Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 3
I was sorry Mr. Byers left N York before he had finished your business. He has been longer here than was intended, & very unhappily when he came I was so sick of a fever1 that nothing but the nature of his business induced me to see him, & in short I have not been able to settle the plan of another Air Furnace in the manner proposed. I got some of the Committee to my Room & all that could be agreed upon was that mr. Byers Should Work up your Mettal first & then purchase all the Mettal he could in N York & make Six pounders. I wish it was determined whether the Congress Mortar is as serviceable as a Mortar. If not I think it had better be cast into Cannon. I have desired Mr. Byers as he returns to take the pattern of the Pensyl 6 lb. & 12 lb. now in the Jerseys. Handsomer Guns I never saw, the former of wch. weighs 4.2. &c the other 8:0:9. As soon as I recover a little Strength I hope to devise Some Method of having this business enlarged. Meantime I wish the Iron Cannon that lay at Kings bridge were put into Some use. They are as good as any guns to be stationary & defend lines to vast advantage, if mounted only on Ship Carriages. I would suggest to you the Advantage of having vast quantitys of Chain & barr Shott & other Contrivances to cut Rigging especially at the Forts in the Highlands. We have Contracted with a Man to cast 18.24. & 32 pounders. He has succeded so well in long 18 pnds. that we hope he will answer our desires in the rest. Yrs. &c.,
RTP noted the progress of the fever in his diary: (July 19) “taken very ill of a fever”; (July 20) “blooded & Physic”; (July 24) “rode out, very week”; (July 26) “took vomit”; (July 27) “very week”; and (July 29) “took Physic.” He returned to Congress on July 31.