Papers of John Adams, volume 11
1781-01-16
There are three Gentlemen, in the Mercantile Way, Mr. Sigourney, Mr. Ingraham and Mr. Bromfield, who are now in this City, and propose to reside here and establish a mercantile House. These Gentlemen are very well known in the Massachusetts, and therefore it is unnecessary for me to Say any Thing concerning their Characters. They have travelled a good deal in Europe, and I believe have been constantly in Pursuit of Business and usefull Information in the commercial Line. Their design of residing here, is well approved, and may be very usefull both to this Country and ours, by facilitating a Communication and Commerce Advantageous to both. Perhaps they may execute any Commission from the Honourable Board, more to their Satisfaction than a Stranger. I cannot therefore, especially as these are the first who have conceived such a design here, but recommend them to the Favourable Attention of these Honourable Board.1
There is no indication that anything came of JA's recommendation of the firm formed by Charles Sigourney, Duncan Ingraham Jr., and Henry Bromfield Jr., but it may have proceeded 54from JA's visit to Sigourney and Ingraham on 13 Jan. (JA, Diary and Autobiography
, 2:453). For JA's use of the firm to rent a residence, see his letters of 9, 11, and 13 April, all below.
1781-01-17
I had the Honor of receiving your favor of the 1st. instant1 by Mr. Searle, who arriv'd here two daies ago and intends to pursue his Journey tomorrow. You will receive by this post from our friend here2 a full account of the Amn. News such as we have it here by the two vessels arriv'd at L'Orient from Phila., and at Bourdx. from Maryland, tho' you must have more authentic intelligence in your own Letters.
For your amusement I send you a copy of a printed hand bill that was stuck up at the corners of the Streets and other public places in Phila.3
It has been always my Idea that an open acknowlegement of the Independence of Ama. by the several powers of Europe wou'd greatly contribute to bringing about a Peace; on this principle I have strongly urged that their H. Mightinesses shou'd commence an immediate Treaty with America and on our part, it appears to me that we shou'd use all our address in forwarding the business; since otherwise, there may be War between, G.B. Hold. Russa. Swedn. and Denmark this year and a peace between them the next, leaving the War still to rage in Ama. We have no English Post, since the 2d. instant nor any later intelligence from thence.
The humours where you are, do not seem as yet to be sufficiently afloat, but we may suppose they will become somewhat warmer as the Spring Advances.
With the highest respect I have the Honor to remain Dear Sir Your most Obliged & Obedt. Servt.,
Not found.
From Edmund Jenings, 18 Jan., below.
The enclosed handbill, copied in Lee's hand, circulated in late Oct. 1780. It concerned business dealings between James Mease and Benedict Arnold in 1778, when the former was clothier general of the Continental Army and the latter commanded at Philadelphia in the wake of the British evacuation. It charged that Mease purchased goods in excess of what was needed for public purposes and then, with his subordinate William West Jr., contracted with Arnold to sell the excess for their personal profit. The handbill included the text of the contract, which was dated 23 June 1778. The sentiments expressed in the handbill spurred the Pennsylvania Council, in a letter of 6 Dec. 1780, to place the matter before Congress. On 9 Jan. Congress resolved that Mease and West should be prosecuted in the name of the United States by the attorney general of Pennsylvania for the “abuse of office and breach of trust complained of” (PCC, No. 69, II, f. 306– 309;
JCC
, 19:40–41). There is no indication, however, that Mease and West were ever tried for their offenses.