Friday, June 28, 1776

Resolved, That Mr. Wisner, Mr. Paine, and Mr. Floyd be a committee to confer with Anthony Mosengeil, on the subject of manufacturing sulphur:1

That 30 dollars be advanced to said committee, they to be accountable.

Printed in Journals of the Continental Congress, 5:502.

1.

This committee appears to have made no report, although see John Hancock to Michael Hillegas and George Clymer, Mar. 8, 1776 (above) and Mosengeil to RTP, July 5, 1776 (below).

Dear Sir, New York June 29 1776

I have received Yours of the 27th instant where you require the weight of the Howitzers I brought from Ticonderoga. They weigh’d about 1500—rather more. Those Cast by Colo. Gridley I beleive weigh’d about 1000, but the Chamber was so small, they would not throw a shell more than 500 Yards at the greatest elevation. This is conjecture, for I do not know they were ever prov’d. I should think, that let the Iron be ever so good than an eight Inch Howitzer cannot be made with a proper Chamber to weigh less than 1500. I shall esteem it a happiness if there is any thing I can contribute which will tend to the Improvement of the american Artillery. Ticonderoga ought to be fortified as Strong as Gibralter, and Crown point ought be made exceeding strong and some ports on the Mohawk River. I am Sir with Respect and affections Yours

H. Knox

RC ; addressed: “Honbe. Robert Treat Paine Esqr. in Philadelphia”; endorsed; postal stamps: “FREE,” “New-York. July 1.”