'Tis true the Commissions have given Congress assurance of Money received and promised, sufficient to pay the Interest of five Million Dollars annually and added “we hope " also to find sufficient by subsidies to pay the Interest of 20 Million if we should be obliged to borrow that sum. at the same time they informed us, that upon application to the Court of France to borrow two Million Sterling they were told it was "impossible" to spare such a sum. that they had been strongly pressed and that the Minister was anxious" to contract for the delivery of 20,000 Hogsds of Tobacco as a ground for raising Money by Taxes. That they had actually engaged to deliver 4000 Hogsds and had received a very considerable advance on the Stipulation and "earnestly intreat Congress to enable them to comply with their part of the agreement, which while our ports are stopped will be impossible.* It appears to me that the foundation for drawing Bills is not substantial, the practice dangerous and the measure except for articles absolutely requisite for carrying on our defensive War not necessary. 6 the Commissioners Speak possitively of Money advanced and expected by periodical payments only for payment of the Interest of five Millions," which sum and a much larger I apprehend will be consumed by a variety of other demands on them, which 'tis impossible from our mode of transacting business and our total ignorance of the public debt contracted and increasing, to form an Estimate of. this forbids in the strongest terms the Act of borrowing Money abroad. they say in a subsequent dispatch that we may rely on punctual payment of Congress-Bills drawn for the discharge of the Interest of Sums borrowed, but refer I apprehend only to the Five Million per Annum and here they recommend that the Interest should be reduced to 3 or 4 per Cent, but Congress upon a question confirmed 6 per Cent against 5, and have put former loans upon a level with such as may be here after made.' the Court of France on failure on our part of the Contract for Tobacco, our continued demands on them for Money, for ship building Cloths Arms and many other articles will have ground for Complaint and may make a pretext of failure on our side witholding further payments to the Commissioners. the drawing Bills of Exchange is to all intents and purposes emissions. of Paper Money upon the very worst terms aggravated by 6 per Cent per Annum to be discharged under all disadvantages in a foreign country. it is putting our debt out of Sight for a little but it will infallibly return upon us with accumulated force. Although France has premptorily told us it is impossible to lend us two Million Sterling we are hastening to make a demand for that and for aught we know a much larger sum. * See the letters of the commissioners in Paris, Jan. 17, Feb. 6, Mar. 12, May 26, Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 248, 261, 283, 325. The agreement with the farmersgeneral of France, Mar. 24, 1777, is ibid., II. 300. See also Arthur Lee's letter of Feb. 14, ibid., II. 270. 5 See the letters of Jan. 17 and Mar. 12, mentioned in note 4, above. 7 See the Journals, Sept. 9, 10. the Seeming temporary relief which we shall receive by draughts upon France will draw off our attention from enquiring deeply into the State of our funds and debts and help us in our present alarming course of extravagance. We should pay proper regard to the conduct of the Court of Versailles, in refusing to receive our Commissioners openly in their Ambassadorial Characters, in "avoiding every act which should seem to acknowledge our Independence," in "refusing possitively " the Naval Aid which we had applied for, in neglecting to consider or give any answer to our plan for a Treaty and in betraying part of our proposals and possibly the whole of them to the British Ambassador, in a taunting Sarcastical remark to one of our Commissioners that we had not bid high enough, in Imprisoning one of our Captains, Seizing his Vessel, ordering a restitution of his prizes and in a word carefully avoiding to give "Umbrage" to the English. To borrow Money from a foreign power is to mortage our Soil, that the boasted generosity of the K of F.10 in funding us lightly and demanding no security is, when compared with the conduct above mentioned liable to Suspicion of being insidious. It will be the Interest of the French Minister to ensnare us by degrees into a considerable debt and the knowledge of the Negotiation will be a strong incentive to the British. for protracting the War. that "by altering the tenor of our Loan Certificates making the payment of Capital at one instead of three Years and of Interest quarterly or half Yearly, Money holders would be induced to bring supplies into the Office, that the expectation which the public have been held in of an emission of Bills of Exchange for 5 or 10 M [illion] of Dollars had been no small impediment. When the loan Office Certificates are put on a beneficial plan, if Money shall not be brought, in sums equal to the public exigency, it will be a proof that past emissions are not excessive. the demand for money