The Middle and Eastern States cannot supply more Wheat this year, than the Inhabitants and Army will consume. New-York, New-Jersey and Pennsylvania have been so much embarrassed and injured by military Operations, as to afford at present but a small proportion of their usual Supplies. The Crops now in the ground indeed are great and promise plenty the next Season. The wheat in Maryland and Virginia and I may add North-Carolina, has been so destroyed or spoiled by a Fly which infests those Countries that but little Flour and that in general of a bad Quality can be procured there. For these and other reasons the Congress think the proposed measure expedient. Unless there should be some weighty and at present unforeseen Objection to the Exportation in question, I flatter myself South-Carolina will chearfully give our Ally this proof of her disposition and determination to sustain and succour Armaments sent by him to defend the American cause.2 I have the Honor to be with great Respect My dear Sir Your Excellency's most Obedt: and Hble Servt: 685. SAMUEL ADAMS TO JAMES BOWDOIN.1 J. J. PHILADE. Decr. 19th 1778 of Mr Temple was so obliging as to deliver me your Letter of the November. The Day after his Arrival in this City, I offerd him my Service and introduc'd him to Mr President Laurens, to whom he had letters of high Recommendation, and among others from the Council of Massachusetts Bay. The President read these Letters publickly in Congress. I did not fail to communicate the Contents of those which I was honord with to individual Members.3 The Minister Plenipotentiary of France could not but be attentive to these Suggestions. In a private Conversation with him at his House the other Day, when no one was present with us, Mr. Temples Name was mentioned. He said he knew not his personal Character-he understood that he was well recommended, but as he was under the violent Suspicions of the People here, his Residence so near the Congress might make improper impressions on the Minds of Persons abroad. It may reasonably be supposd that he is determind to merit the Character at his own Court, of a vigilant and faithful Minister.1 . . . I have done Mr. Temple the most substantial Acts of 2 See the Journals, Dec. 16 (pp. 1221, 1224). [685] Writings (ed. Cushing), IV. 99; N. Y. Pub. Lib., Samuel Adams Papers. 2 Bowdoin's letter, dated Nov. 7, is in Mass. Hist. Soc., Collections, sixth ser., IX. 428. A letter from Bowdoin to Washington on the same day is ibid., p. 427. For earlier correspondence between Bowdoin and Adams concerning Temple see ibid., pp. 423-427. See also letters of Thomas Pownall, William Pulteney, and David Hartley to Temple, in April and May preceding, ibid., pp. 414-420. Some account of Temple will be found in the preface to the volume named. Cf. no. 498, ante. 3 What follows here is substantially the same as the passage in the letter to Mrs. Adams, no. 671, ante. Cf. nos. 689, 698, 699, post. * Concerning the active part which Gérard took in the matter of Temple's mission, see the paper by Elizabeth Kite, "Conrad Alexandre Gérard", in the American Catholic Historical Society's Records, XXXIII. 75 et seq., where will be found in translation extensive excerpts from Gérard's reports. Friendship in my Power, though I could not have the Pleasure of so much Conversation with him as I wishd and intended to have. He leaves this City suddenly." 686. JOHN FELL, DIARY.1 1778, Decr. 19th. Saturday. Genl. Lee to be furnish'd with all the Proceedings from the Reccords relating to his tryal; Motion to conferr with G'l Washington on ways and means to reduce the Expences of the Army, referrd to a Committee of 5. vizt. Laurens, Duane, Geary, Ellsworth, and Smith. Dined with General De Portaile. 20th. Sunday. Commercial Committee met at Mr. Laurens's agreed to meet to morrow morning at 9. O Clock to choose a Secretary. 687. THOMAS BURKE TO THE GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA (RICHARD CASWELL).1 Dr Sir: PHILADELPHIA Dec. 20th 1778. On our arrival here which was on the 9th of this month, we found the City much engaged by a publication which you will find enclosed, and in which Mr. Deane has made some very home accusations. We found it occasioned some little ferment in Congress, and that Mr. Laurens resigned the Chair, because they would not take notice of it, as an affront to their dignity. we thought it but prudent to decline going in, for a few days until this little fracas was over, leaving those to decide on punctilios who had been best acquainted with public characters. On our going into Congress we found them engaged principally on finance, and that they had spent much time in maturing something which we totally disapprove. I will endeavour to give you the General outlines as perfectly as they are yet to come to our knowledge. Two Emissions are to be called out of circulation, viz.: 20th May 1777, 11th April 1778 on pretence of their being much counterfeited. They are by Authority of Congress to be called in by the 1st of June next, and not afterwards to be redeemed. They are to be replaced to the proprietors by Loan certificates or New Bills. Our objections are that Congress by its own authority cannot prevent the currency of money which our Laws made a legal tender, because that implies a power to suspend or repeal our Laws. That the time is too short for our people so dispersed as they are and so circumstanced as not to be able to receive notice in time sufficient to enable them to bring in their money. That it is not in the power of 5 He left the next day (see no. 689, post). [686]1 Library of Congress, Journals and Diaries. [687]1 N. C. St. Recs., XIII. 328; Harvard Univ. Lib., Sparks MSS., XXXVI. 