request the favour of you, when your health will permit, to furnish me with such a plan as you shall think best adapted to answer the designs of Congress. My not having the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with you, will, I hope, be a sufficient appology for my addressing you by Letter. I am Sir, Your obedt hle servt THOS NELSON, JR.

Το

Major-General Gates.
Baltimore

280. RICHARD HENRY LEE TO WILLIAM SHIPPEN.1

My Dear Sir,

BALTIMORE ISt. January 1776 [1777]

The removal from Philadelphia was not a measure of mine, but had my hearty disapprobation so long as disapproving availed anything; but when go they would, I endeavored to put the best face on it.2.

My dear Sir

281. ELBRIDGE GERRY TO JOSEPH HAWLEY.'

BALTIMORE I Jany 1777

The adjournment of Congress to this place I confess gave me pain, but the air is so much more exhilirating that some capital Measures touching our Foreign Affairs have been taken which I think will be very serviceable, and I hope it on the whole will prove serviceable.2. . . .

P. S. The Tories must be exported; Bonds will not answer the purpose, prisons We have not a Sufficiency, and they are not worth hanging. I observe in a very good Act of yours the Word "Colony " is again used, does it not look like Diffidence in your Right to the Terms of an “ Independant State"?

282. WILLIAM HOOPER TO JOSEPH HEWES.1

My dear Hewes

I was favoured with two letters from you by Capt. Allon. I lament your hard fortune, and unless some measures are immediately taken to prevent the infamous practices of the Privateers, America will soon be in a state of general confusion-One Part warring against another, and the defenceless Southern colonies become a devoted prey to their more formidable Eastern neighbours. I laid your letter relative [to] the Capture of the Brig Joseph before the congress without any embellishment or reserve. The New England Gentlemen felt the force of the Imputa

[280]1 Letters of Richard Henry Lee (ed. Ballagh), I. 166.

2 Cf. nos. 247, 249, 263, ante, 286, 298, 302, post.

[281] N. Y. Pub. Lib., Bancroft Coll., Hawley Papers, II. 2 Cf. no. 280, ante.

[282]1 Furnished by courtesy of Mr. James H. Manning of Albany.

2 The "letter from Mr. Hughes" mentioned in the Journals, Dec. 31.

8

tion but considered it as too general. I have an order that Our President should write the President and Council of Massits requesting to make an immediate enquiry after the Vessell and the Pirates who have taken her, secure her and them and report immediately to congress. I have also procured a reference of your letter to the marine Committee, who I hope will take some spirited resolves to avenge the Injury done you and to prevent the repetition of such unjustifiable depredations. Morris is not here, but I have requested him in a letter which I wrote him yesterday* enclosing yours to correspond with me upon the subject and exert his utmost endeavours to interest Congress in favour of your Application, by a publick epistle to our Honours. This is all which can be done at present, when I hear more particularly from you I shall prosecute every expedient to improve such information to your benefit.*

The Congress upon Part of G Howes' Army advancing within 9 Miles of Cooper's ferry, by the advice of Mifflin and Putnam removed to this dirty infamous extravagant hole, where with all possible Oeconomy we live at the rate of 50/ per day, Every necessary of life being double what. they cost us in Philadelphia. and before we left that everything was

Sir,

283. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO

GEORGE WASHINGTON.1
1

BALTIMORE Jany 1st. 1777.

I am to acknowledge the Receipt of your several Favours to the 27th Ulto. Your Letter of that Date, containing the very agreeable Intelligence of the Success of the Continental Arms under your Command, was last Night delivered to me by your Aid de Camp Col Baylor, together with the Hessian Standard. I entertain the most pleasing Expectation that our Affairs will henceforth assume a better Complexion. Your Account of the Behaviour and Spirit of the Troops, gave the highest Satisfaction to Congress; and manifests a Disposition which may prove the forerunner of future Success. . . . .

From the inclosed Resolve you will perceive Congress have determined, that a Horse, properly caparisoned, be presented to your Aid de

3 No record of such an order is found in the Journals.

4 No. 278, ante.

5 See the Journals, Feb. 4, and no. 358, post.

Cf. nos. 260, 262, ante, 295, post. See also nos. 332, note 2, 347, post. [283] Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XIII. 3; Letters to Washington (ed. Sparks), I. 317.

