537

This will be deliverd to you by Mr. Hancock, who has Leave of Absence till the first of January next.3.

My dear Sir,

716. SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN.1

2

YORK TOWN, Octob. 30, 1777

I have just receivd your agreeable Letter of the 8th by the Post, for which please to accept my hearty thanks. I had written and seald the inclosd Letter, before yours came to my Hand. Yesterday Morning Mr. H[ancock], who had several times before given Notice to Congress of his Intention to return to Boston agreeable to Leave he had obtaind at Philadelphia, made a formal Speech to Congress in which he reminded them of his having served them as President more than two years; whether he had conducted to their Approbation or not, was left to them; but he had the Testimony of his own Mind that he had done it to the best of his Ability. He thanked them for the Civility they had shown him, and if in the Course of Business he had faild in due Respect to any Member, as it was not intentional, he hoped it would be overlooked. It is likely as I have taken it from Memory upon hearing it once read, that I have not done it Justice in point of Expression. But it is not improbable that you may have a Copy of it; for a Motion was made in the Afternoon by Mr. D of N. Y.3 that a Copy should be requested, and Thanks returnd for his great Services, and a Request that he would return and take the Chair. This Motion was opposd by several Members, but it obtaind so far as to request the Copy, and this Day the latter Part of the Motion will be considerd.*

I have given you this merely as a Peice of News, leaving you to judge of the Tendency and probable Effect of the Speech and Motion. We have had two Presidents before, Neither of whom made a parting Speech or receivd the Thanks of Congress.

Dr General

717. DANIEL ROBERDEAU TO EDWARD HAND.1

YORK TOWN PENNSILVANIA Octr. 30th. 1777

. . . . I wrote you the 24th. in company with Coll. Lee and Mr. Law a committee with myself to enquire into Coll. Morgan's conduct, concerning whom much is said, for which we cannot account, particularly your

3 See no. 716, post.

[716]1 Warren-Adams Letters, I. 377.

2 The letter of Oct. 29 (no. 715), ante. is not found in Warren-Adams Letters.

8 Duane and Duer both appear to have it is uncertain which of them made the motion.

Warren's letter to Adams of Oct. 8

been present at the time; accordingly This was in the afternoon of Oct. 29. According to the Journals, the question was not resumed the next day, but in the afternoon of Oct. 31. See no. 724, post. Cf. nos. 691, 693-695, 709, 710, 715, ante. In regard to Hancock's arrival in Boston, see Samuel Adams to John Adams, Dec. 8, in Writings (ed. Cushing), III. 416.

[717]1 Copied from the original then in the possession of Mr. Stan. V. Henkels of Philadelphia. Addressed to The Honorable Brigadier Genl. Hand, Pittsbourgh".

3

having put him under arrest. By the return of the Express please to give Mr. Irvine an Opportunity to write and the same favr. from you will further oblige.

P. S. . . .

Dear Sir,

718. NATHANIEL FOLSOM TO JOSIAH BARTLETT.1

YORK TOWN Octr. the 30th. 1777.

yesterday I inclosed and diracted to your President all the news I Could Pick up In this Quarter, which you will have the Redeing off as Soone as it Comes to hand I inclose you a Coppey of a letter from the Revt. mr. Ducha to general Washington that you may See what a Judas wase a Chaplin to Congress. wood not have you make it Publick unless it be by advice of Councile, as Congress have not thought fit to Publish it here, tho it is Publick anough in everybodeys mouth In the Streets.2

my Duty is Very hard, and if you have any Comepashon left for me hope you will Joyne Congress Soone, as the buisiness is too much for one to live [under. Ou]r President leves Congress this morning and I beleve Coll. Larance of South caralinah will be appinted in his Place Sr. with grate Respect your most obedent

P. S. my Complements to the Hon1e. Board.

To the Hon. Josiah Bartlet Esqr.

Dr Sir,

Humle. Sert.

I am

NATH FOLSOM

719. DANIEL ROBERDEAU TO TIMOTHY MATLACK.1

YORK TOWN, Nov. 1st, 1777

Yesterday the confirmation of the northern affair arrived, the Convention at Saratoga was immediately forwarded to Council, and this day Genl Gates' two letters, one to Congress the other to Genl Vaughan,3 with an exact return of prisoners and stores surrendered. All these dis

2 See nos. 705-707, ante, and no. 746, post.

3 Mr. Irvine was probably the person to whom the committee's letter of Oct.

24 (no. 707, ante) was addressed.