491. 2 That is, accusations that are pointed and pierce home. The use of the word "home" in this sense is not usual nowadays, except in such expression as "home-thrust". Another instance of its use about the same time is mentioned by Professor David D. Wallace in his Life of Henry Laurens, p. 332 n. Concerning the Deane publication, see nos. 658, 669, 677, ante; concerning Laurens's resignation, see no. 680, ante. Congress to declare any Emission of money irredeemable at any certain time because it implies a power to destroy at pleasure the security which the people have in all the property vested in paper money. That all that should be done is to deny its currency and leave it to the States to enact Laws and fix the times of their operation for that purpose. We were however overruled, and we find that our Country will be subjected to the payment of a heavy debt, borrowed at an exchange of ten for one and which we must discharge at par, with six per cent. interest. This debt too is incurred to Commercial Individuals who alone have money to lend and who have acquired it by engrossing and extortion. Thus shall we realize fortunes for Individuals and subject our Country to a debt, which were it not for loans, a little industry would pay off, but which Loans make heavier than if all we have borrowed had been gold or silver. I believe this mischief is inevitable, and having long since foreseen it, I always was averse to giving the powers of borrowing and emitting to Congress by the Confederation, a power which I am persuaded will always be used for purposes partial, and unjust, and either to serve particular States, or Individuals to the prejudice of the whole community. Besides what I have mentioned, a vote is passed for raising by Tax fifteen Millions of dollars, a sum which I am persuaded is not equal to our abilities, but this simple and unexceptionable mode for sinking the excess of paper Currency, is not so much favored in Congress as the intricate, injurious and ineffectual mode of Loans, and the reason is obvious enough. Loans give advantage to the States who have furnished supplies at extravagant prices, and therefore abound with money, by giving them an opportunity of lending at a high interest when money is depreciated ten for one, to be paid hereafter, when it will be restored to its original value.* 688. WILLIAM WHIPPLE TO JOHN LANGDON.1 My Dear Sir, . PHILADELPHIA 21st. Dec 1778. . I feel with you the distresses occasioned by the amazing depreciation of the paper currency, but flatter myself some relief is at hand. a plan for remedying this evil, is nearly completed and I hope it will have its desired effect. part of the plan will be to call in about 40,000,000 dollars of the circulating medium. the mode of doing this you will soon be informed of, together with other particulars.2 I shall do every thing in my power to get the Naval department arranged properly and hope in the course of the winter the business will be effected. Congress is so exceedingly pressed with business that it is difficult to get a matter attended to that does not appear of equal importance to every one. All monies that go to the Eastern department for Naval purposes must go through the Navy Board of that department. 4 See nos. 589, 672, ante, 688, 693, post. [688] Library of Congress, Force Trans., Whipple, p. 589. 2 Cf. no. 687, ante. My dear Sir 689. SAMUEL ADAMS TO JOHN WINTHROP.1 Your obliging Letter of the [9th] of November was deliverd to me by Mr Temple immediately after his Arrival here. I must candidly confess that when the Gentleman informd me by his Letter dated in New York, of his Intention then to pay a Visit to this City, I was disagreably impressd with it, and interrested my self, as far as I could do it with Decency, to prevent it. A certain Dr Berkenhout was here at that Time. He had formerly been a fellow Student with Dr Lee in Edinburgh; and although he brought no Letters from him, he made an Advantage of the old Connection, and addressd himself to Richard Henry Lee Esqr, the Doctors Brother and a Member of Congress, who from the Beginning of our Contest has been exceedingly obnoxious to our Enemies from his firm and invariable Attachment to our Cause. Dr Berkenhout was put into Prison by the Authority