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proper and necessary in this place. We wrote Genl Washington of our appointment and proposed that he should forward his dispatches to Congress through our hands unless when they might be of such a Nature as he wou'd not choose any person shou'd see them before Congress. he approves this plan as it will ease his Correspondence with us and at the same time we shall receive information that will be necessary for our government in many affairs that will most probably come under our consideration.3.

272. WILLIAM HOOPER TO ROBERT MORRIS.1

BALTIMORE December 28th 1776.

I shall pay particular attention to the subject of Mr. Irwins' memorial and as I cannot perceive that there are grounds for a plausible pretext to refuse the prayer of it, I confide that his application to congress will be attended with success. I have made known the purpose of his errand to Middleton, Harrison and Wilson and others "who can melt at human woe." The Delegates from Char'town from whom opposition was to be expected if from any quarter, think him, too undesigning, too well disposed or too unfortunate to counteract his wishes, so at present it seems.

I am well aware of the burden of publick business with which our removal hither has incumbered you. When in Philadelphia where we took a small share of it to ourselves I have been amazed how you waded thro' it, and found leisure for your own private concerns and the enjoyment of your friends. Congress seems unanimously sensible of the Obligations which they owe you, and you may boast of being the only man whom they all agree to speak and I really believe think well of.

I earnestly wish however that we could have you here for a little while. The transactions of this and a few preceeding days have in my opinion strongly proved the necessity of it. We have moved very rapidly in business and while some compliment themselves upon increasing Industry and application, I think I can find the cause elsewhere and that the suddenness of decision may be truly attributed to ignorance of the Subject. We have been holding forth new lines to France by offering what we have not to give and provided they will conquer the whole of Newfoundland and secure the fishing, that we will most bountifully and most graciously give them one half of it for their trouble. We have found out that the Duke of Tuscany is a potentate of much consequence, while some of us are such Ignoramuses as to think him very insignificant in the naval and

2 See no. 255, ante.

8 See no. 265, ante.

[272]1 Copied from the original then in the possession of Mr. Stan. V. Henkels of Philadelphia; Henkels, Catalogue, no. 1183, item 31.

2 Thomas Irving, receiver-general of South Carolina, one of the prisoners taken by Commodore Hopkins at New Providence in March and brought to Connecticut. See Force, Am. Arch., fourth ser., V. 823, 867, fifth ser., III. 619, 791, 838, 899; also Conn. Col. Recs., XV. 263. Irving's petition was considered by Congress Jan. 2, 1777. See no. 201, note 2, ante.

military line and in this respect not worthy attention and that in commercial matters his interest will attach him to us without much sollicitation But I anticipate an amusement which you have to come. the Picture of our follies will be the more pleasing from being viewed at full length. We have given Genl. Washington large and ample powers, fully equal to the object if America means to contend and support him. Thus the Business of War will for six months to come move in the proper channels and the Congress be no longer exercised about matters of which it is supremely ignorant.

A Plan is in agitation to appoint executive powers out of doors, and resolve the business of Treasury, Board of War and of Commerce into the hands of persons not members of congress. A Committee is appointed for that purpose and you are a member of it. You will be much wanted.

I wish if your attendance is impossible that you would reduce a few tho'ts to paper upon the subject of a Chamber of Commerce which is the Hobby Horse and for which I fancy we are indebted to the Abilities of Mr. Pe.

I earnestly wish that the Congress could return to Philadelphia without hazarding the Ignominy of a second flight or the charge of Caprice. This dirty boggy hole beggars all description. We are obliged, except when the Weather paves the streets to go to Congress on Horseback, the way so miry that Carriages almost stall on the sides of them. When the Devil proffered our Saviour the Kingdoms of the World, he surely placed his thumb on this delectable spot and reserved it to himself for his own peculiar chosen seat and inheritance. As to the Inhabitants the congress can boast no acquaintance with them but what arises from their daily exorbitant claims upon our pockets. . . . . The Congress meets tomorrow altho' it is Sunday. Why, Heaven knows. I cannot conceive unless it is to give us importance in the eyes of the very respectable Inhabitants of this place.

Sir

273. BENJAMIN HARRISON TO ROBERT MORRIS.1

Board of War Decr. 29th 1776.

