Dear Sir 514. JAMES LOVELL TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.' 6th A. M. [June, 1777.] I will not allow the Express by which I received your last to return. without a Line, tho I can add nothing since I wrote to you last Evening by Genl. Mifflin. I wish, if you are not hurried out of your senses, that you would endeavour to convey to me some hint whereby an Accommodation should take place as to Mons Du Coudray and Genl. Knox. The Officers of our Army must have a hard struggle in reconciling themselves to that monarchical devotion which is necessary in the adoption of Du Coudray's Command, as it appears to have been regulated in Mr Deane's Compact. I have but a poor Idea of that Gentleman's ability to guard against french finess and flattery. I believe the Arrival of Doctr. Franklin will be an Advantage to Mr D.2 Yr Frd and Servt JL Sir 515. JAMES LOVELL TO OLIVER WOLCOTT.1 Your favor of May 24th should not have been thus long unacknowledged but for a disagreeable alteration at the post office. Letters being delivered in Congress after our assembling on Mondays cannot be answered by 2 oClock P. M. of the same day, when the rider again leaves the city. I may say at least that this is an uncomplaisant order of somebody or other.. By 5 to 4 and 2 divided, the northern department has been lined out, and Genl. Schyler sent to take the command. By a repeal of an old resolve, he will not appear to be obliged to make his Head Quarters at Albany, 100 miles from the army; nor is he obliged to go from that city except by true military feelings. Can you readily determine in your own mind where he will reside, from the data now before you? Genl. Gates will most assuredly not take the post of hazard both to his life and reputation, to be under the absolute direction of a man 35 leagues off, in treaties with Indians, or acting as a Providore to his army at the same distance. I daily expect to hear of confusion from that Department.". Saty June 7th '77 [514]1 Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers. 2 For Du Coudray's affair, see the Journals, passim (index, Du Coudray), and Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., I. 421 and passim (index, Coudray). See also no. 501, ante, and nos. 521, 525, note 5, post. The contract with Du Coudray, dated Sept. 11, 1776, is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 283. In regard to the complaints of General Knox, see his letter of June 5 to Washington (Letters to Washington, ed. Sparks, I. 378), and the Journals, June 9, 11; also nos. 539, 541-543, post. An account of Du Coudray's "intrigues" is found in Doniol, Histoire de la Participation de la France à l'Etablissement des Etats-Unis d'Amérique, II. 353-364. [515] Conn. Hist. Soc., Oliver Wolcott Papers, vol. I., no. 12. 2 See nos. 502, 504, note 2, 511, ante; cf. nos. 553-557, post. Sir, 516. THE SECRET COMMITTEE TO OLIVER POLLOCK.1 June 12th 1777 Your Letters of 4th and 5th May 2 addressed to Andrew Allen and Robert Morris Esquires were laid before the Congress by the latter whereby we are informed that your new Governor Don Bernard de Galvez is much disposed to favour the Commercial Interest of the United States of America, and as we are appointed by the Honorable Congress to superintend the Management of such Trade as is necessary to be carried on for public Account we do ourselves the Honor of addressing a Letter to his Excellency on this Subject. it is here inclosed and you will please to deliver and if needful translate the same for him... 517. THE NEW YORK DELEGATES TO THE NEW YORK COUNCIL OF SAFETY.1 Honoure Gentlemen PHILADELPHIA 19th. June 1777 In our last 2 we informd you of the Success of our Efforts in vindication of General Schuyler, and it gives us great Satisfaction to observe from your Vote of Thanks to Congress, and other Circumstances, that the honourable Issue of this perplexed and delicate Business has met with general Approbation. Major General Gates a few days since arrivd in this City greatly chagreend, and enragd against your Delegates to whom he ascribes what without any solid Reason, he is pleased to call his disgrace. As in this Enquiry Justice has been our View, and Truth our guide, we feel ourselves very indifferent about his Resentment. 3 We have since assiduously labourd two Points of great Moment to the State which we have the honour to represent. The first-a Recommendation of Congress to the united States respectively to encourage and facili [516]1 Library of Congress, Papers Cont. Cong., no. 50, ff. 29, 183. 