censure on him by approving General Wooster's conduct in Canada; concluding there must be a fault somewhere, and if not in General Wooster, it would naturally fall on him. His conclusion was ill founded. The Congress, when they cleared General Wooster of misconduct, never thought of laying it on General Schuyler, but imputed the miscarriage there to the short time the soldiers had inlisted for, the small-pox getting into the army, the want of hard money to purchase provisions in Canada, and the almost impossibility of transporting any quantity there in the winter.2. .

To Colonel Dayton.

Dear Sir

185. ROBERT MORRIS TO HORATIO GATES.1

PHILADA. October 27, 1776.

I find by your letter of the 5th Inst. you had not received one of my letters wrote in answer to one of yours. I kept no Copy of it which youl say is unusual for a merchant. I acknowledge it and only plead in excuse, that I did not write to you in that Character. The letter for Mrs. Gates is gone forward by Post, as I cou'd not meet any other Conveyance, altho I kept it here some days in expectation of one. Mr. Johnston, and indeed all the Maryland Delegates, are at home forming a Constitution. This seems to be the present business of all America, except the Army. it is the fruits of a certain premature declaration which you know I always opposed. my opposition was founded in the evil consequences I foresaw or thought I foresaw, and the present state of several Colonies justifys my apprehensions. We are disputing about Liberties, Priviledges, Posts, and places, at the very time we ought to have nothing in View but the securing those objects and placing them on such a footing as to make them worth contending for amongst ourselves hereafter; but instead of that, the Vigour of this and several other States is lost in Intestine division, and, unless this spirit of Contention is checked by some means or other, I fear it will have banefull influence on the general measures of America.

I am not one of those Testy Politicians that run resty when my own plans are not adopted, for I think it the duty of a good Citizen to follow when he cannot lead, and happy wou'd it be for America if all her Inhabitants wou'd adopt this Maxim, and make it an invariable rule during this great Contest for the Minority on every question to submit to, and Cooperate with, the Majority, but alas this cannot be it is not to be expected from Human Nature. We must take men as we find them, and do the best we can. You tell me the Congress are bad Correspondants, and I fear you have too much truth on your side. was you here I cou'd explain this in a Tete a Tete but I have neither time nor inclination to commit that explanation to paper. You may depend there is no intentional

2 See Schuyler's letter to Gates, Oct. 5, and to Congress, Oct. 23, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 909, 1205, respectively. The latter was read in Congress Nov. 4, and a resolution in consequence was enacted Nov. 7. The resolve exonerating Wooster was passed Aug. 17. Cf. nos. 138, 155, 173, ante, 195, post.

[185] N. Y. Hist. Soc., Gates Papers, VII.; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 1262.

Neglect or Slight meant to you or the department you Act in. it is deemed of the utmost importance, and all the Members of Congress wish that and every other department was duly attended to; but the Fact is they have too many objects and retain too much executive business in their own hands for their Members to effect with that vigor and dispatch that is necessary.

2

You say I must tell you good News. I will if you will repay me in kind for of late we have had nothing but very bad News from both our Army's. We expect daily to hear of your being attacked and have sanguine hopes of a Vigorous and successfull defence on your part. much depends on it. if you keep your Ground I think Genl. Washington will keep his and if both do this for the present Fall and ensuing Winter, the Good News I mean to tell you will be verifyed.

It is that the French are undoubtedly disposed to assist us in this Contest, and I have little doubt but they will take part in the War next Summer. indeed it seems to me impossible but all Europe will be involved in War and, if so, Great Britain will have her hands full, and probably be glad to render justice and reparation to the Country she has so much injured.

Nothing do I wish for more than a peace on terms honorable and beneficial to both Country's; and I am convinced it is more Consistent with the Interest of Great Britain to acknowledge our Independency and enter into Commercial Treatys with us than to persist in attempting to reduce us to unconditional submission. I hope we shall never be reduced to [that] vile situation whilst a true friend to America and freedom exists. life will not be worth having and it is better to perish by the sword than drag out the remaining days in misery and scorn; but I hope Heaven has better things in store for the Votaries of so just a Cause. I am, Dr. Sir, Yours affectionately

Sir

ROBT MORRIS

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

PHILADA, Monday Even. II OClock 28th Octr 1776.

