Sir: 667. JOHN PENN TO THE GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA YORK, PA., October 5th, 1777 Your favor of the 2nd September, I this minute received, and am glad to hear that the money, though very late, was arrived. The Congress left Philadelphia about the 20th, and are now at this place doing business. I shall apply to Congress to give some directions relative to the pork you mention to-morrow.2 Sunday morning. 668. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO Dear Sir ROBERT MORRIS.1 YORK 5 Octor. 1777. The Business allotted me by Congress after setting till 9 O'clock last Evening, prevents me the honour and pleasure of waiting on you agreeable to your kind Invitation and my wish. I have Expresses going to Genl. Gates and Genl. Putnam and to Head Quarters, which makes me very busy. The Inclos'd Letters for you and Colo. Harrison I have just Rec'd, and judging it would be agreeable to you both to have them soon, I therefore dispatch one of my Expresses with them. I have not a word of news to Communicate. No Letters since you left us, Nor have we any Reports to-day. . . . . Dear General 669. JAMES DUANE TO PHILIP SCHUYLER.1 YORK TOWN 5th. Octr. 1777 2 General St Clair is neither tried nor Arraigned. How can it be expected in the critical Situation of our Affairs: and when his Hearing is to be preceeded by the Report of a Committee who are to collect Materials from A Variety of distant Sources for the purpose? With respect to yourself I think you have determined wisely: I advise you however to write a civil Letter to Congress requesting them to give you a Copy of your Charge and assign a day for the Hearing, hinting that a [667]1 N. C. State Recs., XXII. 972, XI. 641. 2 See Caswell's letter to Penn, Sept. 2, in N. C. State Recs., XI. 602. There is no mention of the matter in the Journals, but Penn did bring it to the attention of the commissary-general of purchases. See Penn to Caswell, Oct. 10, N. C. State Recs., XI. 649, and William Buchanan to Governor Caswell, Oct. 17, ibid., XI. 656. [668] Copied from the original, then in possession of Mr. Stan. V. Henkels of Philadelphia; Henkels, Catalogue, no. 1183, item 14; N. Y. Hist. Soc., Collections: Revolutionary Papers, I. 431. [669] N. Y. Pub. Lib., Schuyler Papers, no. 546. 2 In regard to St. Clair, see the Journals, July 30, also, under Sept. 9 (p. 727, note 1); cf. no. 570, note 2, ante. Concerning the committee of inquiry, see the Journals, Aug. 27, 28, and nos. 602, 617, 619, 625, ante, nos. 677, 781, post. delay in your painful Situation is a Severity which you neither merit from your Country, nor have any Reason to expect from Congress.3 Give my Compls. to Maj. H. B. Livingston and tell him he is promoted to the Rank of Lieut. Colonel; as is Col. Troup for the News from the Northern Army. I shoud first have said that a Monument is ordered to be erected in Honour of the Memory of Genl Herkimer, Genl Stark advancd to the Rank of Brig-Genl. in the Continental Service, Gansevoort has the Thanks of Congress; and is appointed Col. Comma [n]dant of Fort Schuyler, Willet the Thanks of Congress and a Sword... Dear Sir 670. JAMES DUANE TO JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Jr.1 1 YORK TOWN 5th. Octobr. 1777 Your Letter to Congress has been reced and refered to the Board of Treasury. I could not however loose a moment in assuring you that you have reced. a very wrong Impression from the Report to which you refer: There is no officer in the Continental Service who stands higher than yourself in the esteem of the Board of Treasury and of Congress in general; and the Board will at all times be pleased to give you every honoure Testimonial in Justification of your Conduct. To me be assurd it will be a singular pleasure. you will have something more formal on this Subject soon.2 In the mean believe that I am, with very great Respect, Dear Sir Jona Trumbull Junr. Esqr. JAS. DUANE. Dear Sir 671. JAMES LOVELL TO HORATIO GATES.1 YORK TOWN Octr. 5th. 1777 The Flight to Baltimore was a Trifle compared with the present Jaunt and Situation. The Congress left Philada. the 19th. at 2 oClock A. M. I returned from Bristol to the Capital to dine, and tarried till the 25th; when, the Enemy being within a mile and without any opposing Troops in the City, I slipt into the Jersies. It was lucky that I had a young Lady to gallant thither; for 3 or 4 Officers who left Philada. before me were taken in the Franckfort Road.2 8 See no. 611, ante. A letter from Schuyler dated Sept. 27, requesting a copy of the accusation against him, was read in Congress Oct. 8. See also the Journals, Oct. 9, and nos. 677, 781, post. 4 See the Journals, Oct. 4, and no. 671, post. [670]1 Conn. Hist. Soc., Papers of Jonathan Trumbull, jr., vol. II., no. 107. 