reli [e]ved by one of the other Delegates, not chusing, at a very important Crisis to leave the State unrepresented.

By my long Absence in Convention and in Congress my private Affairs have got into the utmost Anarchy and Confusion, and my Health, though somewhat mended from what it was a month since, much Impaird. I therefore flatter myself that you will be kind enough to inform the Council of Safety, that I shall not be able, consistent with the Duty I owe to myself to stay at this Place longer than the 25th Inst. and to urge them to send proper Persons to represent the State. Before that Time I am certain that the Articles of Confedaration will be completed in Congress, as at this Day, there is only one or two Clauses remaining for Decision.2. .

I am, Sir, with very great Respect

Your Excellency's and the Council's
most Obedt Hble Servt
WM. DUER.

York Town, PENSA. Novr. 9th. 1777

Sir,

732. DANIEL ROBERDEAU TO THOMAS WHARTON, JR.1 YORK TOWN, Novr 10th 1777.

A Committee of Congress have occasion of the under mentioned Law Books, which one of them sais were in the Library belonging to the State in Philada., therefore I am desired to apply to you for the immediate Loan of them, and that they may be sent by express, if a good opportunity does not very soon offer. If the books of the State were not brought to Lancaster you are requested to borrow these books of some Gentlemen there and forward them.2

I am very respectfully Sir,

Vattell, Puffendorf, Grotius.

yr. most obt hum1 Servt

DANIEL ROBERDEAU.

His Excellency Thomas Wharton, Esq., President of the Commonwealth of Pennsilvania Lancaster.

Favoured by Mr. Adams.3

Dear Sir:

733. CORNELIUS HARNETT TO THOMAS BURKE.1

YORK, PENNSYLVANIA Nov. 13th 1777.

The child Congress has been big with, these two years past, is at last brought forth-(Confederation). I fear it will by several Legislatures

2 See no. 733, post.

[732]1 Pa. Arch., first ser., V. 757.

2 A request for the same books, addressed by Elbridge Gerry to President Wharton, Nov. 8, is ibid., V. 754. In a letter dated Nov. 14, Roberdeau acknowledges receipt of the books (ibid., V. 772). Probably the committee desiring these works on the law of nations was that appointed Nov. 6, on the convention of Saratoga.

3 Both John and Samuel Adams obtained leave of absence Nov. 7 and took their departure for Boston Nov. II (J. Adams, Diary, Works, II. 440).

[733] N. C. State Recs., XI. 677.

be thought a little deformed,-you will think it a Monster. I wish, however some kind of Confederation would take place. Some carry their idea of this matter so far, as to believe our affairs must be ruined without it. Be this as it may, it will in a few days be sent to the Legislatures of the several States. Nothing more has been done worth your notice. Our time has been chiefly employed in army matters and God knows we have had perplexity enough.

Pray let me have your opinion freely and dispassionately on the articles of confederation.

State towards defraying the
Some States were for the
Others, for fixing it by the

The mode of settling the Quota of each general expense, has taken up much time. valuation of all the property in each State. number of Inhabitants. Others on the valuation of land. This last seemed to come as near the mark as any, except a valuation of all property. However the Value of lands has taken place much against the desire of the Delegates from the Eastern States.*

As I expect you will be directed to return immediately after the rising of our assembly, I hope you will take care to be properly instructed in every measure they may wish to accomplish.

You ought to be here. No State should have a less number of Delegates than three present in Congress and I hope our State will attend constantly to that rule.

Sir

734. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (HENRY LAURENS) TO

GEORGE WASHINGTON.1

YORK 13th. Novemr. 1777

the Chairman of the Treasury Board in answer to my pressing intreaty for dispatch to replenish your military Chest has desired me to inform your Excellency-" that from the removal of the Office from Baltimore and philadelphia the Money department has been greatly obstructed but that the utmost diligence shall be exerted to forward a supply of money to the pay master General as soon as possible.” 2

Our Treasury is nearly exhausted a circumstance the more unfortunate as it happens in the moment when demands have conspired which exceed all former sudden Calls. I trust there will be no necessity for further urging the Board, if there should be, I will not fail to do every thing proper on my part to ward off the impending Evil of being more deeply involved in Arrears to the Army.

