Methods This will be facilitated by the Grant of Assembly of nine Pounds Gratuity to those who have continued during the War; so that the State will gain nothing by the Distinction of being retained or re-inlisted. You will therefore settle with the discharged Men on the same Principles as with others, & without troubling yourself with scrutinizing the former Inlistments, from which we fear, under our present Circumstances, little Benefit can be derived. Indorsed, March 19, 1781. Gentlemen, I am Gent., Your Obed. Hbb. Serv. PRES. REED TO BOARD OF WAR, 1781. The mixed mode of supplying Cloathing to our Line by the Continent & State, appears to us liable to mutual Inconvenices & some Abuses, which may be in some Degree prevented by Communications of our respective Supplies of this Article. We therefore request you will direct the Clothier General to furnish us with a Return of what has been issued from Jan. 1780 to this Time, & we will direct our Clothier to do the same, to be laid before you, & continue it in future so as to stand mutually informed of each others Proceedings. I am Gent. your Obed. Hbbl. Serv., March 19, 1781. J. R. Sir, BOARD OF WAR TO PRES. REED, 1781. * War Office, 20th March, 1781. The board do themselves the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday, and are happy to find your Ideas on the subject of Cloathing exactly coincides with our own, and have given the necessary orders for making out the returns agreeable to your Excellency's request. Sir, MAJOR J. R. CUMMINGS TO PRES. REED, 1781. I think proper to inform your Excellency that a certain Mr. Bamper, formerly Quarter Master in Coll. Moylans Horse, passed through Morris Town yesterday, and from many very strong Circumstances have Reason to believe he is a Messenger from N. York to Arnold, there is in Company with him a Person who calls himself Capt Freeland-Bamper is a Man about five feet ten Inches high, full faced, large blue Eyes, wairs a short scarlet Coat. I have wrote to Coll. Barber, who is under the Command of the Marquis Le Fayette, concerning him. I am with Respect, your Excellency's most Obdt Hble Serv., Directed, J. R. CUMMINGS, Major, Publick Service. His Excellency Joseph Reed, President of the State of Pensylvania. Indorsed-March 20, 1781. Dear Sir, PRES. REED TO THOMAS SCOTT, 1781. I received your Favour of the 8th October last but a few Days ago. You will see by our publick Message to the House that we have not forgot the important Point you dwell so much upon. I have also in private Conversation endeavoured to impress it on the Minds of the Members, but the Truth is that the People of your own Country are not agreed on it, which with the great Load of Business arising in our great Continental Concerns has I believe kept the House from going into it-Some of the Members of the House think that there is more probability of gaining military Assistance from the People while laying in one County than after a Division of the County. However that nothing may be wanting on our Part we have appointed Commissioners to run the Line, viz., John Lukens & Arch McClean, Esqr, or in Case of the Incapacity of either, Alex McClean, Esq, of your County-to proceed to Business on the 10th May, if the State of Virginia approves of that Time-We hope these *See Col. Rec., Vol. XII., p. 663. Measures will give a Temporary Satisfaction, & be assured nothing will be omitted by us to establish the Peace of the Country & the Interest of the State.-I have also received your Letter by Mr. Marshall & forwarded it to the House of Assembly. Since I began this Letter I find a Bill has been brought into the House for setting off on the County-but I confess I was apprehengive it would not pass this Session untill within this Day or two, But I now hope it will. We have done every Thing which the low State of our Treasury will enable us to do for your Relief from the Indians, but the heavy Expences occasioned by the Disturbances of our Troops, Supply of the Army, &c., have brought on us Embarrassments of which you can have no Idea from what you ever saw while among us. I have not received your Letter by Mr. Jones, but shall forward you the Proceedings of Assembly both the last & present Sessions by him-Our publick Affairs in every other particular but Money wear a good Appearance-The English have gone to War with Holland principally on our Account-but as Mr. Smith the Bearer from his Situation in Congress can give you good Information on all these Points I need not detain you longer. I am with much Regard, dear sir, Indorsed, Sir, March 20, 1781. your real Friend & Obed. Hbble. Ser. PRES. OF CONGRESS TO PRES. REED, 1781. Circular. Philadelphia, March 21, 1781. Your Excellency will receive herewith enclosed, a Proclamation of the 20th Instant, earnestly reccommending that Thursday the third Day of May next may be observed as a Day of Humiliation, Fasting, & Prayer by all the United States.* I have the Honor to be, with every Sentiment of Esteem & regard, His Excellency President Reed. * See the proclamation of Congress and the States in Col. Rec., Vol. XII., pages, 671. 699, VOL. IX.-2 RESOLUTION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 1781. State of Pennsylvania In General Assembly, Wednesday, March 21st, 1781. The message from His Excellency the President & Council of this day was, on motion and by special order, read the second time. Resolved, that it be referred to a Committee of three; and that they be directed to request a conference with council thereupon The Gentlemen appointed were Mr. R. Morris, Mr. Delany, & Mr. Wynkoop, Extract from the minutes, SAMUEL STERETT, Clerk. The Gentlemen of the Committee present their Compliments to His Excellency the President in Council, and request him to fix the time for the above conference. Thursday. Directed, His Excellency Jos. Reed, Esq., President, &c., RESOLUTION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 1781. State of Pennsylvania In General Assembly. Resolved, that Mr. Daniel Hiester, Mr. Morgan, and Mr. Duncan be a Committee to obtain from the Supreme Executive Council the accounts, or Copies of the accounts of the Lieutenants of the City and several Counties of this State, which have been rendered to them agreeable to Law, and likewise a list of the names of such Lieutenants, if any, who have neglected to furnish the said Council with the accounts of all money received and expended by them respectively, by virtue of the acts for the Regulation of the militia of this State.t Extract from the Minutes, SAMUEL STERETT, Clerk. * See Col. Rec., Vol. XII, pages. 668. 671. Sir, BOARD OF WAR TO PRES. REED, 1781. War office, March 21st, 1781. The Board wish to have the honor of a conferrence with the Council on business of a publick nature and propose to wait on them at one o'clock this afternoon if agreeable. We have the honor to be, Directed, with sentiments of respect and esteem, your Excellency's most obed Hum. Servants, EZEK. CORNELL. By order. His Excellency Joseph Reed, Esqr., President of the state of Pensylvania. War office. D. Sir, GENL. CLARK TO PRES. REED, 1781. March 23d, 1781. Though unacquainted I take the liberty of writing to your Excellency on a subject I hope will Consern you so much as to Honour my proposition. I make no doubt but that you are fully acquainted with the design of the Enterprise. I am order'd to Com of the greatest consequence to the Frontiers of Pensylvania & Virginia, if our Resources should not be such as to Inable us to Remain in the Indian Country during the fair season I am in hopes they will be sufficient to Visit the Shawonees, Delawares & Sandusky Towndefeating the Enemy and laying those Cuntrees waste, would give great Ease to the Frontiers of both States whom I think equally Interested But Sir nothing great can be expected without the assistance of numbers of men from the Country on this side of the Lawrell Hill many living within the boundary of Pensylvania are willing to go on the Expedition, many more would if it was not for a timid simple disposition, fearing it would disoblige yr Excellency & Councill, at least they make use of such arguments as an Excuse others alternately shifting from one state to the other to screen themselves from any Military duty that might be Required of them but as I am Confident from the nature of the intended Expedition, you would wish to give it every aid in your power, I hope sir that you will inform the Inhabitants on this side of the Mt that such is your sentiments. They are fully able to spare five hunda men I dont think they could be better imploy'd to the advantage of themselves or Country I should have Selicited ye govenor of Virg" to have made |