Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 3
Resolved, That the report of the committee on General Washington’s letters of the 9th and 10, which was left unfinished, together with the amendments moved and seconded, be referred to the committee of the whole Congress.
The Congress then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, to take into consideration the several reports referred to them; and, after some time spent thereon, the president resumed the chair, and Mr. Harrison reported, that the committee have had under consideration the several reports to them referred, and have come to sundry resolutions, which they ordered him to report; but, not having had time to go through the whole, desired him to move for leave to sit again.
227The report from the committee of the whole being delivered in,
Resolved, That a committee of three four be appointed to digest and arrange the several resolutions reported, in order to be laid before Congress; and that the committee of the whole be discharged of the reports, so far as they relate to the cartel entered into between General Arnold and Captain Foster for an exchange of prisoners,1 and that the same be referred to the committee now to be appointed:2
The members chosen, Mr. Jefferson,3 Mr. Braxton, Mr. Paine, and Mr. Middleton.
Journals of the Continental Congress, 5:446
Gen. Benedict Arnold and Capt. George Forster of the British army were negotiating a prisoner exchange to include some 500 Americans captured at the Cedars near Montreal in May.
Jefferson’s notes on an interview with Maj. Henry Sherburne, a Rhode Island officer who had been captured at the Cedars, along with the committee report, appear in The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, ed. Julian P. Boyd [Princeton, N.J., 1950– ], 1:396–404).
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), one of the Virginia delegation to the Continental Congress in 1775 and 1776, drafted the Declaration of Independence as chairman of the committee considering the issue. He resigned from Congress shortly after its signing and returned to Virginia. His later career included time as governor of Virginia (1779–1781), a return to the Continental Congress (1783–1784), times as minister to France and secretary of state, and then as vice president (1797–1801) and president (1801–1809) of the United States (
DAB
). RTP and Jefferson served on several committees together during this period.
I have recived your Letter dat. 1 of this month1 in which I find you are Just returnd from a Journey which you had taken for your helth. I wish you would Journey home. It would due you as much good I hope as going elsware. I have Look’d over all the papers in the house & cant find a note that is very much wanted that is Palmer to Joy. Mr. Leonard Say he return’d the notes to you. I wish you would Send me what about it. I expect Joy here every day for it. I thank your new w—f for her Love but I think She has been gratified Long enouf. I think She might devide the time at Lest as am the oldest. I have not been able to Send to Boston yet. Shall Send this week but fear I Shall be dispointed of Linnen for it is a hard matter to get any it is very dear. Such as you wear is 9 & 22810 Shillings a yard. I hope I Shall be able to Send the money for it. I have recived of Capt. Andrews 24–12–10 which will pay Seth & buy 1 peice of Linnen. I am in hopes of getting Some of others. Our family are well except Miss Naby. She had a fitt to day. She is not very Spry after it. Did I ever Send to you for any thing Since you ware at Philada. that you Sent me. I hope youll gratefie your new one. But I Shall wean Charley next week So it is no matter now. I Mr. Morey is this moment going to Providence So must Close my Letter I am your ever mindfull & affectinate,
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