[dateline] Boston Augt: 10th: 1777
[salute] My dear Sir
I Received your favours by Mr. Hewes and by the post
1 since writeing which, you must have heard of the Important Event of the Evacuation
of Ti. What will be the Consequences of it Time will discover. What will be the reflections
upon it in the South you are Able before now to say. I suppose many Aspertions on
these States. That Languor, supineness, and want of public virtue, and spirit prevail
here is too true, but do they not prevail in the Southern States. It is true we have
not furnished our quota of the Army, have they furnished theirs. If they have where
are they. The General Court here have done all in their power, and more than the Southern
States Approved of. It is rather their Misfortune than fault that our Men are not
all in the Feild, but will Congress Impute the Loss of Ti. to the Negligence of these
States. I see St. Clairs Letter
2 published by their Order. You will hear that the General Court are now met on A special
Call of the Council.
3 I presume we are Able, and I hope before we rise we shall demonstrate that near 3500
of our Continental Troops must at that time have been at the places of their destination
in that department, and N: Hampshire say more than 2000 of theirs, and at least 4000
of them perhaps more, Equipt with the New Arms out of the French Ship at Portsmouth.
4 As good as any on the Continent, and more Militia than they had would have been furnished
if requested. If you ask how this is to be reconciled to St. Clairs Letter,
5 I Answer that is for him and the Other Officers to do, upon A severe Scrutiny which
I hope will be made into this matter. The Indignation and distrust that prevails here
are Extreem, and the want of Confidence in your Commanders that way such, that if
it be not removed by Lincolns being sent there to Command the Militia will very much
Impede our Reinforcements. We have Ordered A sixth part of the Mili•
{ 270 } tia of Suffolk Essex, Middlesex Worcester York Hampshire and Berkshire. A small part
of two of them Excepted to be drafted, and marched directly.
6 These I think must make at least 4000 Men. What Connecticut, or Hampshire
7 have done I know not. We have also come to some severe resolutions for Compleating
our quota of the Army.
8 We have Just received an Account that our Army have retreated from Saratoga to Still
water, and that the British Fleet and Army had returned to the Hook, and Genl. Washington
to Morris Town. We have Expected them here, which Occasioned some Confusion in this
Town for A day or two. We now generally suppose they are going up the North River.
Had they come I believe our Militia would have turned out with A Spirit equal to any
of their Neighbours. Upon the Alarm from Rhode Island, they marched from the Regiments
that had Orders with Uncommon readiness and Alacrity Considering the Business of the
Season. 3 or 4 days would have Carried 10,000 of them there. No Body on that Occasion
was more Embarrassed than I was. I don't feel afraid to fight, and I believe you are
sensible No Body has more Zeal for the Cause than I have, but I have too much pride
to submit to Circumstances humiliateing and degradeing. Our Council Ordered me to
repair there, and take the Command of them, and receive from General Spencer or
such other Officer as should be Appointed to Command there from time to time such directions as they should give me. The last part of the order
was very Extraordinary, and tho' the first may be Conformable to a resolve of Congress
you will suffer me to tell you I think that so. I know of Nothing to determine An
Officers rank but his Commission and the date of it.
9 If we have no right to Appoint Major Generals we should not have done it. If we have
they ought to have their rank, with whatever Troops they are called to serve, or at
least the depreciation should have been settled prior to their Appointment, and they
should have known what proportion of One they were to be, when they came within the
splendid orb of A Continental Officer. As you have Generals in every State sometimes
without A Man even An Orderly Sargeant to Attend them I suppose to Command the Militia,
I foresee the Militia are to be Considered in the same light of Inferiority with regard
to the Continental Troops, that I have been used with Indignation to see them with
regard to the British. This by depressing that Spirit of Military pride which Alone
can make them Important to themselves and Others will
{ 271 } soon render them of little Consequence, and make A standing Army necessary. As I am
somewhat Advanced in life, and have by the partiality of my Countrymen been honoured
with many Civil and military distinctions, and Acted A Considerable part in the present
great Controversy, I have determined no longer to submit to such Circumstances, and
have therefore Embraced this Interval of security to resign my Commission. You are
now to Excuse being detained so long with A matter of so little Consequence I mean
so far as relates to me.
Mr. Cushing and Mr. Paine have been to Springfeild to Meet the Committees from the
Other N England States, and New York. They returned last Evening. Coll. Orne in his
humorous way says he could not go without
Paine and therefore did not go. I Am told they have Unanimously Agreed to report A repeal
of all regulateing Acts, and Land Embargos, and to Call in all the money of those
States by the first of December next—and to have no Currency but Continental.
10 How long we shall set I cant say. Nothing will detain us more than two days longer
but that matter unless we Issue A Tax this Session which should have been done before.
Our Naval Affairs have had a sad reverse. Instead of the Triumph of A Man of War Prize,
we have lost the Hancock a fine frigate.
11 The Commission of the Navy Board or rather the Instructions of the marine Board Arrived
about A week ago. By them it Appears we should be all three present in Order to Transact
Business. Mr. Deshon (tho' we have Expected him 10 days) is not yet Arrived. I see
the Business is very large and Extensive, must Engross our whole time, and we are
Allowed but one Clerk, which I think quite Insufficient. While I remain at this Board
I shall do everything I can to Answer the design of our Appointment, and the Expectation
of my Friends, but with you I sigh for private Life and domestic Felicity, and Incline
to resign. I only delay it from Respect to your Sollicitations. Tomson, Hinman, and
Jones are at Portsmouth have not yet been to Sea. McNeil at Casco Bay.
12 A number of Cruisers on our Coast, who have taken and destroyed many Vessels and
Among them several Privateers. Had we the Ships now shut up in Providence with those
mentioned Above, I think we should soon have A Clear Coast. The Committee on A Constitution
have done Nothing lately. I hope when we meet again, we shall get Along with it, and
form A tolerable one but I tremble with diffidence every step I take. Better heads
than mine should be
{ 272 } Employed in this Business. I Lament the Absence of some one or two. When this is Compleated
I beleive in Spite of my Sentiments or Yours the Citizen you mention will make the
Leap. I am in great Sincerity yours &c.,
You Enquire what is become of Arms. Four Thousand have been received from Mr. Langdon
by this State and all but about 100 delivered to Continental Regiments. The remainder
must be Accounted for by your Agents. There is A Mystery about all these Matters.
I hope time will perfect such Arrangements as will prevent all Uncertainty in future.
I have several Letters from Mr. Adams and Gerry lately not A word about this Navy
Board. Do unravel that Mystery. Dont they like the thing or the Men.