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the States of Pennsylvania and New Jersey to order out immediately a considerable Part of their militia; and I have no Doubt of their Compliance.

I have wrote to Govr. Livingston on the Subject, and informed him that should he think proper to appoint Genl Dickinson to the Command of the three Thousand requested from that State, it will be extremely agreeable to Congress. That Gentleman has, I understand, signified his Readiness to act whenever called upon; and as he possesses the Confidence of the Militia, and has Talents equal to the Task, I am persuaded the Appointment will give general Satisfaction.2

Your Favor of the 3d. Inst, and likewise of yesterday by the hands of Genl. St. Clair I have been duly honoured with. The latter I shall lay before Congress this Morning. I have the honour to be, with the greatest Respect, Sir,

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As to Journals-be persuaded that no Expence or Industry has been wanting on the Part of Congress to get them up to the present Time. The Flight of Printers and the Want of Paper has impeded the Work till now, when we have a good Prospect. We are up to Octr. 25th. and shall very shortly have the Year-76 in a Volumn.

When the main Army is at our Elbow, and while we are Situated in the Capital of such a State as Pensylvania we shall never want ten thousand Interruptions to the Settlement of the Articles of Confederation and the Establishment of our Currency.

As to losing the Confidence of the People, I shall be sorry for their own Sakes; But, by way of Scare Crow to an honest Heart, I value it as little. as any other natural Phenomenon of Nature. There is a majority in every State of the Union, and in every great Assembly, which can be depended upon, at this Day; But there are also heavy Clogs in each. The Cause of the People is safe. But their Patients must have full Exercise. Virtuous themselves they cannot be ruined by their present Assailants.

2

Had there been due Vigour in this Government, Congress would not have been obliged to have pointed out Individuals of this State for Arrest.

2 See the Journals, Sept. 4; cf. ibid., Sept. 12, 14, 16, 17; also nos. 626, 627, ante, nos. 635, 639, post. A letter from Dickinson to Hancock in regard to this request is printed in part in Stan. V. Henkels's Catalogue, no. 1170, p. 18. The letter is there given the date Sept. 20, which would seem to be incorrect.

3 The letters were read in Congress Sept. 4 and 6, respectively. They related to the skirmish at Iron Hill, Delaware, and to the enemy's movements.

[630]1 Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers.

2 That is, the state of Pennsylvania. In regard to the arrest of a number of persons in the state, see the Journals, Aug. 28, Sept. 3, 5, 6, 8; also nos. 619, note 3, 627, ante, nos. 633, 634, post.

But the Safety of the Union called for it. And you may depend upon it every step we have taken can be handsomly defended. Freely did old Israel and the Tribe in general turn out armed when scandalous Oppression had stirred up the Paxton Boys. Read the hypocritical Cant of these Days. Hear the Appeal to the Freemen of Pensylvania, and Quotations from the Bill of Rights of this Independent State, from Wretches who will not affirm themselves faithful Subjects of it; and who since the Declaration of Independency complain, in the Registries of their meetings of Sufferings, that they are forced to aid in a War against Government.

I will suppose Coll. Dyer has written on the Subject of giving a Spring to the Loan offices, therefore I shall omit that Topic at this Time.

Before this reaches you, a Number of New England Skippers will be about you, who have lost their Vessels at the Head of Elk. There has been a most horrid Delay in the Management of the Persons to whom they were consigned. I have written to Coll. Aylett to desire he would confide the Settlement of his private Accounts as well as public to you so far as concerns the 6 Captains particularly Taylor my old Fellow Prisoner and Perkins my half Land Lord. You can empower Tracy or Deacon Smith to go through with it. The poor Fellows are heartsick of public Employ. They have about ruined themselves by their late Tryal. Four in Five would have got to Boston long ago if they had been in private Service...

