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153. THE COMMITTEE OF SECRET CORRESPONDENCE, STATEMENT.1 [October 1, 1776.]

Mr. Thomas Story, who had been sent by the committee of secret correspondence, December 13, 1775, to France, Holland, and England, reported verbally as follows:

"On my leaving London, Arthur Lee, esq., requested me to inform the committee of correspondence that he had several conferences with the French ambassador, who had communicated the same to the French court; that, in consequence thereof, the Duke de Vergennes had sent a gentleman to Arthur Lee, who informed him that the French court could not think of entering into a war with England, but that they would assist America, by sending from Holland this fall £200,000 sterling worth of arms and ammunition to St. Eustatius, Martinique, or Cape François; that application was to be made to the governors or commandants of those places, by inquiring for Monsieur Hortalez, and that, on persons properly authorized applying, the above articles would be delivered to them."

PHILADELPHIA, October 1, 1776.

The above intelligence was communicated to the subscribers, being the only two members of the committee of secret correspondence now in this city, and on our considering the nature and importance of it, we agree in opinion that it is our indispensable duty to keep it a secret, even from Congress, for the following reasons:

(1) Should it get to the ears of our enemies at New York they would undoubtedly take measures to intercept the supplies, and thereby deprive us not only of those succors, but others expected by the same route.

(2) As the court of France have taken measures to negotiate this loan and succor in the most cautious and most secret manner, should we divulge it immediately we may not only lose the present benefit, but also render that court cautious of any further connection with such unguarded people, and prevent their granting other loans and assistance that we stand in need of and have directed Mr. Deane to ask of them, for it appears from all our intelligence they are not disposed to enter into an immediate war with Britain, though disposed to support us in our contest with them; we therefore think it our duty to cultivate their favorable disposition towards us, draw from them all the support we can, and in the end their private aid must assist us to establish peace or inevitably draw them in as parties to the war.

(3) We find, by fatal experience, the Congress consists of too many members to keep secrets, as none could be more strongly enjoined than the present embassy to France; notwithstanding which Mr. Morris was this day asked by Mr. Reese Meredith whether Dr. Franklin and others were

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[153]1 Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 151; House Rept. No. 220, 20 Cong., I sess., p. 19; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 818 (except first three lines); Sparks, Dipl. Corr. Rev., I. 387 (except last two paragraphs); Lee, Life of Arthur Lee, I. 57. 2 See Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 63, 66, 82, 85, 87, 92.

3 A merchant of Philadelphia.

really going ambassadors to France, which plainly proves that this committee ought to keep this secret, if secrecy is required.

(4) We are of opinion that it is unnecessary to inform Congress of this intelligence at present, because Mr. Morris belongs to all the committees that can properly be employed in receiving and importing the expected supplies from Martinico, and will influence the necessary measures for that purpose; indeed, we have already authorized William Bingham, esq., to apply at Martinico and St. Eustatia for what comes there, and remit part by the armed sloop Independence, Captain Young, promising to send others for the rest. Mr. Morris will apply to the marine committee to send other armed vessels after her, and also to Cape François (without communicating this advice), in consequence of private intelligence, lately received, that arms, ammunition, and clothing can now be procured at those places. But, should any unexpected misfortune befall the States of America, so as to depress the spirits of Congress, it is our opinion that, on any event of that kind, Mr. Morris (if Dr. Franklin should be absent) should communicate this important matter to Congress, otherwise keep it until part of or the whole supplies arrive, unless other events happen to render the communication of it more proper than it appears to be at this time.*

B. FRANKLIN.
ROBERT MORRIS.

Communicated to me this 11th October, 1776, and I concur heartily in

the measure.

RICHARD HENRY LEE.

Communicated to me this 10th day of October, 1776, and I do also sincerely approve of the measure.

WM. HOOPER.

153A. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, CERTIFICATE.1 PHILADELPHIA October 1st 1776

In Congress

I do hereby Certify that Benjamin Franklin and Robert Morris 2 Esqrs.