2 A copy of Pollock's letter of May 5 is in Papers Cont. Cong., no. 50, f. 57. The letter of May 4 has not been found; neither has the committee's letter to Governor Galvez, mentioned in the close of the extract. Oliver Pollock was commercial agent of the United States at New Orleans. A sketch of him is in Appleton, Cyclo. of Am. Biog. 3 The names of Robert Morris, William Smith, and Henry Laurens are appended to the copy at f. 183, but not to that at f. 29. Inasmuch as Laurens did not enter Congress until July 22 of this year, and was not placed upon the secret committee until Aug. 12, it is evident that his name is improperly signed to the letter. It appears however that this copy of the letter was made from a copy enclosed in a letter from the committee to Pollock, Oct. 24 (ibid., f. 37), to which all three names are attached. Laurens no doubt signed the copy of the letter of June 12 when signing the original of Oct. 24. Concerning Pollock's accounts, see the Journals, 1780, 1781, 1782 (index), and especially A. B. Woodward, Representation of the Case of Oliver Pollock (Washington, 1803). See also Margaret B. Downing, "Oliver Pollock, Patriot and Financier ", in Illinois Catholic Historical Review, II. 196; H. E. Hayden, Biographical Sketch of Oliver Pollock; and J. A. James, George Rogers Clark Papers. [517] N. Y. State Lib., Minutes of the Council of Safety, IX. 316; Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., I. 980. 2 May 23, no. 504, ante. See also no. 511, ante. tate our being supplied with Salt and other European and West India Commodities. We have not only succeeded in this Object but, with a Testimonial highly to the Honour of New York, obtaind the additional Favour of a grant of near 2000 bushels of the publick Salt in Store at Plymouth in the Massachusett's bay, which for our more immediate Relief the Commissary General is directed to exchange for an equal Quantity nearer to our State if it can be done without Injury to the Service. When you reflect on some late Regulations of our Eastern Neighbours, you will readily perceive the Policy of the first of these Resolutions which evidently implies a Reprobation of the ungenerous Restraints which they have imposed upon a Sister and confederated State, whose misfortunes and Distresses demanded a very different Treatment; since they were drawn upon her only on Account of her attachment to the common Cause.* The other Point which we had at Heart, and which has employd much of our Attention, was a Regulation of the Commissary General's Department; The Abuses which had crept into it from the Want of Method and proper Checks, the Folly of Purchasing and the Negligence of the issuing Commissaries: to say nothing of Fraud and Embezilment; called aloud for Reformation; and the Depreciation of our Bills of Credit to which more than any other Cause it contributed made it a Subject still more serious and important. A System is formed which if properly carried into effect, will be productive of that Oeconomy which in all our Affairs seems hitherto to have been but little practic'd. It is now in the Press and shou'd it be publish'd before these dispatches are closd, we shall not fail to transmit it.". We have the Honour to be with the utmost Regard Your most obedient humble Servants PHIL. LIVINGSTON Honour. Council of Safety of the State of New York. 518. JAMES DUANE TO ROBERT. R. LIVINGSTON.1 My dear and honourd Sir. . . Since our Arrival here things with respect to our State have taken a most favourable turn-General Schuyler is thro' our Exertions reinstated fully and honourably in his Command.2 The Commissary General's Department is reformed and establishd on a wise and salutary 4 Cf. no. 518, note 4, post. 5 The regulations were adopted June 10. See no. 495, note 2, ante; also nos. 519, 520, 522, 529, 543, post. [518]1 Furnished by courtesy of the late Mrs. Wilmot Townsend Cox, New York City. 2 See nos. 504, 511, 517, ante, nos. 519, 520, 522, post. plan. Mr. Jacob Cuyler is appointed Deputy Commissary General of purchases in the Northern Department, notwithstanding all the opposition of our Eastern neighbours who being in possession strenuously endeavourd to maintain their ground. A Recommendation had passed from Congress to the united States to facilitate and encourage the supplying New York with salt and other European and West India Commodities and which not only holds her up in a very honourable Point of Light; but reprobates in effect the commercial Regulations kindly passed by our Eastern Brethren to compleat our Calamities by effectually excluding us from all the advantage of Importation and the use of european and West India Goods. A Grant has also passd in our favour for 2000 Bushels of salt out of the publick store at Plymouth in the Massachusetts with directions to the commis general to exchange for it an equal Quantity nearer to our State if it can be done without prejudicing the publick Service.* Nor do we doubt but Congress will do [every] thing which can be asked consistent with Justice and the publick good respecting the Revolters from our State in the North Eastern Counties-a Business which will soon be determind. 