Dear Sr

631. ELIPHALET DYER TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1

1

PHILADELPHIA Septr 7th 1777

I think Congress now are in a pretty good Temper to do business if this plaguy fellow of an How does not disturb us we are now very Sulky and determine not to move for him if we can help it how long our Courage may last I know not it will not be strange if at this time it should exceed our Conduct we feel very Magnanimous, but a few days may decide.2 before Hows appearance this way, our removal from this Venial City became a serious topick, and believe would have been the case had not G How Appeard but you know we Scorn to fly. Confederation and financies are now the great objects but ten thousand necessaries are dayly Crouding in: but there is no design nor art in keeping it off all are agreed in the Object differ only in the proportion of Representation and taxation. you may say that is enough: true it is but I think we shall not break upon these; it will now soon be agitated. Supplying our Army securing and apreciating our Currency is now first attended to. France and Spain offer us money to pay the Intrest of all our Loan; will not sure Bills on our Commisrs. in France for the Intrest at 6 pr Ct in specie make money Catchers fond of our Bills and eager to

[631] Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers.

2 See the Journals, Sept. 14, and no. 637, post. Cf. no. 627, note 17, ante. See the Journals, Sept. 2 (erased entry); also nos. 528, note 2, 537, 556, 558, 588, 616, ante, 649, 659, 671, 679, post.

put them into the Loan office on receiving their Intrest in Europe by bills of Excge. drawn on our Commissrs. it would in fact be equal to 15 pr Ct. for the present if you have any to put in you had best wait a few days for a decision for I yet know not whether that Advantage will be given Only as Incouragement to those who will now throw in their money into the Office as it may soon be wanted, or shall extend to those whose money we have allready got I mean to past Loans.*. . . .

632. JAMES LOVELL TO VICOMTE DE MAUROY.1
PHILADA Sept 8th 1777

In answer to the letter with which you favoured me of the 5th from Darby, I would assure you that I have been continually attentive to the very disagreable situation in which, as a man of military spirit, you must have thought yourself, ever since the near approach of the enemy. But, Sir, as something is begun, at length relative to your departure for France, I am of opinion that you should not now be desirous of exposing yourself as a volunteer in the field of battle for us.

I hope to inclose to you to morrow a final determination of your business 2

With much respect for your very worthy character and with a Due sense of your zeal towards these states, I have the honour to be Sir

Your most humble Servant

JAMES LOVELL

633. RICHARD HENRY LEE TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA
(PATRICK HENRY).1

PHILADELPHIA 8th. Septr. 1777

Dear Sir, The Quaker motto ought to be "Nos turba sumus," for if you attack one the whole society is roused. You will see by the inclosed testimonies a uniform, fixed enmity to American measures, which, with the universal ill fame of some capital persons, has occasioned the arrest of old Pemberton and several others, to prevent their mischievous inter

Cf. no. 627, ante, nos. 636, 659, post.

[632]1 Paris, Arch. Nat., K 1364, dossier "Amérique ", no. 61.

2 See the Journals, Aug. 11, 13, Sept. 8, 11, 14. Mauroy's letter of Sept. 5, to which Lovell is replying, was presumably addressed to Lovell as a member of the committee of foreign applications. A letter, without date but evidently written in view of the resolutions of Sept. 8, addressed to the President of Congress by Mauroy, in behalf of himself, Fayolles, and Boismartin, is in Arch. Nat., K 1364, dossier " Amérique ", no. 59 (copy). It was this letter upon which Congress took action Sept. 11, in connection with similar demands from Baron de Kalb. A long letter from the Vicomte de Mauroy to the Comte de Broglie, written from Boston, Oct. 23, 1777, describing his situation and discussing the action of Congress in refusing to recognize the contract made by Deane, is ibid. See, further, the Journals, Dec. 8, and no. 770, post. Concerning Baron de Kalb, see no. 565, note 5, ante, and the Journals, passim.

[633]1 Henry, Patrick Henry, III. 92; Letters of Richard Henry Lee (ed. Ballagh), I. 320.

position in favor of the enemy at this critical moment, when the enemies' army is on its way here, with professed design to give this city up to the pillage of the soldiery. They have taken infinite pains, according to custom, to move heaven and earth in their favor, and have transmitted copies of their indecent remonstrances over the country. Congress have, to prevent ill impressions, ordered their several inimical testimonies to be published in one Hand-bill. Altho' nothing can be more certain than that allegiance and protection are reciprocal duties, yet these men have the assurance to call for the protection of those laws and that Government which they expressly disclaim, and refuse to give any evidence of their allegience to. There is no doubt but that they will endeavor by means of the "Friends" in Virginia, to make disturbance and raise discontent there, but this may serve to put you on your guard. . . . . This day Congress has proposed that the Quaker Tories should be sent forthwith to Staunton in Augusta. I hope you will have them well secured there, for they are mischievous people. Should Howe be disappointed here, as it seems very likely that he will, it is more than probable that he will endeavor to do us all the injury in his power as he returns, and therefore it will be wise to be as well prepared for him as possible.

