Philadelphia, May 11, 1776.

NOT having heard from you so long, nor seen your name mentioned in a gubernatorial capacity, I am led to think either that you are unwell, or on public business abroad. I have wrote you several long letters, particularly March 7th, 16th, and April 2d and 14th,1 some of which I fear you have not received, as they were on such practical subjects as I think you would have taken some notice of. I have laboured exceedingly to establish certain important manufactures, without which speculation would be a phantom. I think we shall not want cannon—four furnaces make them good, as large as 18 pounders; and 24 pounders have been made, but have not as yet stood proof; the manufacturers say they are sure of success. Exceeding good muskets are made here and I suppose with you, but what comes of them I can’t find out, for it is certain that a great many of our troops are unarmed, and we are not able to get arms for them. I have made great inquires about this matter, and have been always told that every man who could work at the business was employed. I wish to know if that be the case with you, and what the price of muskets is. Our musket committee have been able to make but two contracts for making muskets, but I hope our endeavours have set others a going. The congress was appointed to promote the good of the whole, but this can’t be done without knowing the circumstances of all the parts; but as I wish the salvation of my country, I know nothing of our colony but what I find out by accident. I write letters of inquiry in vain. I hope we shall be more regular in doing business for the future, or we shall need leading-strings again.2

Original not located; printed in the New-York Review and Atheneum Magazine 2(1826):447–448 .

206 1.

Only a portion of Paine’s Apr. 2 letter to Palmer, printed above, has been found. The letter he refers to on Mar. 7 was actually written the day before (see above).

2.

Later in the month, RTP set off with Clement Biddle for a tour of various manufactories in the area, including the Continental powder mill on French Creek, the Warwick Furnace, the Reading Furnace, saltpetre works run by John Mears in Reading, Colonel Grubb’s furnace, glassworks in Manheim, and a grinding-and-boring mill for gun barrels in Lancaster (RTP Diary, May 23–29).