4 The following passage in a letter from John Jay to Robert Morris, written from Fishkills, Oct. 6, is pertinent here: "I wish the Secret Committee would communicate no other intelligence to the Congress at large, than what may be necessary to promote the common weal, not gratify the curiosity of individuals. I hint this because a copy of a letter from A. L. to that Committee has lately been sent by a member of Congress to a gentleman of his acquaintance who is not a member of Congress. I came by this intelligence in such a way as to speak with certainty, for I have seen the copy, but at the same time in such a way as not to be able with propriety to mention names. You will be pleased therefore to make no other use of this information than to induce the greater caution in the Committee. For as to binding certain members in the house to secresy by oaths or otherwise would be just as absurd as to swear Lee (no matter which of them) to look or feel like Ned Rutledge." Correspondence of Jay (ed. Johnston), I. 85; Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 164. For Jay's part in solving the secret letters of Silas Deane, see Morris to Jay, Sept. 23, 1776, Jay's reply, cited above, and Morris to Jay, Feb. 4, 1777, Correspondence of Jay, I. 84, 85, 120.

In regard to the expectation of assistance from France, see nos. 97, 136, ante, 153A, post. See also nos. 178-180, post.

[153A]1 Library of Congress, Papers Cont. Cong., Miscellaneous; Henkels, Catalogue, no. 1290, item 222; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 823 (appended to a letter from the committee of secret correspondence to William Bingham).

2 After this certificate had been written the names of Richard Henry Lee and

delegates in Congress from Pennsylvania have been duely appointed Members of the Honorable Committee of Secret Correspondence, and that they are fully empowred to direct all matters in their department on behalf of the United States of America, the other Members of Said Committee being now absent.

I do also Certify that the delivery of Arms, ammunition, Specie or other Stores, to them or their Order on behalf of the Congress, is and will be acknowledged as Valid and binding on the United States of America. JOHN HANCOCK Presidt.3

154. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO THE NEW JERSEY
ASSEMBLY,1

Gentlemen,

PHILADA. Octr. 2d. 1776.

The many and just Complaints of the Insufficiency of the Surgeons and their Mates, to discharge their Duty in a proper Manner, have induced Congress to pass the enclosed Resolves, recommending it to the several States to appoint some skilful Physicians as Examiners; without whose Approbation, no Surgeon, or Surgeon's Mate, shall receive a Commission either in the Army or Navy."

The Congress being at present deeply engaged in Matters of the utmost Importance to the Welfare of America, have judged it absolutely necessary that there should be a full Representation of the several States as soon as possible. For this End, I am to request, in Obedience to their Commands, you will immediately take proper Measures to comply with the enclosed Resolve, in Order that the United States may be fully represented in Congress, and the Sentiments of America be the better known upon those interesting Subjects that lie before them. I shall therefore

William Hooper were inserted after that of Robert Morris (above the line), but they were afterward so carefully erased that they can now barely be made out. Inasmuch as both Lee and Hooper appear to have been in Congress Oct. 1 (both received committee appointments that day), it is not at all clear why their names should not have been included in this certificate, as members of the committee of secret correspondence then present, or why they should not have signed, until Oct. 10 and 11, the committee's compact of secrecy drawn up Oct. (see no. 153, ante).

In the letter of the committee of secret correspondence to William Bingham, Sept. 21 (the part written Oct. 1; see no. 136, note 7, ante), is this statement: "We also enjoin you to the strictest secrecy, and herewith enclose you two separate letters as your proper authority for receiving any goods or money Monsieur Hortalez, our agent in Europe, may remit." The two letters are doubtless this certificate and the letter of the same date to Bingham, to which the certificate appears to be appended (Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 822, 823).

[154]1 From the collection of the late Garrett D. W. Vroom of Trenton. This letter was sent to the assemblies of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. The same letter, except the first paragraph, was sent to the assemblies of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The two forms are printed in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 838, 839. The original to Maryland is in the Md. Hist. Soc., Red Book, VI. 51; that to New York is in the N. Y. State Lib., Revolutionary Papers, VIII. 39, and is printed in the Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., II. 318. The letter-book copy is in the Mass. Hist. Soc., Hancock Letter-Book, VI. 47. 2 See the Journals, Sept. 30.

8 See the Journals, Oct. I, and no. 155, post.

only once more request your Compliance with this Requisition of Congress, and have the Honour to be,

Gentlemen, Your most obedt. Servt.

JOHN HANCOCK Presidt

Honble Assembly of New Jersey.

155. EDWARD RUTLEDGE TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.1

My dear Robert,

3

PHILADELPHIA Oct 2, 1776.

