411. SAMUEL ADAMS TO MISS MERCY SCOLLAY.1 My dear Miss Scollay PHILADELPHIA March 18, 1777 While I was in Baltimore, an opportunity presented of making a proposal which, if agreed to, would be honorary to my Friend and beneficial to his son. General Mercer having been slain in battle, or rather barbarously murdered,2 a motion was made in Congress for a monument to be erected to his memory, and that his youngest son should be educated at the expense of the continent. I did not think myself partial in judging that the services and merit of General Warren considered as a patriot or a soldier were not inferior to those of General Mercer, and therefore added to the motion that the same honor should be paid to his memory and that one of his sons should be educated. I proposed the eldest. It was agreed that my motion should be first entered on the journal, and a committee. was appointed to consider of both. Congress soon after adjourned to this place. The Gentlemen of the Committee are not all of them arrived. I am persuaded it will be agreed to in the Committee, but as the determination in the house may be uncertain, I think it best that it should not be made known abroad till we see the Events.3. Sir 412. ROGER SHERMAN TO JONATHAN TRUMBULL, JR.1 PHILADELPHIA March 20th 1777 I received your favour of the 10th Instant, by Mr Brown with a Copy of your account as settled by the Commissioners. After I saw you at Kingsbridge I returned to Congress but tarried there but a few days. the day before I went home Congress agreed to augment the Pay of the Regimental Officers. I supposed they would consider the Pay of the Staff before they dismissed the subject but it seems they did not. their principal object at that time was to establish a new Army. When I left Congress there was as full a representation of the State of Connecticut as the Assembly allowed to attend at one time. I was detained at home by sickness some considerable time. while at home I received your letter of the 22d of October but could not give you a satisfactory answer till I returned to Congress. I arrived at Baltimore the 2d of January when General Wolcott shewed me your Letter to the Delegates, dated the 16th of Novr. with the repre [411]1 Harvard Univ. Lib., Sparks, MSS., no. 49, vol. I., p. 159 (copy). 2 Cf. no. 319, ante. 3 See no. 334, note 3, ante; Gen. Joseph Warren left four orphan children, of whom the two younger were in the family of John Scollay of Boston, under the particular care of his daughter, Mercy Scollay. See the Writings of Samuel Adams (ed. Cushing), IV. 167, 169, 171, 236. In regard to a movement to have Congress provide for the three younger as well as the eldest of the Warren children, see vol. III. of these Letters, under Sept. 16, 1778; also the Journals of that date and July 1, 1780. Something of the history of the matter may be found in Frothingham, Life of Joseph Warren, pp. 542-546; I. N. Arnold, Life of Benedict Arnold, pp. 216-221; and Sparks, Life of Arnold, pp. 126-129. [412]1 Conn. Hist. Soc., Papers of Jonathan Trumbull, jr., vol. II., no. 74. 2 See the Journals, Oct. 7, 8, 1776, Jan. 30, 1777 (p. 74). Cf. no. 166, ante. sentation you had made to the Commissioners of Congress in the Northern department. I took the earliest opportunity to move Congress on the Subject, upon which the Pay of the Staff officers was referred to the Board of War. On the 27th of January the Board reported as their opinion that your Pay ought to be augmented to 75 Dollars per month which was agreed to by Congress. Upon which I immediately wrote to you enclosing a Copy of the resolution, but I suppose you were absent when the Letter arrived at Albany, as I understand by Mr Brown you have been at Lebanon about two months. There was also about the same time a sum of money, I think 500,000 Dollars, sent to the military Chest in your department. The Board of war reported in favour of augmenting the Pay of your Assistants and some other staff officers which lies before Congress not acted upon. I will move Congress to consider it." the Pay of your Assistants I am sensible is too low for the present times. I have had the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with Mr Pierce. I know him to be a Gentleman of Abilities and Merit, and strict Integrity. such persons I wish may always meet with proper encouragement from the public. A Deputy Paymaster General is allowed 6 rations and a Regimental Paymaster 3, by a resolution of Congress of the 10th of October last." As to what you mention of a neglect to give you information of the resolutions of Congress respecting the duties of your office, I am sure there has been no intention to treat you with Neglect, from any disesteem of your person or services, for I believe you have executed your Office to as good satisfaction as any Officer in the public service. The resolutions of Congress should be published monthly at least, for the information of