Maps and a copy of the minutes of the Committee, or rather of their state of the territorial claim of New York.*

All the States except Maryland and Delaware have actually signed the Confederacy. New Jersey without waiting for our offer. I fear it will cost me a jaunt to Maryland to prevail on that State to accede; as I am spoken of as one of a Committee for that purpose. Disengaged as we are from any obligation to New Jersey we propose to hold out the grant of the bounty lands to Maryland. The want of ability to gratify their soldiery is a capital if not the material objection.5

I write in a hurry after the fatigues of the day. I write in confidence because I have not time to weigh what I write. Your Excellency I wish to see what passes on every important event.

669. FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE TO ARTHUR Lee.1

My dear Brother

PHILADELPHIA Decr. 10th 1778

After having been absent since the beginning of June, I arrived here the 7. of Novr. our bro'r having [left] it a fortnight before. I was astonished to find that S. Deane had made so great progress in the Art of intriguing, as to have formed here a very dangerous party who think it necessary to their designs, to remove all the old friends of Liberty and Independance, for which purpose every Lie their invention can furnish, is circulated with the Air of certainty, and the blackest colorings given to Actions in themselves indifferent or accidental. This party is composed of the Tories, all those who have rob'd the public, are now doing it, and those who wish to do it, with many others, whose design, I fear, is of a much more alarming nature, and a few who wish to succeed to Offices abroad. All these together form a very powerfull body. Having prepared the minds of the people, by a number of understrappers, who have been circulating their insinuations and falshoods thro' the Country with great industry; they opened the attack on the 5th inst. with the peice in Dunlaps Paper, which you must have seen before this reaches you. The air of importance and confidence which accompanies it and the lavish professions of Love for the people, give it great weight in this City and I dare say, will elsewhere, till the truth comes to be known for they have their dependencies thro' the Continent by means of their new formed commercial Establishments.

The credentials of Jay, bearing date of Nov. 10, are found in the Journals under Dec. 7. His special mission was to endeavor to settle the Vermont question satisfactorily to New York. Cf. nos. 644, 646, ante, and nos. 672, 673, post.

5 See no. 638, note 2, ante; also Duane to Clinton Jan. 3, 1779, in vol. IV. The appointment at this time of such a committee to prevail on Maryland to ratify the Articles of Confederation evidently did not take place.

[669] Copied from the original, then in possession of Mr. Stan. V. Henkels of Philadelphia; Va. Hist. Soc., Lee Trans., V. 97.

2 Richard Henry Lee had left Congress Nov. 3 (see no. 605, ante), and Francis Lightfoot Lee attended Nov. 9.

3 Deane's article in the Pennsylvania Packet, Dec. 5. Francis Lightfoot Lee himself had in the Packet of Dec. 8 a brief communication anent Deane's address, and a note by Deane in response is in the issue of Dec. 10. These are in N. Y. Hist. Soc., Collections: Deane Papers, III. 77, 78. See nos. 658, 662, ante, 677, 687, 691, 697, post.

I make no doubt you will be astonished when I tell you that Congress has not called him to account for this peice; as at the first glance you must perceive it contains a daring insult to that body, and the greatest injury to the public good. but your wonder will increase, when I assure you, that the part where he complains of the Ears of Congress being shut to him, is an impudent falshood. the fact is, that beside the two Audiences which he had, he wrote them several Letters; in all of which he never mentioned one word of this pretended treachery of yours. every day he might have communicated by Letter whatever he pleased; and some days before his publication, Congress had alotted some part of every day, for their foreign affairs, untill they shou'd get thro' them, of which he had notice.* The want of a Cypher, prevents my explaining this fully to you. but you may know, that the old Whigs are really struck with amazement at the boldness of this party; and seem willing to let them run on in full security, that they may the easier get to the bottom of their designs and know the whole of their strength. A great man," appears to me, to give all his influence to this party. I cannot as yet discover what are his intentions. if he really means, mutual Advantage, I think he is their dupe, notwithstanding all his sagacity. If he has any sinister designs upon this Country; they are his dupes; for I know they are not friends to his State. The first consequence which they expect, is the recall of yourself and our bro'r; which may perhaps take place. You will therefore see the necessity of sparing neither time, nor pains, to provide yourself with all the means necessary, both for attack and defence. in the mean time, every thing will be done, by your friends, that is in your [their] power to open the Eyes of the people, and set S. Deane in his true light. Mr. C the same part here, that he did in France. Your old friend Dr is strong with them, together with the New Yorkers and Maryland. Mr. Lovel no doubt has communicated all our news. We have just heard, that 30,000 ton of Shipping are order'd to be immediately taken up on Government service at New York, and a general embargo laid. This looks like an intention of quitting that place. a few days will determine it. Yours aff❜tly F. L. L.

