Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Sir

116. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.1 PHILADA. Sept. 8, 1776

The Congress having appointed Mr Adams, Mr Rutledge and my self to meet Lord Howe, and hear what Propositions he may have to make, we purpose setting out to-morrow, and to be at Perth Amboy on Wednesday morning, as you will see by the enclos'd, which you are requested immediately to forward to his Lordship; and if an Answer comes to your hands, that you would send it to meet us at Amboy. What we have heard of the Badness of the Roads between that Place and New York, makes us wish to be spar'd that part of the Journey."

117. JOHN ADAMS TO JAMES WARREN.1

PHILADELPHIA, 8 September, 1776.

I am going to-morrow morning on an errand to Lord Howe, not to beg a pardon, I assure you, but to hear what he has to say. He sent Sullivan here to let us know that he wanted a conversation with some members of Congress. We are going to hear him. But as Congress have voted that they cannot send members to talk with him in their private capacities, but will send a committee of their body as representatives of the free and independent States of America, I presume his Lordship cannot see us, and I hope he will not; but if he should, the whole will terminate in nothing. Some think it will occasion a delay of military operations, which they say we much want. I am not of this mind. Some think it will clearly throw the odium of continuing this war on his Lordship and his master. I wish it may. Others think it will silence the tories and establish the timid whigs. I wish this also, but do not expect it. But all these arguments, and twenty others as mighty, would not have convinced me of the necessity, propriety, or utility of this embassy, if Congress had not determined on it. I was totis viribus against it, from first to last. But upon this occasion New Hampshire, Connecticut, and even Virginia gave way. All sides agreed in sending me. The stanch and intrepid, I suppose, such as were enemies to the measure, as well as myself, pushed for me, that as little evil might come of it as possible. Others agreed to vote for me in order to entice some of our inflexibles to vote for the measure. You will hear more of this embassy. It will be famous enough.2

8

Your secretary will rip about this measure, and well he may. Nothing, I assure you, but the unanimous vote of Congress, the pressing

[116] George C. Thomas Collection, Philadelphia; Thomas, Autograph Letters and Autographs of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.

2 See the Journals, Sept. 2-6, and no. 102, note 2, ante. See also Franklin to Howe, Sept. 8, in Writings (ed. Smyth), VI. 462; Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 136; and Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 234. Howe's reply, Sept. 10, is ibid., II. 274. Cf. no. 25, note 2, ante. For the outcome of the conference see the Journals, Sept. 13, 17, and nos. 122, 125, 126, 128-132, post.

[117]1 Works, IX. 440.

2 See nos. 107, 109. ante, and nos. 129, 132, post.

3 Samuel Adams. See John Adams to Samuel Adams, Sept. 8, in Works, IX. 441.

solicitation of the firmest men in Congress, and the particular advice of my own colleagues, at least of Mr. Hancock and Mr. Gerry, would have induced me to accept this trust.

My Dear friend:

118. LEWIS MORRIS TO JOHN JAY.1

PHILA., Sepr. 8, 1776.

Genl. Sullivan brought a mesage from Lord Howe to Congress in consequence of which they have sent Doctor Franklin, John Adams and Ned Rutledge. I doubt in my own mind any good effect that it can have, as he was desirous to meet them in their private character. I will enclose you the resolve of Congress. Sullivan says that L. Howe said he was ever against taxing of us, and that they had no right to interfere with our internal Police, and that he was very sure America could not be conquered, and that it was a great pitty so brave a nation should be cutting one another to pieces.3.

[ocr errors]

119. THE PRESident of CongRESS (JOHN HANCOCK) TO
GEORGE WASHINGTON.1

PHILADA. Sepr. 8. 1776.
Sunday 6 OClock P. M.

Sir

I am this Minute honoured with your Favour of the 6th. Inst:2 and am to acknowledge the Receipt of your several Favours to that Date.

In Consequence of the Message which Genl. Sullivan delivered to Congress from Lord Howe, respecting a Conference with some of their Members, they have, after great Debate, been induced to pass the first Resolution of the 5th. of Sepr. and have since appointed three Gentlemen on that Business, as you will observe by a subsequent Resolution, to which, without any Comment, I beg Leave to refer you. But in Order to prevent similar Messages for the Future, they have passed a Resolve directing the Mode in which all applications shall hereafter be made, either to Congress, or the Commander in Chief of the Army, and to which only any Attention is to be paid. I beg Leave to refer you to the Resolve itself, as the future Rule of your Conduct with Respect to every such verbal application, until it shall be altered, or you shall hear further from Congress on the subject.3.

