous of exposing yourself as a volunteer in the field of battle for us. I hope to inclose to you to morrow a final determination of your business 2 With much respect for your very worthy character and with a Due sense of your zeal towards these states, I have the honour to be Sir Your most humble Servant JAMES LOVELL 633. RICHARD HENRY LEE TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA Dear Sir, PHILADELPHIA 8th. Septr. 1777 ... The Quaker motto ought to be "Nos turba sumus," for if you attack one the whole society is roused. You will see by the inclosed testimonies a uniform, fixed enmity to American measures, which, with the universal ill fame of some capital persons, has occasioned the arrest of old Pemberton and several others, to prevent their mischievous inter Cf. no. 627, ante, nos. 636, 659, post. [632] Paris, Arch. Nat., K 1364, dossier "Amérique ", no. 61. 2 See the Journals, Aug. 11, 13, Sept. 8, 11, 14. Mauroy's letter of Sept. 5, to which Lovell is replying, was presumably addressed to Lovell as a member of the committee of foreign applications. A letter, without date but evidently written in view of the resolutions of Sept. 8, addressed to the President of Congress by Mauroy, in behalf of himself, Fayolles, and Boismartin, is in Arch. Nat., K 1364, dossier “Amérique ", no. 59 (copy). It was this letter upon which Congress took action Sept. 11, in connection with similar demands from Baron de Kalb. A long letter from the Vicomte de Mauroy to the Comte de Broglie, written from Boston, Oct. 23, 1777, describing his situation and discussing the action of Congress in refusing to recognize the contract made by Deane, is ibid. See, further, the Journals, Dec. 8, and no. 770, post. Concerning Baron de Kalb, see no. 565, note 5, ante, and the Journals, passim. [633]1 Henry, Patrick Henry, III. 92; Letters of Richard Henry Lee (ed. Ballagh), I. 320. position in favor of the enemy at this critical moment, when the enemies' army is on its way here, with professed design to give this city up to the pillage of the soldiery. They have taken infinite pains, according to custom, to move heaven and earth in their favor, and have transmitted copies of their indecent remonstrances over the country. Congress have, to prevent ill impressions, ordered their several inimical testimonies to be published in one Hand-bill. Altho' nothing can be more certain than that allegiance and protection are reciprocal duties, yet these men have the assurance to call for the protection of those laws and that Government which they expressly disclaim, and refuse to give any evidence of their allegience to. There is no doubt but that they will endeavor by means of the "Friends" in Virginia, to make disturbance and raise discontent there, but this may serve to put you on your guard. . . . . This day Congress has proposed that the Quaker Tories should be sent forthwith to Staunton in Augusta. I hope you will have them well secured there, for they are mischievous people. Should Howe be disappointed here, as it seems very likely that he will, it is more than probable that he will endeavor to do us all the injury in his power as he returns, and therefore it will be wise to be as well prepared for him as possible. My Dear, 634. JOHN ADAMS TO MRS. ADAMS.1 PHILADELPHIA, Monday, 8 September, 1777 You will see by the papers enclosed that we have been obliged to attempt to humble the pride of some Jesuits, who call themselves Quakers, but who love money and land better than liberty or religion. The hypocrites are endeavoring to raise the cry of persecution, and to give this matter a religious turn, but they can't succeed. The world knows them and their communications. Actuated by a land-jobbing spirit like that of William Penn, they have been soliciting grants of immense regions of land on the Ohio. American independence has disappointed them, which makes them hate it. Yet the dastards dare not avow their hatred to it, it seems.2 Sir, 635. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.' PHILADIA. Septr. 