I hope this Board will facilitate our Naval Affairs and put them upon a more respectable Footing. [May 6] This Day General Warren, Mr Vernon late of Newport and Mr Deshon of New London were elected to this Board with a Salary of 1500 Dollars per Annum each. A Number of Gentlemen of the Massachusetts had been nominated by the Members of that State; Mr C was nominated by Mr Duane of New York. As the Gentlemen of Connecticutt and Rhode Island were urgent, it would not have been prudent for us to have been strenuous for the Choice of all out of our own State, though I am inclind to think there might have been a better Choice. Mr Warren's Character has long been revered in Congress, Mr C had been personally known to many of the Members, Mr Deshon to no one. the two last had an equal Number of Votes but neither of them a competent Number. on a second Tryal Mr Deshon obtaind the Election. 458. ROGER SHERMAN TO THE GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT Honored Sir, 1 PHILADELPHIA, April 23d, 1777. 8 We have received your Honrs. letter of the 16th instant by Mr Brown. Your letter to Congress was also received and read yesterday, and referred to the Committee for Foreign Affairs.2. . . . Congress was not disposed to censure the Eastern States for giving additional bounties, supposing them to be the best judges of the expediency of the measure. The Committees of the Middle States did nothing as to regulating prices, they being equally divided in opinion respecting the matter. The prices of almost all kinds of articles are very high here. The Commissary General arrived here yesterday, and a committee is appointed to confer with him and consider what further regulations ought to be made in his depart ment. I am sorry there is occasion to call the militia to joyn the army. I think it would be unnecessary if the men inlisted were collected together. What is recommended respecting Rhode-Island, it was hoped, would not detain the militia for a very long time after their assembling.. 4 See the Journals, Apr. 19; cf. no. 449, ante. 5 The election was on May 6; therefore this part of the draft must have been written on that day. The entire passage, however, stands erased in the draft, and it may therefore be concluded that the matter was appended to the draft of Apr. 23 by mistake. It is scarcely probable that the letter of Apr. 23 was held back until May 6. The question of salary was settled Apr. 19. See no. 459, post. 6 John Adams mentions (no. 480, post) the nomination of Mr. Cushing, presumably Thomas Cushing, a delegate to Congress from Massachusetts in 1774, 1775, and in the beginning of 1776. II. 44. [458] Mass. Hist. Soc., Collections, seventh ser., 2 See the Journals, Apr. 22. 3 The reference is to the proceedings of the committee of the New England states, Dec. 25, 1776, to Jan. 2, 1777, laid before Congress Jan. 28. See nos. 323, 326, 336, 347, 353, 355-357, 359, 368, ante. 4 See the Journals, Feb. 15, Apr. 15. 5 The commissary-general was Joseph Trumbull. See the Journals, Apr. 23, and nos. 450, 457, ante, 490, 495, note 2, post. • See the Journals, Apr. 16. Sir: 459. OLIVER WOLCOTT TO JOSHUA HUNTINGTON.1 PHILADELPHIA 24 April 1777 Your Favour of the 14 instt. is recd. but have not had time to lay it before the Committee-shall take the earliest Oppertunity for that Purpose after which you may expect to hear from me again. You will probably be soon put to less difficulty on many accounts as Congress have determined to establish a Marine Board for the N. England Governments-a most necessary Institution-this Day probably the Commissioners will be appointed.❜ Sir, OLIVER WOLCOTT.3 460. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.1 PHILADA. April 25th, 1777. Altho Congress have recommended to the executive Authority of this State to call out three Thousand of the Militia, and to order the City Militia to hold themselves in Readiness at a Moments Warning, yet such is the Weakness of the Government, that every Means should be used to give Efficacy to this Requisition. They have therefore determined to detain Genl. Mifflin in this City for some Time knowing his Popularity and Influence to be very great, provided you should be of Opinion the Service will admit of his Absence from the Army.2. . . 461. PHILIP SCHUYLER TO RICHARD VARICK.1 Dear Colonel: 1 PHILAD. April 26th. 1777. Yesterday the Committee to enquire into my conduct began that business. I believe they will finish in the course of the week and that [459]1 Mass. Hist. Soc., Wolcott Papers, Bundle 3. 2 See nos. 427, 449, 457, ante, 480, 485, post. Joshua Huntington was at this time engaged in building a frigate for Congress (see Appleton, Cyclo. Am. Biog.; Conn. St. Recs., I. 176-177, 297, 349). 