3 recent intelligence from France. One article of this has been questioned, respecting the King of Prussia's promise-the only part of the performance that can be called mine. I believe my authority is good. Mr. Izard under the 16th Febry informs me, "the King of Prussia has given the most explicit and unequivocal assurance that he will be the second power in Europe to acknowledge the Independence of America" tis true our Commissioners in their public advices are not so express nor are they in my opinion so full and clear in some other respects, as they might have been.. Last Night I had the honor of receiving Your Excellency's favor of the last of April and am happy in finding a confirmation of my sentiments, respecting persons proper for treating with the expected deputation from our Adversary. I fear the determination, where only this point can be determined, will be contrary. Be it so, thank God we have here some Men of abilities and Integrity. I hope we shall make a judicious choice." The Act of Congress of the 22d April will blot out Pages of the British Instructions. the Commissioners from that side will perceive a necessity for taking a new departure from the Tower of Independence and what happened in France on the 6th of Febry will oblige them to shape a new The long and as I humbly think, unnecessary, delay of the Army arrangement is very afflicting. I know it must give extreme pain to Your Excellency. It is improper for me to touch upon the Causes, especially when it is so well known that Congress have been engaged in very much important business. the Plan introduced for that part of it which is intended to establish an half pay for Officers during Life, I have been 2 See no. 249, ante. 3 This is no doubt the something "false" to which Wolcott alludes in his letter of May 9 (no. 261, post). Cf. no. 257, post. ... Izard's letter to Laurens Feb. 16 is in Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 497. His statement was no doubt made from knowledge of two letters to Arthur Lee from Baron Schulenberg, Prussian secretary. In a letter of Dec. 18, 1777, Schulenberg says: “I can assure you, sir, that his majesty will not be the last power to acknowledge your independency; but you must feel yourself that it is not natural that he should be the first, and that France, whose commercial and political interests are more immediately connected with yours, should set the example" (ibid., p. 456). In a letter of Jan. 16, 1778, he makes a more definite committal: "The king will not hesitate to acknowl-. edge your independence whenever France, which is more interested in the event of this contest, shall set the example" (ibid., p. 472). An extract of the first letter was transmitted by Lee to the committee of foreign affairs Jan. 5 (ibid., p. 465), and the whole of the second was embodied in a letter to the committee Feb. 10 (ibid., p. 491); but Lee's letters and their enclosures had not yet, apparently, been received by Congress, hence the inclination of Congress to question the correctness of Izard's statement. (Cf. no. 274, post.) By Mar. 19 Arthur Lee had become "Apprehensive that the war, which is likely to break out in Germany, will prevent the King of Prussia from declaring so soon, and so decidedly, as he promised" (Wharton, II. 516); and by May 21 John Adams was writing to Samuel Adams, "The King of Prussia is yet upon the reserve concerning America, or rather forgetting his promise, has determined not to acknowledge our independence at present" (ibid., p. 591). See, further, William Lee's letter of Sept. 28, 1779 (ibid., III. 346). For a view of the whole subject, see an article by P. L. Haworth, Frederick the Great and the Revolution", in Am. Hist. Rev., IX. 460. Cf. nos. 223, 224, 242, ante. Washington's (private) letter to Laurens Apr. 30 is in Writings (ed. Ford), VI. 508, (ed. Sparks), V. 350. 6 Cf. nos. 222, 242, 247, ante, and nos. 266, 267, 282, 287, post. Washington's reply to this letter, May 29, is in Writings (ed. Ford), VII. 33, (ed. Sparks) V. 383. uniformly averse from, and in a Committee of Congress delivered my objections. these appear to me at this moment of more weight because they have not been removed by the reasonings which have been offered against them and I may without vanity think myself not obstinate. I am open to conviction and always without murmuring submit to a Majority. I view the scheme as Altogether unjust and unconstitutional in its nature and full of dangerous consequences. 'tis an unhappy dilemma to which we seem to be reduced- provide for your Officers in terms dictated to you or lose all the valuable Soldiers among them-establish a Pension for Officers make them a seperate Body to be provided for by the honest Yeomanry and others of their Fellow Citizens many thousands of whom have equal claims upon every ground of Loss of Estate health etc. etc. and [or ?] lose your Army and your Cause. that such provision will be against the grain of the People has been unwarily testified by its Advocates whom I have heard converse upon the subject, indeed they have furnished strong ground for opposition against an immediate compliance with the demand. If we cannot make Justice one of the Pillars, necessity may be submitted to at present, but Republicans will at a proper time withdraw a Grant which shall appear to have been extorted. I have ever detested and never practiced Parliamentary Jockeyings for procrastinating an unpalatable business, which as a silent auditor and spectator I have within some time past known to be alternately adopted. I most sincerely wish this of the Army had been wisely attended to. the high Esteem I, from gratitude, bear for Your Excellency whose sufferings from a contrary conduct I know must have been great, as well as my love of dispatch makes me wish it, and I lament that in some degree we are likely to be more indebted to the Policy and deep projects of other Men for our deliverance than to our own Wisdom and fortitude. . 256. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (HENRY LAURENS) My dear Sir, 5th May 1778 Congress have Resolved to appoint you, and you are accordingly appointed Inspector General of the Main Army with the Rank and Pay of Major General, the former to commence the day of your arrival here.2 When the Secretary enables me, by sending in the Act Certified, I will transmit the necessary Commission. God bless you. I am with an affection which by every Act I endeavor to prove your faithful friend. [256]1 S. C. Hist. Soc., Laurens Letter-Book, Mar.-Sept., 1778, p. 91. Addressed to him at Valley Forge, "by Mr. Drayton". 2 See the Journals, May 5. To a copy of the resolve, transmitted to Washington May 6, Laurens appended the following note: "I think the Pay is to commence from the Baron's arrival in America, some of the Gentlemen are of the same opinion, which shall be enquired into and adjusted if the minute above is erroneous (Library of Congress, Washington Papers). The resolve reads, "from the time he joined the army and entered into the service of the United States "." D'r Sir 257. WILLIAM ELLERY TO WILLIAM VERNON.1 4 The marine Com'ee of wh'ch I am a member last Even'g in conformity to a resolution of Congress, met and determined to send Six Vessils to carry important despatches to France, the said Vessils to be under the directions of the Com'ee of Foreign affairs. As the Letters for your Navy board is not yet written and Capt. Collins is about to set out immediatly, I take this oppty. to request you upon receipt hereof forthwith to send off an express to Bedford to Capt. Rathburn of the sloop Providence, w'ch is one of the Vessils Pitched upon for this business, if he shou'd not have sail'd, directing him not to proceed to Sea untill he shall have recd. Orders from the Com'ee of foreign affairs w'ch will soon be transmitted to him, and he is most implicitly to obey. I most heartily congratulate you on the Treaties of Alliance Amity and Commerce w'ch were executed the 6th day of Febry. last at Paris, and unanimously ratified by Congress the 4th Inst't. I have only time to say that those Treaties are magnanimous and founded in our Independency, equality and reciprocity. Inclosed is a hand bill published imprudently and without the knowledge of Congress, but wh'ch contains some truths." a respectable Army in the Field this Campaign and the War will be our own Yours in haste W - E PS dont let the occation of the sloop Provid [enc]e being detained be known to any one, no not even to the Capt. of her himself. you will let the Navy board in Boston know that you have stopped the Sloop Provid [enc]e otherwise upon the receipt of the Letter of the Commi'ee mr. Warren may send off an express to Bedford.® 258. HENRY LAURENS TO THE GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY Dear Sir, (WILLIAM LIVINGSTON).1 6th May [1778.] Congress have Ratified the Treaty or Treaties and a Committee have prepared some what for public information by authority in which many, probably all, of the articles relative to Commerce and for regulating Marine conduct will be included.2 [257]1 R. I. Hist. Soc., Publications, vol. VIII., no. 4, p. 45. 2 The letter to the navy board bears, however, the date May 5 (Paullin, OutLetters, I. 234). See no. 297, note 3, post. The instruction with regard to the Providence was repeated in a letter of May 9 (ibid., p. 240). Cf. the letter of June 19 (ibid., p. 260). 3 John Collins. See nos. 219, 251, ante. 4 John Peck Rathburne. 5 See no. 255, ante, and no. 261, post. See a letter from William Storey, clerk of the navy board at Boston, to Vernon Apr. 29, R. I. Hist. Soc., Publications, vol. VIII., no. 4, p. 44. [258]1 S. C. Hist. Soc., Laurens Letter-Book, Mar.-Sept., 1778, p. 99. 2 See nos. 259, 260, post. I think my Self happy in being entirely of opinion with your Excellence respecting Independence and the half pay scheme this last business lags exceedingly I believe we wait for auxiliaries. I have no objections against liberal acknowledgements of the Services of Officers and Soldiers, any thing that will not strike at our Constitution, but if we can't make Justice one of the Pillars necessity will prove a temporary support. may submit to it at present. Republicans will at a proper time withdraw a Grant which shall appear to have been extorted. this and the natural consequences, I dread.3 259. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (HENRY LAURENS) TO THE GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND (THOMAS JOHNSON, JR.).1 Sir, YORK TOWN 8 May 1778. we My last was the 5th Inst. by Post. this will be accompanied by an Act of Congress of the 6th Inst. contained in a Pennsylvania Gazette, for making known to the Public such parts of the Treaty of Paris of the 6th Febry. as Congress have judged necessary to be published and for government of conduct in particular Cases. several Copies are inclosed in the Packet.2 The Ratification of the Treaties of Commerce, Alliance and Secret shall be transmitted when the Secretary enables me by sending in Certified Copies. at present every Clerk in the Office is busily employed and some articles unavoidably delayed. 