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The Congress, upon reconsidering the vote of the 11th. inst. have come to a Resolution expressing their approbation of your Conduct in declining to publish it in general Orders."

The Multiplicity of Business which the Congress left unfinished at the Time of their departure from Philada. has induced them to appoint a Committee of three Gentlemen with full powers to perfect the Business in such a Manner as they shall judge proper.*. . . .

Sir,

255. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO
ROBERT MORRIS.1

BALTIMORE Decr. 23d. 1776.

Your several Favours of the 13th. 14th. 16th. and 17th. inst. have been duely recd. in the Order of their respective Dates, and laid before Congress. In Consequence of which, I am directed to transmit you the enclosed Resolves.3

The Congress, concurring in Opinion with you, that a Committee should be appointed in the City of Philada. to take care of the public Interest, and at the same Time, highly approving of the Zeal and Attention you have particularly discovered to the Welfare of your Country since their Departure from that City, have nominated Mr. Clymer, Mr. Walton, and yourself to execute such Continental Business as it may be necessary to transact in Philadelphia.*

Be pleased to acquaint Mr. Peters, that he is directed by the Board of War to repair to Baltimore as soon as possible, where his Services are judged absolutely necessary by Congress."

Sir

[P. S.] Pray forward the Inclos'd to the General by Express

256. ROBERT MORRIS TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.1

PHILADA. Decr. 23d. 1776

I had the honor to receive your obliging favour of Yesterday by Colo Moylan. the Contents give a most mellancholly aspect to our affairs and I wish to Heaven it may be in our power to retrieve them it is useless at this period to examine into the causes of our present unhappy situation,

8 See no. 242, note 2, ante.

4 See the Journals, Dec. 21, and no. 245, ante, no. 255, post.

[255]1 Library of Congress, Papers Cont. Cong., no. 58, f. 1; Mass. Hist. Soc., Hancock Letter-Book, VI. 81; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1369.

2 Morris's letters are in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1198, 1213, 1239, and

1254. See also his letter of Dec. 21, ibid., III. 1331.

3 Sundry resolves of Dec. 20, 21.

4 See no. 245, ante.

5 See the Journals, Dec. 21. Cf. no. 245, ante.

[256]1 Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XII. 301; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1373.

unless that examination wou'd be productive of a cure for the evils that surround us. in fact those causes have long been known to such as wou'd open their Eyes. the very consequences of them was often foretold, and the measures execrated by some of the best Friends of America; but in vain, an obstinate partiality to the habits and Customs of one part of this Continent has predominated in the Publick Councils, and too little attention been paid to others. To Criminate the Authors of our errors wou'd not avail, but we cannot see ruin staring us in the Face without thinking of them. It has been my fate to make an ineffectual opposition to all short enlistments to Colonial appointment of Officers and to many other measures that I thought pregnant with mischiefs, but these things, either suited the genius of habbits or squared with the interests of some States that had sufficient influence to prevail, and nothing is now left, but to extricate ourselves from the difficulties in which we are involved if we can. let us try our utmost, man can do no more.

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257. WILLIAM WHIPPLE TO JOSIAH BARTLETT.1

My Dear Sir,

BALTIMORE 23 Decr. 1776

I have not heard a word from New Hampshire for more than a month past, but I hope the new leavies are nearly compleated. I expect there will be another Regiment required of our state as the prevailing opinion is that the Army must be augmented on the new establishment." Congress adjournd from Philaa the 11th inst. and met here the 20 are now doing business with more spirit than they have for some time past. I hope the air of this place which is much purer than that of Philaa will brace up the weak nerves. I think it already has that affect.

Dear Sir:

258. SAMUEL CHASE TO JOHN SULLIVAN.1

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ANNAPOLIS, December 24, 1776.

I thank you for your letter of the 12th November, which I received a few days before the Congress left Philadelphia.

· . . .

I perfectly agree with you as to the impropriety of our military system. The several States will forever be influenced by local attachments. I am convinced the nomination to office will, in many instances, be very injudicious. If we expect to succeed in the present war, we must change our mode of conduct. The business of the Congress must be placed in different hands. Distinct and precise departments ought to be established. A gentleman of the military must be of the Board of War.2.