519. JAMES DUANE TO PHILIP SCHUYLER.1 My dear General PHILADELPHIA 19th June 1777. General Gates arrivd here I think last [ ]2 and immediately demanded an Audience of Congress. He was unfortunately for himself admitted. Discomposd, chagreend and angry, he recited all the great things he had effected at Albany; even the Suppression of Toryism he took to himself. He then pointedly called upon me and proceeded to a personal familiarity which was altogether unparliamentary. He was not very unguarded in his Expressions (for what he deliverd was from a written paper) but he showd very plainly that he singled me out as the Author of his Disgrace-for so he termed it. For this personal Address I called him to order: many members interposd, even to a Clamour, and insisted that he shoud withdraw and he with marks of Reluctance was obligd to submit. After he retird he was censurd by several members 3 See the Journals, June 10, 18; cf. no. 517, note 5, ante. * See the Journals, June 14. This is evidently the resolution to which Duane alludes in his letter to Schuyler, June 19 (no. 519, post), wherein the stroke was too delicate and refined to be readily perceivd on a Cursory reading." Cf. no. 517, ante, and nos. 520, 522, post. Francis Lewis wrote to the New York council of safety, May 31: "The 500 bushells of Salt lately arrived here has been refused your Delegates by the Committee of Congress, it being much wanted and at Ten dollars per bushell; your Delegates purpose to move in Congress for an application to the State of Virginia for what Salt they can spare you." (A copy from the original is in possession of the Carnegie Institution of Washington.) See also nos. 533, 544, 546, post. [519]1 N. Y. Pub. Lib., Schuyler Papers, no. 542; Harvard Univ. Lib., Sparks Coll., LX. 127 (copy). " 2 The joint letter of Livingston, Duane, and Duer, June 19 (no. 517, ante), says a few days since". Duer, in his letter to Schuyler, June 19, post, says Yesterday". It is evident from Duer's statement that Gates's admission to Congress was on the 18th, but his arrival in Philadelphia must have been some days earlier. very freely for his Personality and it was directed that he shoud be informd that it was the pleasure of Congress that if he had anything to offer they expected to hear it by way of memorial only. I have no doubt but the general has heard very minutely what part I took with respect to him. I do not repent it. The Interest of the Continent, the Honour of Congress, and the dictates of Justice requird it; and I must put up with the General's displeasure; which I find myself disposd to do with great Resignation and Philosophy. I have since been in his Company-we were civil; but rather reservd. He has heard from several candid Members that only one or two Justified his Claim to the Command and that the rest declard that there was no room for his supposing it ever had been invested in him. He ought to feel more pain and Resentment from this Circumstance than from anything which fell from me. I am apt to think he does, for he has made no Representation to Congress, and instead of resigning talks of going to Genl. Washington's Camp. If I might guess he expects that you will be elected Governour of New York, and resign your military Honours, and that then he will be reinstated in the possession of what he has much at Heart, the Command of the Northern Department. I do not feel at all pleasd with the latter part of this Reflection; but I hate to anticipate disagreeable Events. There are several Ifs in the Way-as If it shoud be attempted. If it can't be prevented etc. If I cant be reconcild to it etc. etc. which renders it unnecessary to be at present much Concernd. . . The Plan for regulating the Commissary's Department is compleated. If out of the press I shall order it with these dispatches. You know in what situation you left this affair. Trumbull is appointed Commissary General of Purchases four Deputy Commissary Generals of purchases are elected. We had a delicate Card to play and which requird much Address, to get this office into the hands of a fellow Citizen for the Northern Department. our Eastern Neighbours were in possession and worked hard to maintain their Ground. But it was of moment to our State who was to govern their markets and by the disposal of immense Sums to influence their Policy; and it greatly concernd the Continent that prices shoud be Judiciously regulated and the Army well supplied. I therefore labourd assiduously and we were crownd with Success: our Friend Jacob · Cuyler Esqr. obtaind the office, and I am persuaded will execute it with Integrity and Ability and do Honour to my Recommendation and that of my Colleagues.* I enclose you another Set of Resolutions with respect to our State which will give you pleasure as it proves the favourable Light we stand in here. you on recollecting the Commercial Regulations lately passed by our Eastern Neighbours, so ungenerous and distressing to New York cannot but be pleasd with the Reprobation of their conduct evidently implied in the first of these Resolutions; and you may wonder at our good fortune in June 18. 8 See the Journals, June 10. Cf. nos. 517, 518, ante, 520, 522, post. |