3 Cf. nos. 206, 211, 222, 242, 247, 255, ante, 282, 287, post. [259]1 Md. Hist. Soc., Red Book, VII. 133; Library of Congress, President's LetterBook, I. 307. 2 Similar paragraphs are found in letters to the other states, although in other respects the letters are not identical. Cf. Pa. Arch., first ser., VI. 485; N. C. State Recs., XIII. 125. Copies from the originals to Pennsylvania and New Hampshire are in possession of the Carnegie Institution. That to Massachusetts is in Mass. Arch., CXCIX. 149. The committee (Richard Henry Lee, Dana, and Drayton) appointed May 4 to prepare the form of ratification of the French treaties was further instructed, May 5, to prepare "a proper publication on the present occasion". The committee brought in a draft May 6, but this was recommitted, and Gouverneur Morris was added to the committee. In the afternoon of the same day the committee brought in another draft, which is recorded as having been agreed to. What appears in the Journals consists of one paragraph from the pen of Francis Dana and some further paragraphs based on notes of Gouverneur Morris (see the editorial note, Journals, XI. 468). This committee is to be distinguished from that which prepared the address to the people. See no. 262, post. Rev. George Neisser, a Moravian minister of York, recorded in his Diary under May 5 the news of the French alliance and added: "A supplement of Hall and Sellers Gazette of last Saturday appeared yesterday. It gave an account of the important news from France and also the principal articles of the alliance." Under May 6 he recorded: “In the evening the entire town, now the capital of the United States, showed its joy at the alliance made with Louis XVI. of France by illuminations" (Pa. Mag. of Hist. and Biog., XVI. 435). 3 A similar statement is found in the letter to North Carolina. In the letter to Pennsylvania Laurens says: "On Tuesday I shall have the honor of transmitting an Address to the people now in press." See nos. 261, 262, post. Sir 260. THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS (HENRY LAURENS) TO JAMES MEASE.1 8th May 1778 I presented this Morning your favor of yesterday received by the hand of the bearer of this Mr. Thos. Smith 2 to Congress together with the several papers which came inclosed. Congress Issued their former Resolution prohibiting the payment of Mr. Demere's draughts, because it did not appear that he had accounted either to your self or to the Treasury for Thirty Thousand or some such number of Dollars advanced him for the service of the Clothier General's department, at Philadelphia last summer. upon the same ground the Bills in Mr. Smith's possession are now refused that reception which they would have met if he had transmitted his Accounts-if he has expended the Sum for public Service the difficulty of transmitting an Account could not have been great and the omission of so necessary a part of his duty exposes him to all the inconveniencies which may follow. One of the Delegates from Georgia intimated to the House that it was not necessary for Mr. Demeré to expend even the Amount of the first grant because the Georgia Troops had been provided with Clothing by other means. be this as it may, I am persuaded Sir, you will approve the Conduct of Congress in refusing to pay the draughts of a Gentleman who has rendered no Account.3 A Sum of about 54 Thousand Dollars was granted two or three days ago for discharging Bills drawn by Messrs. Otis and Andrews and if [I] do not misunderstand Congress it is the intention to discharge the Balance of their demand whenever a regular stated account shall appear.* My Dear, 261. OLIVER WOLCOTT TO MRS. WOLCOTT.1 YORK TOWN, 9th May, 1778 I wrote to you the 4th instant a few Hours after I had sent away my Letters Mr. Simeon Dean arrived here, who bro't Congress Two Treatys the one commercial the other Defensive which our Commissioners had [260]1 Library of Congress, President's Letter-Book, I. 301. Addressed to him at Lancaster. 2 Thomas Smith was commissioner of the continental loan office of Pennsylvania. 3 Raymond Demeré was deputy clothier-general in Georgia. Aug 29, 1777, Congress advanced to James Mease $20,000, to be remitted to Georgia for clothing continental troops. Dec. 26 some drafts of Demeré's were referred to the board of treasury. No report from the treasury board touching the matter has been found earlier than Apr. 6; there is, however, in the Journals, Feb. 13, an extensive report of the committee (appointed Jan. 15) on the state of Georgia (see particularly the erased entry, p. 162). Apr. 6 Congress ordered Commissary Mease to pay no drafts of his agent in Georgia or remit him any money until further orders. Mease's letter of May 7, (Papers Cont. Cong., no. 78, vol. XV., f. 329), to which Laurens is replying, enclosed a letter from Demeré to him, Mar. 20 (ibid., f. 323), advising him of sundry drafts. These drafts Mease had, in accordance with the resolve of Apr. 6, refused to pay. See, further, the Journals, May 8, Aug. 10, 20, 27, 29, 31. 4 See the Journals, May 5. Cf. no. 270, post. [261]1 Conn. Hist. Soc., Oliver Wolcott Papers, vol. II., no. 55. |