[718]1 Dartmouth College Lib., Bartlett Corr., vol. I., 1774-1778.

2 See nos. 698, 699, 708, ante.

3 See no. 716, ante. Henry Laurens was elected President Nov. 1.

[719] Library of J. Pierpont Morgan, Generals of the American Revolution; Pa. Arch., first ser., V. 735. Timothy Matlack was secretary to the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania.

2 See the Journals, Oct. 31. Gates's letters of Oct. 18 and 20, together with his letter to Maj.-Gen. John Vaughan, dated Oct. 19, are in Pa. Arch., first ser., V. 687-689. The convention of Saratoga and returns of Burgoyne's forces and ordnance stores, accompanied by a note of transmittal from Roberdeau dated Oct. 31, are ibid., V. 726-730. By the "slovenly manner" in which the despatches were sent, Roberdeau probably means the exasperating delay in their arrival (see nos. 699, 700, 703, 704, 708, 711, 713, 714, ante), but he may also allude to the further delay requested by Wilkinson until he could digest and arrange" the papers. Cf. nos. 727, 728, post.

patches have been sent in the most slovenly manner, but it is impossible for me in the midst of publick Business, without assistance, to be more correct, therefore, I hope I have the excuse of Council. Mr. Clinghem this day took his seat, pray, where are the other Dellegates? Henry Laurens, Vice President of So Carolina, a worthy, sensible, indefatigable Gentleman, was this day chosen by a unanimous vote, except his own, President of Congress.

I am obliged to you for the paper and the several printed publications. Pray keep me advised.

I am, Dr Sir

Yr most obt hume Servt,
DANIEL ROBERDEAU.

720. RICHARD HENRY LEE TO THOMAS MIFFLIN.1

My dear General

YORK Novr. 2, 1777

I thank you for your obliging favor of the 28th. past and the inclosures accompanying it. I assure you Sir that having received such original impressions of your firm attachment to the cause of America, I have ever placed you among the first, and most valuable friends. Trusting therefore to your patriotism, and my hopes of your returning health, I had ventured to mention your name for one of the three Commissioners of the new board of war-A most important department, on which our righteous warfare eminently depends. Some Gentlemen supposed yr. health would hinder others observed that the Continental policy forbid the union of two offices in the same person, supposing that you might be prevailed on to retain your commission of M. General would your health permitted [sic] action. The spirit of the Continental policy does forbid double salaries, but the Generalship might be continued with the Board of war Salary. Indeed, the nature of the latter business renders rank and knowledge in War necessary.2 . .

Dr Sir

721. THE BOARD OF WAR TO HORATIO GATES.1

WAR OFFICE Novr 2d 1777

I am directed to inform you that an Idea has been suggested to the Board of raising a Battallion of the Canadian Prisoners lately fallen into our Hands many of those Persons having been represented as Friends to the United States altho' they have by Compulsion borne Arms against

[720]1 Univ. Va. Lib., Lee Papers, no. 191; Letters of Richard Henry Lee (ed. Ballagh), I. 347.

2 In a letter dated Oct. 8 Mifflin had asked leave on account of ill health to resign his commissions of major-general and quartermaster-general. Nov. 7 Congress accepted his resignation of the office of quartermaster-general, and appointed him to the board of war, permitting him to retain the rank and commission of major-general without the salary attached thereto. See, further, the Journals, Nov. 18, 19, 24. See also no. 700, ante, and nos. 743, 748, 757-761, post.

[721] N. Y. Hist. Soc., Gates Papers, XI.

?

us.

As this Battallion will in all Probability be officered by French Officers you will be pleased to give your Opinion on the Measure and mention such Officers as you think worthy Appointments in such a Corps should it be determined by Congress to raise it.2

I have the Honour to be, with great Regard

your very obed Servt

Honble Genl Gates

RICHARD PETERS Secy

H

722. JAMES LOVELL TO WILLIAM WHIPPLE.1

My Dear Sir,

Novr 3d YORK TOWN [1777.]

2

Confederation has gone on pretty well lately. I suppose the Council of State will be thrown out and a Committee of Congress be left in recesses to transact prudentials..