670. JOHN FELL, DIARY.1

[December 11-13, 1778.]

11th. Fryday Coll. Scudder gon [e] home, State of New Jersey not Represented.

* See the Journals, Dec. 1.

5 It is uncertain who was the "great man" here alluded to. It may have been Jay, although the fact that Jay had been in Congress only three days militates against this conjecture. If it was Gérard, the allusion to France as "his state" is unusual. 6 William Lee.

7 William Carmichael.

8 William Duer. See no. 683, post.

[670]1 Library of Congress, Journals and Diaries

12th. Saturday. A Number of Petitions and Memorials A Letter from Gen Washington was read advising that the Enemy had left the North River etc.

13th. Sunday A great deal of Rain. Dined with Mr. Levy

My dear Betsy,

671. SAMUEL ADAMS TO MRs. Adams.1

PHILADELPHIA Decr. 13 1778

Captn. Johnson will deliver you this Letter, which incloses a Publication in the last Tuesdays Paper. You will easily guess which of the Massachusetts Delegates it is intended for. The Design of it is to represent Mr Temple as a British Emissary and that Delegate as listening to his Proposals of Accommodation with Great Britain, and thus to beget a Suspicion of him in the Mind of the Minister of France, with whom he has the Honor of being on friendly Terms. That Delegate has been so used to the low Arts of Tories in his own Country, as to have learnd long ago to treat them, wherever he sees them, with ineffable Contempt. He does not think it worth his while to satisfy the Curiosity of the Writer, but he can assure his Friends, that he had never called on Mr T but once and that was to show him the way to Mr President Laurens' House, to whom he had Letters to deliver, one of which was from the Council of Massachusetts Bay. As a Delegate from that State, he could do no less than show such a Piece of Civility to Mr T, and he is determind, notwithstanding the apparently friendly Hint, to treat him as he thinks proper. Between our selves, I can not say I am not embarrassd with Mr T's Arrival here; He is highly recommended, and I believe him to be an honest American. But the Time and Manner of his leaving England fix a Suspicion in the Minds of well disposd Men, which cannot easily be removd; and his Residence at the Court of America, if I might so express it, gives bad Men a Sort of Occasion, to say that Congress, notwithstanding all they have publickly given out, are secretly treating with the Ministers of Great Britain through their Emissaries in America, than

3

[671]1 Writings (ed. Cushing), IV. 95; N. Y. Pub. Lib., Samuel Adams Papers.

2 The item referred to appeared in the Pennsylvania Packet Dec. 8. It is entitled "A HINT" and was offered by a person styling himself "a Friend to the Independence of America" and signing himself "CENTINEL". The essential parts of it are: "It is recommended to an Honorable Member of Congress, of the State of Massachusetts Bay, who frequently declares himself to be of a jealous temper, and that jealousy is the best security of public liberty, not to be so frequent in an exchange of visits with J-T-, Esq; lately arrived in this city . . . . lest he may incur that reproach which has too often with justice been thrown on Divines, namely, 'That they do not practice themselves what they preach to others.'" Adams makes further remarks upon this newspaper item in his letters to Bowdoin, Winthrop, and Cooper, nos. 685, 689, 698, post. The Captain Johnson who bore this letter may have been Isaiah Johnson. See the Journals, Nov. 28. Samuel Holten records in his Diary for Dec. 5, “Capt. Johnson dined with us".

8 Adams mentions here a conversation with "Monsieur (evidently Gérard) respecting Temple. The conversation is related more at large in the letter to Bowdoin, Dec. 19 (no. 685, post).

which Nothing can be more contrary to Truth. I do not care therefore how soon Mr T thinks of returning to New England.*

[P. S.] I forgot to tell you that last friday Mr President Laurens having dischargd the Duties of his Station for more than one year with Fidelity and to the Acceptance of the Members, resignd the Chair, and John Jay Esqr a Delegate from New York was chosen in his Room. To this Gentleman I chearfully gave my vote.

5

Mrs. Clark and her Sister Miss Daily in whose house the Massachusetts Delegates are agreeably scituated present their respectful Compliments to you.

672. WILLIAM WHIPPLE TO JOSIAH BARTLETT.1

My Dear Sir

PHILADELPHIA 14th Decr 1778.

