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medal he proposes, Liberty, with her spear and pileus, leaning on General Washington. The British fleet in Boston harbor with all their sterns towards the town, the American troops marching in. For the seal, he proposes, The arms of the several nations from whence America has been peopled, as English, Scotch, Irish, Dutch, German, etc., each in a shield. On one side of them, Liberty with her pileus, on the other, a rifler in his uniform, with his rifle gun in one hand, and his tomahawk in the other. This dress and these troops with this kind of armor being peculiar to America, unless the dress was known to the Romans. Dr. Franklin showed me yesterday a book, containing an account of the dresses of all the Roman soldiers, one of which appeared exactly like it. This M. du Simitiere is a very curious man. He has begun a collection of materials for a history of this revolution. He begins with the first advices of the tea ships. He cuts out of the newspapers every scrap of intelligence, and every piece of speculation, and pastes it upon clean paper, arranging them under the head of that State to which they belong, and intends to bind them up in volumes. He has a list of every speculation and pamphlet concerning independence and another of those concerning forms of government.

Doctor F. proposes a device for a seal. Moses lifting up his wand, and dividing the red sea, and Pharaoh in his chariot overwhelmed with the waters. This motto. "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God."

Mr. Jefferson proposed, The children of Israel in the wilderness, led by a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night-and on the other side, Hengist and Horsa, the Saxon chiefs, from whom we claim the honor of being descended, and whose political principles and form of government we have assumed.

I proposed, The choice of Hercules, as engraved by Gribelin, in some editions of Lord Shaftesbury's works. The hero resting on his club. Virtue pointing to her rugged mountain on one hand, and persuading him to ascend. Sloth, glancing at her flowery paths of pleasure, wantonly reclining on the ground, displaying the charms both of her eloquence and person, to seduce him into vice. But this is too complicated a group for a seal or medal, and it is not original.

Dear Sir

78. WILLIAM WILLIAMS TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1

PHILADELPA Aug 15 1776

Yours of the 12th. I have recd. my avocations this morns are so many, I can write but verry little if I had any thing worth writing about. I cant get my Bretheren to join in a Motion for Cap Dyer,2 tho they profess a hearty willingness to serve him. they say Congress will expect a Recomend" from the Genl. and tis not safe to venture without. I dont know but it is necessary, and I wish one cod be obtaind, and I am certain

[78] Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers. Addressed, "To Joseph Trumbull Esqr Commissary General of the American Army New York".

2 See no. 71, ante, and no. 87, post.

it can be carried. if from some others it may serve. if Col Dyer is there He will certainly get it if possible and I shod think he may. I wrote him by the same Post I wrote you, but knew nothing of his being at N York perhaps it went on if there yet give him my Complimts (and Mr Law) and desire him to write let me know his Errant and how matters go on in our Congress etc. . .

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79. PHILIP LIVINGSTON TO THE NEW YORK CONVENTION.1 PHILADA. 16th August 1776.

Gentlemen,

Your favours datd the 22d. July Incloseing Copy of Mr. Alsops Lettr. to the Convention and a Resolve of your body accepts his resignation of his seat in Congress we recd. and agreable to your directions Comunicated the same to Congress and delivered a copy to Mr. Alsop, who had not attended for some days before, tho' we did not then know the reason of his absenting himself. Your favours of the 7th Instant wth. Inclosures we recd. and communicatd to Congress -the Spirited behaviour of your body, so very Conspicuous in your Resolves was very pleasing indeed.

there is not the least doubt but your Rangers will be taken into Continental pay. the Southern Colonies are raising Troops for the like purpose and we intend in Conjunction with them to Apply to Congress on that head. the Gentn. represents those Colonies wish to have the Application deferred for sometime, but we are of opinion you ought not to defer raising the Men. the People on the frontiers Most Certainly will not be Easy nor, we fear, safe, without such security. we are Confident Congress Means to be at the Expence Incurred and to be Incurred in Obstruct the Navigation of Hudsons river and will in Our next Acqt. you with their Explicit Ansr. on that head.* . . . . We remain, Gentlemen,

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There have been great complaints for want of money in the Northern department. That want has been partly owing to a neglect of

3 Richard Law, delegate from Connecticut in 1774 and again in 1782. [79] N. Y. Hist. Soc., Duer Papers, I.; Harvard Univ. Lib., Sparks MSS., XXXIX. 158 (copy); Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 977.

2 See no. 21, ante. The letter of the New York convention is in Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., I. 537, and Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 1431. It was probably presented to Congress before Aug. 5. Cf. no. 61, ante.

8 The convention's letter of Aug. 7 is in Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., I. 560, and Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 1483. It was probably presented to Congress Aug. 12.

