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ante Sethi the last paragraph of note 4 below.

as power wren from Bordeaux is dated Feb. 18 Wharton, Rev. kosary mount also have had in mind Lee's letter of Feb. 11 (ibid.,

An as the jamar from the commoners, Feb. 6 ibid., II. 261), and cf. 4/4 yet 4760 kg ****ones of this peragraph (“yet....imagine") appertain to the subDAY********g, manivad 2bove, in the letter, however, they occur as here given. box wrosanm w domies to the affair of Capt. James Nicholson. See nos. *****, 4/4, 4/5 punt.

Dear Sir

471. DANIEL ROBERDEAU TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.1

PHILADE. May 1st. 1777

Being one of the Committee for Foreign applications I had it in my power to pay the more immediate attention to your recommendation of le Chevalier de Mauduit du Plessis and through Favor of Congress immediately procured him a Commission for Capt. of Artillery and he was without delay in two or three days after his arrival here forwarded to General Washington.2

Sir

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472. JAMES LOVELL TO HORATIO GATES.1

May 1st. [1777.]

You will see by the resolutions sent to you at this time that new Ideas are taking place here in regard to the western side of Tyconderoga.2

I apprehend you will be better informed than we are what expectations you can form with confidence about the number of eastern troops and the exact time when they will arrive to a certain necessary amount for your plans. An absolute order to relinquish the western Lines and fort was pushed for, but you find did not prevail. You certainly have not such a predilection for them as to run great risques of losing yr. Reputation in their defence with a few Troops, if only a few can be had. Nor are you of such a disposition as to leave them without much consideration, if they appear to be highly essential to our defence, and you receive according to yr. wishes troops and military stores.

But, another matter besides the foregoing will be upon yr. mind, on which you will expect to hear from me by this bearer.

The affairs to the northeast are in a critical situation for the state of N: York in particular. Disaffection, as you see, is greatly prevalent; and those who profess well to our cause judge and say that there is but one single man who can keep their subjects united against the common enemy, and that he stands on our books as commandr. in chief in the middle, or, as it is sometimes called, the northern departmt; that his presence is absolutely necessary in his home quarter for their immediate succour and service as well as that of the united states necessarily connected; that if he returns, he is a Genl. without an army or Military Chest. And, "why is he thus disgraced" ?

It is said that it is nonsence to give you the command of the northern army at Tyconderoga and confine you to that fort and mount Independence where you cannot have an extensive idea of the defence of the frontier of the eastern states, but only of one spot where the enemy are not obliged to confine their operations, and, as it were knock their heads

[471]1 Amer. Phil. Soc., Franklin Papers, vol. VI. (1.), no. 1. 2 See the Journals, Apr. 15, 16.

[472]1 N. Y. Hist. Soc., Gates Papers, VIII.

2 See no. 466, ante, and nos. 473, 502, post.
3 The allusion is to Philip Schuyler.

and shall only repeat that if he is dismissed the service it will be a heavy loss, especially as the next in Command (Capt Manly) is vastly his inferiour in abilities, and knowing as I do how much your Excellency wishes to promote the Service of America, I cou'd not refrain from mentioning my notions on this Subject. There is also another matter that gives me concern and that is the detention of Continental Troops on the Eastern Shoar to keep Tories in order at a time when Genl Washington cou'd strike a Capital stroke was he reinforced by those and others that ought to join him. I wish you wou'd think of this and order them to march on, other means may be found to keep the Tories in order there, you will merit and require the thanks of the continent if you think proper to improve this hint. the resolve of Congress for detaining them was obtained in consequence of your letter to me on that Subject..

Sir

470. BENJAMIN RUMSEY TO THE GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND
(THOMAS JOHNSON, JR.).1

Congress being informed to Day by Genl. Schuyler that 100 Men of Colo. Richardson's Men were now in this City have ordered them up to Camp and given You a Power to detain 100 or as many out of any other Men of any of the weaker Battallions in Maryland as are here of that Battallion....

