Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 4
I wrote you very largely from New Haven the other day on the Subject of regulating System &c. From this place I now address you on the Subject of the Comssn. for examining the causes of the failure of the Expedition to Rhodisland; I was so long detained at New Haven on the first business that I did not arrive here till the friday after the monday appointed for our meeting, we went immediately upon business, tho’ with great reluctance with a bare quorum but we thought if we excused our selves one after another, it would thro’ the requisitions of Congress into a faint point of light, & so I undertook this fatiguing business meerly from patriotic principles, & to put a good face on our affairs; otherwise, a large sum would not have tempted me to have been absent from Genl. Court, forming Constitution, regulating money, &c to say nothing of private affairs. We are obliged to adjourn to 4th. Monday in March, when we hope to finish to Satisfaction; you will oblige me if you will inform me how the Expences of this business are to be born, & whether any allowance is to be made to us by Congress for this Service. You will further oblige me by 19 informing me, what returns are made from the other two Conventions appointed for regulating prices, as soon as you are acquainted with them.
My particular regards to Messr. Dana & Lovell.
P.S. Mr. Agent Tillinghast1 informed us that he was willing to advance to us, & accordingly we draw have drawn on him for such sums as have accrued for Expences exclusive of our own Expences Services instructions.
The Book of the Signers, ed. William Brotherhead [Philadelphia, 1861]); addressed: “To the honble. Elbridge Gerry Esq. Member of Congress York-Town Pennsylvania per post.”
Daniel Tillinghast was Continental prize agent for Rhode Island, appointed by the Continental Congress, Apr. 23, 1776 (Journals of the Continental Congress, 4:300, 301).
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.