The day before I rec'd your last favor I wrote you a few lines requesting that you Jay and Schuyler would immediately come hither upon business of great importance. Since which we have rec'd a letter from your Convention relative to the last gentleman whose fate has been hard indeed. However his spirited conduct and the support which your body seem determined to give him will I trust have a proper effect upon Congress and make him respectful even in the eyes of his enemies. The enclosed resolution which I drew and which passed the House unanimously will justify the conjecture. It will be a farther satisfaction to you to know that upon the receipt of your Convention's letter, when some of us took the opportunity of applauding his (Sr's) conduct in high terms, no man could be found to say any thing against him. Let him not imagine from this, that the members are all his friends. this is not to be expected nor do I know that it is to be desired; . . . . I moved Congress yesterday and they accordingly directed all absent members to attend. Our Confederation has been neglected for many many weeks because the States have been unrepresented. Necessity requires that it be immediately past. If I am not much mistaken the salvation of your State depends upon something being soon done in this business. We have great reason to think that the Quakers have determined to refuse our Continental Currency. If they make a point of it, we must make a point of hanging them, which will bring on a storm that will take the wisdom of all our wise men to direct. . . . I must forego the pleasure of telling you what past between Lord Howe and your hble. servt. it is too long for the compass of a letter. Delay was my object. I wish we could have procrastinated matters until we could have procured more

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[155]1 N. Y. Pub. Lib., Bancroft Coll., Livingston Papers, I. 217 (copy).

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2 Sept. 23, no. 138, ante. See a letter from Jay to Rutledge, Oct. 11, in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 998; also Jay to Robert Morris, Oct. 6, Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 164.

* See the Journals, Sept. 27, Oct. 2, and nos. 138, 144, 145, 148, 149, ante, 162, 163, 184, 195, post.

4 The resolution relative to Schuyler, Oct. 2. See Schuyler to Hancock, Oct. 16, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 1078. Cf. nos. 173, 184, post.

5 See the Journals, Oct. 1, and no. 154, ante.

• See no. 138, ante.

assistance from the Southward. I think the thing was possible however my scheme did not take.'. . .

[P.S.]

Adieu my friend

yours most affectionately

E. RUTLEDGER

Sir:

156. CAESAR RODNEY TO THOMAS RODNEY.1

PHILADELPHIA, October 2, 1776.

General Mifflin came to town the day before yesterday. He brought letters from General Washington informing Congress that Mr. Moylan, the Quartermaster-General, had resigned his commission, as unable to conduct the business of so many troops. That in consequence thereof, the General says he had prevailed on General Mifflin to accept, confident that there was not another man in the army who could carry on the business upon the present large plan. Under these circumstances, Mifflin has with reluctance accepted.2.

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

PHILADIA. Octr 4th. 1776.

Sir,

[P. S.] Inclos'd you have Col. Shepard's Commission. The Vacancy of Col. in room of the late Col. Stephenson, is order'd to be Kept for Mr. Morgan, agreeable to your Recommendation.

7 Cf. nos. 122, 132, ante.

8 On receipt of this letter Livingston wrote to Schuyler from Fishkill, Oct. 7: "I wrote to you by Mr. Yates but can not defer informing you of a resolution of Congress which Rutledge just now enclosed me since it gave me the most sincere and real pleasure. I hope it will obviate your objections to a continuance in command since its unanimity carries with it the highest marks of respect and honour. It is one of Neds own pening, who has the strongest attathment to our state. He warns you in my letter not to infer from the unanimity of the resolution that the whole Congress are your friends, but this I believe you need not be told since the friendship of some people is not to be purchased but at a price which you would scorn to pay." Harvard Univ. Lib., Sparks MSS., no. 49, II. 181 (original).

[156]1 Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 840.

2 Cf. no. 147, ante.

[157] Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, LXXXIX. 331; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 864.

2 Col. William Sheppard. See the Journals, Oct. 2, and Washington's letter of Sept. 30, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 603.

8 See Washington's letter of Sept. 28, Writings (ed. Ford), IV. 454; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 589. The order to promote Capt. Daniel Morgan to the colonelcy left vacant by the death of Col. Hugh Stephenson is not mentioned in the Journals, evidently for the reasons suggested by Washington.

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