I am afraid the 2000 arms will not be granted by a Lre. from A. Lee of the 20th of Febry from Bordeaux in his way to Paris Burgoine with 10,000 Germans and 3000 British Troops are to attack Boston How Philadelphia Carlton the back settlements etc. yet we will take every favourable oppertunity we can to procure them. this will be from Carlisle I imagine.

I need not Apologise for the Delay of the Express. My Colleague and myself have done all We could to send him off sooner but the House have been 3 Days squabling abt. what might have been done in three minutes."

May I PHILADA. [1777.]

2 See no. 468, ante, and nos. 470, 474, 505, post.

3 See the Journals, Apr. 19. Cf. no. 443, ante.

[470]1 Md. Hist. Soc., Red Book, IV. 68; Arch. of Md., XVI. 236.

2 See the Journals, May 1, and Arch. of Md., XVI. 228, 236, 242. The resolu tion is summarized in a letter from Hancock to Gov. Johnson, May 2 (Mass. Hist. Soc., Hancock Letter-Book, VI. 198; Library of Congress, Papers Cont. Cong., no. 58, pt. II., f. 194.

* See no. 463, ante. See also the last paragraph of note 4, below.

4 Arthur Lee's letter written from Bordeaux is dated Feb. 18 (Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 272). Rumsey must also have had in mind Lee's letter of Feb. 11 (ibid., II. 266). See also the letter from the commissioners, Feb. 6 (ibid., II. 261), and cf. no. 473, post.

The last two sentences of this paragraph (“yet . . . . imagine ") appertain to the subject of the 2000 arms, mentioned above. In the letter, however, they occur as here given. 5 The allusion is doubtless to the affair of Capt. James Nicholson. See nos. 468, 469, ante, 474, 505, post.

Dear Sir

471. DANIEL ROBERDEAU TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.1

PHILADE. May 1st. 1777

Being one of the Committee for Foreign applications I had it in my power to pay the more immediate attention to your recommendation of le Chevalier de Mauduit du Plessis and through Favor of Congress immediately procured him a Commission for Capt. of Artillery and he was without delay in two or three days after his arrival here forwarded to General Washington.2.

Sir

472. JAMES LOVELL TO HORATIO GATES.1

May 1st. [1777.]

You will see by the resolutions sent to you at this time that new Ideas are taking place here in regard to the western side of Tyconderoga.2

I apprehend you will be better informed than we are what expectations you can form with confidence about the number of eastern troops and the exact time when they will arrive to a certain necessary amount for your plans. An absolute order to relinquish the western Lines and fort was pushed for, but you find did not prevail. You certainly have not such a predilection for them as to run great risques of losing yr. Reputation in their defence with a few Troops, if only a few can be had. Nor are you of such a disposition as to leave them without much consideration, if they appear to be highly essential to our defence, and you receive according to yr. wishes troops and military stores. . . .

But, another matter besides the foregoing will be upon yr. mind, on which you will expect to hear from me by this bearer.

The affairs to the northeast are in a critical situation for the state of N: York in particular. Disaffection, as you see, is greatly prevalent; and those who profess well to our cause judge and say that there is but one single man who can keep their subjects united against the common enemy, and that he stands on our books as commandr. in chief in the middle, or, as it is sometimes called, the northern departmt; that his presence is absolutely necessary in his home quarter for their immediate succour and service as well as that of the united states necessarily connected; that if he returns, he is a Genl. without an army or Military Chest. And, “why is he thus disgraced"?

It is said that it is nonsence to give you the command of the northern army at Tyconderoga and confine you to that fort and mount Independence where you cannot have an extensive idea of the defence of the frontier of the eastern states, but only of one spot where the enemy are not obliged to confine their operations, and, as it were knock their heads

[471]1 Amer. Phil. Soc., Franklin Papers, vol. VI. (1.), no. I.

2 See the Journals, Apr. 15, 16.

[472]1 N. Y. Hist. Soc., Gates Papers, VIII.

2 See no. 466, ante, and nos. 473, 502, post.
8 The allusion is to Philip Schuyler.

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