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My dear Sir

530. JAMES LOVELL TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1
30th. June [1777.]

Yours of 27th. I have just recd. Being quite ill I can only say I will communicate what is proper to others who are as anxious as I to have your present perplexing Situation altered by sending others to Head Quarters to take a Share off yr. hands. I am told you have stood at the scales yourself lately. These Frenchmen have used me up quite.3 yr Friend and h St

[P. S.] Gates is in Virginia

Dear Sir

531. JAMES LOVELL TO WILLIAM WHIPPLE.1

JL

June 30th, 1777

I had intended to write a letter to you on this day somewhat minutely about our indoor political turns and twists, but I am too ill. 4 Engineers 2 having arrived on a Treaty with Messrs. Franklin and Deane, find the former one made between Deane and Du Coudray intirely inconsistent with their Honor; and they have made it appear that D———— was only a child in the hands of Du Coudray, who has united, as under one direction, the Engineers and Artillerists, and made a Jews bargain for himself, and all the officers with him.

These contending endless talkers and writers have entirely destroyed me. I suspect a settled fit of sickness will be end of my present confinement. If I am mistaken, you shall soon hear again from Yr. real Friend and humble Servt.

JL

to Genl. Washington. I am really in Earnest. I have told you and some others so, often. I have now told Congress, as such, the same. For Heavens sake let other Persons be immediately appointed, and the difficulties I have laboured under removed. Or believe me you'll have the Army Starved. An Angel from Heaven could not go on long in my Situation, it is worse than the Jewish Brick Makers. You see by Mr. Ayletts last letter, what his Idea is of Continuing in the Service. I have seen two others who I named to you as Dy Com. Genls. who both say the same. my people will leave me to a man. they are not worth a farthing each, in the present Circumstances. Angels and men will justify me, I trust, in this measure.

"I am Dear Sir

Your most Humble Servt.

Jos: Trumbull."

The letter to Congress is not found among the Papers of Congress, or mentioned in the Journals; neither does the letter to Washington appear among the Washington Papers. It seems probable therefore that they were never despatched. [530]1 Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers.

2 July 11 Congress resolved to send a committee to headquarters to inquire particularly into the causes of the complaints in the commissary's department. The committee brought in a report Aug. 5.

3 Cf. no. 531, post.

[531]1 Harvard Univ. Lib., Sparks MSS., no. 52, vol. II., p. 179 (copy).

2 Only three of the four had actually arrived. See no. 525, note 5, ante. The agreement made by Franklin and Deane with three of the engineers, Feb. 13, 1777, is

532. JAMES DUANE TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.1

2

July 1. Tuesday

Yesterday the Committee of the whole House finished their proceedings concerning our Revolters and reported them to the House. An unexpected field of debate was opened and some of our neighbors (R. S3 in particular) discovered an earnestness and solicitude that did not belong to Judges between a State and its discontented members. But it was of little avail to object to what had been agreed to by the Committee of the whole House on the most solemn argument and debate of which I have been witness. The enclosed Resolutions were finally agreed to by Congress. The two first unanimously, all the rest by a considerable majority. What was most keenly opposed is the last Resolution respecting Young's Address; because it brought all the proceedings more pointedly to the case of New York.

5

This appears to us to be a happy decision for our State which if not neglected must produce very salutary consequences. I should think it ought to be instantly circulated by hand bills throughout every part of the State and that Commissioners should be sent into the three counties to announce the Resolutions and induce the people to conform to the new government and avail themselves of it's blessings. We did not think it necessary to press for a recommendation of Congress to these people to submit to our Jurisdiction: nor for the dismission of Warner's regiment. We thought we had obtained what was sufficient for the present it will depend on the impression these important decisions may make on that regiment and the disaffected at large; whether the former shall be discharged, and the latter enjoined more directly to a peaceable conduct. If either should be turbulent and be guilty of acts of violence or hostility, I presume on proper application Congress will interpose. A motion came from the Southward that the power of the Continent should be employed to suppress these insurgents; another from the same Quarter, that Warner's regiment should be dismissed: but it would not have been wise to hazard either of them: and a spirit of candor and moderation, which on this occasion distinguished your delegates, was of no little service in securing the other points which after the first debate we saw the fairest prospect of obtaining. As I said before these requisitions are kept in reserve for a proper season if they should become essential.