2 Washington's letter of Dec. 27 was read in Congress Dec. 31. It is in Writings

(ed. Ford), V. 401.

8 See the Journals, Jan. 1.

Camp Colo Baylor, and to recommend it to you to promote him to be a Colonel of a Regiment of Light Horse. As the Congress have been pleased to entrust me with the Execution of this Resolve, I must beg you will do me the Favour to give Directions to the Quarter Master, or other proper Person, to purchase as handsome a Horse for this Purpose as can be found. The Reason of my making this Application, is an Information I had received that some Light Horse were taken at Trenton, and are to be publicly sold for the Benefit of the Soldiery. .

My dear Sir,

284. SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN.1

BALTIMORE, Jany. 1, 1777.

Our Affairs in Europe look well, and additional Measures have been taken here, to establish them in that Part of the World on a solid Foundation. I assure you Business has been done since we came to this place, more to my Satisfaction than any or every thing done before, excepting the Declaration of Independence, which should have been made immediately after the 19th of April, '75.

Our Ministers abroad are directed to assure foreign Courts, that notwithstanding the artful and insidious Representations of the Emissaries of Britain to the Contrary, the Congress and People of the United States are determind to maintain their Independence at all Events..

3

By this Conveyance you will have a Resolution vesting large Powers in General Washington, for a limitted time. It became in my Opinion necessary. The Hint I gave you some time ago I still think very important. Genl. Gates arrivd here the day before yesterday. I have conversd with him upon it. He told me he had conceivd it before and wishes the Measure may be tryed. It requires Secrecy and Dispatch.*.

Sir

285. THE COMMITTEE IN PHILADELPHIA TO THE President of CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK).1

PHILADA. Jany 2. 1777

. . Lt. Colo. Johnson and Major Frazer 2 of Waynes Pensylvania Battalion called on us this morning. they say, the men in that corps are as good Soldiers as any in America, but will not reinlist on any other

[284]1 Warren-Adams Letters, I. 281; Writings, III. 337 (dated Dec. 31, 1776). 2 See the Journals, Dec. 30, 1776, and no. 274, ante.

See the Journals, Dec. 27. Cf. nos. 268, 273, 275-277, ante, 426, post.

The allusion is probably to a suggestion, in Adams's letter to Warren of Dec. 6 (Warren-Adams Letters, I. 278), that the enemy's ships might be burned while locked in the ice.

[285]1 Library of Congress, Pap. Cont. Cong., no. 137, App., f. 57, no. 133, f. 25 (letter-book copy).

2 Francis Johnston and Persifor Frazer. Schuyler touched upon the question of Wayne's battalion in his letter of Dec. 10 (Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1150), referred to a committee Dec. 24. It is not found what action, if any, Congress took concerning the matter. This letter of the Philadelphia committee was read in Congress Jan. 6.

Condition than being permitted to return home. those terms being granted them and complied with they have no doubt of getting every man, and they the Officers wou'd prefer them to fresh hands. We told them Congress had this matter before them upon the representation of Genl Schuyler etc., but they pressed us exceedingly to mention the matter to Congress and urge in favour of the Pensylvania and Jersey Troops being sent down soon as possible, as the Garrison can be easily maintained by the Eastern Militia untill the New Regiments are formed and ordered up again.3.

286. THE COMMITTEE IN PHILADELPHIA TO WILLIAM PALFREY.1 January 2nd 1777

William Palfrey Esq.
Sir,

Your letter to Congress of yesterday is now in our office, and which we shall despatch to Baltimore by Express.2 As we concur with you that the engagements with the soldi [e]ry should at all times be complied with, we shall recommend it to Congress to send you a sufficient supply of money.

In consequence of a request from his Excellency the General, We yesterday sent him Fifty Thousand Dollars for the purpose of Paying the 10 Dollars bounty you mentioned so that we hope the Army will suffer nothing untill you get a supply.3 . . . .

Dear Sir

287. ELBRIDGE GERRY TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1

BALTIMORE 2d Jany 1777

Your Favour of the 23d. Decr is just come to Hand and inclosed are the orders of Congress for importing Flower and Rice. I should have wrote by your young Gentleman, but he stopped at philadelphia. Capt Doughty will go off the 4th or 5th with 400000 Dollars, and the Loan Office Certificates will either be sent by Express or under his Care to each of the New England Commissioners, who will also receive the necessary Directions. I will move in the Morning for a Warrant on the Loan offices of Connecticut and Massachusetts for 300000 Dollars, in your Favour; which answers all that is mentioned in your Letter relative to Business."