[257]1 Dartmouth College Lib., Bartlett Corr., vol. I., 1774-1778.

2 Cf. the letter to Langdon written the following day, no. 259, post.

[258]1 Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1395.

post.

2 See the Journals, Dec. 26; cf. nos. 185, 246, 253, ante, 272, 273, 279, 298, note 7,

259. WILLIAM WHIPPLE TO JOHN LANGDON.1

My dear Sir:

BALTIMORE, 24th December, 1776.

My last from Philadelphia I think was a day or two before Congress adjourned from that place, which was the 11th instant. They met here the 20th, and are now doing business with spirit. The near approach of the enemy to that city struck such a panick in all orders of people there, except Tories, (of which you know there are not a small number,) that the contagion seized the nerves of some members of C—, which caused a removal to this place, which I assure you was much against my inclination; however, I hope it's all for the best.3. .

I should be very happy if I could hear the levies for the new Army were completed in the Eastern States. I expect there will be a still further requisition. It is absolutely necessary that we should have a very formidable Army in the field immediately. I hope every friend of America in the several States will forward this business with every possible exertion.*

The accounts from France, which are down to October, are very favourable. I wish, for the consolation of my friends, I was at liberty to communicate them, but circumstances will not admit of it; but I can say thus much, in the words of a correspondent, "A general war in Europe seems unavoidable.'

My Dear,

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260. OLIVER WOLCOTT TO MRS. WOLCOTT.1

BALTIMORE TOWN, 25 Decr. 1776

I am still here alone from Connecticut which I do not very well know what else to attribute to, except that affairs since last July Wear such a benign Aspect as to render the Circumstance of a Deligation a Matter of a good deal of Indifferance.2 . . . .

P. S. . . . . At present I have no other objections against this Town of which in some future Letter I may give you a particular Acco. of, than that it is too distant from my Freinds, and is too dirty and too dear.3

[25911 Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1397; Letters by Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, and Others, p. 67.

2 Actually, Dec. 12.

3 See no. 244, note 2, ante.

4 Cf. no. 257, ante, and nos. 264, 268, post.

5 "A general war is undoubtedly at hand in Europe." Deane to Morris, Sept. 17, Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 148.

[260] Conn. Hist. Soc., Oliver Wolcott Papers, vol. II., no. 29.

2 Cf. nos. 215, 222, 244, ante.

8 Such was the general wail that went up from members of Congress concerning Baltimore. Cf. no. 262, post. In a letter to his wife, Jan. 1, 1777, Wolcott says: "How long the Congress will continue here will depend on Contingences. for myself I wish it might not be long, for it is infinitely the most dirty Place I ever was in. No one can Walk about here but in Boots. the Air and Paths are in the same Condition that they are with us the latter End of March and beginning of April." Conn. Hist. Soc., Oliver Wolcott Papers, vol. II., no. 30.

261. MATTHEW THORNTON TO THE PRESIDENT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE (MeSHECH Weare).1

Hono. Sir;

BALTIMORE, 25th. Decr. 1776.

The near Approach of the Enemy to Philadelphia, the slowness of the Militia, and the advice of Friends indus'd Congress, to adjourn to this Town, which is about 110 Miles Southwest from Philadelphia. By our last advices the Militia are joining our army in great numbers, from which we have great hopes that G. How and his army will soon be in our power, or Return to New York. The Congress have encourag [em]ent of Assistance by the Spring. Nothing will be wanting on their part, to Support independence, Defeat the Enemy, and Render the united States, Great Honorable and Happy.

An inexcusable Neglect in the Offrs, want of Fidility, Honour, and Humanity, in the Drs and averice in the Suttlers, has Slain ten Soldiers to the Enemies one, and will Soon prevent every man of Common Sense from putting his Life and Fortune in the Power of Such as Destroy both without pity or mercy. I have propos'd to Congress, that every State in future Should Appoint one or more Suttlers, as they think proper for their own men to be Supplied by a Committee Appointed by said State with everything Necessary for sick and well men, at a price Stipulated by said State, the Suttlers and Committee to be paid by and accountable to said State, and A Superintendent, who shall have no other Business but to see that every Soldier Belonging to the State is properly Supplied and Supported, agreeable to their Circumstances, and that proper Stopages be made for what they Receive when they are Receiving their wages.