Since you left Congress Messrs. Jay and Duane have taken their seats. the first mentioned Gentn was last Thursday put into the Chair on the resignation of that very worthy Gentn you left in it. I have so high an opinion of Mr. Laurens that I must confess I exceedingly regreted his leaving the Chair. however I hope it is again well filled Mr. Jay is a Gentn of acknowledged abilities and great application I have therefore no doubt the Business will be well conducted so far as it respects the President. The Business of finance is in considerable forwardness. I hope in a few days more the present System will be finished by Congress, and doubt not the States will do their part with Alacrity. the Tax will be very considerable perhaps 15 or 18,000,000 this seems a large sum, but when we consider the immense sum in Circulation I cannot think it will be difficult to raise provided it is justly proportioned.3

Mr. Wheelock has been here with a number of applications among which is one for Money for the Indian School this is not yet determined. another that Bedels Regiment might be keept up. this producd an order that the Regiment should be immediately Disbanded he also brought a letter from a Joseph Marsh, a copy of which I have inclosed to Col. Weare...

P. S. I was a little surprised at a letter from the Council of NewHampshire recommending Mr. Temple to Congress. I cannot recollect any Gentn of that Board who have had an opportunity of being thouroughly acquainted with that Gentlemans Charecter. surely his having formerly been Lieut. Govr. of New Hampshire can be no recommendation. there are many anecdotes of him (some of which are well authenticated)

4 See nos. 498, 651, ante, and nos. 672, 685, 689, 698, 699, post. See also a letter from James Lovell to Richard Henry Lee, Dec. 10, in N. Y. Hist. Soc., Collections: Deane Papers, III. 78. 5 See no. 668, ante.

6 See no. 388, note 2, and no. 615, ante.

[672] Hist. Soc. of Pa., Dreer Coll., Members of the Old Congress, V. 69; Hist. Magazine, VI. 77.

2 Cf. nos. 659, 663-668, 671, ante.

3 See the Journals, Dec. 13, 18, 19, 21, 26, 29, 31; also Jan. 1-14, 1779, passim.

Cf. nos. 679, 687, 688, 693, post.

* See nos. 644, 646, 660, ante, 673, post.

that renders Mr. Temples Charrecter at least problematical, indeed in some Gentlemens minds they amount to a conviction of his being a tool of the British Court " more of this here after

5

673. WILLIAM WHIPPLE TO THE PRESIDENT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE (MESHECH WEeare).1

Sir

PHILADELPHIA Decr 14th 1778

3

In my last I mentioned a memorial from the People who withdrew from the Windsor Assembly, on farther inquiery I find myself mistaken in the form of the paper it being a letter from a Mr Marsh who stiles himself Chairman of a Convention, a copy of this letter I take the liberty to inclose. the paper refered to in the letter, (called the "out-lines of a plan for settling all matters in controversy with N. Hampshire"), is in print.* I therefore immagine you are possessed of it. What the views of these People are I know not, but I am much inclined to think the western part of the State will be keept in a perpetual Broil 'till a final settlement of the Jurisdiction. There are three ways of determining this matter, that Country must be under the Jurisdiction of New-York, or New-Hampshire, or it must be a seperate State. The People are so exceedingly averse to the first that they never will volentarily submit to it, and Humanity forbids that they should be compeled to Unite with a people for whom they have an inextinguishable avertion, arising from the injuries they have suffered, by the most cruel acts of Injustice. Should the last take place, I am very apprehensive that many Towns on the Eastern side of the River will be fond of joining them, by which means New-Hampshire will be embroiled in a very disagreable contention or subscribed to a very small compass, and that limited Territory subject to the discharge of an immense debt incured for the defence and protection of the whole. When these matters are fully considered I think every one who has the Happiness of Mankind and Peace and Welfare of New-Hampshire at Heart will be convinced of the propriety of her claiming the jurisdiction, it would be a piece of presumpsion in me sir, to point out to you, the advantages resulting to New-Hampshire from such an extention of her Territory. They undoubtedly are many and great. The perticular scituation of affairs in that Country I should suppose calls for the immediate attention of the Legislature, and if it should be determined to Claim, (which my own feeling will not suffer me to doubt) it will certainly be thought necessary to make immediate provision for the support of the Claim, in order thereto I beg

See the Journals, Dec. 3, 8, and no. 671, note 4, ante.

[673] N. H. Hist. Soc., Weare Papers, VI. 14; Library of Congress, Force Trans., Whipple, II. 585; Harvard Univ., Sparks MSS., XXXV. 81.

2 No. 660, ante.

3 Joseph Marsh. See the Journals, Nov. 28, and no. 672, ante.

Marsh's letter, dated Oct. 23, was read in Congress Nov. 28 (see the Journals, p. 1174, note 2). It is found in N. H. State Papers, X. 289. The accompanying paper to which Whipple refers is doubtless the so-called "Protest", dated Oct. 22, ibid., p. 285. The latter is also in Slade, Vermont State Papers, p. 100, and Records of the Governor and Council of Vermont, I. 422.