Providence February 13th. 1778. Sir,

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.

We are with Esteem, your humble Servants, R T Paine Olivr. Ellsworth Hy Marchant

RC (Papers of the Continental Congress, National Archives, item 78); internal address: “The Honorable Henry Laurens Esqr. President of Congress.”

Taunton February 14th: 1778 Honod: Sir,

You may Remember a Resolve Passed your General Court that a Quantaty of Lead flints & Gunlocks was assigned to the Select men of Taunton which I am Informed is Deposited in Concord the Enclosed Given account of Each article for our Town & the reason of So Long a Delay of Transporting them is my Not Haveing a veiu there of, and as I am assured of your Care in that affaire after you Have made proper Inquirey of there Value & Goodness & finde to your Satisfaction they are a Good peneworth be pleased to Git them Transeported to Boston at Such place as you think proper as soone as may be, & Give me Inteligence there of & I will send you the Cash to Discharge the Damage & Cost, your Honour is Sensable that 100 of Good french flints is worth 400 of som others and so it may be with Gunlocks. If you Should be at aney Lose you may Inquirey of your Deare brother Coleage who is well acquainted with artes & Sciences Espeasully one—

In Haste I Subscribe my selfe yr: Humble Sert: George Godfrey

RC ; endorsed: “Letter from Brigadier Godfrey abt. Lead &c & Recd. for the money I Paid Mr. Hayward for it.”