9th. 1777. I have the honor to transmit at this Time, Copies of several Letters from Governor Livingston and Genl. Du Coudray to Congress. As Govr. Livingston seems apprehensive of an Irruption from the Enemy on Staten Island, and says they are collecting there for this Purpose, the Congress have directed Genl. Putnam to hold in Readiness fifteen Hundred Men 2 See the Journals, Sept. 6. Cf. nos. 619, 627, 630, ante, no. 634, post. [634]1 Familiar Letters, p. 305, 2 See nos. 619, 627, 630, 633, ante. [635] Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XC. 314; Letters to Washington (ed. Sparks), I. 433. under the Command of a Brigadier, to cross the North River when you may think proper to order it. A Copy of the Resolve, I shall immediately forward to Genl. Putnam. The inclosed Letter from Monsr. du Coudray contains a Proposal of forming a Camp between Wilmington and Philadelphia the Propriety of which, the Congress have referred entirely to you. Colonel Harrison's Favour of the 7th. Inst. was duly received.2 I beg Leave to request your Attention to the Inclosures, and have the Honour to be, with the greatest Respect, Sir, Your most obedt. and very hble Servt. His Excellency Genl. Washington. 636. HENRY LAURENS TO THE PRESIDENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA (JOHN RUTLEDGE).1 Dear Sir, 10th Septem. 1777. I had the honour of writing to Your Excellency the 12 and 15 August by Colo. Sumpter. A very important question varied in different branches of borrowing Money from the Court of France has been since agitated in Congress. I have been uniformly against the measure and think it my duty by the earliest opportunity to inform Your Excellency the grounds of my dissent." The first question was for drawing Bills on our Commissioners for Ten Millions Dollars, which passed in the Negative. A proposition was then made and a question put for drawing for five Millions of Dollars, passed also in the negative. Yesterday by the most extraordinary motion and irregular proceeding that I have ever been Witness to in any other Assembly a Question was carried for drawing Bills of Exchange on our Commissioners at the rate of 5 Livres of France for a Spanish Dollar for payment of Interest at 6 per Cent per Annum of all Money already brought into the loan office or that shall be brought in before the 1st. March next. It is expected that upon this encouragement money holders will bring Supplies to the Loan Office and that we may without another Emission of paper raise before the 1st. March 20 M[illion] Dollars, the Annual Interest of which will be about £270000 Sterling besides the risques of loss and delay by Remittances. 2 For the order to Putnam, see the Journals, Sept. 8, 12; cf. no. 627, note 14, ante. The letters of Livingston, Harrison, and Du Coudray were read in Congress Sept. 8 (see the Journals, p. 770, note 1). Cf. no. 639, post. The letter of Du Coudray is in the Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XCI. 3. [636] S. C. Hist. Soc., Laurens Letter-Book, 1776-1778, p. 163; Gibbes, Documentary Hist. of the Rev., p. 88 (with modifications and omissions). 2 Col. Thomas Sumter of South Carolina. In July, 1780, he was made brigadiergeneral of South Carolina troops. Laurens's letter of Aug. 12 and 15 is no. 586, ante. 3 Cf. no. 627, ante, and see the Journals, Sept. 9, 10. 'Tis true the Commissions have given Congress assurance of Money received and promised, sufficient to pay the Interest of five Million Dollars annually and added “we hope " also to find sufficient by subsidies to pay the Interest of 20 Million if we should be obliged to borrow that sum. at the same time they informed us, that upon application to the Court of France to borrow two Million Sterling they were told it was "impossible" to spare such a sum. that they had been strongly pressed and that the Minister was "anxious" to contract for the delivery of 20,000 Hogsds of Tobacco as a ground for raising Money by Taxes. That they had actually engaged to deliver 4000 Hogsds and had received a very considerable advance on the Stipulation and "earnestly intreat Congress to enable them to comply with their part of the agreement, which while our ports are stopped will be impossible.* It appears to me that the foundation for drawing Bills is not substantial, the practice dangerous and the measure except for articles absolutely requisite for carrying on our defensive War not necessary. the Commissioners Speak possitively of Money advanced and expected by periodical payments only for payment of the Interest of five Millions," which sum and a much larger I apprehend will be consumed by a variety of other demands on them, which 'tis impossible from our mode of transacting business and our total ignorance of the public debt contracted and increasing, to form an Estimate of. this forbids in the strongest terms the Act of borrowing Money abroad. they say in a subsequent dispatch that we may rely on punctual payment of Congress-Bills drawn for the discharge of the Interest of Sums borrowed, but refer I apprehend only to the Five Million per Annum and here they recommend that the Interest should be reduced to 3 or 4 per Cent, but Congress upon a question confirmed 6 per Cent against 5, and have put