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carry them speedily and effectually into Execution, as the only Means of preserving her, in this her critical and alarming Situation.2.

Dear Sir:

171. JOSIAH BARTLETT TO JOHN LANGDON.1

PHILADELPHIA, October 15, 1776.

Yesterday, the Committee appointed to hear the appeal from the Maritime Court in New Hampshire, concerning the Elizabeth, made their report, which was accepted. They have reversed the sentence of our court, and have ordered a salvage of one-tenth part to be paid by the claimants, as she did not come under the order of Congress of November and December last. Afterwards, the Congress, by a vote, gave up to the said claimants their share of the said tenth, so that they will have but onetwentieth part to pay, besides the costs.2

The same Committee have had Mr. Sheafe's petition under their consideration, but have made no report. By what I have conversed with them, I believe they will not think themselves authorized to do any thing in that affair, as there is no appeal from the court to the Congress, and the opposite party not present to be heard in the case, and nothing but the petition, without any thing more before them. They all say the case appears to be hard, but know not how to remedy it, without more proofs than they have at present, and without the opposite party being heard, and the case brought properly before them.

Before this reaches you, you will see the several orders of the Marine Committee about guns for your ship, and the reasons of those orders. The rank of the Captains is settled. Captain Thompson is the sixth. Captain Manley is uneasy about his being the third, and has desired leave to resign: whether his resignation will be accepted, or his rank altered, I am uncertain..

Dear Sir

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172. ELBRIDGE GERRY TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1

PHILADELPHIA 17th Octr 1776

I recd your Favours of the 9th and 11th Instant and find by the Journals that the Continental agents are as follows John Langdon Esqr. of Portsmouth, John Bradford Boston, Daniel Tillinghast for Rhode [Island] but I think John Brown of providence is agent for that State, Nathaniel Shaw Jr. for Connecticut and Jacobus Van Zantz for New York. the Resolve for impowering you to import Salt is past and

This paragraph is also included in the letter of Hancock to the Northern states, Oct. 9, in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 953, III. 247. See the Journals, Oct. 8. [171]1 Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 1063; Letters by Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, and Others, p. 46.

2 The report is in the Journals, Oct. 14. Cf. ibid., Sept. 12, 30. Concerning Sheafe's petition, see ibid., Oct. 5.

8 See the Journals, Oct. 10. Cf. no. 169, ante.

[172] Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers.

2 These appointments and others were made Apr. 23, except that of Langdon, which was made June 25. John Brown does not appear to have received such an appointment by Congress.

3

you will probably receive it e'er this. I agree with you that it is absurd to supply One Army with and the other without a Contract; my Suspicions are confirmed relative to the Rise of a certain Committee, while we were on the Business of the Army; I hope however that the plan will not be carryed. Congress have sent to all the assemblies for a fuller Representation and on their Return I hope your allowance will be settled. I am glad you discontinue the Thought of giving up your office, such practices in so important a Department may ruin the Cause before We are aware of it. . .

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173. EDWARD RUTLEDGE TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.1

PHILADELPHIA Oct 19th, 1776

I feel for Schuyler's ill usage but I hope his love for his country will silence his resentment, at least for the present. It was impossible to prevent the Resolutions 2 going as they did and it will I am afraid be long so until Colonies are more regularly represented. . . . . Your brother should have been long since appointed to the command of Clynton's regiment, but Mr Phil: Livingston thinking the Congress had no right to fill up vacancies after their resolution of the 16th. of Septr. and that it would be interfering in the internal polity of the State I did not press the matter; but got the enclosed resolution passed in order to preserve to him his proper rank. . .

Dear Sir:

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174. JOSIAH BARTLETT TO JOHN LANGDON.1

PHILADELPHIA, October 19, 1776.

I mentioned in the Marine Committee that you were desirous to know whether you were to allow any passenger or seaman on board any of the prizes their adventures, or private property, more than the wages to the seamen agreeable to the resolve of Congress. They informed me they had not given any orders about it, and that it was not in their power to give any orders different from the resolves of Congress, yet it seemed to be the desire of the Committee that such passengers and seamen as behaved themselves decently should be dealt well by, and not stripped of every thing that might be taken from them by the rules of war.

A great number of foreigners, especially French officers, are daily almost arriving here, and requesting to be employed in our army, many of whom are well recommended.

ante.

See the Journals, Oct. 9, also nos. 113, 145, 162, 166, ante, and no. 331, post.
The allusion is no doubt to the committee sent to Ticonderoga. See no. 164,

[173] N. Y. Pub. Lib., Bancroft Coll., Livingston Papers, I. 247 (copy).

