was hired. and the poor fellow got a beating from an Officer, it is said for having wrote the piece. He unfortunately made some mistakes which are taken notice of by his Answerer Plain Truth, and throws a discredit upon the rest. It is really a shame, that when so many things can be alledged against this man, that the public should be so abused, because Congress will not go thro' the business. they have done nothing yet, in the mean time he continues to insult them. After having long pester'd the Congress by Letters to hear him, in justification of himself, never hinting that he has any Discovery to make, urging the necessity he was under of going immediately to France. And after complaining to the public that he was obliged to communicate his discoveries to them, because Congress would not hear him, as if he cou'd not have given his information to Congress in a Letter, as well as to the people. After all this Congress on the 8 inst directed him to put in writing the whole of his transactions and discoveries while in Europe and told him that if in the mean time, he had any thing of immediate consequence to communicate, they would hear him the next evening. He answer'd that as he cou'd in two or three days put everything in writing he did not desire to be heard. Since which we have not heard one word from him in Congress. And yet no notice is taken of him. in short the Party are determined to support him in everything, and contradict the old opinion, that it is impossible to wash the blackamore white.3 Finance is yet very backward. God knows what will become of us. Letters from Rhode Island say Byron's seamen are very sickly, which prevents his fleet from moving. This is all our news. When you come up I wou'd advise you to cross at Kent Island, the road by Baltimore is very bad. Love to your fireside and all friends. FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE. 692. JAMES DUANE TO MRS. DUANE.1 My dearest Polly PHILAD. 22d. Decemr 1778 Altho' our publick Affairs brighten up to the utmost of our Wishes they still require great Application; particularly the State of our Finances in which last I am much engaged: nor do I despair of seeing even our paper money soon placed on a Safe Footing. I am sure we have the means: but such as are indispensably necessary can only be suggested and recommended by Congress: the respective States must be looked to for their Efficacy and Success. . . . . 2 In the Pennsylvania Packet of Dec. 17 "Plain Truth" announced his forthcoming reply to "Common Sense". "Plain Truth contends to prove that almost the whole of the elaborate address to Mr. Deane is a gross misrepresentation of facts." The article appeared in the issue of Dec. 21. The announcement and the article are in N. Y. Hist. Soc., Collections: Deane Papers, III. 101, 103. Plain Truth" was Maj. Matthew Clarkson. A statement over Clarkson's own name is ibid., p. 137, taken from the Pennsylvania Packet of Dec. 31. 66 See the Journals, Dec. 22, 23. Cf. nos. 658, 669, 677, 687, ante, and no. 697, post. The direction to Deane to make his statement in writing was on Dec. 7, not Dec. 8. In the evening of the day on which this letter was written Deane presented Congress a written account of his transactions. [692] N. Y. Hist. Soc., Duane Papers, I. 13. 693. THE NORTH CAROLINA DELEGATES TO THE GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA (RICHARD CASWELL).1 Dear Sir PHILADELPHIA decr. 22d 1778. We have been applied to, to procure some Necessary warm cloathing for Colo. Hogans Regiment who are very deficient in that article so necessary in a country cold and every way inclement in which they are to winter. we have applied to Congress for the articles, submitting that they should be charged to the State if on future Enquiry it shall be deemed Just. on these Terms we can be supplied with shoes and Stockings, but not with Blankets, and Colo. Hogan is to be accountable to the State for them.2 we deemed it incumbent on us to use every means to prevent the distress of our Countrymen who are here in Obedience to the State, and in the public Service, more especially as the time of their Service puts them out of the common Line, and leaves them without the ordinary provisions made for the Continental Troops. we are told they are to be quartered in this city, in which case we purpose to Engage as many of them as we can to inlist in the Battalion for the war, or one year at least after their present Term shall Expire. this matter can go no farther than proposals through their Officers, and learning the Terms on which they can be procured, until we receive particular powers and Instructions from the State. we wish, therefore, to have their sense as soon as possible. We are sorry to inform you that Congress are about to take measures relative to our paper currency which we think our Duty Obliges to Oppose. 