Dear Sir, Boston Novr. 18, 1776

I have not been favoured with a line from you for some time. I should have wrote you before this but my being closely engaged in Bussiness has hitherto prevented me. We have sent Committees to the Camp at New York & Ticonderoga to Engage men for the new Army. The Resolutions passed by our Court relative to this subject will be forwarded to Mr. Hancock by this Conveyance as also a letter from a Committee of the Court upon this Matter, to which must beg leave to refer you. The Two Houses on the 15 Instant made Choice of the Honble. John Hancock, S. Adams, J. Adams, Robt. Treat Paine Francis Dana, Esqr. Elbridge Gerry Esqr. & Mr. James Lovell as Delegates to represent them at the Continental Congress the ensuing year. I give you joy upon your reelection. I shall write you soon upon the Important Subject of Financening. All I can say at present is that The General Court are so impressed with the necessity of taking some Effectual Measures for supporting the credit of our public Currencies that they have proposed a Congress of the four New England Governments & have appointed your humble servant, Tristram Dalton1 & Azor Orne2 Esqrs. a Committee to meet Committees from the General Assemblies of the States of Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhod Island at Providence the Tenth day of December next for the special purpose of Conferring upon this Interesting Subject. I should be glad you would immediately favor me with your thoughts upon this matter & inform me whether the Congress have in Contemplation any measures for supporting the Credit of the Continental Currency. As to borrowing at 4 per Cent per annum it will be impraticable unless some Effectual measures are taken to fix the Value of the Money.

I now Inclose you an Act lately passed by our Assembly for providing a Reinforcement to the American Army. Upon perusal you will find how zealously we are engaged in the Common Cause. Pray write me immediately and frequently. I am with great respect Your Most humble Servt.

Thomas Cushing

RC ; addressed: “To The Honble. Robt. Treat Paine Esqr. member of the continental Congress at Philadelphia”; endorsed.

325 1.

Tristram Dalton (1738–1817) was a 1755 graduate of Harvard and a Newburyport merchant. At this time he was serving in the state House of Representatives. In December 1776 he was sent to New York to consult with the army, and on his return he represented Massachusetts at the intercolonial conference on credit and currency. Later in the war he operated several successful privateers. Although elected to the Continental Congress in 1783 and 1784, he did not attend. However, he did serve in the U.S. Senate from 1789 to 1791 ( Sibley’s Harvard Graduates , 13:569–578).

2.

Azor Orne (1731–1796), a prominent merchant, served his native town of Marblehead as selectman, colonel of the militia, and representative to the General Court (from 1773 until his death). In the House he served on many committees including 179 in 1775 alone, the heaviest load of all members. He was elected to the Continental Congress in 1774 but declined (Schutz, Legislators of the Mass. General Court, 299; Thomas Amory Lee, “The Ornes of Marblehead,” Essex Institute Historical Collections, 60:226–227).