Papers of John Adams, volume 5
1777-04-16
It is difficult to ascertain with Precision the Designs of the Enemy: But by the best Intelligence We can obtain their Malice and Revenge against New England, is implacable.
Their Intentions, most probably, are, to come over the Lakes and enter N. England by that Way, to attack it by the Way of Rhode Island, and also by the Way of the North or the East River. An Armament, may possibly be destined to Cheasapeak Bay by Way of Diversion.
The Surest Way to defend New England is, to send along all your continental Troops to their Destinations at Fish kill and Ti.
Congress have this day passed a Resolution in the Offensive Stile.2 The Character of New England, is concerned in the Execution of it. I hope in God, that little Banditti of the Halt and blind in Rhode Island will be destroyed in all Events. If it costs us Thousands of Lives it ought to be done. But I believe by an Expedition prudently conducted, they may be driven off or made Prisoners without any considerable Loss.3 I am sir with great Respect your most obt. Svt
Bowdoin was a member of the Council. This same day Samuel Adams and James Lovell drafted a message, possibly to the speaker of the House, which was to be sent in the name of the Massachusetts delegation and enclose the congressional resolution mentioned below (Burnett, ed., Letters of Members
, 2:326–327).
The congress recommended that Rhode Island with such forces as it had, aided by Massachusetts and Connecticut militiamen from towns near Rhode Island's borders, attack the British on the island of Rhode Island. Further, Washington was directed to appoint a general officer to lead the attack (
JCC
, 7:272–273). Much against his wishes, Gen. Clinton had been ordered in Nov. 1776 to take several thousand troops to Newport to secure that area as a safe anchorage for the British fleet. Soon after their arrival, Clinton sailed back to England, leaving Hugh 154Percy, his second in command, in charge. Control of the Newport area bottled up in Narragansett Bay the American fleet under Como. Esek Hopkins (William B. Willcox, Portrait of a General: Sir Henry Clinton in the War of Independence, N.Y., 1964, p. 119, 122).
The proposed expedition did not take place at this time. In Aug. 1777 a surprise attack was planned. Land forces led by Gen. Joseph Spencer were to be supported by fire ships and Continental naval forces from Providence. The actual operation, mounted in October, was a dismal failure (
JCC
, 8:661–662).
1777-04-16
An unfortunate Vessell has arrived from France. The brave Fellow who commanded her, is blown to Pieces in her. A French Nobleman who came in her, got on Shore and brought the Letters.1
We have Letters from our Commissioners of the Sixth of Feby.2 —much in the Same Strain with the former of Jany. 17. tho not quite so encouraging. They say there is an universal Apprehension that We shall submit. They had not heard of the Turn of Affairs at Trenton. A Letter from London says, “So many Bankruptcies were never known. Two W.I. Houses have failed for one Million two hundred Thousand Pounds.3 Stand firm, say our Friends in England, and nothing can hurt you.” The British Ministry are very angry with France for the Assistance she gives Us and threatens to declare War. A Quarrell between the Ministry and the Court of Spain, about the Mussketo Shore.4—a fresh Quarrell bet. Turks and Russians.5
For some details of this episode see JA to AA, 13 April (
Adams Family Correspondence
, 2:209–210).
The Commissioners wrote three letters of this date, two to the Committee of Secret Correspondence and one to the president. One discouraging item was the suspension of the tobacco agreement reached by the Farmers-General with the Commissioners earlier (Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev.
, 2:261–265; JA to James Warren, 31 March, note 2, above).
The Commissioners' letter says eight hundred thousand not two hundred thousand pounds.
See Intelligence from London, 31 Jan. (above).
Mentioned by the Commissioners, this quarrel, they felt, made it unlikely that Britain would be able to obtain Russian mercenaries.
1777-04-16
I have too many kinds of public business, to admit my looking into the matter of Finances, and examining the Same with that 155precision which the Subject demands;1 but some methods must be taken, as Speedily as possible, to sink the Bills of Credit. Taxes will draw in large Quantities, and Lotteries will operate in aid to Taxes: And I think that you ought to borrow hard Money; ¼ the Sum emitted in Bills, will, in hard Cash, form a Sum Sufficient to establish the Credit of the other ¾. We have in contemplation, a Lottery for seting up and carrying on the Manufactures of Salt, Lead, Sulphur, Allum and Copperas. And we are forming a Sinking Fund for Annuities upon Lives. If we had some Men of leisure, who wou'd attend to the Subject of Finances, I doubt not but other means of increasing the public revenue, might be pointed out. We have also in contemplation, to lay a duty of per Cent upon the Prizes brought into this State. And we are now revising the regulating Bill.2
My most respectful Compliments attend your Brother Members; I have wrote a few lines to Mr. Hancock, and inclosed a Copy of a Report of a Committee respecting Boston Harbor, and accompanied with some Plans, which you will See.
Your Family and Friends are all well, so far as I know. Mrs. Howard, late Mrs. Mayhew, was buried yesterday. My Mrs. Palmer fails very fast; I feel very apprehensive about her.3
Palmer was answering JA's request for advice of 20 Feb. (above).
Which measure Palmer meant by the “regulating Bill” is not certain. For the regulatory law governing vessels leaving the state, see JA to James Warren, 6 April, note 3 (above). Two other regulatory laws were undergoing reconsideration in this period: the ban on the export of certain commodities and the setting of prices on a long list of products. The first of these was being considered for repeal, the second for revisions and better enforcement (William Tudor to JA, 16 March, notes 3 and 4, above; Mass., House Jour.
, 1776–1777, 5th sess., p. 279, 287).
Mrs. Palmer did not die until 1790.