Friday, September 20, 1776

Ordered, That Mr. Paine be directed to write to Governor Trumbull respecting the practicability of enlarging the furnace at Salisbury, for casting heavy cannon there, and request his opinion concerning the same.

The delegates for New York having communicated to Congress a letter of the 9th, from the committee of safety of that state, with sundry papers enclosed:

293

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to take the same into consideration, and report thereon with all convenient despatch:

The members chosen, Mr. Chase,1 Mr. Paine and Mr. Stockton.

Printed in Journals of the Continental Congress, 5:807–808.

1.

Samuel Chase (1741–1811) practiced law in Annapolis, Md., beginning in 1761. While a member of the General Assembly of Maryland, Chase also served as a delegate to the Continental Congress (1774–1778). In 1776 he went on a special mission to Canada to encourage that country to join in the revolutionary cause. After the war, Chase was a judge in Maryland until 1796, when President Washington appointed him to the U.S. Supreme Court. The House impeached him in 1804, but the Senate acquitted him on each of the eight charges and he served until his death ( DAB ).

Sir, Warwick-Furnace Sept. the 24th 1776

Since my arrivel here I have been at Mr. Birds Furnace to know how they were like to succeed in casting their contract of cannon, and find Mr. Bird hath sold one of his Teams of horses & Ordered the Manneger to cast the few Moulds they had made & no more, and put the furnace out of Blast, and then bore the remainder of the guns. They have cast in all 60—12 pounders 19—9 pounders & 17—4 pounders, That is

13—12 lbrs.	{	proved & sent to Philada.	]	7—12 lb.	{	proved & not yet sent down	]	38—12 lbrs.} not	2—12 lbrs.}	To cast & Bore
8—9 Do.				2—9				8—9 Do. } bored	1—9 Do. }
7—4 Do.				4—4				5—4 Do.	1—4 Do. }

By which you’ll see he will fall vastly short of the complement he was to cast. I do not know the Number of Nine lbrs. the Frigat is to carry but soppose you’ll not have enough by 5 or 7. If you want a few 12 & 9 cast Messrs. Rutter & Potts have don with their contract with the counciel of safty and are at lesure to do it if you can agree with them. Mr. Samuel Potts will be in Philada. in a day or two. As they intend to put their Furnace out of Blast in 10 or 15 day they will not do it cast them without you give them enough shot to keep the Furnace going that is to use all the Metal she maks. They have cast some prity nice 9 lbrs. about two Inches longer then Birds one of which you may see on Capt. Andrew Caldwells warff. If you cannot agree with them you may prevail with the counciel of safty to let Mr. Old cast what few 12, 9, & 4 pounders you may want. I am almost sure he will do it. He has cast some very neat 3 & 4 lbrs. for 294Mr. Nathl: Tyson of virginia Some of which will be in Town this week. I shall go to Mr. Grubbs to morrow & as soon as I have used what powder they have there shall return to these Furnaces & If you have sett either of them to worke shall prepare Draufts for them &ca. In the Intrem I remain with much Esteem your Humble Servant,

Daniel Joy

RC ; addressed: “To The Honble: Robert Treat Pain In Philadelphia”; endorsed. RTP notes on the reverse:

	12 lb.	9 lb.	4 lb.
Bird was to cast	76	20	20

12 lb.	9 lb.	4 lb.
13	8	7
7	2	4
38	8	5
2	1	1
50	Wants 19	17
Wants 26		Wants 3