3 Concerning the committee in Philadelphia, see nos. 245, 254, 255, ante. [286]1 Library of Congress, Pap. Cont. Cong., no. 133, f. 24.

2 See the Journals, Jan. 6.

3 See Washington's letter to Morris, Dec. 31, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1514; cf. his letter of Dec. 30, ibid., III. 1488.

[28711 Conn. State Library, Joseph Trumbull Papers, no. 70.

2 See the Journals, Nov. 28, Dec. 26, 28. Cf. no. 266, ante, and no. 331, post. A letter from Hancock to Joseph Trumbull, Jan. 1, enclosing these resolves, is in the Conn. State Library, Joseph Trumbull Papers, no. 137. Captain Doughty (presumably John Doughty; see Heitman, Hist. Reg.) and Mr. James Bate, a deputy of Trumbull, were sent by Trumbull on a mission to Washington and to Congress. See Trumbull's letters of Dec. 13, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1202, 1203.

8 See the postscript of Jan. 3, below.

I am informed that in the New York Papers is the Copy of a Letter from the C. G. to a Mem of Congress wherein Colo Reed is censured; I have not seen it, or heard to whom it is directed-but shall not be surprized if to myself.*.

[P. S.] Jany. 3d. the order proposed in the first part of this Letter having passed Congress is now inclosed." I think it will be necessary to inform yourself from the Loan Office Commrs. who of them is or may be best supplyed with Money and inform the Treasurer that he may send an order accordingly.

in the Evening- I am just come from a Visit to our good Friend General Gates who is on the Recovery, which will doubtless give you pleasure. I suspect that a mercenary party at Albany have endeavoured to gravel you in supplying the army.. pray inform me whether you can [esta]blish a Magazine of provisions at Bennington for an army of 10000 Men for three Months and keep up the usual Supplies notwithstand opposition and without the assistance of the Albany Gentleman;" and if not, whether it would be a good plan to direct a certain Quantity to be provided in or near Albany by the York convention or General Schuyler to Supply the Militia that may occasionally come in, or answer any other Demands that may be found necessary during the next Campaign? and also what Quality of provisions and Quantity should be thus ordered? I think your powers and Connections may render this needless; but as it can be done without interfering in your Department, if you think there is the le [ast] Chance of it's being necessary and advise thereto, [it] shall be adopted. the Bearer brings the Certificates to the Commissioners of the loan offices in N England.

288. SAMUEL CHASE TO THE MARYLAND COUNCIL Of Safety.1 BALTIMORE TOWN, Jany. 3rd. 1777

Gentlemen.

Mr. Carroll informs Me that an Application was heretofore made to Congress relative to the Case of Milne and Jenkins, and declined Giving any opinion. I have given the State of their Case to the Georgia Delegates. I will write you further on this Subject.2. . . .

our State is as yet unrepresented.3

The initials "C. G." are for commissary general, that is, Joseph Trumbull. An intercepted letter of Joseph Trumbull to William Williams, dated Nov. 18, 1776, was printed in Hugh Gaine's New York Gazette, Dec. 9, and was transmitted to Congress by General Schuyler in a letter of Dec. 30. The Trumbull letter is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1497; Schuyler's letter (read in Congress Jan. 13) is ibid., III. 1495. See also nos. 331, 423, post.

5 See the Journals, Jan. 3. In a letter of Mar. 5 to Congress, Trumbull says that the warrant for this $300,000 has not been received. Duplicate orders were sent by Hancock Mar. 16 (letter to Trumbull, Mar. 16, Conn. State Library, Joseph Trumbull Papers, no. 141).

The allusion is probably to Walter Livingston. See no. 124, ante.

7 Gerry first wrote “with or without the assistance". The word printed “Gentleman may be Gentlemen. See note 6, above.

"

[288]1 Md. Hist. Soc., Red Book, III. 30; Arch. of Md., XVI. 11.

2 See no. 238, ante; cf. no. 318, post.

The council's reply to this letter, Jan. 10, is in Arch. of Md., XVI. 34.