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The Rev. Mr Duché has acted such a part as will ever disgrace him, in short he may be said to be the first of villains, we cannot help suspecting that the letter he wrote to our worthy Genl. must have been dictated by a Howe, the design of the letter was to prevail on the Genl to negotiate Terms for himself and army. You know Administration have tried bribery and corruption, nothing is too dirty or mean for the British Court, and those that are employed against us, however we trust that the day is not far off when we shall all be free and happy. The confusion the different Clerks have been in for some time, with regard to their books etc. has prevented our getting a copy of the amount of such sums of money as has been received by direction of our State, we will enclose it, as soon as we can possibly get it, to your Excellency.

Doctor Burke left us last week when he set out for North Carolina. We are with due respect, Sir, your obdt Servts.

J. PENN
CORN'L HARNETT.

P. S. Mr Duché remained in Philadelphia, and of course fell into the Enemy's hands.

25th. Burgoyne and his whole army are prisoners, I have seen Gov'r Clinton's letter this morning giving an account of the matter. . . . .

Dear Sir,

JOHN PENN

700. RICHARD HENRY LEE TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.1

2

YORK the 20th. October 1777

Your favor of the 16th I received yesterday, and was a good deal surprised to find you had been told that Congress had appointed General Conway a Major General. No such appointment has been made, nor do

letter with its enclosure is found in Pa. Arch., first ser., V. 676. Putnam's letter to Washington, Oct. 16, is in Letters to Washington (ed. Sparks), II. 5. In N. C. State Recs., XI. 653, Clinton's letter covering the Albany letter appears without his signature, the whole covered by a note of Hugh Smith, postmaster at headquarters of the Northern army (see Pa. Arch., first ser., V. 703). This is no doubt the enclosure mentioned in Harnett's letter to Governor Caswell, Oct. 20, quoted above. Cf. nos. 700, 703, 704, 708, 711, 713, 714, 719, 727-730, post. The announcement of the surrender was premature. Burgoyne's offer of surrender was made on the 14th, the convention was signed on the 16th, and the actual surrender took place on the 17th. The articles of convention are in the N. Y. Hist. Soc., Gates Papers, and are found both in print and in facsimile in the society's Bulletin, vol. III., no. 3, p. 89 (October, 1919). Gates's letter of Oct. 18 announcing the capitulation was not received by Congress until Oct. 31. This letter, that of Oct. 20, and an enclosure of the 19th (see the Journals, Oct. 31) are found in Pa. Arch., first ser., V. 687-688.

4 In N. C. State Recs. the name is printed "Drake".

5 Cf. no. 689, ante, nos. 708, 718, post.

[700]1 Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XIX. 21; Letters to Washington (ed. Sparks), II. 10; Letters of Richard Henry Lee (ed. Ballagh), I. 337.

2 Washington's letter to Richard Henry Lee here referred to is evidently that dated Oct. 17, found in Writings (ed. Ford), VI. 120, (ed. Sparks), V. 97. The original has not been found, but the Varick transcript in the Library of Congress, from which the texts were doubtless printed, is dated Oct. 17.

I believe it will, whilst it is likely to produce the evil consequences you suggest. It is very true, that both within and without doors, their have been Advocates for the measure, and it has been affirmed that it would be very agreeable to the army, whose favorite Mr. Conway was asserted to be. My judgement on this business was not formed until I received your letter. I am very sure Congress would not take any step that might injure the Army, or even have a tendency that way; and I verily believe. they wish to lessen your difficulties by every means in their power, from an entire conviction that the purest motives of public good direct your actions."

The business of a Board of War is so extensive, so important, and demanding such constant attention, that Congress see clearly the necessity of constituting a new Board out of Congress, whose time shall be entirely devoted to that essential department.*

It is by some warmly proposed that this board shall be filled by the three following gentlemen, Colo. Read, Colo. Pickering the present Adjutant General, and Colo. Harrison your Secretary. And that Gen. Conway be appointed A. G. in the room of Colo. Pickering. It is my wish, and I am sure it is so of many others, to know your full and candid sentiments on this subject. For my own part, I cannot be satisfied with giving any opinion on the point until I am favored with your sentiments, which I shall be much obliged to you for Sir as soon as your time will permit. It has been affirmed that Gen. Conway would quit the service if he were not made a M. General. But I have been told, in confidence, that he would leave it at the end of this Campaign if he was appointed, unless his word of honor were taken to continue for any fixed time. And it is a question with me whether the Advocates for Gen. Conway will not miss their aim if he should be appointed A. General, unless he has the rank of Maj. General also. My reason for thinking so, is, that I have been informed Gen. Conway desires to retire to his family, provided he can carry from this country home with him, a rank that will raise him in France.