4 Cf. no. 100, post. Concerning the project of obstructing the navigation of the Hudson, see Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 392, 423, 448, 484, 998, 1028, 1409, 1514, 1518, 1522, 1547, 1548, 1564, and Jour. N. Y. Prov. Cong., I. 526, 575, 577, 578, 594, 596. See also E. M. Ruttenber, Obstructions to the Navigation of Hudson's River (Albany, 1860). 5 Although this letter uses the first person plural, only Philip Livingston signed it. [80]1 Conn. Hist. Soc., Papers of Jonathan Trumbull, jr., vol. Ï., no. 135.

making application to Congress for it, as Paper currency might have been sent at any time, but a Sufficient Supply of Specie could not be obtained to support the Army in Canada therefore supplies or provisions etc. ought to have been sent from the Colonies. Who is most blameworthy for the neglect I shall not undertake to say. 500,000 Dollars were sent forward to You about a fort-night ago which I hope are safe arrived-as many more, were ordered yesterday, to be forwarded immediately, so that I hope you will in future have sufficient supplies of that article, especially as Congress has directed the Paymasters to make returns weekly of the State of their Military Chests, which returns 'tis expected will be sent by the Post..

Sir

81. THE RHODE ISLAND DELEGATES TO THE GOVERNOR OF
RHODE ISLAND (NICHOLAS COOKE).1

PHILADELPHIA Augt. 17th. 1776

Commodore Hopkins, who was charged with Disobedience of Orders, hath been heard in his Defence. Congress Resolved that his Answers were by no means satisfactory, and thereupon further Resolved "that he should be censured and he is censured accordingly." Judge Greene arrived here yesterday. We shall move Congress for the Payment of the Money requested by the General Assembly."

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We have not urged an Appointment of a Brigadier General to the Command of the Troops in our State; because We think it would be imprudent to bring them in View at this Time least they should be ordered to New York and our State be left defenceless.*. with great Respect

Sir,

Your Honor's most obedient humble Servants,

STEP. HOPKINS
WILLIAM ELLERY

82. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO

GEORGE WASHINGTON.1

PHILADELPHIA August 17th 1776, 5 O'Clock P. M.

Your Favour of the 16th Inst: per Post this minute came to Hand, and shall be laid before Congress on Monday.2.

2 According to the Journals, $200,000 was ordered sent to Trumbull Aug. 2, and $500,000 Aug. 15. In his letter to Schuyler, Aug. 7 (Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 820), Washington also says he understood that $500,000 had been sent. Cf. nos. 52, 63, 64, ante.

[81]1 N. Y. Pub. Lib., Emmet Coll., no. 1562, Declaration of Independence.

2 See the Journals, Aug. 15, 16; also no. 84, post.

3 See the Journals, Sept. 2.

4 See the Journals, Sept. 3, 7.

[82]1 Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, LXXXIX. 284; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 994.

2 Washington's letter of Aug. 16 is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser, I. 980. It is not mentioned in the Journals.

P. S. This Morns I Rec'd the Box by Coll Reed, and am Directed by Congress to Take Care of it, which is done."

Sir:

83. JOSIAH BARTLETT TO WILLIAM WHIPPLE.1

PHILADELPHIA, August 18, 1776.

I fear the Confederation will not be finished in time to be laid before our Assembly at their next sitting. Last week passed without looking at it. Other affairs have taken up the whole time. Near two days were taken up about Commodore Hopkins; and we had the pleasure to be for the greatest part of that time entertained by the eloquence of some of our Southern brethren, particularly that polite speaker, Middleton. The Congress at last found Hopkins guilty of not paying proper attention to his orders, and have ordered him to be censured. Thus stands that affair at present.3.

84. JOHN ADAMS TO SAMUEL ADAMS.1

PHILADELPHIA August 18 1776

2

Dear Sir Confederation has not been mentioned since you left us. We have spent the Time upon the two old Bones of Contention, the old

This was a box containing Washington's military papers, which he sent to Congress for safe-keeping. See his letter of Aug. 13 (Writings, ed. Sparks, IV. 45; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 932), read in Congress Aug. 17.

[83] Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 1024; Harvard Univ. Lib., Sparks MSS., no. 52, vol. II., p. 1491 (copy).

2 It was last considered on Aug. 8 and was taken up again on Aug. 20. Cf. nos. 33, 34, 43, ante, and nos. 84, 85, 94, post.

3 See no. 81, ante, and nos. 84, 85, 89, post.

[84] N. Y. Pub. Lib., Bancroft Coll., Letters of John Adams and John Quincy Adams (original); ibid., Samuel Adams Papers, Wells Trans.; Bulletin of the N. Y. Pub. Lib., vol. X., no. 4227.