'Tis proposed by Authority of Congress to call in two emissions, vizt 3 amounting to forty One Millions of Dollars, and to declare them Irredeemable after the first of June next. also to exchange them for Loan Certificates or new Bills at the election of the Owners. we urged against it that Congress could not by their own authority decry the currency of money which our Laws have made a Legal tender because it implies a power to repeal or suspend our Laws. that it was impolitic to throw any difficulties in the way of the currency, because People would become very suspicious of its quality and Credit, and if they took it at all it must be at a value depriciated in proportion to the Risque. that it was not in the power of Congress to declare money Irredeemable for which the public faith had once been pledged, for it implied a power to destroy the Peoples security in that part of their property at Will. and even if they had the power, it is indiscreet to use it, because if the People ever Considered it as subject to acts of arbitrary power they would Consider the public credit as too precarious a Security, and of Course the whole Currency must be very Considerably affected. we also urged that the time would not admit of sufficient Notice being given to People in States so Extensive and remote as ours. But the objection of highest moment is that [693] N. C. Hist. Comm., Caswell Papers; N. C. State Recs., XXII. 987. 2 See the Journals, Dec. 14, 1778, and Jan. 1, 1779. 3 A blank space was left here, evidently for the dates of the two emissions to be called in, namely, May 20, 1777, and Apr. 11, 1778. See no. 680, note 3, ante. by borrowing when money is so highly depriciated as at present to be paid hereafter when the war is over will be to charge our Constituents with a Debt which will take ten parts of future Industry to pay for one part of the present, for Loan certificates cannot be called in by Taxes, but must be paid off by appriciated money, of which every one knows it will take a much greater quantity of Industry to procure a given Sum, than when it is depriciated. we look on borrowing in this way to be Ruinous, and Realizing the Debt as to make it equal to Gold and Silver, tho in any use we can make of it, it has not above a tenth part of their value. we Conceive it very unjust to subject the States, who have not acquired abundance of the money, to so unequal a charge to those who have, or to make the many pay a Debt at so great a Disadvantage to the few in whose hands money may be accumulated and who in many cases have acquired it by Extortion. We must lament that our Opposition is likely to prove Ineffectual, for the Interest of the monied States is too powerful for our Endeavours. we deem it, how [ev]er, not improper to advise you, and through you the Assembly, of a matter in which the property of our Country is so deeply interested. their wisdom may possibly fall on measures to avert the worst of the consequences -We have the honor to be sir, Your very obdt. servants, P. S. Fifteen millions are voted to be raised by a Tax. 694. THE MARYLAND DELEGATES TO THE GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND (THOMAS JOHNSON, JR.).1 Dear Sir PHILADELA Decmr. 23d 1778. The necessity of making some inquiry on the Subjects contained in your Letter of the 10th Decemr and the Reference of the Resolutions of the General Assembly to the Marine Committee, upon which no Report has yet been made, has deprived us of the Honour of answering your Letter so soon as we intended The Expedition against Florida, always was, and still is, in our opinion a dangerous and ruinous project, attended with a certain considerable Loss and Expense, without the smallest Hope of Success or advantage; And altho' Congress have not re-considered or in any way countermanded their former orders and recommendations, yet we think it not improper 4 Cf. nos. 672, 679, 687, ante. [694]1 Md. Hist. Soc., Red Book, X. 67; Arch. of Md., XXI. 271. privately and in Confidence to inform you, that there does not appear to us any hope of Success in prosecuting this Expedition.2 We are with the highest respect and Esteem your obedient and very hble Servts. JOHN HENRY JUNR. WM. CARMICHAEL 695. JOHN FELL, DIARY.1 [December 23, 24, 1778.] 23d. Wednesday. Mr. Deane attending this morning did not go to Committee Genl. Washington visited Congress; 2 At 6 PM Genl. Thompson with two witnesses were Examin'd at the Barr. NB Genl. Lee and Lt. Coll. Laurens fought a Duel 3 24th. Thursday. A motion for the Secretary to wait on Genl. Washington to desire his attendance President told him a Committee would be appointed to consult with him Respecting the ensuing Campaign, he with drew, the Committee Laurens, Duane, Smith, Root and Morris: The remainder of the day in debate about Genl. Thompson, whether Judge Atleys deposition be admitted, carried in the Negative. Motion whether the General is guilty of a breach of Priveledge agst. the member Hon'ble 2 See the resolutions of Congress Nov. 2 and 10 relative to the East Florida expedition; also the Maryland council to Congress Dec. 10, Arch. of Md., XXI. 262, the council to the delegates Dec. 10, ibid., p. 263, and to Governor Henry of Virginia the same date, ibid. The Journals of Dec. 14 record a letter from Governor Johnson dated Nov. 14, but this is doubtless an error for Dec. 10, as there is no record of the presentation of a letter of that date. Cf. no. 627, ante, and no. 706, post. See also the Journals, Jan. 15, 1779. [695] Library of Congress, Journals and Diaries. 