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assured the Business, the Interest of these States require a full Representation. We have not 30 Members in Congress, and it is not only improper, but impossible, for so small a Number to conduct so very important Business. be pleased to communicate these my Sentiments to our General Assembly."

We hourly expect to hear of some important News from Camp.
I am, Gent. with Regard and Respect,

Sir

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328. ROBERT MORRIS TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.1

PHILADA. Jany 31st. 1777

I wrote to Congress respecting the removal of the stores from hence they are averse to it unless absolutely necessary but as the acct we then gave of Genl. Putnams Force at Prince Town was too sanguine I will mention it again and be governed by their orders for I confess I think such removal at this time would have a bad effect and retard many usefull operations.2.

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329. FRANCIS Lewis to the PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK CONVENTION (ABRAHAM TEN BROECK).1

Sir

BALTIMORE 31st. Jany. 1777.

My last was of the 16th. Instant to the Honble the Convention in answer to your favor of the 1st. Currt. I therein advised the urgent necessity of sending a sufficient number of Delegates to represent our State in Congress, myself being the onely member attending for above six Weeks past. our State have been deprived of their vote on Questions in my opinion of some concequence, and altho' Congress endeavors to avoid partiality as a collective body, yet it will imperceptably Steal into the minds of individuals, perhaps without their thinking so. permit me to observe that the four N. E. States are allways represented.*.

Dear Sir

330. FRANCIS LEWIS TO JOHN MCKESSON.1

1

BALTIMORE 31st. Janu[a]ry. 1777

Your favor of the 17th. Instant and am concerned to find that the appointment of Coll. Warner should give umbrage to any Gentlemen in our State; when it was moved in Congress several objections was made to the motion, was at length put to the Vote when a majority appeared

5 Cf. nos. 326, ante, 329, 343, 351, post.

[328]1 Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XIII. 156.

2 See the Journals, Jan. 28.

[329]1 N. Y. State Lib., Revolutionary Papers, IX. 48; Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., II. 378. 2 See nos. 268, 292, 312, 326, 327, ante, and nos. 330, 363, 402, post.

[330]1 N. Y. State Lib., Revolutionary Papers, IX. 49; Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., II. 378.

2

to be for the question. this I can venture to assure you that in all debates of this kind Congress seems determined to put all disputes between individuals, and even between States about property out of sight, as debates of this kind the last year between the States of Connecticut and Pensylvania took up the whole attention of Congress to the great detriment of the service and but to very little effect. I am well satisfied in my own mind that Congress has not the least Idea as a collective body of suffering any State to be dismembered whatever the secret views of individuals may be, but permit me to say that to leave our State so long unrepresented in Congress is a fault when I observe to you that the four NE States allways keep a full representation when in some debates those States may be injured who are not represented; Congress has often complained to me of this neglect, and indeed urged it in their public resolves but to no effect hitherto;-I hope the Convention will Speedily remedy this Evil. I have for this six weeks past been the only member to represent our State in Congress. let me beg you would make this known to the Convention, and believe me to be sincerly

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I find by your Favour of the 6th. that the order for importing Flower was at Hand; the other for Rice was sent by Capt Doughty. With respect to the Quantity, I think it was not the Intention of Congress to limit either. The affair of the Salt is extraordinary, and which cannot be easily justifyed upon any principle of authority or expediency.3 inclosed is your Brothers Commission in Consequence of his Appointment as Dep. Ad. General; Mr Hancock informs me that he has sent one before and supposes it miscarryed. I am in Haste

Joseph Trumbull Esqr.

Sir your very hum Ser.

E. GERRY

2 Seth Warner was elected, July 5, 1776, colonel of a regiment to be raised out of the officers who served in Canada. A difficulty soon arose concerning the major of his regiment, Elisha Painter (see the Journals, Sept. 12, 1776, Jan. 10, 18, Apr. 7, 22, 25, 1777), and dissatisfaction with Warner's commission soon made its appearance in New York. See no. 193, ante; also Schuyler to Congress, Nov. 21, Dec. 10, in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 796, 1160; to Governor Trumbull, Dec. 19, ibid., III. 1301; and the N. Y. convention to Washington (undated), ibid., III. 1264. See also ibid., III. 503. Cf. the Journals, June 30, and no. 532, post.