2 Trumbull's letter, dated Sept. 20, was read in Congress Oct. 2, but the Journals appear to contain no record of action upon it. The letter protests against certain expressions in the proceedings of Congress Sept. 6 (Journals, p. 716), concerning the action of the deputy paymaster-general, and explains the letter of General Gates of Aug. 28, upon which the action was based. [671] N. Y. Hist. Soc., Gates Papers, X. 2 Cf. no. 653, ante. Upon the present ill Aspect, some People in Congress seem to intend to reform their mode of doing or rather not-doing Business. and I believe we shall be able to get speedily thro' the Articles of Confederation, and shall sit faithfully about the means of keeping our Currency in some sort of Credit: I know nothing radical for the Purpose but Taxation, high and payable at short Periods. Every Thing else is only a Palliative... 66 The Gentleman who delivers this has received an Advantage from yr. Recommendation; but as there was an old Resolution upon the Journals that Congress would take an early Opportunity to promote Majr. Livingston ", which was not recollected, when a Motion in his favour was made upon his coming to tell from Genl. Schuyler what Genl. Lincoln had written about Brigadr. Stark's Fighting, this Opportunity when Mr. Throop came properly from a Battle was taken to bring into Effect the mentioned Record. Thus both the Young Gentlemen are promoted.5 I hope Stark will not make the same Puzzle as another Officer has made about the Date of his new Rank; For I think it impossible that in one Case or the other Congress should antedate without the greatest Confusion. One Case had been absolutely determined before any Knowledge of the Anecdote which I have before hinted at, which would have fixed me if I had not been fixed before.". 6 I hope one or two late Alterations with the Power of filling Places will make the Commissary and Quartermasters Department of some better use to you than they have been lately. I will not urge you to be particular to me till you have more Leisure than you had when Mr. Throop left you; but be assured that I am, Sir, Your Friend and Most humb Servt. JAMES LOVELL 672. THE COMMITTEE OF Foreign Affairs to THE COMMISSIONERS IN PARIS.1 Gentlemen: YORKTOWN, October 6, 1777. We shall follow your example in confining this letter entirely to yours of May 26, respecting the loan and the mode of raising it by appropria 3 Cf. nos. 627, 631, 636, 659, 662, ante, nos. 672, 701, post. Robert Troup (Lovell here spells the name "Throop"). See note 5, below; also nos. 660, 662, ante. 5 The promotions of Robert Troup and Henry Brockholst Livingston were made Oct. 4. Cf. no. 669, ante. For the earlier action concerning Livingston, see the Journals, Sept. 25, 1776, and Aug. 22, 1777 (erased entry). It is difficult to escape the impression that Congress was more zealous in promoting the persons who brought good news than those who performed good services. The promotion of James Wilkinson for bringing Gates's despatches concerning the surrender of Burgoyne is one of the most extraordinary. See the Journals, Oct. 31, Nov. 6, and no. 728, note 2, post. The allusion is probably to the case of Benedict Arnold. See the Journals, Aug. 8, Nov. 29, and nos. 582, 583, 585, 586, 607, ante. 7 The anecdote was probably that related to Gates in a letter of Nov. 17 (Gates Papers, XI.), involving a criticism of Washington. 8 See the Journals, Oct. 4. [672]1 Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 400; Sparks, Dipl. Corr. Rev., I. 330. 