6

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in Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 269, that of Deane with Du Coudray, Sept. 11, 1776, is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 283. See also, nos. 535, 537, 539, 541, 542, 559, post.

[532]1 See under June 24 (no. 522, notes 1 and 2), ante.

2 See the Journals, June 30; also nos. 524, 526, ante, and nos. 533, 534, post.

3 Roger Sherman. See no. 533, post.

4 See no. 526, note 3, ante.

5 Concerning Col. Seth Warner's regiment, see the Journals, June 30, July 7;

also no. 330, note 2, ante, and no. 533, post.

6

Cf. the motion of Thomas Burke, the Journals, June 30 (p. 513).

533. THE NEW YORK DELEGATES TO THE NEW YORK COUNCIL OF SAFETY.1

Honourable Gentlemen

1

PHILADELPHIA 2d July 1777

Since our last we have applied to Commissary Trumbull to exchange in the manner directed by Congress the 2000 Bushells of Salt which they were pleased to grant for the Relief of our State. As soon as we receive his Answer you shall know the Result..

We were Yesterday honourd with your favour of the [19 June] and immediately took the necessary steps to procure an Account of the State Prisoners sent to Philadelphia by our late Convention; and the manner of their discharge. It shall be transmitted to you by this Conveyance with the Reasons which inducd the Council of Safety of this Commonwealth to use so little Ceremony in a Business which had been represented to them as of a very serious nature."

Congress between this and the 26th. of June have spent the greatest part of four days in considering the Claim of some of the Inhabitants of our State to a new Government independent of the Community; and the Letters and Remonstrances of our late Convention and your honourable Council On that interesting Subject. The Principles upon which this ambitious Project was grounded were admitted to be of universal Concern to the general Confederacy, and they were considerd as peculiarly odious from the Attempt to confirm them by the grossest misrepresentation of the Resolutions of Congress. No Debate was ever conducted with more deliberation and solemnity; D[e]cision was such as in our Judgement ought for the present to be satisfactory. It does not it is true come up to the Requisition of our State," that the Insurgents shou'd be recommended to a peaceable Submission to its Jurisdiction by the Authority of Congress; and that Warner's Regiment shou'd be discharged ". But by totally reprobating the Idea that a Minority can establish an Independance of the Community of which they are members. By proclaiming the Duty of Congress to secure and defend the several Communities of which it is composed. By censuring the Supposition that Congress cou'd do, recommend or countenance any thing injurious to the Rights and Jurisdictions of those Communities. By declaring expresly that the independant Government attempted to be established by those misguided People can derive no Countenance or Justification from the particular Resolution on which

[533] N. Y. State Lib., Minutes of the Council of Safety, IX. 440 (in Duane's writing); Harvard Univ. Lib., Sparks MSS., XXIX. 196 (copy); Recs. of the Governor and Council of Vt., III. 293 (extract); Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., I. 998.

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2 A copy of the letter to Joseph Trumbull, dated July 2, is in the N. Y. State Library, Minutes of the Council of Safety, IX. 448, and is printed in Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., I. 1000. The letter mentions that the salt stored at Plymouth is under the care of Thomas Mumford Esqr. of Groton in Connecticut". See the Journals, June 14; also nos. 517, 518, ante, 544, 546, post.

3 The letter of the committee of safety, June 19, is in Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., I. 970; the resolution, June 18, is ibid., I. 968. See, further, ibid., I. 999, 1000; also William Duer to the Pennsylvania council of safety, Oct. 11, 1776, in Pa. Arch., first ser., V. 40.

