Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 4
Agreeable to the Resolve of Congress of December 12th appointing a Committee to inquire into the Causes of the Failure of the Expedition against Rhode Island, we met at Providence on the Sixth Day of February, and having been previously notified by General Whipple that he should not attend the Service, and not hearing from Mr. Benson we concluded to proceed with a bare Quorum rather than the Business should be disadvantageously delayed, tho’ we wished much for the Assistance of those Gentlemen in so important an affair; Mr. Paine being hindered on the Convention of Committees at New Haven Occasioned his not arriving at Providence, ’till the 6th current, at which time we immediately sent Summonses to the Examinants; exceeding bad travelling delayed our Expresses, and we suppose has hindered several General Officers who live at a Distance, from arriving at this Time, it also happens that public Concerns of great Importance require each of us to be absent next Week, and for some Time, and therefore finding that we cannot at this Time finish the Examinations to Satisfaction, tho’ we have made considerable Progress in them, we have concluded to adjourn to the fourth Monday in March 20 at this Place, and have notified all Examinants to be present, and hoping that Mr. Benson will be able to assist us with his Presence, we have wrote him on the Subject.
We take Liberty through you to inform the Honble. Congress of our Proceedings, and hope this unavoidable adjournment of our business will not be disagreeable to them.