at this time is not confined to the Capital Towns and Cities and within a small Circle of Trading Merchants, but spread over a surface of 1600 miles in length and three hundred broad nor is it now the practice to give 8 The interpretation which Laurens puts upon the conduct of the French court seems quite out of keeping with the tacit good-will indicated by the letters of the commissioners (see note 4, above). The allusion is to the case of Capt. Gustavus Conyngham (often spelled Cunningham). See Franklin and Deane to the committee of foreign affairs, May 25 and 26, 1777, Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 322, 325, Deane to Robert Morris, Aug. 23, 1777, ibid., II. 378. For further accounts of Conyngham, see ibid., II. 784, 827, 840, III. 350, 386, 394, IV. 324, 511, V. 148; also the Journals, Dec. 26, 1778, Jan. 4, Feb. 22 (p. 236), July 17 (pp. 844, 849), July 29, Dec. 13, 1779, May 17, June 11, 1781. See, especially, Neeser, Letters and Papers relating to the Cruises of Gustavus Conyngham (Publications of the Naval History Society, vol. VI.); also C. H. Jones, Captain Gustavus Conyngham; Allen, Naval Hist. Am. Rev.; and Paullin, The Navy of the Am. Rev. 10 King of France. 11 The structure of this letter is rather loose, shifting between direct and indirect statements of arguments used on the floor of Congress. credit for one and more years for th. of the whole traffic. every Man is now a Money holder and every article is paid for in Cash. it is hence obvious that an immense sum is necessary for a compleat circulation. No Man would be so void of understanding as to keep Continental Bills Idle and at a risque of loss in his desk when he might upon the Same Security improve them at 6 per Ct. per Annum. The sudden rise of price for domestic necessaries of Life is not wholly owing to great Emissions of paper, but in fact principally to the total Stoppage of Imports and the consequent scarceness and dearness of such articles as our real wants cannot, and too many which our Luxury will not forego. Borrowing of a foreign power will not increase the value of our paper Money, it may and probably will be the source of extending the depreciation to Several Years beyond the term when we might if we were in debt at home only, have redeem'd it.12 12 Such and many other arguments I used upon this occasion particularly recommending Taxation and the most vigorous exertions for opening our Ports and promoting exportation. I had the mortification to fail in my endeavour. the question being put and the Yeas and Nays demanded there appeared 21 Yeas and 5 Colo. Harrison Mr. Jno. Adams Mr. Duane Mr. Middleton Mr. Laurens Nays. If I have erred in my attempts it is fortunate for my Country that I have done no harm, but the measure appears to me big with danger, and as I am apprehensive a further attempt may be made to draw for some Capital Sum on the Commissioners I request to be instructed by Your Excellency whether to consent or protest. I beg your Excellency's pardon for having delivered my self on this important subject so unconnectedly, but I am reduced to a very short space for writing. my Colleagues had intended to have sent our dispatches on tomorrow by an express messenger we have now determined to stay him til we learn the event of an approaching general battle between our Army and the British now very near each other and within thirty miles of this City. I intend this by the hands of Doctor Houston who waits for it. I shall inclose half a dozen news papers and refer to them for past intelligence and add only that I am with great regard and esteem etc. 13 P. S. Casting my Eye upon the Resolve I perceive the time for bringing money into the Loan office in the terms above mentioned stands unlimited. the Report of a Committee of the whole House had Limited. Ist. March which was passed over without a question so very irregularly 12 In connection with Laurens's remarks concerning a foreign loan, a paper drawn up by Franklin in August, for use among the European courts, is of interest. The document is printed in Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 382. 18 The battle of Brandywine occurred the following day (Sept. 11). See the Journals, Sept. 11, 12; also no. 638, post. do we transact business every day." this Resolution being made known in our state will give an opportunity to our people to prepare for partaking the proposed benefit if they choose to lend.15 Dear Sr 637. ELIPHALET DYER TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1 PHILADELPHIA Septr 12th 1777 Saturday Evening [September 13]. . . . . Congress tho much Alarmd Yet determined not to move till the last Extremity tho they had began to be in earnest about moving from this City before Genll Hows approach. We are still in great hopes How will never be able to get to his Shipping again. my sincere Affection to family and am Yours ELIPHT DYER Sir, 638. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK), TO PHILADA. Septr. 12th. 1777. 