3 Cf. no. 329, ante.

[331]1 Conn. State Library, Joseph Trumbull Papers, no. 71.

2 See no. 287, ante.

3 Cf. nos. 113, 145, 162, 166, 172, ante.

4 See Trumbull's letter, Nov. 18, 1776, to William Williams, in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1497 (cf. no. 287, note 4, ante), and Schuyler to Congress, Dec. 30, ibid., III. 1495. John Trumbull was elected deputy adjutant-general Sept. 12, 1776. See nos. 123, 124, ante, nos. 415, 419, post.

My dear Sir,

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332. WILLIAM HOOPER TO ROBERT MORRIS.1 BALTIMORE February 1. 1777.

I lament, my dear Sir, the very small representation which America presents in Congress the members will soon be reduced to the number of 22,2 how unequal to the importance of its councils! I am sorry to say that I think they already savour of the truth of an Observation contrasted to that in holy Writ. That in the Multitude of Counsellors there is wisdom. Some of the middle and Southern colonies have much to answer for in their want of representation. It is a Crime however which carries its own punishment with it, and if there are two Interests in America, that must necessarily prevail which always has its advocates on the spot to promote it, while the other is deserted by those whom every tie of honour, Duty and publick virtue should induce to a different conduct. New York Delaware, Maryland may almost as well desert the Cause as so lamely support it by their appearance in its publick Councils.3. . .

I wish some expedient could be fallen upon to put our monied matters in a proper train the demands upon us at present are immense and must continue so, like beginners in every thing else we want Oeconomy or rather want System. Unless officers are appointed competent to the management of our funds we must be ruined, from a false parsimony in saving hundreds in salaries of proper Officers we are sporting away millions in the want of them. I wish the Loan Office may suceed at 4 p Cent the Southern Colonies will not consent to raise it they consider the Eastern Governments as in possession of almost all the Continental currency, and the rise to 5 as only a prelude to a higher demand and that in proportion to our necessities.*.

Sir

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333. THE COMMITTEE OF SECRET CORRESPONDENCE TO
WILLIAM BINGHAM.1

BALTIMORE IN MARYLAND Ist. Feby. 1777

As we shall write you shortly again our attention at present will be confined chiefly to your favor of Decemr. 6th. 1776, in which you mention the misconduct of Captn. Patterson. We have laid your letter before Congress, and they have appointed a Committee to consider the most proper

[332]1 Stan. V. Henkels, Catalogue, no. 1183, item 32 (facsimile); N. Y. Hist. Soc., Collections: Revolutionary Papers, I. 415; Hist. Mag., XIV. 87.

2 In the earlier part of this letter Hooper says, after speaking of a recent severe illness: "I am now recovering, and God willing propose moving southward in a few days. Nelson by advice of a Physician goes to morrow. He is in a bad state of Health. Harrison is still ill and unless he is more attentive to Exercise and Regimen I fear the consequences will be serious. With one united voice we ascribe this catalogue of Ills to this place. I declare to you the Congress presents such a scene of yellow death like faces, that you would imagine Rhadamanthus had shifted his quarters and was holding court in Baltimore." Cf. nos. 260, 262, 282, 295, 304, ante, 340, 344, note 2, post.

3 In the passage omitted Hooper discusses the Pennsylvania delegation, characterizing in particular Wilson and Ross, with some comment upon the course of John Dickinson.

4 See no. 326, note 8, ante.

[333]1 Collection of the late Garrett D. W. Vroom, Trenton; Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 256; Sparks, Dipl. Corr. Rev., I. 255.

steps to be taken in this business, that speedy and condign punishment may be applied to Capn. Patterson, when his crime shall be duly enquired into and established 2-The Congress having an utter abhorrence of all irregular and culpable violation of the law of nations, and that friendship and respect, which they entertain for the French Nation. We wish, you would communicate this to their Excellencies the Governor and General of Martinique-Congress has referred the matter of remittance for discharge of the obligation you and Mr. Harrison have entered into, to the State of Maryland, from whence you will no doubt receive remittance as soon as the British Ships of War now in Chesapeake Bay will permit.

My dear Sir,

Your most obedt. hume. Servts.

BENJA. HARRISON

RICHARD HENRY LEE

WILL HOOPER

ROBT MORRIS, at Philada.