[118] N. Y. Public Lib., Bancroft Coll., Revolutionary Papers (copy); Corr. and Pub. Papers of Jay (ed. Johnston), I. 83. 2 In the Correspondence, etc., of Jay (ed. Johnston) this word is printed "favorite".

8 See no. 102, note 2, ante.

[119] Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, LXXXIX. 304; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 233.

2 Washington's letter of Sept. 6 is in Writings (ed. Ford), IV. 385, and Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 193. His reply to this letter of President Hancock, Sept. 11, is ibid., II. 290.

See the Journals, Sept. 2-6. Cf. especially nos. 107, 108, 109, 113, 117, ante.

4

To morrow Morning I will lay your Letter before Congress and acquaint you immediately of the Result. Genl. Sullivan went from here two days ago. The Committee to wait on Lord Howe will set out to Morrow Morning for New York.5.

I am to request you will direct Major Hausackre to repair to this City as soon as possible to take the Command of the German Battalion, of which he is appointed Colonel, being extremely wanted.

Sir

120. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.1

CONGRESS CHAM. 10th Sepr. 1776.

Your Letter of 8th Inst. is now under the Consideration of Congress; as soon as they have come to a Determination upon it the Result shall be transmitted you, in the mean time Congress being Apprehensive that their former Resolution of 3d Int. was not rightly understood, have directed me to Send you the foregoing, by which you will perceive that their wish is to preserve N York and leave the time of Evacuats it to yo Judgment. I beg leave to Refer you to the Resolve, not have time to Add, but that I am, Sir

[Gen]eral Washington

Dear Sir:

Your very hume svt

JOHN HANCOCK P[residt]

121. JOSIAH BARTLETT TO WILLIAM WHIPPLE.1

PHILADELPHIA, September 10, 1776.

The proposal of Lord Howe for the exchange of Generals Sullivan and Lord Stirling for Prescott and McDonald is accepted by the Congress. We have also agreed to send three of our members, not as private gentlemen, but as a committee of our body, to meet Lord Howe, to know of him whether he has any terms of peace to propose, and what they are, etc., etc. Whether Lord Howe will meet them as a committee of Congress, is uncertain. The gentlemen appointed are Doctor Franklin, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Rutledge. The two former had the unanimous vote of Congress, and at the first vote there was a tie between Colonel R. H. Lee and Mr. Rutledge; but as Mr. Lee had opposed the measure, he declined

4 The letter was read Sept. 9, and referred to the board of war. The action taken in regard to militia Sept. 14 may in part have been in consequence of Washington's inquiry. 5 Cf. nos. 116, 117, ante.

6 Nicholas Hausegger, previously major in a Pennsylvania battalion, was appointed colonel of the German battalion July 17, 1776. See the Journals, Sept. 4. Hausegger subsequently went over to the British. See Heitman, Hist. Reg., also the Journals, Feb. 11, Mar. 19, 1777.

[120] Copied from the original, then in the possession of Mr. Stan. V. Henkels of Philadelphia.

2 See the Journals, Sept. 10. Washington's reply to this letter, dated Sept. 14 (read in Congress Sept. 16), is in Writings (ed. Ford), IV. 402, and, with enclosures, in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 325-332.

[121]1 Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 272; Harvard Univ. Lib., Sparks MSS., no. 52, vol. II., p. 195 (copy).

being voted for, as he said he could not accept. The votes then were for Stockton and Rutledge, and the latter carried it.2

Nothing has since been done about the Confederation, as the Congress is pretty thin, and hurried with other business. . . .

[ocr errors]

There is a report from the Board of War now before Congress, for putting our army on a more respectable footing than at present. The substance is, that eighty-four regiments should be inlisted to serve during the war, and to give, as an encouragement, one hundred acres of land and [20] dollars bounty, to be proportioned to such State, who are to take care that it's quota is raised. The proportion set to our Colony is four regiments, which is too much, and shall try to get it altered if I am able to attend Congress when it comes on. This plan, perhaps, may be somewhat altered, but will, I am pretty sure, be adopted in the main. Quere: whether, as this is like to be the case, it is best for our State to do any thing at present about raising the regiment ordered in the Spring for our own defence; and whether petitioning Congress to take into their pay our Colonial troops will not be best, considering all circumstances? You'll excuse me, as I am hardly able to write.