Congress from all appearance are well satisfied with the measures taken by your Excellency with respect to the Frigates above Philadelphia and

2 Cf. no. 725, ante, and nos. 739, 740, 747, post.

3 The Articles of Confederation are in the Journals, under Nov. 15, and the circular letter of transmittal under Nov. 17. Cf. nos. 735, 738, post.

4 Cf. nos. 680, 712, ante.

[734]1 Library of Congress, President's Letter-Book, I. 15; S. C. Hist. Soc., Laurens Letters, 1776-1779, no. 20.

2 Laurens is replying to Washington's letter of Nov. 8, read in Congress Nov. 12 (see the Journals, p. 893). A letter from Washington, dated Nov. 10, was read in the afternoon of the same day (see ibid., p. 896).

the disposition of part of the Northern Army. the Resolves of the 5th. were certainly formed while an opinion prevailed that Fort Clinton was garrisoned by the Enemy and apprehensions of their gaining a formidable footing on Hudson's River fixed in every mind. . .

14th. While I was attending Congress this morning your Excellency's Letter of the 11th. was brought into the House and reported. a Report relative to Claims by French Officers happened to be a subject in debate which continued till adjournement. I am now returning to Duty in the same place and will apply for directions what answer to return on the important article of Clothing. It is a Rule in Congress to commit Letters to the consideration of particular Boards these being dispersed in different parts of the Town and governed by Rules of their own for meeting. it is not always or I should rather say, 'tis seldom in the power of the President to answer with that dispatch which may seem necessary. this may give no information to your Excellency, yet my being uncertain in that particular, I think the intimation not improper in order to account for any apparent omission on my part. Under cover with this your Excellency will find Copies of Resolves of Congress. . . . .

it may not be amiss to intimate to your Excellency that the liberty granted to Major Genl. Schuyler followed a motion founded on a Letter received by a member of Congress from the General, that to Major Genl. Sinclair proceeded from the appearance of his name subscribed at a meeting of a board of Officers, and by special order I am to transmit a Copy of that Resolve to himself. the Resolve relative to Clothing backed by a second Address to several of the neighbouring states will shew that Congress have not been inattentive to the necessities of the Army, whatever remissness may appear elsewhere."

A report was this morning made by the Board of War on the " Opinion of the Officers of the Virginia Line" and recommitted. Among other papers in the present dispatch will be found a packet containing nine intercepted Letters for persons with the Enemy. these have been inspected and are now submitted to your Excellency's disposal."

Congress have ordered additional sums to be paid to the French Gentlemen of Mr. Du Coudray's suite and some others. Resolved to give Monsr. St. Colombe a Captain's Commission and appear determined to stop there. Some who are not provided for, I fear will be reduced to piteous circumstances and must be relieved from private purses or suffer the most grievous inconveniencies. . . . .

3 See the Journals, Nov. 14 (p. 905), 15 (p. 906; cf. p. 929).

4 See the Journals, Nov. 14. Cf. nos. 743, 756, post.

It is evident from the mention of this resolve, as well as from subsequent paragraphs, that the latter part of this letter was not written earlier than Nov. 15. See also notes 3 and 4, above.

6 See Washington's letter to Congress Nov. 1 (Writings, ed. Ford, VI. 156), read Nov. 6. The Journals appear to contain no record of the report of the board of war upon the matter until Nov. 26.

7 The Journals contain no reference to these intercepted letters.

8 See the Journals, Oct. 13, Nov. 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17; also a letter of Richard Henry Lee to Samuel Adams, Nov. 15, in Letters (ed. Ballagh), I. 348. Cf. nos. 741, 770, post. See also no. 648, ante.

Sir,

735. THE PENNSYLVANIA DELEGATES TO THE PRESIDENT OF
PENNSYLVANIA.1

YORK TOWN, Novr 13th 1777

Congress have referred the inclosed petition to the Council of this State, together with which we were desired to furnish a more particular account of the Petitioner, Parson Batewell's state of health etc., accordingly we have just visited him, and found him a prisoner in a private house much emaciated, and afflicted with Rhumatic pains in his Knees, which incapacitates him for walking, but confessed he was much better than while he was in prison.