In addition to Deanes folly, our sister, Georgia has sent blank Continental Commissions to France for officers to raise men. Bingham gave us the first account. We have rapped Miss over the knuckles and sent a copy of the protest-like Resolve to our Commissioners.*

Dear Sir

1

723. ROGER SHERMAN TO RICHARD HENRY LEE.1

HARTFORD, Novr. 3, 1777

The low credit of our paper currency, occasioned partly by inimical persons and partly by aviritious ones, is our greatest embaressment, and I think that might be soon remedied, if Congress would recommend to all the States to sink their own Bills and tax themselves to a certain and sufficient amount for carrying on the war and draw in as much as may be by the loan offices, and collect the Taxes frequently appropriate about 3 million dollars annually to be burnt to lessen the quantity in circulation until the whole be sunk which would be in less than twelve years such provision being made and published would have an immediate effect to give credit and stability to the currency. Care should be taken that the two first emissions should be stopt in the loan

2 See the Journals, Nov. 29, Dec. 2, 19.

[722]1 Library of Congress, Force Trans., Whipple, p. 435; N. Y. Pub. Lib., Bancroft Coll., Langdon-Elwyn Papers (copy of part).

2 "We hope to get over confederation in a fortnight." John Penn and Cornelius Harnett to Governor Caswell, Nov. 2, 1777 (N. C. State Recs., XI. 667). See no. 712, ante, and nos. 723, 725, 731, 733, 735, 738-740, 746, 749, 753, 754, 760, post.

3 See the draft of the Articles of Confederation as reported by the committee July 12, 1776 (Journals, V. 553), and the Articles as reported by the committee of the whole Aug. 20, 1776 (ibid., V. 686); also the proceedings, Oct. 30, Nov. 7, 1777, (Journals, IX. 848, 879), and the forms printed under Nov. 15 (ibid., IX. 919, 923). For an account of the committee of the states under the Confederation, see E. C. Burnett, The Committee of the States", in Am. Hist. Assoc., Annual Report, 1913, vol. I., pp. 139-158.

66

4 See the Journals, Oct. 18. Cf. no. 770, post. [723]1 Va. Hist. Soc., Lee Papers, I. 47.

offices and not reinforced for it will be difficult to get Silver or Gold to redeem them when the fixed periods arrive. The mode adopted by Congress for proportioning the Quotas of the several States according to the value of their lands I think impracticable. The number of the Inhabitants I think will be the best that can be devised. the wealth of a people I believe will generally be found to be nearly in proportion to the numbers that can be supported in a State, and wealth principally arises from the labour of men. as to the negros I should be willing to do what appears equitable. If for the present it should be agreed to exclude all under ten years old or any other age that may be agreed on and include the rest until a more equitable value can be devised, and not make a perpetual rule at present would it not answer better than to have confederation delayed, for I am persuaded that the States can neither agree to nor practise the mode voted by Congress, and nothing effectual can be done to fix the credit of the currency or to raise necessary supplies until some rule of proportion is adopted. I doubt not of your readiness to do whatever you shall Judge may conduce to the general good and I am sure your influence will have great weight in this affair.3 .

I am

With great truth and Regard

Your Friend and humble servant
ROGER SHERMAN

Hon. R. H. Lee Esqr.

My dear Sir,

724. SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN.1

YORK TOWN, PENNSILVA., Novr. 4, 77

2

I wrote to you last Week by Mr. Hancock and gave you a curious Anecdote. The affair was brought on-it labord a whole Afternoon. The Principle was objected to, it was urged to be unprecedented, impolitick, dangerous. The Question was then put of the Propriety of the Measure in any Instance. Passd in the Affirmative 6 to 4. The original Question was then put. Passd in the Affve., the same Division. The Yeas and Nays were called for: yeas, C, N. Y., J, V, N. C., S. C. Nays, N. H., M. R., P. Adieu.3

2 Sherman evidently has in mind the report of the committee on the proceedings of the committee of the Eastern states, brought in Oct. 27 and acted upon Nov. 22, 26, 27. See no. 736, post.

3 Cf. nos. 712, 722, ante, 733, 749, 765, 766, post.

[724]1 Warren-Adams Letters, I. 378.

2 The letters of Oct. 29 and 30 (nos. 715, 716), ante. Adams therefore made Hancock the bearer of a message (the letter of Oct. 30) which was not at all favorable to the bearer.

See the Journals, Oct. 31. The yeas and nays here set down are those on the "first motion" (p. 854). Maryland is not included, because, having but one member present, the state was unrepresented". Adams's statement that the vote on the general question of propriety was in the affirmative, 6 to 4, does not accord with the Journals, which show the states equally divided. The Journals do record, however. an affirmative vote on the question whether the sense of Congress should be taken on a "general proposition ".

66