of this State on Suspicion, and afterwards dischargd for Want of Evidence against him. Perhaps he sufferd the more, from a certain Set of Men for valueing himself on Colo Lee; and the Colo himself has since sufferd the Reproach of an angry Writer and disappointed Man, for shewing Civility to a Person who was once acquainted with his Brother. So true is the Observation I have somewhere met with, that a Man hardly ever speaks with another, but sooner or later he finds that he has receivd Good or Harm from it. Had Mr Temple arrivd at that Juncture, I do verily believe he would have shared the Fate of Berkenhout. And the Testimonials he has since brought with him added to the warm Recommendations of some of my most virtuous and honorable Fellow Citizens have not been sufficient to obtain for him a welcome Reception. The Time and Manner of his leaving England, the Company he came with and the favorable Treatment he met with in New York, were judgd to be Grounds of Suspicion which more than balanced the Recommendations of his Friends and Countrymen, who, though acknowledgd to be very respectable, it was supposd, might possibly be partial in their Judgments of him. His Connections in Boston, and the Character he had sustaind there before he left that Place, it was said, made him the fittest Instrument to carry into Effect the Purposes of the British Ministers. The honest and zealous Whigs clamord against him because they imagind him to be a British Emissary; and the artful Tories, who would cordially receive such a Character into the Bosom of their Councils, if they could be sure of keeping him among themselves, joynd in the Clamor, either because they believd him to be a true American, or, if they judged him to be a Spy, as they pretended, they did not chuse to trust him in the Hands of those who might possibly draw from him the Secrets of his Employers and detect him. The Tories appeard to be the most acute Politicians, as in my Opinion, I am sorry to say it, they too [689]1 Writings (ed. Cushing), IV. 101; N. Y. Pub. Lib., Samuel Adams Papers. 2 The reference is probably to Deane's "Address" of Dec. 5. See nos. 564, 566, 635, 658, 662, 669, ante. often are. Thus Mr T has had the Misfortune to be spoken ill of both by the Friends and Enemies of the Publick. A very grievous Misfortune, when the People scrutinize and decide upon Characters with Candor and Moderation, which perhaps does not take Place at all Times in any Country. 66 I have shown Mr Temple the most substantial Acts of Friendship in my Power; yet I must own to you I have been somewhat embarassd. A Delegate of the Massachusetts Bay who has been heard to say that 'Jealousy is the best Security of publick Liberty," has been called upon in a publick News Paper "to be cautious of too frequently exchanging Visits with JT Esqr who is suspected to be a Spy" etc. . . . ... I do not suspect Mr Temple; but I have been under the Necessity of violating my own Inclination to pay every kind of Respect due to that Gentleman, or risque the consistent Character which a Delegate of that State ought to support in the Opinion of Congress, of the Minister of France and the People of America. Mr Temple left this City yesterday.3 690. JOHN FELL, DIARY.1 [December 21, 22, 1778.] 21st. Monday. Commercial Committee 9 oClock. Present, Smith, Lewis, Searle and my Self chose Mr. Lawrence Chairman and Major Moses Young Secretary. Congress. 11 A M, great debates about calling in the Money so soon, ought not to be till money can be ready to be Exchanged for it. Commercial Committee to setle Mr. Saml. Cursons Acct.3 Mr. Root Balloted, for the Board of Warr. This day came to Lodge at the house of Mrs. Gibbon in Spruce Street. 22d. Tuesday. Memorial Read from Mr. Sutton Pay Master for the Loss of Money, carr'd in the Negative. At 6 P M, Mr. Deane attended Congress 691. FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE TO RICHARD Henry Lee.1 PHILA Decr 22d 1778. My dear Bro'r, Publications still continue in abundance to blacken the Lees and make Deane the greatest man in the world. The cry is in their favor, no one has dared to enter the lists with them, but Common Sense, who tho he has said a great deal of truth, and much to the purpose, was as far as I can understand very little regarded, it having been artfully put about, that he 8 See nos. 671, 678, 685, ante, and nos. 698, 699, post. Concerning Berkenhout see nos. 487, note 2, 498, note 2, ante. [690]1 Library of Congress, Journals and Diaries. 2 Samuel Holten records in his Diary: "21. This day I attended in Congress. My health much better." See no. 679, note 2, ante. 8 See the Journals, Dec. 14, 18. The appointment is recorded in the Journals under Dec. 22. In the Journals, Dec. 21, is a report of the board of war, dated "20th December, 1778". This date is an error. The full report is found in the Journals, Dec. 20, 1777, its proper date. 5 See the Journals, Dec. 15, 22, 1778, Apr. 9, 1779. [691] Univ. Va. Lib., Lee Papers. |