My Dear,

634. JOHN ADAMS TO MRS. ADAMS.1

PHILADELPHIA, Monday, 8 September, 1777

You will see by the papers enclosed that we have been obliged to attempt to humble the pride of some Jesuits, who call themselves Quakers, but who love money and land better than liberty or religion. The hypocrites are endeavoring to raise the cry of persecution, and to give this matter a religious turn, but they can't succeed. The world knows them and their communications. Actuated by a land-jobbing spirit like that of William Penn, they have been soliciting grants of immense regions of land on the Ohio. American independence has disappointed them, which makes them hate it. Yet the dastards dare not avow their hatred to it, it seems.2.

Sir,

635. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GEORGE Washington.1 PHILADIA. Septr. 9th. 1777.

I have the honor to transmit at this Time, Copies of several Letters from Governor Livingston and Genl. Du Coudray to Congress. As Govr. Livingston seems apprehensive of an Irruption from the Enemy on Staten Island, and says they are collecting there for this Purpose, the Congress have directed Genl. Putnam to hold in Readiness fifteen Hundred Men

2 See the Journals, Sept. 6. Cf. nos. 619, 627, 630, ante, no. 634, post.

[634]1 Familiar Letters, p. 305.

2 See nos. 619, 627, 630, 633, ante.

[635] Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XC. 314; Letters to Washington (ed. Sparks), I. 433.

under the Command of a Brigadier, to cross the North River when you may think proper to order it. A Copy of the Resolve, I shall immediately forward to Genl. Putnam.

The inclosed Letter from Monsr. du Coudray contains a Proposal of forming a Camp between Wilmington and Philadelphia the Propriety of which, the Congress have referred entirely to you. Colonel Harrison's Favour of the 7th. Inst. was duly received.2

I beg Leave to request your Attention to the Inclosures, and have the Honour to be,

with the greatest Respect, Sir,

Your most obedt. and very hble Servt.
JOHN HANCOCK Presidt.

His Excellency Genl. Washington.

636. HENRY Laurens to the PRESIDENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA (JOHN RUTLEDGE).1

Dear Sir,

10th Septem. 1777.

I had the honour of writing to Your Excellency the 12 and 15 August by Colo. Sumpter. A very important question varied in different branches of borrowing Money from the Court of France has been since agitated in Congress. I have been uniformly against the measure and think it my duty by the earliest opportunity to inform Your Excellency the grounds of my dissent.

The first question was for drawing Bills on our Commissioners for Ten Millions Dollars, which passed in the Negative.

A proposition was then made and a question put for drawing for five Millions of Dollars, passed also in the negative.

Yesterday by the most extraordinary motion and irregular proceeding that I have ever been Witness to in any other Assembly a Question was carried for drawing Bills of Exchange on our Commissioners at the rate of 5 Livres of France for a Spanish Dollar for payment of Interest at 6 per Cent per Annum of all Money already brought into the loan office or that shall be brought in before the 1st. March next.

It is expected that upon this encouragement money holders will bring Supplies to the Loan Office and that we may without another Emission of paper raise before the 1st. March 20 M [illion] Dollars, the Annual Interest of which will be about £270000 Sterling besides the risques of loss and delay by Remittances.

2 For the order to Putnam, see the Journals, Sept. 8, 12; cf. no. 627, note 14, ante. The letters of Livingston, Harrison, and Du Coudray were read in Congress Sept. 8 (see the Journals, p. 770, note 1). Cf. no. 639, post. The letter of Du Coudray is in the Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XCI. 3.

[636] S. C. Hist. Soc., Laurens Letter-Book, 1776-1778, p. 163; Gibbes, Documentary Hist. of the Rev., p. 88 (with modifications and omissions).

2 Col. Thomas Sumter of South Carolina. In July, 1780, he was made brigadiergeneral of South Carolina troops. Laurens's letter of Aug. 12 and 15 is no. 586, ante. 8 Cf. no. 627, ante, and see the Journals, Sept. 9, 10.

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