This moment, Dodd the Express from the State of Massachusetts, who took your Dispatches to Congress on Saturday last, arriv'd at my house, and informs me that this Day about 12 o'clock he put up at one Bissinett's 2 a publick house in Bristol, where he open'd his Bundle to deliver a Letter to be forwarded over the ferry to Mrs. Reed, and leaving his Bundle in the Barr Room while he Stept out, on his return the whole of his Letters were carried off, and no person could give any Accott of them, and after Enquiring and getting all the Assistance he could to Endeavour

2 See nos. 246, 253, 258, 272, 273, 279, 298, post.

[186] Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XII. 124; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 1269.

2 The name is spelled Bessonet in the Journals.
3 Bristol, Pa.

the obtaining them, their Searches were fruitless, and he is here without a single Letter. As your Letters may be of the utmost Consequence, and the Enemy may derive great Advantages from the knowledge of their Contents (as I have no Doubt but they will soon be in possession of them) I have judg'd it proper without waiting for the Meeting of Congress in the Morning to dispatch this Express to you, to give you this Intelligence that you may as far as possible Guard against the Movements the Enemy may take in Consequence of the Intelligence they may gain by the possession of those letters, and that you may Take such Steps as this Accident may Suggest to you from the particulars of your Letters as necessary to Counteract the Attempts of the Enemy. I however hope that your Letters, should they fall into their hands will not afford them much Comfort, nor give them any great Prospects of advantages, tho' I shall be unhappy until I know the Contents, and Beg by the Return of this Express you will send me a Copy of them as it will be a great Relief to Congress to Receive the earliest accots.

I shall early in the morns send to Bristol and have a strict sea [rch] made, and Recover the Letters if possible, a[nd] detect the persons who Rob'd the mail.*

You will Excuse this hasty Letter, and wrote in great Agitation and hurry, as I would not lose a moment in sending it off.

187. WILLIAM HOOPER TO THE PRESIDENT OF the
NORTH CAROLINA CONVENTION.1

Honoured Sir,

PHILADELPHIA, Oct 29. 1776.

By my worthy Colleague Mr Penn, I do myself the honour to transmit a resolution of the Continental Congress which bears immediate relation to the State of North Carolina.2 The Congress having been informed that the Armed vessels belonging to the Enemy have lately quitted the River of Cape fear, and have proceeded to the Northward, have bestowed their thoughts upon the practicability of fortifying that entrance into your state, and excluding the British Men of War. The importance of such a measure must weigh as powerfully with you as with them, and I am well assured that nothing will be wanting on your part to carry it into Execution with all possible dispatch.

You will observe that this is to be executed at the Expence of your own particular state; a recommendation of a similar kind went to South Carolina, in consequence of which they have erected very great and very expensive fortifications at their own cost. It becomes Oeconomy in you to bear this Expence yourself, rather than by making it Continental, expose yourself to pay your proportion of the large fortifications which

4 See the Journals, Oct. 29, 31, Nov. 6, 20, 27, Dec. 12. A reply to this letter, Nov. 1, by R. H. Harrison, Washington's secretary, is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 464. See also Washington's Writings (ed. Ford), V. 25. [187]1 N. C. Hist. Comm.; N. C. Col. Recs., X. 871.

2 See the Journals, Oct. 29.

* This probably refers to the resolve of Nov. 4, 1775.

have been or may hereafter be erected in the Eastern States. Your proportion only of the Connecticut forts would amount to as much as the whole of those proposed for your colonial security. In this case therefore it will be political (at least for us) to suffer each state to bear its own burdens.

Should the Convention think it proper to apply to the Continentl. Congress for the Assistance of an Engineer to execute this proposal, I shall upon being informed thereof immediately take the proper steps to procure one and send him on.*

Sir

188. JOHN WITHERSPOON TO HORATIO GATES.1

PRINCETON Octr 30, 1776

. It gave me much Concern that you had not an immediate and fully satisfying answer to your Letter to Congress relating to the dissolving the Court Martial. There was a full and ample report brought in upon it by the board of War but it was postponed after some Debate for a little and many things being thrust in that seemed to require immediate Despatch it was some time before it was brought in again and the second time when it was just about to be almost unanimously agreed to by the artful Management of some who wanted a little Alteration made it was postponed again by the Demand of a paper which was not at hand and since that time your friends thought it not worth while to resume it.2 I must however assure you that by far the greatest part of the Congress have a very high sense of your importance and services in a particular Manner for discouraging to the utmost of your power Colonial Jealousies and Distinctions.