former loans upon a level with such as may be here after made." the Court of France on failure on our part of the Contract for Tobacco, our continued demands on them for Money, for ship building Cloths Arms and many other articles will have ground for Complaint and may make a pretext of failure on our side witholding further payments to the Commissioners. the drawing Bills of Exchange is to all intents and purposes emissions of Paper Money upon the very worst terms aggravated by 6 per Cent per Annum to be discharged under all disadvantages in a foreign country. it is putting our debt out of Sight for a little but it will infallibly return upon us with accumulated force. Although France has premptorily told us it is impossible to lend us two Million Sterling we are hastening to make a demand for that and for aught we know a much larger sum. * See the letters of the commissioners in Paris, Jan. 17, Feb. 6, Mar. 12, May 26, Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 248, 261, 283, 325. The agreement with the farmersgeneral of France, Mar. 24, 1777, is ibid., II. 300. See also Arthur Lee's letter of Feb. 14, ibid., II. 270. 5 See the letters of Jan. 17 and Mar. 12, mentioned in note 4, above. 6 The letter of May 25, Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 322. 7 See the Journals, Sept. 9, 10. the Seeming temporary relief which we shall receive by draughts upon France will draw off our attention from enquiring deeply into the State of our funds and debts and help us in our present alarming course of extravagance. We should pay proper regard to the conduct of the Court of Versailles, in refusing to receive our Commissioners openly in their Ambassadorial Characters, in "avoiding every act which should seem to acknowledge our Independence," in "refusing possitively" the Naval Aid which we had applied for, in neglecting to consider or give any answer to our plan for a Treaty and in betraying part of our proposals and possibly the whole of them to the British Ambassador, in a taunting Sarcastical remark to one of our Commissioners that we had not bid high enough, in Imprisoning one of our Captains, Seizing his Vessel, ordering a restitution of his prizes and in a word carefully avoiding to give "Umbrage" to the English. To borrow Money from a foreign power is to mortage our Soil, that the boasted generosity of the K of F.10 in funding us lightly and demanding no security is, when compared with the conduct above mentioned liable to Suspicion of being insidious. It will be the Interest of the French Minister to ensnare us by degrees into a considerable debt and the knowledge of the Negotiation will be a strong incentive to the British for protracting the War. 11 that " by altering the tenor of our Loan Certificates making the payment of Capital at one instead of three Years and of Interest quarterly or half Yearly, Money holders would be induced to bring supplies into the Office, that the expectation which the public have been held in of an emission of Bills of Exchange for 5 or 10 M[illion] of Dollars had been no small impediment. When the loan Office Certificates are put on a beneficial plan, if Money shall not be brought, in sums equal to the public exigency, it will be a proof that past emissions are not excessive. the demand for money at this time is not confined to the Capital Towns and Cities and within a small Circle of Trading Merchants, but spread over a surface of 1600 miles in length and three hundred broad nor is it now the practice to give 8 The interpretation which Laurens puts upon the conduct of the French court seems quite out of keeping with the tacit good-will indicated by the letters of the commissioners (see note 4, above). The allusion is to the case of Capt. Gustavus Conyngham (often spelled Cunningham). See Franklin and Deane to the committee of foreign affairs, May 25 and 26, 1777, Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 322, 325, Deane to Robert Morris, Aug. 23, 1777, ibid., II. 378. For further accounts of Conyngham, see ibid., II. 784, 827, 840, III. 350, 386, 394, IV. 324, 511, V. 148; also the Journals, Dec. 26, 1778, Jan. 4, Feb. 22 (p. 236), July 17 (pp. 844, 849), July 29, Dec. 13, 1779, May 17, June 11, 1781. See, especially, Neeser, Letters and Papers relating to the Cruises of Gustavus Conyngham (Publications of the Naval History Society, vol. VI.); also C. H. Jones, Captain Gustavus Conyngham; Allen, Naval Hist. Am. Rev.; and Paullin, The Navy of the Am. Rev. 10 King of France. 11 The structure of this letter is rather loose, shifting between direct and indirect statements of arguments used on the floor of Congress. |