all concerned, but Congress has not yet been able to procure it to be done: " I understand by the President that he transmits to General Schuyler what respects the Northern department, expecting that he would give the needful information to others. Perhaps General Schuyler did not know but that the resolutions which respect your office had been transmited to you from Congress, which I think would be the proper way. I have sent you copies of some resolutions in time past but know not whether they came to hand. See the Journals, Jan. 20, 30. The board of war may have held its meeting Jan. 27, but Congress only met and adjourned on that day. See, further, no. 757, post. There is a letter of Jan. 30 from Sherman to Trumbull in Conn. Hist. Soc., Papers of Jonathan Trumbull, jr., vol. II., no. 67, mentioning other resolutions but not this one. The appropriation mentioned further on was for 300,000 dollars on Jan. 30. 5 See the Journals, Jan. 20, Feb. 14 (p. 121), Apr. 1. Cf. ibid., June 12, July 2, Aug. 28 (p. 693). • John Pierce, jr., assistant paymaster. By a resolve of Oct. 10, 1776, regimental paymasters were given the rank of first lieutenants and allowed the same rations as captains. The allowance to a captain rested upon a resolve of Jan. 10, 1776. The rations of a deputy paymaster_ general and several other officers were fixed by a resolve of Oct. 21, 1776 (see also the Journals, Oct. 7, Dec. 21, 1776). In Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 1505, is a table of the pay and rations of the staff prepared in the war office Dec. 31, 1776. See no. 422, post. 8 See Trumbull's letter to the President of Congress, Nov. 16, 1776, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., III. 731. • See no. 387, note 3, ante. I must do General Wolcott the Justice to say that his not Complying with your request in your letter of the 16th of November sooner was not from any disposition to treat it with neglect, for he seemed really concerned to have the matter accomplished, but he was left alone, and the Congress moved from Philadelphia to Baltimore about the time he received the letter which necessarily occasioned the delay. I shall always take pleasure in rendering you any service in my power, and especially when it will promote the public good. I am Sir due regards Your humble Servant Jonathan Trumbull Junr. Esqr. Sir, ROGER SHERMAN 413. ROGER SHERMAN TO THE GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT (JONATHAN TRUMBULL).1 2 PHILADELPHIA, March 21st, 1777. I forgot to mention in my last the affair of the cannon which Congress requested the loan of; some gentlemen seemed much surprized at the prices of 70 and 80 pounds per ton, as some had been purchased and more engaged here at £40 this currency per ton. I understand the Salisbury cannon are not so heavy as these; therefore the difference of price is not so great as was imagined. When it was proposed to borrow them, we represented that they were wanted for the defence of the State of Connecticut, and if lent others must be immediately provided in their stead, therefore we conceived Congress would not think such a requisition reasonable, but lest giving so high a price should make a bad precedent and raise the price here, it was resolved to apply to borrow them. We gave as a reason why they could not be afforded cheaper, that the furnace was rebuilt and put in blast at a great expence for the purpose of casting some cannon for the use of that State, the scarcity of wood, the high price of coal and the distance it was carted, etc. . . 414. DANIEL ROBERDEAU TO THE GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND Being a Committee of Congress appointed to confer with Major General Greene now in this city, we find it is General Washington's settled opinion that Genl. Howe may suddenly attempt to gain this Capital. We wish that the new levies in your State may be forwarded with the utmost expedition possible: so that they may either join our troops already in the Jersies, or at least be at hand to arrrest the enemy at the Delaware, in the supposed attempt to pass it. PHILADA. March 22d 1777. [413] Mass. Hist. Soc., Collections, seventh ser., II. 35; Mass. Hist. Soc., C 81 A 6 (draft). 2 See the Journals, Feb. 12. Cf. ibid., Nov. 28, Dec. 23, 29, 1776. [414]1 Md. Hist. Soc., Red Book, IX. 11; Arch. of Md., XVI. 187. 415. JAMES LOVELL TO JOHN TRUmbull.1 J. Trumbull Esqr; Sir: March 22d [1777.] I wrote you a few Lines, by Mr Bates, in regard to yr. manner of returning your Commission. I was not aware of some circumstances, attending your appointment, which have upon this occasion been canvassed. I shall not accurately enter upon any discussion, of the propriety or Impropriety of your resignation; I shall only, as an affectionate friend, give you this early Intelligence of a number of facts, which will enable you to make a final Determination in this Matter. 