I have written to General Maxwell that he is indebted to you for a very honourable Mention of him in your Letter to Congress which was read at the last promotion of General Officers when he could certainly have been promoted but for some of his friends here. . . . .

189. BENJAMIN RUSH TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA COUNCIL OF SAFETY (THOMAS WHARTON, JR.).1

Sir

In consequence of the letter from Mr. Fisher to the Counsel of Safety of Pennsylvania being laid before Congress, the Congress resolved that the board of war should immediately order a part of a Virginia regiment now on the Eastern Shore of Maryland to march to Dover there to wait

4 See Hooper's letter of Oct. 26, N. C. Col. Recs., X. 862. [188] N. Y. Hist. Soc., Gates Papers, VII.; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 1293. 2 The reference is to the court-martial of Col. Moses Hazen. See, in the Journals, Sept. 18, the "postponed " articles in a report of the board of war. When the second postponement took place cannot certainly be made out.

8 The promotion of general officers referred to is probably that of Aug. 9. See Maxwell's memorial, Aug. 28 (read in Congress Sept. 6), in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 1204. He was made a brigadier-general Oct. 23.

[189]1 Library of Congress, Personal; Pa. Arch., first ser., V. 58.

for such Orders as the future accounts they shall receive from the Sussex tories shall render necessary.

2

Friday. [November 1, 1776.]3

Sir,

190. WILLIAM HOOPER TO THE NORTH CAROLINA
PROVINCIAL CONGRESS.1

PHILADELPHIA, November 1st, 1776.

I take the freedom thro' you to communicate to the Honourable the Convention the memorial of several of the prisoners from North Carolina now confined in the Gaol of this City. Their confinement tho' accompanied with every circumstance of humanity which the publick security will admit of must however as the Winter advances become more irksome, from a scarcity of cloathing an inconvenience which at this time it will be very difficult to relieve. I shall not take the freedom to intrude my opinion upon the Conventions. I may be permitted to say that I lament that conduct which has drawn upon them the resentment of their injured Country. I feel sincerely for their distressed families, and earnestly wish they may be restored to their homes as soon as such a measure can take place without hazarding the safety of North Carolina.2

Sir,

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

PHILADA. Novr. 5th. 1776.

The Congress, apprehensive that Commissioners from some of the States for the Purpose of appointing Officers in the Army under the new Establishment, may not have arrived at the Camp, and at the same Time fully and deeply impressed with the Necessity of recruiting the Army to

2 See the Journals, Nov. 1. The letter of Henry Fisher referred to is probably that of Oct. 25, in Pa. Arch., first ser., V. 53. See also no. 168, ante, and no. 192, post. The letter is endorsed: "From Doctr. Rush Novr. 1st 1776.”

On the same day (presumably; the date is merely "Friday") Rush addressed the following note to the president of the Pennsylvania council of Safety (copied from the original, then in possession of Mr. Stan. V. Henkels of Philadelphia):

The enclosed petition was referred to the council of Safety by the Congress. He is entitled I believe to half pay from our State agreeable to some late resolutions of congress."

The petition referred to is probably that of Ezekiel Letts, in Pa. Arch., first ser., V. 57, to which Rush has appended an endorsement, dated Oct. 31, 1776. There is no mention of the case in the Journals. The resolutions referred to are of Aug. 26. [190] N. C. Col. Recs., X. 888.

2 The memorial of the prisoners, dated Oct. 31, accompanies this letter of Hooper in N. C. Recs. See the Journals, Oct. 17; cf. ibid., Dec. 20, 22, 23, 1776, Jan. 9, 1777. See also no. 391, post. Hooper's letter and the memorial were laid before the North Carolina congress Tuesday, Nov. 19, and consideration referred to the following Thursday. The matter was not, however, then taken up. For the case of Brig.-Gen. Donald MacDonald, see a letter from him to the board of war, Sept. 7, 1776, in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 191, and consult the Journals, passim.

[191]1 Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XC. 7; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 514.