It is very certain that the public good demands a speedy erecting and judicious filling of the new Board of War; and I sincerely wish it may be done in the most proper manner. I do not imagine Congress would appoint Colo. Harrison without first knowing whether you could spare him, nor do I think that so important an office as that of A. G. should be touched without maturest consideration.

3 Conway had been made a brigadier-general May 13. See also the Journals, May 12, no. 501, ante, and Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 202. Dec. 13 Conway was appointed inspector-general. See also the Journals, Oct. 3, Nov. 24. Concerning the Conway Cabal" see the next volume of these Letters. Cf. no. 756, note 3, post.

See the Journals, July 18, 22, Oct. 16, 17. The members of the new board were elected Nov. 7. See, further, the Journals, Nov. 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, 27; also nos. 720, 743, 748, 757-761, post. This reorganization of the War Department was one result of the effort initiated nearly a year before toward conducting the executive business through boards not composed of members of Congress. See no. 298, note 7, ante.

5 Joseph Reed. See no. 769, post.

We every moment expect the Express with an account that will enable us to congratulate you on the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne, and the remains of his shattered army. This will be one of the Prussian sixes, and I augur that the other will soon cast up upon the Delaware." I am, with sincerest wishes for your health and success, dear Sir Your most affectionate and obedient Servant

RICHARD HENRY LEE

Dear Sir.

701. WILLIAM WILLIAMS TO JABEZ HUNTINGTON.1

YORK, Oct. 22, 1777

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Your Favor of the 14th Sept by Mr. Brown, and [ time before. [

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[It] was not possible to acknowledge the same [sooner, and] am now stealing time from public Business [to] thank you for your Favors, and am sorry I have [none] to return you. a multitude of incidental [matters] which I cant well describe and which cant [pos]sibly be dispensed with swallows up great part [of] the Time of Congress. Provisions and Regulations [of many] kinds and of great importance in [conducting] the affairs of such vast Extent and magnitude you can easily conceive are necessary and have [been] in [no] inconsiderable Degree realized in our Council of safe [ty] and other Departments.

2

[We] are really much bent and engaged to get thro [the] Confederation and Devote as much Time as [poss]ible to it, two or three Articles are pasd upon [of which] I wrote the Govor (which I hope has [reached] him) but of less importance than those, the plan of a large Taxation seems also fully adopted, but they conceive it will go out with much more weight with or after the Confederation, there are reasons for this, tho I am not satisfied it is best to [wait for that] so long as this will necessarily carry it. [The ex]orbitant rise of every article etc. as [well as] depreciation [of the currency] is greatly alarming the States [and the device] of coercive [measures and] of regulating [prices they find] it impossible to execute and Congress [have] no practicable way to remedy the great and growing [evil] but a firm Union to establish the Credit of the [currency] which the Tribe of Speculators and other [gentry] begin to pick Flaws in etc., to [limit the quantity] but if possible to reduce it, before [ and to meet] future expenses by Taxation. these [measures will] certainly relieve us, if soon accomplished [and ch]earfully born, and if it please God, to grant [us] success against our [enemies] and [ ] we hope it will crown the attempt with [success.]3.

Hon. Maj. Gen. Huntington.

• See no. 699, ante, and nos. 703, 704, 708, 711, 713, 714, 719, 727, 728, post. The phrase "Prussian sixes" is drawn from the game of dice.

[701]1 Furnished by courtesy of C. F. Libbie and Company of Boston.

2 See no. 683, ante, and no. 712, post.

3 Cf. nos. 659, 662, 671, ante.

Dear Genl

702. ELIPHALET DYER TO JOHN SULLIVAN.1

YORK TOWN Octobr. 23d. 1777

The Gentn. from N- H-re you mention,' am well persuaded has no very Cordial friendship for you. You know him and I need say no more, but in Justice to him I can say that on every Occasion wherein you have been Attacked in Congress he has thrown in his mite in your favour and given his Vote against every measure which has been proposed against you. but to Conclude you may rest Satisfied that you have obtained a Compleat Victory and Conquest over your Enemies in Congress (and those who have attacked you without) they now ware long faces, they hang their heads, they are mute, you will hear no farther from them; every attack that has been made upon you is now despised. Your friends not only rejoice but Triumph, all the malice of your Enemies is disarmed of its Sting, and Venome therefore I trust you will pay no more regard to the barking tribe but shine on; every attempt of detraction, instead of effecting its purpose, and design, has had a Contrary effect, and placed your merit in a more Conspicuous light, than if no attack had been made upon you.'. .