8 Wolcott wrote to his wife Apr. 23: "It has been for a long time Said that Two Gentlemen would soon Attend as Delegates-but none yet come, tho' We are Still told the same thing. As soon as any one Arrives I shall return Home. I shall unless something uncommon prevents undoubtedly Return next Month, but not perhaps till the later part of it." Cf. no. 431, ante. Apr. 30 he wrote: "I cannot say precisely when I shall Return Home, but my Determination is to do so within the Next Month. I have expected before now to have heard that some of the Gentlemen appointed to attend Congress were on their Way from our State, but I hear Nothing from them. I have Wrote to Mr. Huntington to advice Me upon the Subject from whom I may expect soon to hear." Conn. Hist. Soc., Oliver Wolcott Papers, II. 42, 38. Wolcott obtained leave of absence May 2. Dyer and Williams, together with Richard Law, attended June 25. [460]1 Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XC. 159. 2 See the Journals, Apr. 23, 24. "Congress have appointed a Committee of Ways and Means for reinforcing you, who will also point out some Mode, by which the Militia of this State may be drawn out." Schuyler to Washington, Apr. 24, Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XV. 35. See no. 445, note 3, ante. Cf. the Journals, Apr. 25 (Delaware). See also nos. 486, 487, post. [461]1 N. Y. Pub. Lib., Bancroft Coll., Schuyler Papers, p. 181 (copy). 2 See the Journals, Apr. 18, and no. 453, ante. their report will be agreeable to my wishes; and such a change has taken place in the sentiments of the members who were unacquainted with me, that it is thought they will expunge the resolutions of the 15th of March, copy whereof you have enclosed, but they have a much more difficult point to get over. they wish me to remain in the command, but having already appointed, (or at least implicativly so) Gen. Gates to the command of the Northern department, they do not know how to manage the matter. They wish to make Ticonderoga a separate command; that they have a right to do, but they know that I will not serve at Albany on those conditions. Indeed, not on any unless an absolute command is giving [sic in copy] me over every part of the army in the Northern department. this they will not do, and therefore I shall return Mr. Schuyler only to Albany.* Adieu and believe me most sincerely Dr. Sir yours etc. Lt. Col. Varick PH. SCHUYLER 462. WILLIAM WHIPPLE TO JOSIAH BARTLETT.1 My Dear Sir, PHILADELPHIA 27th Ap1 1777 The States are all represented, and Congress goes on tolerably well. The Confederation is at last taken up, and two day[s] in a week assign'd for that Business.2 Col: Thornton intend [s] seting out in a few days. I leave you [to] judge what my scituation will then be, as I shall then be oblig'd to attend some Committees that he is now on, besides, the business of two Committees that I am now on, is daily increasing. I therefore hope You will take my case into Your serious consideration, that such relief may be afforded me, as is consistant with tne Public good, to which I must allow, that every Private consideration ought to give place. You tell me in Your last that two Gentn. were Elected, and I am informed by some of my Friends that one of them has declin'd. I hope his place will be immediately filled, and if they are not set off before this reaches you I beg they may, immediately after. at this critical juncture it is absolutely necessary that the state shod be represented. I therefore shall Tarry till relieved, but I shall grow very impatient in 3 or 4 weeks.3 3 See no. 410, ante. * See the Journals, Mar. 25, May 15, 22; also nos. 472, 483, 495, 502, 504, 511, 515, 517-520, 522, 553, post. [462] Dartmouth College Lib., Bartlett Corr., vol. I., 1774-1778. 2 See the Journals, Apr. 8; cf. nos. 431, note 6, 434, ante. See also no. 465, post. 3 Whipple wrote to Bartlett, Apr. 23: "I find You have hard work to Persuade gentn. to serve their Country. what can be the meaning of this? do Gentn. still think it Hazardous to appear in a Charecter that will render them obnoxious to the British Tyrant and his infernal Tools? or are they afraid their Private interest will suffer? The day Perhaps is not far off when some of those Gentn: who now are so loath to step forth, will be making interest for a seat in Congress. they may be gratified for what I care, and let those who are now Laboring in the vineyard, enjoy the Blessings of Domestic Happiness, with the Pleasing Reflections that will result from a Consciousness of having lent their aid when their Country most wanted it however it seems you have at least I suppose by this time there is not a remaining doubt but America will support her independency. is it not time therefore to pay some attention to the means of protection, from future invations? this from our scituation must be done by a Powerful Navy which must be furnish'd by the Eastern States where all the materials may be procur'd if proper means are us'd. 463. THE MARYLAND DELEGATES TO THE GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND (THOMAS JOHNSON, JR.).1 Sir [April 28 (?), 1777.] We