most efficacious measures may be immediately taken for seizing and detaining all French seamen serving on board continental ships of war, Privateers, or merchantmen, as well as all those remaining in Philadelphia or its neighbourhood, that they may be ready for the first opportunity that shall offer of employing them on board the king's ships. I earnestly request you Gentlemen to inform me whether you can give me any, and what assistance in this business and that you will honor me with your advice thereon, Agreeing to defray myself all charges that may be incurred on this occasion. Extract of a letter from Mons De Barras commanding the French fleet to Mons'r Holker Consul of France. Newport, July 28th, 1781. "I think it necessary to inform you that it would contribute vastly to the good of the King's service if from this date to the last of the month of August next you caused to be shipped all French sailors that may be at Philad". I presume that in the course of this month I may be able to send some vessels into the river Delaware which might receive on board such sailors and bring them to this squadron which is very much in want of them. If on the other hand we cannot secure all sailors navigating on these seas the King must of necessity lay by his fleet. The Merchants of the state of Massachusetts have determined among themselves to forbid all captains sailing in their employ whether in privateers or merchantmen to receive on board any French sailors, they have even gone farther and ordered that they be stopped and brought to the French fleet. It were to be wished that the merchants of Pensylvania would do as much, for even if such a resolution did not procure us many Seamen it would have a tendency to prevent their desertion by informing them that no employ would be given but on the contrary that they should be sent back to the fleet. C. HAYS AND THOMAS SCOTT TO PRES. REED, 1781. Westmoreland, August 15th, 1781. May it please your Excellency and honors, Agreeable to the desire of council, expressed in your letter of the 23d of July last, and upon full consideration of the circumstances attending, and conciquences like to flow from the business, we nominate Edward Cook, Esq, For Lieutenant of the county of Westmoreland. We do not expect less than a clamour, perhaps some pettitions on this subject: but a consideration of duty to council and our country, with us, far exceeds those trifels, and for our comfort, we are convinced such clamours, &c., will only have the countinance of such as have been profiters by public default, and those who they, by mere dint of Detraction, may be able, for a time, to delude into their measures. We doubt not some Complaints may reach Council of this gentleman and some others in trust under the state in this country, being great enemies to General Clark's expedition,-this is not the fact, the truth of the matter is, the General's Expedition has been wished well, and volantiers to that service have been Incouraged, by all With whom we corispond; but we have heartily reprobated the General's Standing over these two counties with armed force, in order to dragoon the Inhabitants into obedience to a draft under the laws of Virginia, or rather under the arbitrary orders of the officers of that Government, without any orders from Virginia for that purpose, and this is realy the part the General hath acted, or rather the use which has been made of him in this country. Mr. McClean's Instructions are come to hand, and we hope a short time will put an End to this unhapy dispute. Directed, His Excellency, Joseph Reed, Esquire, President of Pennsylvania. INHABITANTS OF WASHINGTON, TO PRES. REED, 1781. Honble Sir, August 15th, 1781. Farr from Prejudice and Party Faction, disengaged at Present in the following Narrative, willing to see Justice, without favour or affection Distributed, give us Leave to trouble your Hon' With a detail of measures at present adopted for Magistrates in this Quarter, ("Washington County.") At a Time when many People in this County look'd on Themselves bound by their oath of Fidelity to the State of Virginia, untill the Line between the States should be actually run, or some other Lawful Judicial Proceedings should be taken to relieve them from such Fidelity, At a Time when Gen' Clark had an Expedition Carrying on for the salvation of this Country, and when the Lieut Col had advertised Batallion Elections should be Postpon'd untill the Line between the States should be actually run. Notwithstands all these obstructions, an Election for Justices was held on the day Gen1 Clark order'd his Rendezvous, & that by a Verry few, Electing men farr Inadequate to the Task, men who have ever Lived in obscurity. These being undeniable facts, We beg your Hon' will Postpone the Commissioning all such men untill a fair and Candid Representation can be made and that to prevent such Fraudulent mal Practices, Fair & Impartial Elections may be held, Whereof Publick Notice shall be given, being well Convinced many People in this County never heard of the