2 If this entry is correct, the visit must have been altogether informal, as it was not until the morning of the 24th that Washington's arrival in the city was announced to Congress. Cf. the entry under Dec. 24. Holten records (no. 696, post) that Washington had arrived in the evening of the 22d. The Pennsylvania Packet of Thursday, Dec. 24, contained the following item: On Tuesday last arrived here, GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esquire, Commander in Chief of the Armies of the United States-Too great for pomp-and as if fond of the plain and respectable rank of a free and independent Citizen, His Excellency came in so late in the day as to prevent the Philadelphia Troop of Militia Light-Horse, Gentlemen, Officers of the Militia, and others of this city from shewing those marks of unfeigned regard for this GOOD and GREAT MAN which they fully intended and especially of receiving him at his entrance into the State and escorting him hither." 3 See the Journals, Nov. 19, 20, 23, 25, Dec. 7, 17, 22, 23, 24, and nos. 662, 680, ante. McKean's information is in Papers Cont. Cong., no. 159, f. 292; Secretary Thomson's notes of the testimony taken in the case, Nov. 23, Dec. 7, 23, are ibid., ff. 296-311; General Thompson's memorial of Nov. 23 is ibid., f. 316; his letter of Dec. 14 (read in Congress Dec. 17) is ibid., no. 78, vol. XXII., f. 609. His apology has not been found among the Papers of Congress. In the Pennsylvania Packet of Dec. 29 is a communication from General Thompson in which he relates the history of the affair from his point of view, adding these words: "Before therefore I return to captivity, I think myself called upon to declare to the world, that Chief Justice McKean has, in an affair which does not relate to his conduct in Congress, and which is of a private nature, behaved like a Lyar, a rascal, and a coward." In the issue of Dec. 31 McKean replied, giving his story of the affair. In the issue of Feb. 2 appeared another communication from McKean, together with the proceedings in examination of Thompson and the witnesses, Nov. 19 to 23; while in the issue of Feb. 4 the proceedings are continued to Dec. 23, with which are printed Thompson's remarks Dec. 23, and what purports to be his apology, dated Nov. 23. Concerning the latter a note says, "This apology was never read in Congress until Dec. 23d ". Mr. McKean Carried in the Afirmitave, my Vote no. then whether the Generals deffence should be allow'd as a full justification, carried in the afirmitive so ended an unhappy dispute that has given Congress a great deal of trouble between Genl. Thompson and the Hon'ble Member for the State of Delaware. to morrow being Christmas Day adjournd to Saturday. 696. SAMUEL HOLTEN, DIARY.1 [December 23-25, 1778.] 23. Congress sit from 9 till 3 and from 6 till 9. G. W. arrived here last evening. 24. Genl. Washington was admitted into Congress and informed that Congress sent for him to consult with him about the affairs and operations of the army the coming year. 25. Christmas day. I dined at the Presidents of this State. Genl. Washington and his lady and suit, the president of Congress, Colo. Lawrence, my colleagues, General Whipple and Don Juane dined with us. 697. FRANCIS LIGHTFOOT LEE TO RICHARD HENRY LEE.1 PHILA. Decr. 25th 1778. My dear Bro'r The day on which my last Letter 2 was wrote, Mr. Deane produced to Congress his written narrative of his transactions and accusations. The first [was] the most pompous bloated thing that ever was on paper. the only charges against Doct'r Lee are that he is suspicious, jealous, affrontive to every body he has any business with, and very disgusting to the whole french Nation, by his hatred for them which he discovers by all his words and actions. Mr. W. Lee is mean, and goes shares with the Agents he appointed. The whole is most grossly abusive of both of them. The Party sucked it in, as Nectar and Ambrosia, and say he has acquited himself most honorably. They whisper about, that as they are very moderate, and wou'd not injure anybody unheard, they think the best way is to recall them, that they may justify themselves. This in fact, under the appearance of moderation, is the thing they are working for. They have [some] of their Party ready immediately to fill all the places; and then every thing being in their own hands; we shall have fine work, with the trade which [696]1 Essex Inst. Hist. Colls., LV. 249. 2 General Washington. The abbreviation "G" was often used for General, and it is not probable that it here stands for George. Cf. no. 695, ante. 3" 25th. Fryday. This day is excessive Cold with Snow and Ice in the River. has been sevearly Cold for some days past " (John Fell, Diary). * The president of Pennsylvania was Joseph Reed. 5 Presumably Col. John Laurens, aide to Washington. 6 Don Juan de Miralles. See nos. 475, 587, ante. [697]1 Univ. Va. Lib., Lee Papers. 2 No. 691, ante. See the Journals, Dec. 22, 23, 26, 31, and no. 704, post. Deane's narrative is in Seventy-Six Society, Papers in Relation to the Case of Silas Deane, pp. 17-75, and N. Y. Hist. Soc., Collections: Deane Papers, III. 144-205 (with a small addition). |