have the Pleasure to inclose to Your Excellency an Order on the Treasury for 75,000 Dollars and another on the Loan Office of Maryland for 25,000 in favour of our State if it should not be equal to your Expectations or Wants it must be remedied another Time as We were left totally in the Dark with Respect to the Sum You wished for and of Course were oblidged to name a Sum at a Venture.2 Much more Service should We be able to render the State if Your Excellency would let Us more particularly into the Requests intended to be made and the Reasons on which they are grounded but while We remain ignorant untill a Letter is read in the House addressed to the President it cannot be expected that We should on a sudden be equally furnished as on Reflection with Arguments to support a Measure nor can We without being acquainted with them immediately to so much Purpose if at all enter into the Views of our State. At the same Time the 100,000 Dollars were obtained a Motion was made for the 2000. Arms You requested for our State but this was referred to the Board of War notwithstanding as affecting a Picture of our defenceless State was drawn as lay in our Power they have brought in no Report and I suppose will not till they have a Return of all the Arms both here and at Camp, when they do You shall be made acquainted with the Resolution of the House. When a Motion was made to Congress for a Battallion to be stationed in Somersett agreeable to your Request to Mr. Morris, they were informed directly after that the Tories to the Number of 150 were actually in Arms under Officers and had taken Post in a Cedar Swamp in Somersett County. Major Howard of Coll Halls Battallion was given as the Author of this Peice of Intelligence and with the Paragraph in your Letter was the Ground on which Congress proceeded if the Delegates had been furnished found two Gentn. who will come, and I wish they may set out as soon as possible Col: Thornton intends to leave this place in about ten days and I wish to follow him before the weather is too warm." (Dartmouth College Lib., Bartlett Corr., vol. I.) Nathaniel Folsom and George Frost were chosen delegates Apr. 1. Their credentials are in the Journals, May 16. [463]1 Md. Hist. Soc., Red Book, IV. 70. 2 See the Journals, Apr. 26; also Arch. of Md., XVI. 221, 222, 225. The request for the 2000 arms is in a letter from the Maryland council of safety to President Hancock, Apr. 21, Arch. of Md., XVI. 221. See no. 470, post. with better Intelligence the Battallion alone possibly would have been granted.* We are Your Excellency's Most humble Servants P. S. Ticonderoga is in great Danger but 1500 Men there, and None that Genl. Gates can hear of marching up. Carletons Advanced Guard or a Party to reconnoiter within 45 Miles. the Eastern Delegates say their Men are on the March 'tis feared they will not come Time enough. to save it." 464. THE NEW York Delegates TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK CONVENTION (ABRAHAM TEN BROECK).1 Sir PHILADELPHIA April 29th. 1777 In our last we hinted at the want of Vigour and Exertion in this State.2 We wish it was in our power to assure you that an effectual Remedy had been applied, but tho' the Enemy is daily expected an astonishing Languor prevails, and the embodying a competent Force to oppose the meditated Invasion, seems to be a distant Object. The Seat of this Disease is not an Indifference to the Cause, for the Whigs are sufficiently numerous to defend their Country against any Army that can at present be brought against it. The unhappy Dispute about their Constitution is the fatal Rock on which they have split, and which threatens them with Destruction. We ardently wish that in our own State the utmost Caution may be used to avoid a like Calamity. Every wise Man here wishes that the Establishment of new Forms of Government had been deferred: they see that the Union, Vigour, and Security derived from Conventions and Committees are not to be found in any State under its new Constitution. We have hitherto left the Subject of our Instructions untouched, but in the Course of a few Days they shall be introduced. To become acquainted with the persons and Characters of the Members requires some Time and is of great Importance. We find several of our House desirous to know the Merits of our Claim. Congress, from your past Letters have a Right to expect a Representation, and we wait with Impatience for the Reports and Maps, to elucidate our Boundary.3. . . . Your most obedient humble Servants PHIL. LIVINGSTON The Honble the President of Convention of New York. * See no. 443, ante, and no. 469, post. This postscript was evidently written after the receipt, Apr. 28, of Gates's letter of Apr. 22. (See no. 466, post.) 1464] N. Y. State Lib., Revolutionary Papers, X. 129; Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., II. 428. 2 See nos. 445, 453, ante. 3 See nos. 445, 453, ante, and no. 465, post. |