signing, and recognizing of the declaration of independance preserved the congress from a dissolution in Decemr 1776 when Howe marched to the Delaware. Maryland had instructed her delegates to concur in an accommodation notwithstanding any measure (meaning independance) to the contrary. But further the declaration of independance produced a secession of tories-timid-moderate and double minded men from the counsels of america in consequence of which the congress as well as each of the States have possessed ten times the Vigor and Strength they had formerly. April 8, 1777. 430. THOMAS BURKE, ABSTRACT OF DEBATES.1 [April 8, 1777.] Motion from Pennsylvania for recommendation to Governor of Jersey to excuse 40 persons employed by Pennsylva. in saltworks in the Jersey. proposed by North Carolina to ammend by adding if not Inconsistent with their Laws. after much debate the amendment was agreed to.2 Sir, 431. ROGER SHERMAN TO THE GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT 2 PHILADELPHIA April 9th. 1777 Capt. Niles of the Spy was here last Saturday he said That there were a number of the Enemy's Ships of War in Chesepeak Bay so that he could not go to Virginia That he wanted 750 Dollars toward paying for a Cargo of Flour which he had purchased upon which I moved Congress to advance to the State of Connecticut one thousand Dollars which was Granted, and I delivered 750 of them to Captain Niles and he drew a Bill on your Honr. for payment the whole is Charged to the State and I must ansr. for it when I return home. Nothing very material has occurred here since my last. Congress has passed some Resolutions for regulating a Hospital in the Army which will be published in the News Papers.* All [430]1 N. Y. Pub. Lib., Emmet Coll., no. 1162. 2 This paragraph in the manuscript follows immediately after the abstract printed under Mar. 14, ante, and is without distinctive date. See the Journals, Apr. 8. [431] N. Y. Pub. Lib., Emmet Coll., no. 1564, Declaration of Independence; Library of Congress, Force Trans., Trumbull, VI. 73. 2 Robert Niles. In regard to the Spy, see Paullin, The Navy of the American Revolution, pp. 356, 357, 368, 370. 3 See the Journals, Apr. 5. 4 See the Journals, Feb. 27, Mar. 22, 24, 27, Apr. 2, 4, 5, 7-9, 11, 12. Matthew Thornton of the medical committee wrote to Dr. Jonathan Potts, Apr. 12: Congress have just finished a new plan and arrangement of the medical department in the Army. It is ordered to be published immediately. As you will soon be possessed of the whole plan, we shall only inform you at present, that your appointment of Director of the States are now Represented, and next Monday is assigned for considering the Articles of Confederation." I wish there was a more full representation from our state. . . . . I received a Letter from a Friend Yesterday informing me that the Assembly has repealed the Law prescribing an Oath of Fidelity which I was very sorry to hear. I expect a recommendation will soon be made by Congress to all the States to administer an Oath not only to the Officers and Electors, but to all Suspected persons as a Test, to discriminate between Friends and foes. I esteem our internal enemies much the most dangerous. The people on the New Hampshire Grants have Petitioned Congress to be acknowedged an Independent State, and admited to send Delegates to Congress. The Convention of New York has also remonstrated against their proceedings requesting Congress to interpose for preventing the defection of the people on the Grants from that State. Nothing has been yet acted on the affair.". 8 the northern department is renewed. . . . . As handsome sallaries are now allowed, we expect none but persons of the best abilities will be employed or suffered to remain in your service as Hospital or regimental Surgeons, and that you will strictly superintend every branch of the medical department under your charge." Hist. Soc. of Pa., Potts Papers, I. 159. See also no. 376, ante, no. 442, post, and Burke to Caswell, May 23, N. C. State Recs., XI. 476. The movement toward a reform of the medical department began with the criticisms of Doctors Morgan and Stringer and their dismission by Congress. See the Journals, Jan. 9, and no. 298, ante. The Journals evidently fail to record some of the essential stages in the progress of the measure. On Feb. 27 the medical committee, "to whom the report on the hospital was re-committed ", reported a measure, apparently drawn by Benjamin Rush, which is printed in the Journals under that date. The immediate origin of this report was a plan prepared by Doctors Shippen and Cochran and transmitted to Congress by General Washington in a letter of Feb. 14, received by Congress Feb. 20, and referred to the medical committee. When a report of the committee was recommitted the Journals do not show. Probably the report of the medical committee Feb. 14, which was laid on the table, "to be taken into consideration tomorrow", was a report on the hospital. The report of Feb. 27, ordered to lie on the table, was taken into consideration Mar. 22, and recommitted. Mar. 24 a new plan was brought in. John Adams wrote to John Avery, jr., Mar. 21: "We are making every regulation in our power in the medical department" (Works, IX. 458). 