2 The reference is probably to the complaints in Schuyler's letter of Oct. 6 (Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 921), read in Congress Oct. 15. Cf. no. 155, ante. It is possible however that Rutledge is referring to the resolution exonerating Wooster, Aug. 17 (see nos. 84, 85, ante), which had but recently come to the notice of Schuyler. See no. 184, note 2, post.

Henry Brockholst Livingston. See the Journals, Sept. 25.

[174]1 Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 1128; Letters by Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, and Others, p. 48.

Colonel Whipple is not arrived here yet. I shall look for him every day now till I see him, when I shall return home, and, after your example, enjoy the pleasure of residing in my own country in future.2.

Dear Sir

175. ELBRIDGE GERRY TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1

4

PHILADELPHIA Octr 22, 1776

Since my last your Friend Mr W-2 in Consequence of an order of Congress directing the Board of War to consider an Application of Mr Harrison Dep. pay. Gen. for the southern Department and of your Brother for the northern that their Salaries may be augmented,3 moved that the Board may at the same Time consider the Salary of the Commissary General and report an Augmentation. I confess that I was not less puzled than surprized at this injudicious Measure, taken previous to a Consultation of your Friends in Congress, at an unfavourable Time, and proposing the Consideration of this Matter for Gentlemen whose Sentiments would in all probability be against it. had the Motion not been seconded It might have passed over without prejudice, untill a favorable Oppertunity should offer for looking into the Reasonableness of your Expectations; but Mr H adopting it from friendly Motives produced an Opposition that at once prevented a Committment. Nothing remains to be done but your stating in a Petition to Congress the principles upon wch. you ground your Request for an augmentation and praying for the same; if this is done with Reason and Coolness and supported by the opinion of the General who has spoken in Favour of the Measure," I have no Doubt that It will be favourably recd. As the Salary which you now have, compared with others of the Staf, is very large, Congress will expect to have it demonstrated that the army is better supplyed and at less Expence in the present Mode than It would probably be by Contract; and with respect to the Method of paying the Commissary It must be left with Congress without any proposals in the petition for this purpose.®

I could wish that your Friend aforesd. had not medled with the Matter, as his observations on it have only served to injure the Cause; but that cannot be now remedied.

2 See no. 161, note 3, ante.

[175] Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers. Addressed: “Joseph Trumbull, Esqr., Commissary General, at Kings Bridge or Lebanon in Connecticut."

2 William Williams. See nos. 162, 166, 172, ante.

3 Benjamin Harrison, jr., and Jonathan Trumbull, jr. The Journals contain no mention of this matter.

Hooper? Cf. no. 162, note 2, ante.

5 See Trumbull's letter to Congress, June 9, 1776, in Force, Am. Arch., fourth ser., VI. 790, and Washington to Congress, June 10, 28, ibid., VI. 789, 1117. Washington's letters are also in Writings (ed. Ford), IV. 129, 184. They were read in Congress June 11 and July 1, respectively.

In a letter to Trumbull, Nov. 11, Gerry says: "I think it a good Time to bring on your affair and wish You had sent the petition." Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers. See also no. 419, post. In regard to the question of supplying the army by contract, see nos. 124, 145, 162, 164, 165, 172, ante, and nos. 239, 423, post.

This is a critical Time for our affairs at Ticonderoga as well as New York; may God support and prosper them.

Sir,

176. THE BOARD OF WAR TO NATHANAEL GREENE,1

WAR OFFICE, PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 22d, 1776.

The Congress having done the Board of War the Honour of referring to them your Letter for Consideration and execution, we beg Leave to inform you that we have ordered two hundred Thousand Cartridges to be instantly forwarded to you. Light Waggons have been got and are getting ready and you will receive the above supply by Tomorrow Evening or the next Morning. We have employed Persons to make up a Quantity for the use of the Army, which shall be forwarded to your Care as soon as a proper Number shall be compleated. We cannot however but wish that General Washington could procure such supplies of Ammunition as he may want, from the Eastern States, there being very little in this City, from whence alone every Demand to the Southward of Hudson's River must be answer'd. Every Assistance however that can be shall be afforded you as well as his Excellency the General from this Office.

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177. BENJAMIN RUSH TO [THOMAS MORRIS ?].1

PHILADELPHIA, October 22, 1776.