122. EDWARD RUTLEDGE TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.1

My dear Sir,

BRUNSWICK, Wednesday Evening 10 o'clock,
II September, 1776.

Your favor of this morning is just put into my hands. In answer I must beg leave to inform you, that our conference with Lord Howe has been attended with no immediate advantages. He declared that he had no powers to consider us as independent States; and we easily discovered that, were we still dependent, we should have nothing to expect from those with which he is vested. He talked altogether in generals;-that he came out here to consult, advise, and confer with gentlemen of the greatest influence in the Colonies, about their complaints; that the King would revise the Act of Parliament, and royal instructions, upon such reports as should be made; and appeared to fix our redress upon his Majesty's good will and pleasure. This kind of conversation lasted for several hours, and, as I have already said, without any effect.

Our reliance continues, therefore, to be under God, on your wisdom and fortitude, and that of your forces; that you may be as successful as I know you are worthy, is my most sincere wish..

2 See the Journals, Sept. 2-6, cf. nos. 109-113, ante. See also no. 102, note 2, ante, and nos. 128-132, post. Cf. Bartlett to Langdon, Sept. 9, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 253. 3 See the Journals, Sept. 2 (p. 729), 9-13, 16. Cf. nos. 124, 128, post. A motion was made and voted down, Jan. 19, to make enlistments for three years or during the war. See Richard Smith's Diary for that date, vol. I. of these Letters, no. 454.

4 Cf. no. 124, post.

[122]1 Letters to Washington (ed. Sparks), I. 287; Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 287. 2 Washington's letter to Rutledge has not been found. See however his letter to the President of Congress, Sept. 11, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 290.

8 See nos. 109, 116, 117, 119, ante, and nos. 125, 126, 128-132, 155, post. For the origin of the mission, see no. 102, and note 2, ante.

Dear Sir

123. ELBRIDGE GERRY TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1 PHILADELPHIA 12th Sepr 1776

Colo. Williams shewed me your Letter to him mentioning the Situation of your Brother at Ticonderoga, in Consequence of wch It was moved to Congress to appoint him D Adj. General and no objection was offered; Mr. Lewis recommended by General Gates is also appointed D Quar. Master General 2

The Difficulties which You mentioned as the Grounds of your Resignation of the Commissaryship for the northern Department being removed by Congress, will it is hoped induce You to renew your Engagement therein. Surely It is the Intentn. of Congress, that the whole of the Commissary affairs shall be under your Direction, and if Mr. Levingston opposes, You will be supported in dismissing him. General Schuyler has nothing to do with your Officers otherwise than to order where the Magazines shall be placed and the Quantity of provision to be procured or delivered.3.

Congress seem now determined to have an Army of some Duration and to give sufficient Bounties for the purpose; I wish It had been sooner acceeded to, but We must move with the Waters.

[ocr errors]

4

[P. S.] Since writing the within, Letters from General Schuyler recommend the Appointmt. of your Brother to the Office of D A. General wch. was previously complied wth. a Letter from Mr Levingston contains his Resignation, wch. was very agreeable to some Members of Congress.5.

Dear Sir

124. WILLIAM WILLIAMS TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1

PHILADEL: Sepr. 13 1776

I recd yours of the 7th. I had wrote you the same day by Mr Halsey [?]2 but about nothing. You will see by the Copys etc. gone from the Presidt. to you I trust, that Congress will not give you up as Commisa for the northern Department. Many of Them greatly resent the Conduct

[123] Conn. State Lib., Joseph Trumbull Papers, no. 66.

2 These appointments (John Trumbull and Morgan Lewis) were made Sept. 12. 3 See the Journals, Sept. 12, and no. 124, post.

Cf. no. 124, post.

245, 248.

See Schuyler's letters to Congress, Sept. 8, Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II.

5 Walter Livingston's letter to the President of Congress, dated Sept. 7, is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 220. The letter was read in Congress Sept. 13. See also the Journals, Sept. 11; cf. vol. I. of these Letters, no. 719, and no. 124, note 4, post. [124]1 Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers.

2 Probably Lieut. Jeremiah Halsey, who had a memorial before Congress Sept. 5, 7.

8 See the Journals, Sept. 11, 12, and no. 123, ante. A letter from Joseph Trumbull to Congress, Sept. 7, is in Force, Am. Arch., fifth ser., II. 213.

« AnteriorContinuar »