5" Congress is now full. Every one of the thirteen States has a representation in it, which has not happened before in a long time." John Adams to his wife, Apr. 11 (postscript to letter of Apr. 8), Familiar Letters, p. 256. 6 See the Journals, Apr. 8. So far as the Journals record, however, the consideration of the Articles of Confederation was not taken up until Apr. 21. See nos. 434, 442, 462, 465, post. 7 See Sherman to Trumbull, Mar. 21, Mass. Hist. Soc., Collections, seventh ser., II. 35. Sherman's colleague, Oliver Wolcott, who had much of the time of late been the sole delegate from Connecticut, was endeavoring to prevail on other delegates to come that he might return home. Mar. 22 he wrote to his wife that Governor Trumbull had twice signified lately that Dyer and Williams were coming, and he presumed those gentlemen were in earnest (Conn. Hist. Soc., Oliver Wolcott Papers, II. 36). Apr. 9 (the same day on which Sherman's letter was written) he wrote: “It is said that Col. Dyer and Williams will soon be here if so my continuance will not be supposed necessary and I shall therefore consider it as merely Optionable and shall do what I judge may be proper.” (Ibid., II. 41.) Cf. no. 442, post. 8 See a report of the board of war in the Journals, June 9. The agitation of this question probably has a connection with Washington's proclamation of Jan. 25. See the Journals, Feb. 6, 27, and no. 347, ante. Cf. the Journals, Mar. 9, 1776, and the letter of the New York delegates, Mar. 15, 1776, in vol. I. of these Letters, no. 522. See the Journals, Apr. 7, 8, June 23, 25, 28, 30, and no. 428, note 3, ante. Sir, 432. COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.1 PHILADELPHIA April 10, 1777 In obedience to an order of Congress 2 we inform your Excellency of the reasons and principles that have governed Congress in their resolution for forming a Camp on the West side of Delaware. The repeated information that hath been received of the Enemies movements and it being the opinion of your Excellency as well as of many other General Officers that this City was the Object of such Movements, rendered it proper that means should be fallen upon to prevent the success of such a design, as well to guard against the bad impression that it would certainly have on the affairs of America in general, as to give security to the valuable Stores here collected, and which cannot speedily be removed. It has been considered, that if the real Object of the enemy should be this City, the Troops are here well fixed, and will be an encouraging place of resort to the Militia of this State, in their present unfixt condition, being between their old plan of Association, and their new but yet unexecuted Law. On the other hand, should the design of the enemy be upon Hudsons river or more Eastward, the Troops here may with ease reach that river before those, now at Head Quarters, can have all crossed it. But another consideration remains, and that is, should the enemy propose to remain in Jersey to attack your Army, or should your Excellency mean to make a dicisive impression on them when your numbers are sufficient, in either of these suppositions, the Troops ought not to be here. In the whole of this business, Congress mean not in any manner to interfere with the designs, or to counter act the judgment of your Excellency, but wish you freely to call up to Head Quarters, all, or any part of the Troops encampt here as you shall please. It is not supposed that this will occasion any delay, and will certainly prevent the injuries that would be derived to the Troops, as well in health as dicipline from their entering and remaining any time in this City. We have the honor to be etc.3 433. RICHARD Henry Lee to GEORGE WASHINGTON.1 PHILADELPHIA 10 April 1777 My dear General The resolves of Congress that you will receive by this Messenger,2 you may be assured are not intended, by any means, to obstruct your views a [432] Letters of Richard Henry Lee (ed. Ballagh), I. 270; Am. Phil. Soc., Lee Papers, vol. I., p. 293. 2 A committee was appointed Apr. 9, to consider what steps should be taken for opposing the enemy in case they should attempt to penetrate New Jersey or attack Philadelphia. The committee brought in its report Apr. 10, certain resolves were passed, and the same committee was then instructed to bring in a draft of a letter to General Washington explaining the particular reasons which induced Congress to pass those resolutions. Cf. nos. 433, 440, 445, 453, 455, 464, post. 3 The committee consisted of James Wilson, George Clymer, Richard Henry Lee, Abraham Clark, and John Adams. [433] Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XIV. 237; Letters to Washington (ed. Sparks), I. 366; Letters of Richard Henry Lee (ed. Ballagh), I. 272. 