I will add only an anecdote to the honor of the bearer of this letter. I had the honor to be seated near him in Congress at the moment when he was appointed to depart immediately for your court, and, upon my complimenting him thereon, he said to me: "I have only a few years more to live and I am resolved to employ them in whatever manner my countrymen judge proper; or, as the old clothes dealers say, speaking of a scrap of cloth, 'you shall have me for what you please '." 2

[176] Copied from the original then in possession of Mr. Stan. V. Henkels of Philadelphia. The same letter is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 1185, but printed as if to Washington.

2 See the Journals, Oct. 21. Greene's letter, dated Oct. 20, is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 1136.

[177]1 Paris, Affaires Étrangères, Correspondance Politique, États-Unis, vol. I., no. 77, fol. 263. The letter is labeled "Bush à Morris. Traduite de l'anglais (interceptée)". The letter is evidently from Benjamin Rush and presumably to Thomas Morris. It is here retranslated from the French.

2 The bearer of the letter was Benjamin Franklin, who had been named, Sept. 26, one of the commissioners to the court of France. The incident is also recorded by Rush in his estimate of Franklin included in his Memorial (p. 111): "I sat next to him in Congress, when he was elected by the unanimous vote of every State in the Union to an embassy to the Court of France in the year 1776. When the vote was declared, I congratulated him upon it. He thanked me, and said, 'I am like the remnant of a piece of unsaleable cloth. You may have it, as the shopkeepers say for what you please"." In reply to a caution of David Hartley (Apr. 23, 1778), to take care of his own safety, Franklin uses the same simile, although in varied language (Writings, ed. Smyth, VII. 143).

178. THE COMMITTEE OF SECRET CORRESPONDENCE TO SILAS Deane.1 PHILADA. October 23d. 17762

Silas Deane Esqr.
Sir

We lately wrote you very fully by Mr. Wm Hodge junr.3 who went passenger in the Sloop Independance to Martinico from whence he wou'd proceed to France and deliver you sundry dispatches from this Committee, amongst the rest was the plan of a Treaty with the Court of France and Instructions of Congress relative thereto and this day we have enclosed you Instructions relative to Treaties with other Nations and sent them under Cover to Wm Bingham Esqr. at Martinico. Enclosed herein are Triplicates of the whole which we send by the Brige Lexington Wm Hallock Esqr. Commander under Cover to Mr. Stephen Ceronio at Cape Francois to be forwarded from thence to Messrs. Delap at Bourdeaux and we hope in due time you will receive the whole safely. For and on behalf of the Committee of Secret Correspondance I am Dr Sir, Your obedt Servt.

ROBT MORRIS

179. THE COMMITTEE OF SECRET CORRESPONDENCE TO SILAS Deane.1 PHILADA. October 24th 1776

Dear Sir:

We embrace this opportunity of your worthy colleague, and our mutual good friend Doctr. Franklin, to transmit you copies of our letters of the Ist Octr.2 by the sloop Independence, Capt. Young, to Martinico, from whence they would be carried to you by Mr. William Hodge, junr. sent in said sloop for that purpose. those letters contained a Commission from the Congress appointing Doctr. Franklin, Thos Jefferson, Esq., and yourself Commissioners on behalf of the United States of America to negotiate a Treaty of alliance and amity and Peace with the Court of France; a plan of that Treaty; Instructions from Congress relative thereto; Form of Passports for the ships of each nation, etc. We consider these papers as of the utmost consequence, and hope they will arrive

[178]1 Haverford College, Roberts Coll., 720 (in the writing of Robert Morris); Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 1198.

2 Three letters, of similar purport, were written to Deane by the committee of secret correspondence on Oct. 23; one was sent by the Sachem, Capt. James Robinson, a second (the present letter) by the Lexington, Capt. William Hallock, and a third by the Andrew Doria, Capt. Isaiah Robinson. They are all printed in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 1197-1198. The third is also in Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 177.

The three continental cruisers mentioned were placed at the disposal of the committee of secret correspondence in consequence of the resolves of Oct. 11. See Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 1092, 1115, 1197-1199, and Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 177-182; also no. 179, post. Another vessel placed at the disposal of the committee was the Reprisal, Capt. Lambert Wickes. See nos. 97, 136, ante, 179, 180, 224, post.

8 See the letters of Oct. 1, 2, Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 157-163.

4 Letters from the committee to Ceronio and Messrs. Delap, Oct. 23, are in Force,

Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 1198, 1213.

[179] Hist. Soc. of Pa., Dreer Coll., Morris Papers; Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 181; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 1214.

2 See no. 178, note 3. Evidently that of Oct. is included in this reference.

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