Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 3
This acknowledges the honor of yours 15th Instant,1 and am sensible of the necessity of Spirited exertions, in order to furnish our army with Cloathing & under this impression I2 have & shall continue my exertions; accordingly I have considerable quantities on hand, packed & ready to deliver to the order of the General as the first resolve of Congress directed, But a subsequent resolve directing they should be sent forward, shall apply to our Assembly upon the Subject.
As you were pleased to recommend, I have applied to the owners of the goods in the Elizabeth,3 but am without an answer.
Haveing favored me with the begining a Correspondence I feel myself strongly impelled to cultivate it, promiseing myself entertainment & improvement therefrom.
Nothing is more worthy observation than the success of our privateers. The measures takeing to raise the Battallions of Continental troops, Committees of Court being sent to both Armies, & a 3d Committee, Commissioning officers to recruit from Colony Battallions, and people at large; The necssity of a Strict discipline in the new army, and also of repressing the Extortion of Suttlers, are too obvious to pass unnoticed.
I cant help reminding you of a hurtful & discourageing delay in the naval department, and hope e’er long so useful a wheel in the Machine will be sett going; I presume a principle reason of delay is, the want of guns, but the incouragement to privateersmen has been such, together with the inadequate establishment of officers &c., on board the frigates, have conspired to render them useless.
I suspect General How will keep the field all winter, and as our Army will suffer prodigiously for want of tents, It is in agitation to take all the prize Sails, & it will be a very considerable Supply. Its also proposed to take without Ceremony all woolen goods that can be found, for the use of the army, allowing a proper & adequate price.
The attention of your honble. Board is I find to a Currency. I should be glad to hear a solid objection to an american bank, similar to the bank of England. If there is not hard money sufficient, Its my opinion we had better begin even with our Shoe buckles.
Your Loan officers will not answer at so low a premium. We give 6 per Ct., and possibly in the present posture of affairs, our securities are not much inferior to Continental, at Least not in the Estimation of a Massachusetts Man.
I have only to ask pardon for obtrudeing my sentiments and assure you I am Sir your humble Servt.,
Not located.
Samuel Allyne Otis (1740–1814), the younger brother of James Otis (1724/5–1783) and Mercy Otis Warren (1728–1814), graduated from Harvard in 1759. A Boston merchant before the Revolution, Otis was appointed official agent of the United States Clothier-General James Mease in September 1777. By 1779 he was Deputy Quarter Master General of the United States. He served in Congress (1787–1789) and in April 1789 was elected secretary of the U.S. Senate (
Sibley’s Harvard Graduates
, 14:471–480).
Probably the case of the brigantine Elizabeth, which had been captured along with the goods belonging to several owners. See Naval Documents of the American Revolution, 6:1263–1265.
A letter from Mr. Bache1 was read:
Resolved, That it be referred to a committee of three.2
The members chosen, Mr. Wythe, Mr. Paine, and Mr. Livingston.3
Journals of the Continental Congress, 6:908
Richard Bache (1737–1811), an English merchant, migrated to New York City in 1765. At this point he was comptroller of the post office. He succeeded his father-in-law, Benjamin Franklin, as postmaster-general, Nov. 7, 1776 (
DAB
).
The committee reported back to Congress on Nov. 5. Its report resulted in a resolve to increase the number of express riders between Philadelphia and the armies; to enjoin ferry keepers to expedite the passage of post riders; to prevent messengers on public service from receiving fees for private letters they might carry; and to allow certain supplies to the deputy postmaster at heaquarters (Journals of the Continental Congress, 6:926–927).
Philip Livingston (1716–1778), a brother of William and cousin of Robert R. Livingston, graduated from Yale in 1737 and began a career as a merchant in New York City. He was active in provincial affairs in the business, political, and educational arenas. Livingston was one of New York’s delegates to the Continental Congress from 1775 until his death, which occurred while attending the sixth session of the Congress at York, Penna. (
DAB
).
I was in hopes to have wrote to you before this time on the business of Casting brass Cannon, as we consulted when you was last here. I have waited to see the Process of the Air Furnace here with Wood but 315they have never tryed it wholly with wood & but till lately have made Any Castings, but it Seems to be more & more Certain that Wood will Answer. I have but lately been Able to find out that the owner of the Air furnace on the Common will not let it & therefore there must be a further Consultation about the best place to build one. I therefore desire you as soon as possible to come to Philada. & bring with you an exact Account of how much Copper & Tin you have got & where it is & inquire whether you can get any more, & before you come consider & settle in your mind whether the Air Furnace at New Ark can be used for this business & whether it will be Sufficiently Safe from the Enemy & whether Wood can be got there & whether the furnace can be hired if it will do. If this will not do, you will think of some suitable place to erect an Air Furnace, & be at this place as soon as you can. If any thing hinders you from Coming immediately pray write me word of it.