it is pretended to be founded, or from any other Act or Proceeding of Congress. By the contemptuous Rejection of their Petition to be receivd and ranked as a free State; and to be represented by their own Delegates in Congress. By the Apology to the State of New York for raising Warner's Regiment, implied in the Explanation of the Motives which gave Rise to it. And by the severe Censure of Doct. Young's Address, encouraging these People to persevere in their Defection. By all these different Resolutions we think a substantial Foundation, on general and undenia [b]1[e] Principles, is laid either for reclaiming our Fellow Citizens to their Duty and a Submission to the Laws, by the Force of Reason and Perswasion; and the Fear of offending a whole Continent; or shoud they distinctley persevere in their Revolt, for a future Requisition of the Aid of Congress to be administerd in such manner as the Opposition of the disaffected, and our own Circumstances may render expedient. We flatter ourselves therefore that we shall meet with your Approbation and that our Country will be pleasd and benefited by the measures adopted on this Occasion. May we be permitted to suggest the Propriety of dispatching Commissioners without delay to circulate explain and enforce among our too aspiring Countrymen these Resolutions of Congress, and to seize the Advantage which the first Impression of unexpected disappointment, and Condemnation from the only Tribunal they fear, may make on their Minds, in order to induce them to a Submission to your Jurisdiction. This appears to us to be the more necessary as Mr Roger Sherman of Connecticut, who brought in the Petition for these People to Congress, and has all along acted openly as their Advocate and Patron, and in the last Debate plead their Cause with a Zeal and Passion which he never discoverd in any other Instance, and which in a Judge between a State and some of its own members was far from being commendable. This Gentleman, we say, immediately on passing the Resolutions, procurd Copies, and having obtaind Leave of Absence, is already set out on his Journey to the Eastward. What may be his Views with respect to our Dispute, we know not; But to his Enmity and officiousness you ought not to be Strangers.*

We have the Honour to be with the greatest Respect Hone Gentlemen Your most Obedient humble Servants

Council of Safety for the State of New York.

PHIL. LIVINGSTON
JAS. DUANE
WM. DUER

534. JAMES DUANE TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.1

July 2. Wednesday

We have now finished every thing in Congress which immedi

ately concerns our State, and I own I feel no small satisfaction in contem

4 See the Journals, June 23, 25, 28, 30, and nos. 524, 526, 532, ante; also nos. 539, 546, 547, post.

[534] See under June 24 (no. 522, notes 1 and 2), ante.

plating our success. I wish our Countrymen may be well pleased, and I shall have for a great deal of pains, labor and anxiety a full reward."

I ought to have excepted as an unfinished business our public accounts with the United States: to this my attention shall now be directed

Adieu

JD

Sr

535. JAMES LOVELL TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.1

PHILADA July 4th. 1777

I much fear that an Instruction formerly passed in Congress respecting Foreigners who do not understand our language will be construed as a patent for those who do. It was not intended for that end I assure you. Nothing is more dreaded than such a Construction.2

I will not multiply words, but conclude by assuring you of my most sincere Esteem as

Honble Mr. Franklin

Sr Your Friend and very humble Servant

JAMES LOVELL

536. THOMAS BURKE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA (RICHARD CAswell).1

PHILADELPHIA, July 5th, 1777

Dr. Sir:

Your several favours of the 10th and 11th ulto. have come to hand, and you may rely on my best attention to all your commands."

Mr. Penn is arrived, and has brought the papers necessary for obtaining the money, but the Treasury being very nearly exhausted of all former emissions I fear we must wait sometime before we can procure a sum from one lately voted, adequate to the demand. We have however obtained an order of the Treasury for three hundred thousand dollars to be delivered at Baltimore where the press and Signers are, and the Board of War are properly instructed to forward it without delay. I observe the Resolve of the Assembly directs the Delegates to send forward 250,000, dollars and the residue of the 500,000 not drawn for under this Resolve, or previous thereto.

These difficulties occur. Are the 250,000 to be considered as part of the 500,000, or are they to be an additional demand? Are the Delegates to send this money at the risque of the State, and not in the usual way

2 See nos. 524, 526, 532, 533, ante.

[535] Am. Phil. Soc., Franklin Papers, VI. 95; Hale, Franklin in France, I. 79. 2 See the Journals, Mar. 13; cf. nos. 501, 514, 525, 531, note 2, ante.

[536]1 N. C. State Recs., XI. 511.

2 Caswell's letters of June 10 and 11 first relates in part and the second almost reimbursement for assistance rendered them. July 5 (p. 532); cf. ibid., Feb. 5, Mar. 14.

are in N. C. State Recs., XI. 494, 495. The
entirely to the French engineers and to
See no. 525, note 5, ante; also the Journals,

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