703. JOHN ADAMS TO MRS. ADAMS.1

YORKTOWN, 24 October, 1777

From last Sunday to this moment, Friday afternoon, four o'clock, we have been in a state of tormenting uncertainty concerning our affairs at the northward. On Sunday, we had news from the committee of Albany through Governor Clinton and General Washington of a capitulation of Burgoyne and his whole army. To this moment we have no express from Gates nor any authentic confirmation.2

Howe has drawn his army into the city, and Washington is at Germantown. Supplies will be cut off from the British army in a great measure. [P. S.] We shall finish a plan of confederation in a few days.3

[702]1 Me. Hist. Soc., Revolution, no. 2.

2 Nathaniel Folsom was at this time the only delegate from New Hampshire. 3 See nos. 681, 684, 686, ante, and the Journals, Oct. 16, 20. See also Washington to Sullivan, Oct. 24, Writings (ed. Ford), VI. 134.

[703]1 Familiar Letters, p. 319.

2 On the same day Adams wrote in a similar manner to James Warren, adding: "We have had Rumours, which lifted us up to the Stars." Warren-Adams Letters, I. 373. October 23, Cornelius Harnett wrote to William Wilkinson, of North Carolina: "A Gentleman is just arrived in Town who has been Lately in Genl. Gates Camp and says he saw Gen. Burgoyne with our General. The account he brings of the Surrender of the British is as follows. . . . . It is however surprising that Congress has received not a Line from Genl. Gates on this important matter." N. C. State Recs., XI. 785. Gates's despatches did not reach Congress until Oct. 31. See nos. 699, 700, ante, nos. 704, 708, 711, 713, 714, 719, 727, 728, post; also a letter of James Wilkinson to Washington, written from Easton, Pa., Oct. 24 (Letters to Washington, ed. Sparks, II. 13).

3 To James Warren, in the letter cited above (note 2), he wrote: "I really expect it will be finished by the Middle of next Week. We shall consider immediately a Plan of Taxes for all the States. This is our Resource."

704. HENRY MARCHANT TO THE GOVERNOR OF RHODE ISLAND (NICHOLAS COOKE).1

Honored Sir:

YORK, Oct. 24th, 1777.

The inclosures will show you how solicitous Congress are to have the Continental battalions filled up and deserters apprehended. The extracts from Gen. Washington's letter discovers his anxiety upon the subject, and that although he has wrote to the states upon the subject, he has received information but from one or two.2.

We, last Sabbath week, had accounts very direct from Albany that Gen. Burgoyne had surrendered himself and his whole army to Gen. Gates, but to this hour Congress has not a word further from that quarter. This raised doubts with us, but before this, if it be true, you are well informed.3. . .

I have daily expected to see William Ellery. If any accident happens to prevent his coming, I hope another gentleman will be appointed. Indeed, that was to have been done long since; I informed the House at my first choice, I would by no means be absent more than six months. My affairs at home will not permit it, nor did I prepare myself for a later season, so that I must return next month. By that time, however, I hope we shall have finished the long wished for Confederation, which we have at times been upon ever since I came, but lately taken up with more earnestness. My presence, I presume, may be necessary when this comes before the General Assembly for their approbation, that they may be more particularly acquainted with the subject than they would be from a mere view of the articles of it.

Sir

705. COMMITTEE OF CONGRESS TO JASPER YEATES.1

YORK TOWN PENNSILVANIA, 24th Octr. 1777

The enclosed Resolve of Congress will explain to you the design of our appointment. Having acted in quality of Commissioner for Indian

[704]1 Staples, R. I. in Cont. Cong., p. 162.

2 See the Journals, Oct. 17. The proclamation issued by Washington, Oct. 24, is in Writings (ed. Ford), VI. 139, note, (ed. Sparks), V. 133, note, and Pa. Arch., first ser., V. 700. Washington enclosed the proclamation in a letter to Hancock, Nov. 2, requesting him to put it into " some safe channel of conveyance to the printers" (Writings, ed. Sparks, V. 133, ed. Ford, VI. 133, note). Hancock was then on his way to Boston. See no. 709, post.

3 Cf. no. 703, ante.

4 See no. 712, post.

[705]1 Collection of the late David McN. Stauffer of Yonkers, N. Y.

2 The committee was appointed Oct. 22, to enquire into the conduct of Col. George Morgan. See also nos. 706, 707, 717, post. A letter from the committee to Morgan, Oct. 30, enclosing the resolution of Oct. 22 and asking him to give attendance accordingly, is printed in Letters of Richard Henry Lee (ed. Ballagh), I. 346. The original is in Hist. Soc. of Pa., Dreer Collection, American Soldiers, vol. III., where may also be found Morgan's reply, Nov. 11, and a letter from him to Governor Hamilton of Detroit, May 31, 1776. On Nov. 20 a commission was appointed to go to Fort Pitt for various purposes (see no. 746, post), and thereupon Congress assigned the enquiry

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