He offers his parole as well as Bail if he is allowed to go to his former place of abode in this County, twenty one miles distant from hence, or permitted to take the fresh air, and exercise here, for the recovery of his health, wch we are of opinion may effect it. He requests a speedy result of your Honble Board that he may sell or remove his effects and three children now at the above place, a glebe belonging to the Church, as he cannot afford to keep two families. The papers belonging to Mr Batwell taken with his person were deposited in the hands of Mr. McClane in this Town, who applied to one of us to know how they should be disposed of, which was moved to Congress, but they would give no orders concerning them, therefore they wait your commands, and are as yet undisclosed, except two letters of no great importance communicated to one of us.'

We have the happiness to inform the state that Confideration has this Evening passed Congress, but have it not in our power as yet to communicate it, as the several articles tho' agreed to are not arranged in the order they are to appear, which we hope will be effected tomorrow, as they are committed for that purpose, and to have it in our power very soon to lay them before the State, therefore we ardently wish a full representation of the State may be convened to receive them, and that a Determination ! upon them may be speedily, as the ratification in our opinion is of infinite importance to the Independance of America.

To His Excellency, Thomas Wharton, Esquire, President of the Commonwealth of Pennsilvania, Lancaster.

[735]1 Pa. Arch., first ser., V. 770.

2 See the Journals, Oct. 2, Dec. 27, 1777, and Jan. 5, 1778; also no. 792, post. Rev. Daniel Batwell was stationed at York as a missionary for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. See Pa. Arch., first ser., VIII. 107, and Minutes of the Supreme Executive Council, XII. 296. The petition of Batwell to Congress here referred to is not mentioned in the Journals, but is found in Pa. Arch., second ser., III. 122, dated Nov. 7. The petition read in Congress Oct. 2, dated Oct. 1. is ibid., III. 112. See also ibid., III. 109, 111, 116. The signature on the original appears to be "Batwell". The Mr. McClane mentioned by Roberdeau was Archibald McClean. See Pa. Arch., first ser., V. (index).

3 See the Journals, Nov. 11, 12, 13, 15, 17; also no 733, ante, and nos. 738-740, 746, 747, 749, 754, post.

Sir

736. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (HENRY Laurens) to

ISRAEL PUTNAM.1

YORK 14th. Novemr. 1777.

Congress will leave no measure unattempted for stopping the progress of extortion. your Letters on that head are in the hands of a special Committee and I hope the subject of prices of the necessaries of life will soon be profitably debated and considered in the House. the difficulty of restraining within proper bounds is great but I hope not insurmountable.2.

Sir,

737. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (HENRY LAURENS) TO

HORATIO GATES.1

YORK TOWN 14 Novem 1777.

Inclosed you will find a Resolve of Congress touching the subject of paying the Troops for Rations which implies an approbation of the measures you had pursued in that branch, restricting the practice within the bounds of necessity to be determined by your judgement.2 Congress have not considered the necessity for sending any of its Members to liquidate extra Accounts. I shall remind the House again of the subject that at least somewhat more explicit may be said than I am authorized to offer at present.

On the subject of Money, when I pressed the Chairman of the Treasury to send you an immediate supply, he informed me that 200000 Dollars were on the way to you when you wrote, besides the Order for the like Sum on the Connecticut Loan Office, that 200000 Dollars more [had] been] provided for your department and that with all possible expedition a further supply shall be sent.

8

Demands for a greater Sum than ever was called for at one time, have at this juncture conspired to impoverish the Treasury. the business there has also been greatly obstructed by the removal of Congress but is now restored again to good order and the fund will soon be replenished

[736]1 Library of Congress, President's Letter-Book, I. 25.

2 The reference is to Putnam's letters of Nov. 3, read in Congress Nov. 13. The special committee on the letter of Stephen Hopkins and the proceedings of a committee of the Eastern states was appointed Aug. 18, and enlarged Sept. 10. See the Journals, Aug. 18, Sept. 10, Oct. 27, Nov. 13, 22, 26, 27; also nos. 592, 723, ante, nos. 738, 746, 747, 749, 753, 754, 760, 764, 765, post.

[737] N. Y. Hist. Soc., Gates Papers, XI.; Library of Congress, President's LetterBook, I. 26.

2 See the Journals, Nov. 10; also the commissary regulations under June 10 (p. 446). Cf. ibid., Aug. 11, Sept. 4, 11, Dec. 30.

Probably the sums ordered sent by resolves of Oct. 10, 16, and Nov. 13 (see

also the Journals, Nov. 19). Cf. ibid., Nov. 12.