4 O'Clock A. M. I am this Moment favoured with yours by the Express. I am sorry for the unfortunate Issue of the Day, but from the Troops keeping up their Spirits, I flatter myself it will still be in our Power to retrieve the Loss of Yesterday. I have thought, proper, in Consequence of the Intelligence received this Morning, to call the Congress together at Six O'Clock. 14 Laurens's conclusion that the limiting date, March 1, 1777, had been left out of the resolution as finally passed, is erroneous. A motion for the payment, by bills of exchange, of the interest on future issues of loan certificates without any time limit was adopted Sept. 9 (see also the motion Sept. 10), but the final action, Sept. 10, was the adoption of the resolution as reported, Sept. 9, by the committee of the whole. See the Journals, pp. 724, 725, 730, 731. It is needful to observe however that (as indicated in the Library of Congress edition of the Journals, pp. 730-731) the adoption of the report as a whole is not recorded in the original Journals, but only in the "corrected" Journals (see the Prefatory Note in the Journals, vol. II., p. 7). It seems probable that in the division of the question the limiting date was inadvertently left out of the proposition voted upon Sept. 9, and that this feature of the measure was restored by a later vote upon the resolution as reported by the committee of the whole. A comparison of the Library of Congress edition of the Journals with the older editions (that is, the "original" with the "corrected" Journals) shows two other differences that require to be pointed out: In the former the report of the committee of the whole is quoted entire, and there is no motion to divide; whereas in the latter the record reads: 66 Congress took into consideration the resolution reported from the committee of the whole; Whereupon, it was moved that it be divided, and the sense of Congress taken on it, reduced to distinct propositions; it was then moved", etc. 15 Following the adoption of the resolution it was ordered: "That the resolution now agreed to be published." Oct. 6, an order was passed requesting the states to publish the resolution in their respective gazettes for six months successively. [637] Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers. 2 Cf. nos. 631, ante, and nos. 638, 642, 643, 646, 649, 653, 656-659, 661, 698, post. The omitted part of this letter is an account at some length of the battle of Brandywine. [638]1 Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XVIII. 90; Letters to Washington (ed. Sparks), I. 433. 2 The letter written from Chester the night after the battle of Brandywine, Writings (ed. Ford), VI. 69 (ed. Sparks), V. 57. See the Journals, Sept. 12. Sir, 639. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY (WILLIAM LIVINGSTON).1 PHILADA Septr 12th 1777. It is the earnest Desire of Congress, and I have it in Charge to inform you of it, that you will immediately order out four Thousand of the Jersey Militia to reinforce the Army under Genl. Washington with all possible Expedition. If you should not be able to call out that Number, it is the request of Congress, that you will call out as many as possible in this critical State of our Affairs.2 Sir, 640. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO PHILADA. Sepr. 13th. 1777. In consequence of some information Congress have received respecting the conduct of brigadier general Borre, they have come to the enclosed resolve, which I do myself the honour to transmit you, and am to request you'l be pleased to pay immediate attention to it.2 641. SAMUEL CHASE TO THE GOVERNOR OF Maryland Dear Sir PHILA., Sept. 13, 1777. Saturday II o'clock, A. M. Congress have given brevet commissions to the officers who came with Mr. DuCoudray.2 two of them Monsieur Augusto Le Brah, [Augustin Le Brun] an able engineer, and Monsieur Pierre [639] N. J. State Lib.; N. J. Rev. Corr., p. 99. The same letter, with variations, is in the Mass. Hist. Soc., Hancock Letter-Book, VI. 270; Library of Congress, Papers Cont. Cong., no. 58, pt. II., f. 262. 2 No resolution of this precise character is found in the Journals. See, however, the resolution Sept. 12, to send an express to Gen. Dickinson, who was in command of the New Jersey militia. Cf. the Journals, Sept. 4 and 17, and nos. 629, 635, ante. [640] Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XCI. 12. 2 The following day Borré offered his resignation, which was accepted. See the Journals, Sept. 13 and 14; cf. ibid., Oct. 1, 2, 4, 6. The Chevalier Prudhomme de Borré was made a brigadier-general Apr. 11, 1777. Washington's reply to this letter is in Writings (ed. Ford), VI. 71. A note concerning Borré is found in the Writings of Washington (ed. Sparks), V. 462 (in an appendix of materials relating to the battle of Brandywine). See also ibid., p. 60. A sketch of Borré is in Appleton, Cyclo. of Am. Biog.; also in Lossing, Field Book of the Am. Rev. Sullivan's letters concerning his own conduct (Amory, Life of Sullivan, p. 44 et seq.) barely mention Borré. [64111 George C. Thomas Collection, Philadelphia; Thomas, Autographs and Autograph Letters. 2 See the Journals, Sept. 2, 13. Cf. ibid., Nov. 7, and Feb. 4, 1778. See also nos. 648, 734, post. |