Congress have given up most of their Power to the Generals for the Term of six months. if this don't save your City nothing we can do will. they have also agreed to Establish Boards of War, Admiralty, Treasury and a Chamber of Commerce to be composed of members out of Congress. I had you Named to assist in forming the Plan and wish it was possible you could be here, particularly to form the Latter. I can't indeed see the use of such a Chamber as it can have the Direction of

3 See the Journals, Dec. 26. The committee made a report March 22, 1777. See no. 298, note 7, post. Presumably Robert Treat Paine. Cf. a resolution of March 21, and John Adams's Notes of Debates, in an appendix to the Journals, VI. 1072. See also nos. 273, 298, post.

[273] Copied from the original then in the possession of Mr. Stan. V. Henkels of Philadelphia; Henkels, Catalogue, no. 1183, item 18.

2 See the Journals, Dec. 27. Cf. nos. 268, ante, 275-277, post.

nothing but the Congress Trade, and that I think has been as well managed as it could be.'. . .

274. THE COMMITTEE OF SECRET CORRESPONDENCE TO THE

Gentlemen

COMMISSIONERS AT PARIS.1

BALTIMORE 30 Decemr. 1776.

Upon mature deliberation of all circumstances Congress deem the speedy declaration of France and European Assistance so indispensibly necessary to secure the Independence of these States, that they have authorized you to make such tenders to France and Spain, as they hope, will prevent any longer delay of an event, that is judged so essential to the well-being of North America. Your wisdom we know, will direct you to make such use of these powers, as will procure the thing desired on terms as much short of the concessions now offered as possible; but no advantages of this kind are proposed at the risk of a delay, that may prove dangerous to the end in view. it must be very obvious to the Court of France, that, if Great Britain should succeed in her design of subjugating these States, their Inhabitants, now well trained to arms might be compelled to become Instruments for making conquest of the French Possessions in the West Indies, which would be a sad contrast to that security and commercial benefit, that would result from the independence of North America.2. . .

The next oportunity will bring you the determination of Congress concerning the persons, that are to be sent to the Courts of Vienna, Prussia, Spain and the Grand Duke of Tuscany. In the meantime, it is hoped, that, through the medium of the Ambassadors from those Courts to that of France, you may be so fortunate, as to procure their friendly mediation for the purposes proposed by Congress.

Wishing you health, success, and many happy years we remain Honble. Gentlemen

Your most Obedt. and very Hume. Servts.

$ See nos. 272, ante, 298, post.

BENJA. HARRISON

RICHARD HENRY LEE

WILL HOOPER

ROBT MORRIS, at Philada.

[274]1 Hist. Soc. of Pa., Dreer Coll., Signers, II. 9; Am. Phil. Soc., Lee Papers, vol. I., p. 259, no. 75 (draft); Haverford College, Roberts Coll., 720 (duplicate); Washington, Department of State (draft); Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 240; Sparks, Dipl. Corr. Rev., I. 246; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1480; Letters of Richard Henry Lee (ed. Ballagh), I. 241 (printed from the draft in Am. Phil. Soc.).

2 See the resolves in the Journals, Dec. 30. Cf. the several letters of Silas Deane in Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. Robert Morris wrote to John Jay, Sept. 23: "It appears clear to me that we may very soon involve all Europe in a War by managing properly the apparent forwardness of the Court of France; it's a horrid consideration that our own Safety should call on us to involve other nations in the Calamities of War. Can this be morally right or have Morality and Policy nothing to do with each other? Perhaps it may not be good Policy to investigate the Question at this time." Correspondence of Jay, I. 84.

8 See the Journals, Dec. 27, 30; also (1777), Jan. 1, May 1, 7, 9, 12, 19, 31, June 4, 5, 27, 28, July 1. Cf. no. 284, post.

275. WILLIAM WHIPPLE TO JOSIAH BARTLETT.1

My dear Sir

BALTIMORE 31st Decr. 1776

By a circular letter from the President you'll see that the Genl. is vested with almost Dictatorial Powers this Measure was thot absolutely necessary for the Salvation of America. there is also measures taken (which I hope will be effectual) to prevent the abuses suffered by the Soldiers last Campaign. I am in no doubt that the greviences so justly Complain'd off in every department will be redressed so far as is possible, and the Causes of them removed.