2 Samuel Adams left Congress Aug. 12. See no. 72, note 3, ante. On Aug. 20 Congress went into committee of the whole on the Confederation. In his Autobiography, under that date, John Adams rails at the brevity of the record in the Journals: "Thus we see the whole record of this momentous transaction. No motions recorded, no yeas and nays taken down, no alterations proposed, no debates preserved, no names mentioned; all in profound secrecy. Nothing suffered to transpire, no opportunity to consult constituents: no room for advice or criticisms in pamphlets, papers, or private conversation. I was very uneasy under all this, but could not avoid it. In the course of this confederation a few others were as anxious as myself. Mr. Wilson, of Pennsylvania, upon one occasion, moved that the debates should be public, the doors opened, galleries erected. or an adjournment made to some public building, where the people might be accommodated. Mr. John Adams seconded the motion, and supported it with zeal. But no! neither party was willing; some were afraid of divisions among the people; but more were afraid to let the people see the insignificant figures they made in that assembly. Nothing, indeed, was less understood abroad, among the people, than the real constitution of Congress, and the characters of those who conducted the business of it. The truth is, the motions, plans, debates, amendments, which were every day brought forward, in those committees of the whole house, if committed to writing, would be very voluminous; but they are lost forever. The preservation of them, indeed, might, for any thing I recollect, be of more curiosity than use." Works, III. 69.

Adams had before him when writing his Autobiography (1805) only the public Journals, the secret Journals not having been published until 1821. The same error of misapprehension is in part responsible for frequent criticisms of the method of keeping the record of proceedings.

It has not been discovered when the motion of James Wilson, referred to by Adams, was made. The rule of closed doors was adopted Sept. 6, 1774, and May 11, 1775. Cf.

3

4

Gen. and the Commodore. The first we voted blameless, the last we voted censurable, because the Reasons given for not complying litterally with his Instructions, were by no Means Satisfactory. My two Colleagues differed in opinion from me, upon these Questions concerning the ad [miral] 6 Colonies Ay, 3 No, 3 divided. I am afraid this will hurt the Fleet, but Time must determine. We have ordered the old Hero to his Command.

Before the Receipt of your Letter," what you advise concerning Meigs and Dearborne was done. The Board of War recommended it and it was done, but not without opposition from 5 or 6 Colonies, who thought that there ought to be no Distinctions made, but a general Exchange of the Prisoners of Arnolds Party, or none.

85. EDWARD RUTLEDGE TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.1

My dear Robert,

[August 19(?),2 1776.]

The Promotion of General Officers gave us a good deal of Trouble. Wooster had more Advocates for his Advancement than his an erased order in the Journals, Sept. 8, 1777: "That the door of the lobby be kept locked during the sitting of Congress."

3 David Wooster. See the Journals, Aug. 17. In his Autobiography (Works, III. 67) Adams says, concerning the vote to agree to the committee report on Wooster: "But not, however, without a great struggle. In this instance, again, as in many others, where the same anti-New-England spirit which pursued Commodore Hopkins, persecuted General Wooster, I had to contend with the whole host of their enemies, and with the utmost anxiety, and most ardous efforts, was scarcely able to preserve them from disgrace and ruin, which Wooster had merited even less than Hopkins. In Wooster's case, there was a manifest endeavor to lay upon him the blame of their own misconduct, in Congress, in embarrassing and starving the war in Canada. Wooster was calumniated for incapacity, want of application, and even for cowardice, without a color of proof of either. The charge of cowardice he soon confuted, by a glorious and voluntary sacrifice of his life, which compelled his enemies to confess he was a hero." Cf. vol. I. of these Letters, no. 630; also nos. 64, 71, ante, and no. 85, post. * Esek Hopkins. See the Journals, Aug. 15, 16.

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'Although this resolution of censure was not in my opinion demanded by justice, and consequently was inconsistent with good policy, as it tended to discourage an officer, and diminish his authority, by tarnishing his reputation, yet, as it went not so far as to cashier him, which had been the object intended by the spirit that dictated the prosecution, I had the satisfaction to think that I had not labored wholly in vain in his defence." Adams's Autobiography, Works, III. 67. See vol. I. of these Letters, no. 630; also nos. 73. 81, 83, ante, and nos. 85, 89, post. An account of the Hopkins affair is found in Edward Field, Esek Hopkins, ch. v., and Allen, A Naval History of the American Revolution, I. 90-115. See also Paullin, The Navy of the American Revolution, pp. 53-60.

5 The letter, dated Aug. 16, is in Writings (ed. Cushing), III. 310. A resolution authorizing the exchange of Maj. Return Jonathan Meigs and Capt. Henry Dearborn was passed Aug. 17. A petition from Meigs and others for exchange, presented to Congress Aug. 15, is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., I. 962. Cf. ibid., I. 553, 777, 853, 902, 997.

[85]1 Furnished by courtesy of Mr. James H. Manning, of Albany, N. Y.; N. Y. Pub. Lib., Bancroft Coll., Livingston Papers, I. 203 (copy).

2 The date of this letter is probably Aug. 19. That it could not have been earlier than Sunday the 18th is evident from the reference to the Hopkins case: "Most of the last week was taken up in trying old Hopkins." It could not have been after the session of Aug. 20, for on that day consideration of the Confederation, which had been suspended since the 8th, was resumed. The reference to the Articles of War would seem to have in view the proceedings of Aug. 19. The letter bears the endorsement, "Edward Rutledge Esqr Recd Augt. 1776".

See the Journals, Aug. 9; cf. nos. 71, 72, ante.

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