The Congress approve of the method, but say it is the Business and Duty of each State to take Care of their own men and they Expect they will.3

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Sir,

262. WILLIAM ELLERY TO THE GOVERNOR OF RHODE ISLAND
(NICHOLAS COoke).1

BALTIMORE, December 25th, 1776.

You have doubtless before this heard of the Removal of Congress to this Place. This is the first Opportunity I have had and this is circuitous (via Boston) to inform you of it. The Enemy was so near and Affairs in the City in such Confusion, that it was improper and unsafe to continue there, and for Reasons too long for a Letter Baltimore was fixed upon as the most suitable Place for holding Congress in for the

[261]1 N. Y. Pub. Lib., Emmet Coll., no. 1545; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1418. 2 For some comments on the town of Baltimore, see a letter from Thornton to Weare, Jan. 23, 1777, in Charles Thornton Adams, Matthew Thornton of New Hampshire: a Patriot of the American Revolution, p. 49.

Cf. the Journals, Nov. 8, 9, and nos. 203, 215, ante.

[262]1 R. I. Arch., Letters to the Governors, 1776-1777, p. 76; Staples, R. I. in Cont. Cong., p. 110; R. I. Col. Recs., VIII. 167; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1416.

present. I should like the Place well enough if it was less distant from the Army, less dirty and less expensive.".

If the army under Clinton should receive a mortal Wound from the brave New-Englanders it would in my Opinion bring the War to a speedy Close; whereas if this Opportunity, of the Division of the British Army, should be neglected or not improved, the War in all Probability will be protracted to a great Length, if not speedily issued in our Destruction, in the Destruction of all We hold dear; For We have good Reason to think that a Reinforcement of Twenty thousand Men will be sent over next Spring. By a Letter from an unknown, but I suppose a good Hand, read in Congress this Day, it appears that the Court of London had attempted and were attempting by every Means they could devise to procure Aid from every Power in Europe, or to induce them to a Neutrality; and the Writer of the Letter gave it as his Opinion that what they could collect in Germany, together with Recruits raised in England, Scotland and Ireland, would amount to about that Number, and that Russia would not furnish them with any Men. From hence the Necessity appears that We should act in every Quarter this winter with the Spirit of Men contending for an invaluable Prize.

My dear Sir

263. SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES Warren.1

BALTIMORE IN MARYLAND Decr 25 1776

The Congress is here, scituated conveniently enough and doing Business. You will ask me perhaps, How we came here. I confess I did not see the Necessity of removing so soon; but I must think I misjudgd because it was ruled otherwise, not indeed until the Opinions of Putnam and Mifflin then in Philadelphia, had been taken. The Truth is, the Enemy were within seventeen Miles of us, and it was apprehended by some that the People of Pennsylvania, influenced by Fear Folly or Treachery, would have given up their Capital to appease the Anger of the two Brothers and atone for their crime in suffering it to remain so long the Seat of Rebellion.2.

We have this day receivd a Letter from General Schuyler, which has occasiond the passing a Resolution, forwarded to you, I suppose by this opportunity. The General says he is informd that the Levies are making very tardily.3.

2 Cf. nos. 240, 242, 244, note 2, 260, ante, and nos. 282, 295, 332, note 2, 347, post. In a letter to Governor Cooke, Jan. 4, 1777, Ellery says: "I thought that Philadelphia was the dearest place that ever I knew, Baltimore exceeds it. On this Account, on Account of its Distance from the Scene of War, and on Account of its being the dirtiest Place I ever saw, I most sincerely wish myself back to Philadelphia, which I left with great reluctance." MSS. of the late William D. Ely of Providence.

There was no meeting of Congress Dec. 25, and there is no indication what letter is referred to. Cf. Benjamin Rush to Richard Henry Lee, Dec. 20, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1308.

[263]1 N. Y. Pub. Lib., Samuel Adams Papers; Writings of Samuel Adams (ed. Cushing), III. 329; Wells, Life of Samuel Adams, II. 455.

2 See no. 244, note 2, ante. Cf. nos. 249, ante, 298, post.

See the Journals, Dec. 24. Schuyler's letter, dated Dec. 10, is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1160.

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