1

334. SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN.1

BALTIMORE Feb. 1, 1777.

The Proceedings of the Committee of the four New England States have been read in Congress and are now under the Consideration of a Committee of the whole. They are much applauded as being wise and salutary.....

P. S. I forgot to tell you that, a fair Occasion offering, I moved in Congress that the Eldest son of our deceasd Friend Genl. Warren might be adopted by the Continent and educated at the publick expense. The Motion was pleasing to all and a Committee is appointed to prepare a Resolve. A Monument is also proposd in Memory of him and Genl. Mercer whose youngest Son is also to be adopted and educated. But these things I would not have yet made publick.3

335. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO THE MARYLAND ASSEMBLY.1

Gentlemen,

BALTIMORE, Feb'y. 1st, 1777.

In Consequence of Information that a Number of disaffected People in the Counties of Somerset and Worcester in the State of Maryland had

2 Capt. William Patterson of the schooner Dolphin captured and detained, near St. Pierre, Martinique, an English vessel bearing a flag of truce from the governor of Dominica to the general of Martinique. See Arch. of Md., XVI. 121, 122, 127-128, 136, 151. See also the Journals, Jan. 28, no. 322, ante, and no. 338, post. Bingham's letter of Dec. 6 has not been found.

[334] Warren-Adams Letters, I. 286; Writings of Samuel Adams (ed. Cushing), III. 350.

2 See no. 323, note 2, ante.

66

3 See the Journals, Jan. 31, Feb. 1, Apr. 8, 12, and no. 411, post. Adams also mentions his motion in a letter to his wife, Feb. 1, adding: Communicate this only to a few Friends till you hear further of it." N. Y. Pub. Library, Samuel Adams Papers. [335] Mass. Hist. Soc., Hancock Letter-Book, VI. 134; Library of Congress, Papers Cont. Cong., no. 58, pt. II., f. 127.

proceeded such Lengths, as to take up Arms agt. their Country, I am directed by Congress to transmit to you a Memorial from the Inhabitants of those Counties, together with the Depositions which accompanied the same. The dangerous Nature and Tendency of this Insurrection, require that the most vigorous and effectual Measures be immediately taken to suppress it. I am therefore to request you will comply with the enclosed Resolves of Congress for this End. Should the Exertions of your Militia be apprehended to be ineffectual, the Congress on your representing the Matter to them, will readily order any additional Assistance that shall be thought necessary.2.

336. BENJAMIN RUSH, DIARY.1

[February 4, 1777.]

Upon Motion in Congress whether the meeting held by the four New Engd States by deputies at Providence Decemr 25 1776 was a proper one and whether it did not stand in need of the Approbation of Congress to make it valid.

It was said by Mr Saml Adams. That a right to assemble upon all occasions to consult measures for promoting liberty and happiness was the priviledge of freemen-that it was contested by Govr Hutchinson and that it was dreaded only by tyrants.

Mr Richd Henry Lee. It was said on the same side of the question that we were not yet confederated-therefore no law of the Union infringed.

Col: Wilson on the negative said that the design in the committee of the 4 New England States in sending their proceedings to Congress was to demand their approbation

That the same was clearly intimated by the tenor of the appointments from Rhode Island and Connecticut-that the committee had commanded, and countermanded continental troops-that the said troops were to be paid by the continent-therefore that the business the Committee transacted was wholly continental and of course required the approbation of Congress.

Mr John Adams said that he lately travelled thro' New Engd and that he was sure that the approbation of the Congress of the meeting would give pleasure to the committee and their constitutents. That their meeting was founded in necessity, that Altho' we were not confederated the same principles of equity and reason should govern us as if we were united by a confederacy-that the four New England States bore the same relation to the Congress that four counties bore to a single State. These four counties have a right to meet to regulate roads, and affairs that relate to the poor, but they have no right to tax or execute any other branch of legislation. In like manner the four New Engd States, or any other four

2 See Arch. of Md., XVI. 109-112, and passim (index, Somerset County, Worcester County); also the Journals, Jan. 31, Feb. 1, 4, 6, 10, 12, 17, and nos. 341, 347, 443, 463, post. [336] Library Company of Philadelphia, Ridgway Branch, Rush MSS.

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