2 See nos. 432, ante, 440, 445, 453, 455, 464, post. single moment. If your judgment should incline you to think, that the Troops had better march to Head Quarters quick as possible, you have only so to order it, and it will give pleasure to every good man here. The business of speedily reenforcing you will not be obstructed, but accelirated, because they now enter the City, where every days stay is 30 days injury to the great purpose of strengthening your hands. And should the enemy destine here, something like a Military collection may produce a greater resort. If you will indulge my conjecture, I think they cannot purpose coming here, because the water securities against such a plan are realy formidable, and the situation of the land, where the water obstructions are fixed, is such, that great delay, and probable ruin forbids the enterprise, as they cannot so fix land Batteries as to remove the strong Vessels that protect the cheveaux de frise, added to the numerous fire rafts and Fire Ships that in a narrow water with strong current may destroy their Fleet.. Dear Sir, 434. JAMES SYKES TO GEORGE READ.1 PHILADELPHIA, April 10th, 1777. Yesterday it was agreed in Congress that the subject of the Articles of Confederacy should be taken up on Monday next, and that two days in each week should be employed therein, until that work should be completed. As this is a matter of the utmost importance, it is certainly necessary that our State should be fully represented, especially as I am by no means competent to the task. I therefore most ardently wish you would give your attendance in Congress, and beg you would write to Mr. Van Dyke, pressing his immediate repair hither. I am in a most disagreeable situation, a stranger to every person, unable to speak my sentiments in Congress, and no colleague to confer with on any subject that may concern our State. There has already a matter been determined which, I am afraid, will throw the whole county of Sussex into confusion and disorder: I think it is the report from the Board of War that an independent company shall be raised in that county, to be stationed at Lewistown, that Harry Fisher shall have the command; [and] if he refuse, he shall have at least the appointment of the subaltern officers. This was brought in immediately on my taking my seat in Congress, and though I utterly disapproved the measure, as far as respected Fisher, I could not open my mouth in objection. This, sir, shows the necessity of some person being here who has the inclination and power to object to and show the im [434]1 Read, Life of Read, p. 261. 2 This action was taken Apr. 8, not Apr. 9. Cf. no. 431, ante; also nos. 442, 462, 465, 488, post. 3 See the Journals, Apr. 4. Sykes was appointed on a committee Apr. 18, after which the Journals contain no further record of him. Read appears to have made an effort in December to prevail upon him to give his attendance again in Congress (see Life of Read, pp. 263, 287), but there is no record that he ever showed his face there again. In regard to Henry Fisher, see the letter of George Read to Robert Morris, Nov. 5, 1776, mentioned under no. 192, note 2, ante. propriety of such appointments. I am totally unfit for it, and am miserable on the occasion. From what we hear from head-quarters it seems to be the prevailing opinion that the enemy intend to [move] to Philadelphia in a very short time, that the fleet are coming into the river, and that boats are preparing for the army to cross the same. I should be exceedingly sorry to press you upon a subject that I know at this time is disagreeable, I mean your attendance here; but it appears to me to be indispensably necessary to our State that you should be in Congress with respect to myself it is so much so that without your attendance I cannot think of staying,-alone I will not. I hope you will excuse this incoherent scrawl. Please to present my best compliments to Mrs. Read. It would give me great pleasure to receive a line from you. I am, in the mean time, dear sir, your most obedient, humble servant, In considering a Letter from the General, Sometime ago, in the Board of War, it was agreed to report to Congress a Resolution, approving of the Laboratory at Sprin[g]field, and Such a Report was made, but upon some opposition to it, it was orderd to lye on the Table, where it has lain ever since. I will move to have it taken up and determined. Some Gentlemen will oppose it, particularly the President, I believe, thinking Brookfield the best Place. I am not very clear myself, that it is the best, but from a greater Confidence in the Opinion of General Washington and General Knox, than in my own, I voted for it, and shall continue to do so.3 436. THOMAS BURKE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA (RICHARD CASWELL).1 Dr. Sir: April 15th 1777. I am honored with your letters of the 16th and 25th of February, and I have taken the necessary steps relative to the warrant on the Treasury, and the letters which were inclosed. Col. Blount has not yet arrived here, but he will meet with no difficulty in obtaining the money. I must observe [435]1 Adams MSS., Boston. 3 2 See the Journals, Feb. 20. The letter of Washington referred to is that of Feb. 14, in Writings (ed. Ford), V. 236, (ed. Sparks), IV. 322. Cf. nos. 290, 300, 321, 374, ante. 3 See the Journals, Apr. 14, July 17. [436]1 N. C. State Recs., XI. 448. |