2 tion of vacant land. It remains doubtful yet whether there is any vacant land not included within the charter limits of some one of the thirteen States, and it is an undetermined question of great magnitude whether such land is to be considered as common stock, or the exclusive property of the State within whose charter bounds it may be found. Until this business has been determined in Congress and approved by the States you will readily discover the difficulty of doing anything in the way of raising money by appropriation of vacant land. We consider your proposal on this subject as of very great importance, and we shall not fail to solicit the attention of Congress thereto whenever the pressing business of the campaign will permit. In the mean time we see no reason that should prevent the young nobleman of Irish extract from coming to America, because the suspension of the question concerning vacant lands will not obstruct his views of getting the quantity he may want, either by original entry or by purchase on the most reasonable terms, upon the frontiers of those States where vacant lands are in abundance to be met with. We are warranted to say that such rank as that nobleman may have when he leaves service in Europe will be granted to him here. Congress clearly discern with you, gentlemen, the all-important concern of supporting the credit of the continental money, and with this view have proposed, as you will see by the inclosed resolves, to pay the interest of twenty millions of dollars by bills drawn on you. This we hope will in time replenish the loan offices so effectually as, with the aid of taxation now generally taking place, to prevent the necessity of future emissions. By your letters of the 25th of May we have no doubt but these interest bills will be paid with all due punctuality. About five millions only of the twenty voted are yet borrowed, and the interest on those five will not be drawn for in bills till near a twelvemonth.* We are, etc., B. HARRISON. R. H. LEE. J. WITHERSPOON. 2 The letter referred to seems to be missing. In Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 325, is a letter from Franklin and Deane, dated May 26, but it does not discuss the question of defraying the cost of the war by the sale of vacant lands. Such a scheme was, however, proposed by Deane in a letter dated Dec. 1, 1776. None of the existing letters of the commissioners mention "the young nobleman of Irish extract". This was probably Count Arthur Dillon. A sketch of him is in Appleton, Cyclo. Am. Biog. 3 The problem of the western territory had already been agitated in connection with the Articles of Confederation. See no. 616, ante. Maryland put the question to test Oct. 15. See the votes in the Journals (pp. 806-807). 4 See the Journals, Sept. 10, and no. 671, note 3, ante. The letter of May 25 from the commissioners in Paris is in Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 322. Sir, 673. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO JOHN NIXON.1 YORK TOWN; PENNSYLVANIA. October 6th. 1777. I have recieved your Favour wherein you request Leave to resign on Account of Indisposition, and immediately laid it before Congress: In Consequence of which I have it in Charge to inform you, that they have at present, in Consideration of the Services you have rendered the Cause of Freedom and your Country, declined accepting your Resignation. It is their Wish that you would spend some Time in travelling thro New England, or any other Part of America that may be most agreeable. Should you after this Excursion, find your Health no better, the Congress will in that Case tho with Reluctance, consent to your retiring from the Army.2 With the warmest Wishes for a Restoration of your Health, that you may be thereby enabled to render still further Services to your Country, I have the Honour to be, My dear Sir, I have a very good opinion of Col Carrington, and would willingly serve him, but I much doubt whether the erasure of the Journal you propose can be obtained, but I will try.2 . [673]1 Mass. Hist. Soc., Hancock Letter-Book, VI. 293; Library of Congress, Papers Cont. Cong., no. 58, pt. II., f. 287. 2 The Journals contain no mention of Nixon's offer to resign, or of the action of Congress thereon. [674]1 Henry, Patrick Henry, III. 100; Letters of Richard Henry Lee (ed. Ballagh), I. 325. 2 The entry in the Journals here referred to is under Aug. 19. The action was taken in consequence of a letter of Aug. 8, from Governor Henry to the Virginia delegates, read in Congress Aug. 18. The letter is in Henry, Patrick Henry, with date Aug. 6, and in Pa. Arch., second ser., III. 101. Henry's suggestion that the censure of Carrington be erased is found in a postscript to a letter to Richard Henry Lee, Sept. 12, in Henry, Patrick Henry, III. 94. The resolution was not erased, but on May 23, 1778, Congress removed the censure. See the Journals of that date. |