gress to press you on this matter; and I flatter myself we shall not plead in Vain. If G. Morris should be at Lancaster, pray write to him in the most pressing Terms, to come forward.”

My dear Friend do not fail to accompany Mr Morris; ten or twelve days of your Joint attendance will do more good than six months of your Presence one month hence.3

YORK TOWN 12th April.

Honble Robert Morris

195. ENGAGEMENT OF MEMBERS TO MEET PUNCTUALLY, ETC.1

We the subscribers members of Congress pledge our honor to each other that we will meet punctually at the hour of adjournment, that on any subject in debate (except in committee of the whole house) we will not speak more than Ten 2 minutes, seldom more than once, never more than twice, and that we will unite in supporting order and preserving decency and politeness in debate

Corns Harnett

E Gerry

[Endorsed, in the writing of Charles Thomson:]

"Engagement of the members to meet punctually at the hour of adjournment, to support order and preserve decency and politeness."

a See no. 128, ante.

[195] Library of Congress, Miscellaneous, Portfolio No. 104 (in the writing of Charles Thomson).

2 The word "fifteen" was erased and "Ten" substituted above the line by a hand

other than Thomson's, probably that of Francis Lightfoot Lee.

The name of Samuel Chase has been crossed out with a grill-work of lines, and the reasons therefor, written in the margin against his name, are in Chase's own hand.

It is to be observed that this pledge followed immediately the incident in which Thomas Burke figured conspicuously. See no. 196, note 5, post.

[A further endorsement, probably in the writing of Francis Lightfoot Lee, reads:]

"Signed in the handwriting of the Members April 12th. 1778."

196. JAMES LOVELL TO JOSEPH TRUMBULL.1

13th Apr: 1778

2

Dear Sir Your favor of the 2d gave me vast satisfaction as it goes near to insure to me the restoration of your Health and Limbs. I think you had best determine to lay aside all thought of coming to this Place. The Employment you were invited to would be inevitable Destruction after the Shock you have had. You will ever hereafter require Exercise and good Accommodations where your own or your Physician's Will could decide in points of Regimen. Here you can command no course of Diet. I am not Galen enough to say whether the Lime water which tears your Countrymen's Bowels out would not serve you. It has driven several Delegates home to their native springs. I have not been affected with it disagreably in that respect which I hinted as to Mr. Wolcot and Mr. Huntington: and I do not think I ought to charge the Cramp in my Breast to any thing but Quilldriving perpetually.

Mr. Wadsworth will conduct the Commissary's Department.* and I think your Constitution requires that you should assist him. I will not enlarge on that point as you discover a Disposition in your letter both well suited to yr present State of Health and your Character as a true Patriot. If the army is not immediately filled up to the full compliment called for, what we have yet felt is a trifle to what we may expect. I say the same in Regard to Congress. The Sickness or Will of one man out of those now here destroys its existence. I will tell you hereafter why this ought not to be, if you stand in need of being told.

5

My respectful and affectionate Compliments to your Father's and y'r own family

Sir

JL

197. HENRY LAURENS TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.1

YORK TOWN 14th April 1778

Since my last of the 8th by Ross I have had the honor of presenting Your Excellency's dispatch of the 10th to Congress, this together with

[196]1 Conn. Hist. Soc., Joseph Trumbull Papers.

2 Cf. no. 53, ante.

The disagreeable conditions in York had brought on a proposition Apr. 9 to discuss the question of removal. Cf. nos. 53, 78, ante, and nos. 369, 371, post. The removal was not, however, voted until June 24 and took place June 27. The meagre attendance had, nearly a month earlier, induced Congress to call for fuller delegations. See the Journals, Mar. 12, and no. 155, ante.

4 See the Journals, Apr. 9; cf. ibid., Mar. 30, Apr. 2, 3. See also no. 175, note 2, ante.

5 The allusion is no doubt to Thomas Burke. See the Journals, Apr. 10, 11, 24, 25, 28, and nos. 220, 225, 226, 233, 235, 236, post.