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276. THE COMMITTEE IN PHILADELPHIA TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.1 PHILADA. Decembr. 31st, 1776

Sir

We have the honor to enclose herein sundry resolves of Congress just received from Baltimore by express. We have barely taken time to read them over and finding them so important we wou'd not delay the express one moment. We find by these resolves your Excellencys hands will be strengthened with very ample Powers and a new reformation of the army seems to have its origin therein. happy it is for this Country that the General of their Forces can safely be entrusted with the most unlimited Power and neither personal security, liberty or property be in the least degree endangered thereby. We shall loose no time in executing the matters assigned to us by these resolves and are most truly Your Excellencys obt Servts

ROBT MORRIS

GEO CLYMER
GEO WALTON.

[275]1 Library of J. Pierpont Morgan, Signers of the Declaration, I.

2 See the Journals, Dec. 27 and 30. Cf. nos. 268, 273, ante, 276, 277, post. The President's circular letter is printed in the Journals (ed. Ford) under Dec. 30, from a copy in the Library of Congress. It is also printed, with note showing some variations of the letter as sent to the different states, in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1478. The letter to Massachusetts is in Mass. Arch., vol. CXCVI., f. 85; to Maryland, in Md. Hist. Soc., Red Book, VI. 61 (printed in Scharf, Chron. of Baltimore, p. 155); to New Jersey, in N. J. State Lib. (printed, except a postscript, in N. J. Rev. Corr., p. 21). The letter to New York is printed in Jour. Prov. Cong., I. 770, II. 382.

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[276]1 Library of Congress, Washington Papers; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1510. 2 Cf. nos. 268, 273, 275, ante, 277, 284, 426, post.

General Washington must be invested with dictatorial power for a few months, or we are undone. The vis inertiae of the Congress has almost ruined this country." Benjamin Rush to Richard Henry Lee, Dec. 30, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1487.

Sir

277. WILLIAM ELLERY TO The Governor OF RHODE ISLAND
(NICHOLAS COOKE).1

BALTIMORE, December 31st, 1776.

I received your Letter of the 30th of November 2 and laid it before Congress, and took particular Notice of the very weak Condition of our State. Congress are sensible of its Situation; but as they have by a late resolve, which the President will by this Express transmit to you, with a circular Letter in which the Reasons for their Doings are contained, delegated to and invested Genl. Washington with the whole military Power for a limited Time, Application will properly be made to him in every Instance which respects the military Department. With Regard to the other Parts of your Letter, which were ordered to be laid before Congress, as they required no particular Observations none were made upon them either by Congress or Me.

Among other things that fell into our Hands by the Victory at Trenton, were four Standards, One of which is now in the Room where the Congress is held, and directly before Me. It is an Hessian Silken Standard.

My dear Sir

278. WILLIAM HOOPER TO ROBERT MORRIS.1

Hewes no doubt in his letter to you mentions a second piracy committed upon his property at Sea. I shall remonstrate in the firmest tone to Congress against this procedure and if they will not bring the offender to Justice I have no business here. Pray write such a letter to me upon the Subject as I may make use of in Congress to assist our much injured friend'

BALTIMORE Decr. 31, 1776

Sir,

1

279. THOMAS NELSON, JR., TO HORATIO GATES.1

BALTIMORE Decr. 31st 1776

2

Being one of a Committee appointed by Congress to prepare a plan for establishing a Board of War and Ordnance, and not having a thorough knowledge of the Duties of these Boards, I have taken the Liberty to

[277]1 R. I. Arch., Letters to the Governors, 1776-1777, p. 82; Staples, R. I. in Cont. Cong., p. 113; R. I. Col. Recs., VIII. 170; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1506.

2 Cooke's letter to Ellery, Nov. 30, is in Staples, R. I. in Cont. Cong., p. 101. Just when the letter was laid before Congress does not appear from the Journals.

See the Journals, Dec. 27, and nos. 268, 273, 275, 276, ante, 284, 426, post. [278]1 Hist. Soc. of Pa., Etting Coll., Signers, p. 43.

2 In a letter to Hewes, Jan. 1, 1777 (no. 282, post), Hooper says: "I laid your letter relative [to] the capture of the Brig Joseph before the Congress." This is evidently the "letter from Mr. Hughes' mentioned in the Journals Dec. 31. See also no. 358, post.

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[279] N. Y. Hist. Soc., Gates Papers, VII.; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1506. 2 See the Journals, Dec. 26; also no. 298, note 7, post. See also Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1509, and Hancock to Schuyler, Dec. 30, ibid., III. 1477.

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