Election untill the day after it was Past. We further assure your Hon' Thus Privately have men of Abillity, Fortune & Character been deprived of an opportunity to serve their Country, and men Elected who had no reason to Expect such office. We therefore in order to give grace to Proceedings that may come from this Court & Harmonize the People, beg no Comiss" may Issue untill our Council & Representatives can be heard on the Occasion. We further beg Leave to Pray yr Hon' In case you find it absolutely necessary for the administration of Justice to Commission some few of those already Elected, of those Give us Leave to give our opinion. of the most able to serve, "to wit," James Edgar Judge, Dani Leet, Jn Reid, Jos. Parkerson, Jn Armstrong, Abm. Howell, and James Brice. Pardon us for intruding on your Honour's Patience-being moved with Indignation at Party Factions gives us the greatest reason to Expect your Honour will grant the Indulgence, With Leave to Say we remain your Hon's Most Obdt. Hble. Serv", VAN SWEARINGEN, RICHARD YEATES, ISAAC ISRAEL, GEO. MYERS. Sir, JAMES WOOD TO PRES. REED, 1781. Í have the Honor of Inclosing your Excellency a List of the Articles of Provisions taken by my Order in this State, under the resolve of Congress of the 4th of June; give me leave to assure you that the Powers have not been Exercised but in Cases of the most absolute Necessity. I find very Great Inconvenience from the Changes in the Militia Officers entrusted with the Command of the Guards over the Prisoners; if it Can be Done with Propriety I could wish to have Power to Continue an Officer on this Duty, (I mean only the Commanding Officer of the Guard) when I find him Properly Qualified for it, and willing to remain on Duty. I have the Honor to be with Great Respect, Sir, yr Excellency's Reading, 16th August, 1781. Directed, Public Service. Very Obt Servt, JAMES WOOD. His Excellency, President Reed, Philadelphia. PRES. REED TO COL. MILES, 1781. Aug. 17, 1781. Sir, The Council having been frequently applied to for Payment of Waggons drawn out for the Use of the United States on Requistions of Congress, it has become a Subject of much Consideration what can & ought to be done for the Relief of Individuals who have suffered so heavily by the Service they have rendered the PublickConsidering the great Proportion of Waggons which this State has ever furnished, & from particular Circumstances must furnish on Emergencies, & the constant Practice of the Quarter Masters Department without a single Exception to pay these Demands in the first Instance, we cannot think of varying from it & mingling this with the Mass of unpaid or unaccounted Services of this State. But as we suppose a Want of Money to be your principal Difficulty, we have agreed to advance you a Sum on this Account if you can obtain a Warrant of Congress on us. This will keep the Business in its proper Channel, satisfy Individuals & carry the Sum into a proper Account. If it cannot be done we apprehend that the United States will in future find Difficulty in procuring Waggons, & as this Service falls so peculiarly on this State we cannot doubt you will exert yourself to put it on as favourable a Footing for its Inhabitants as you I am, Sir, &c. can. VOL. IX.-16 Sir, COL. WM. COATS, &C., TO PRES. REED, 1781. To His Excellency, Joseph Reed, Esq. Agreable to your Orders from Councill dated July 12th,* we have call'd on the Gentlemen of the Troop of Light Horse of the County of Philada, to produce to us their accounts and Vouchers of their Expenditures when out on the last touer of Duty, and agreable to notiss given we had a full meeting, when it appear'd that part of the Troop that had done equal duty with the others, had kept no account and had no Vouchers to produce, not expecting to receive any com pensation, sixteen of the Troop produced Vouchers, from which we where under the Necessity of Averaging a price to be allowed to each man when on Command by detachment and where no Provision had been maid for their support, and after mature Consideration have agreed that each Person be allowed for two meals day, one gill of Rum, twelve quarts of Oats and Hay at night for his Horse, the sum of Six shillings specie the account of the number of Days that cach person searv'd with the amount of what appears to us should be paid him accompanies this, which we beg leave to lay before Council, we have the Honour to remain your Excellencies and the Councils most Obedient Humble Servants, W. COATS, Lieutenant C. P. GEORGE SMITH, Sub. Lieut. C. P. Philada County, Abington, August 18th, 1781. Directed, To His Excellency, Joseph Reed, Esq', President of the State of Pennsylvania. GEN. ANTHONY WAYNE TO PRES REED, 1781. Dear Sir, Hanover, 18th Augt. 1781. After being near the Roanoak we have Returned here to meet Lord Cornwallis, who threatens every Devastation that fire & sword can produce, from & after the 24th Instant, we have once saved Virginia & may do it again, however I sincerely wish she may not have occasion for our services. * See page 272. |