[197] Library of Congress, Washington Papers (placed at April 14, 1779).

the several Extracts of Letters which accompanyied it, are referred to a Committee and remain subjects for consideration.2

Under Cover with this Your Excellency will receive a Letter of the present date signed by special order to which I beg leave to refer."

My Dear

198. OLIVER WOLCOTT TO MRS. WOLCOTT.1

YORK TOWN, 14th April, 1778

I shall Write to Mr. Adams that either he or some other Gentleman appointed to attend would relieve me as early in June as can be done. my half year's Service counting to next Novr. will fully expire by that Time, and I shall not have a single Wish to prolong the Period. And if my Health shall continue in any tolerable Degree till that Time it is the utmost that I can hope for. The Service in attending Congress is more arduous than I had before known it. We sit sometimes till between 10 and II OClock at night, but in those Cases We have an adjournment at noon. . . . . At present I am not so well as to attend Congress. Yesterday I did not attend nor shall do so to Day.2

the affairs in the northern Department are intirely unsettled. It is I think most probable that the Peekskill and Albany or northern Department will be united. If so Mr. Trumbull will hold them both unless Mr. Palfrey P M Genl. should Resign, if so which I think is rath[e]r improbable, Mr. Trumbull who has been for a long Time uneasy at not being at the Head may suceed him. . . . . Mr Trumbull who has Wrote some pretty offensive Letters to Congress because he has not been treated with more particular Marks of Respect one would imagine did not much care about holding the office. But as it yeilds him a Salary of 125 Dollars per month without his personally attending to it scarcly any at all, I presume he will condescend to hold it, tho' I am very sure that such sincure pay must be too much by farr below the Merits of any one of that Family. Their claims on the Head of Merit I beleive have rendered them a little ridiculous. But this to you only. I am as still as a Mouse and I hope you will not doubt my Prudence. While I am here I shall mark the Events and if any Thing happens I shall give my opinion upon it farther. . .

As to the Regulating Act, the Achan* not only of all good Policy but of common Sense, Congress will I suppose in a few Days Recommend that it be suspended at least I hope they will. No Regard is paid to any Act of this Kind in this State No such Act to the Southward of it Exists

5

2 See no. 201, post.

* Something of the history of this letter is given under no. 188, note 5, ante.

[198]1 Conn. Hist. Soc., Oliver Wolcott Papers, vol. II., no. 51.

2 Cf. nos. 132, 196, ante.

3 Jonathan Trumbull, jr. See no. 148, ante.

4 "The troubler of Israel". See the Book of Joshua, ch. VII., and I Chronicles, 2: 7.

5 See no. 147, ante. The recommendation to the states to suspend the regulation of prices was not, however, made until June 4. See the Journals, Apr. 8, May 7, June 4, and nos. 205, 218, 234, 243, 321, post.

nor never will. If Connecticut maintains a Regulation of this kind, they will be the only State in the Union that will do so.

199. THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO WILLIAM BINGHAM.1 YORK, April 16, 1778.

Sir:

It is probable that a commercial board-not members of Congress-will be very soon established; so that the whole time of the conductors may be spent in exertions for the public benefit in that branch of continental business.2

The want of intelligence from our commissioners at Paris makes it improper for us to draw largely on them at present; therefore you must content yourself with the economical bounds of the power which is given to you by the within resolve of Congress of this day. Be assured, that all possible attempts will be made for your relief by remittances of our produce.

Our correspondent at The Hague is very regular, but his intelligence is never in season to form the ground of any of our proceedings.3

200. JONATHAN BAYARD SMITH TO THE PRESIDENT OF PENNSYLVANIA (THOMAS WHARTON, JR.)1

Sir

YORK TOWN, April 16 1778.

Your Excellency will excuse my hinting the necessity of forwarding the accounts of the prisoners taken from the enemy. By a resolution of Congress of February last those accounts were to be recorded before 15 April, or the State omitting were to suffer any losses consequent on the event.2

I believe orders will issue to suspend any further purchases of flour. Large quantities are procured we are told in Maryland. If so a return of the proceedings of our Commissioners and their accounts will be called for.3

Sir,

201. JOHN BANISTER TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.1

YORK 16th April, 1778

It was with the most painful Sensibility that I perused your last letter on the Subject of the present State of the Army, and am equally

[199]1 Wharton, Rev. Dipl. Corr., II. 553.