3 The Commissions of several Inclos'd in Letters of less apparent resentment than your's had been readily admitted for resignation. some very cutting resolutions had been made, on insolent passages of the late Letters of S-r,2 especially on those parts which called for stigmas on you or your Brother. Immediately your Letter is open'd, and by your friends committed, instead of the resignation being instantly accepted; a favourable report was made, but overuled by a motion to postpone the consideration. Upon this G▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ G———————3 sent in a recommendatory letter, explaining the circumstances of your appointment. But this would not do; Congress are highly piqu'd at the style and manner of your demand, in a Case which will appear to you now, in the line of favour, and not of strict right. You are to know, that G- -G's power was in Canada, so that your appointment before his entrance there, was not strictly proper. Whether your first Commission was dated after any formal Debate upon this point, I cannot say, but that, and the late one are of one Date, founded on your nomination in Congress, I suppose. Every Member is entirely willing to accord you a Commission agreeable to the Date you expect; but they are as determin'd on the other Hand, to lose, even your acknowledg'd abilities, if they do not receive a Different Request from what is now before them. 5 You were certainly unacquainted with the Criticisms which may take place on GG -s power of appointment out of Canada. You are also unacquainted with the provocations which have been given to Congress for attention to the Style of the Letters of their officers, prior to the Receipt of your's. Gen: G- is attach'd to you, the Congress admit your Merit; and, while they are dispos'd to give you a Rank which [415] Conn. Hist. Soc., Papers of Jonathan Trumbull, Commercial (copy); L. I. Hist. Soc., Laurens Papers (copy); S. C. Hist. Soc., vol. of copies, p. 263; Hist. Mag., I. 290. 4 See the Journals, Mar. 14, 19, 20. 5 See the Journals, June 17, July 8, 1776; also nos. 6, 18, 75, ante. • Trumbull's appointment by Gates was June 28, 1776; his election by Congress was Sept. 12. See nos. 123, 124, ante. shall save you from any appearance of demerit, they think that you yourself will Judge the Commission more valuable for proceeding from a body attentive to their own Honour. No Time will be lost by this Accident, if you Determine to procure the Commission, by the Method I shall take the freedom to point out; because you may go on to act, from an absolute certainty to receive it, by the first Opportunity, after your Letter shall arrive here. To the Hone J: H: Esqr etc." Sir: Since I address'd a Letter to yr: Honour from Providence, enclosing my Commission, I have been led to find I was mistaken in the Apprehension that my Appointment to the office of De. A. Genl.—on the 28th of June, from which time I have acted, was so much in the usual manner, as to render my Commission bearing an after Date, a decisive Degradation, when compared with usual practice; but, the same desire of serving my Country in the most effectual Manner, which had govern'd all my actions, in the course of my Adjutancy, since the day of my first Appointment, leads me to be anxious that I may not be under any appearances of Disgrace, from any circumstance in my Commission as this would lessen the Efficacy of my most vigorous Exertions. Therefore I entreat your Honor would move the Honble Congress to favor me with a Commission consonant in Date to my Appointment from Genl. Gates; assuring them of my Zeal for the Service of the United States, and of the greatest Respect for their Body. I am I do not affect to point out a verbal exact model for you. It is the tenor only. With something similar you may be assur'd of an instant complyance here; The Delay therefore depends on yourself. I hope you will make none 8 I am etc etc. J: LOVELL. Lovell is suggesting to John Trumbull that he write a letter of this character to President Hancock. 64 8 Cf. no. 419, post, and see the Journals, Apr. 19. The file of letters in the Jonathan Trumbull Papers, from which this letter is taken, is endorsed by John Trumbull: 'Copy of Letters, to and from Congress and Mr. Lovell on the Subject of my Resignation." The letters extend in date from Feb. 22 to Apr. 6. Among them is that mentioned in the beginning of this letter. It is dated Mar. 16. Affixed to the file is the following memorandum, in the writing of James Lovell: "After Mr. Lovell recd the last Letter before mentioned, some Member moved that it should be refferred to Genl Gates to fill his place On which Dr. Witherspoon rose and said he had no objection, in case he was restrained from re-appointing Mr. Trumbull. On which some Person replyed that there was no Danger of that young Gentleman's Spirit stooping to accept that office now." Cf. no. 466, post. The group of letters is printed in Hist. Mag., I. 289-292. |