2 One item in the general plan to put the executive business of Congress into hands other than members of Congress which was not carried out. See no. 109, ante, and nos. 274, 471, 505, 602, 603, post. Cf. vol. II., nos. 273, 298. The letters of Bingham acknowledged in the paragraph omitted at the beginning of the letter are in the Library of Congress, Ac. 2233.

3 This letter is signed, "James Lovell, For the Committee of Foreign Affairs". [200]1 Haverford College, Roberts Coll., 732; Pa. Arch., first ser., VI. 420. 2 See the Journals, Feb. 26; cf. ibid., Mar. 16.

8 See the Journals, Apr. 17.

[201]1 Library of Congress, Letters to Washington, XXIII. 35; Letters to Washington (ed. Sparks), II. 107.

2 Banister's reference is no doubt to Washington's letter to Congress Apr. 10, read in Congress Apr. 13. The letter is in Washington's Writings (ed. Ford), VI. 461, (ed. Sparks), V. 311.

concerned in reflecting that I do not see effectual Measures taken to ward off the impending Blow.

As to the Establishment, I am under no doubt of its being adopted, and put upon a ground of Stability. It's not having taken effect as yet has been owing to a thin Representation. Virginia the Leader in this great Business, for want of the constituent Number to form a Representation, remains a Cypher, without Suffrage, at this Momentous Period. Did I not fear to intrude upon your Hours of essential business I should sometimes write to you for my own information on military Subjects; here being the greatest Ignorance in every Occurrence of that kind mixt with an inactivity that permits affairs of the greatest magnitude to lie dormant and give place to local Trifles. I have said with freedom in few words what has often occurred since I have been here. I wish I had the Capability to apply an instant Remedy for nothing procrastinated will do. However the military establishment will come out soon. God knows what other Regulations may take place. Virginia's drafted Men will come on soon, and I believe may amount to 1700 instead of 2000 voted, as it is highly probable more men desert of those compelled into Service, than if they had entered voluntarily. Colo: Harrison's artillery Regimt. are on their march. Would volunteers, provided they can be had, be of Service to your operations? Certain it is they will not come out in such Numbers as some have conjectured, but I believe a considerable Body, perhaps two Battalions may be induced to venture their persons in this time of danger.*

Dear Sir,

202. HENRY LAURENS TO JAMES DUANE.'

YORK TOWN 17th April 1778.

We are now in the Wane of April, you know what is undone done and doing for securing the important Passes of Hudson's, on the possession of which our connexion with the Eastern States so intimately depends. Congress have ordered Gen. Gates to repair immediately to Fish Kill and there to Command the Troops at that Post and the whole Northern department, and have empowered him to call out Militia from N H. M B. C. and N Y. as well as from Rhode Island if the Enemy should evacuate that State.2

Here, we are still encamped at Valley forge, reinforcements arrive very gradually. General Lee's opinion is the Enemy may March when they please to Lancaster. I am strongly inclined to add " and be cut off". That gentleman is at present on Parol; Congress had restricted the Commander in Chief to an article, as a Preliminary upon which the progress toward

3 See the Journals, May 18-20, 26, 27, 29, June 4. Concerning the question of half-pay, see no. 174, note 2, ante.

Washington's reply to this letter, Apr. 21, is in Writings (ed. Ford), VI. 477, (ed. Sparks), V. 321. It appears to have been a suggestion in this letter to Banister that led Congress to adopt the resolve of Apr. 23 relative to pardoning Tories. Cf. nos. 205, 224, post.

[202] N. Y. Hist. Soc., Duane Papers, IV. 413; S. C. Hist. Soc., Laurens LetterBook, Mar.-Sept., 1778, p. 44; N. Y. Pub. Lib., Bancroft Coll., American Papers, III. 179 (copy).

2 See the Journals, Apr. 15; also nos. 168, 185, ante, and no. 204, post.