Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 4
On Sunday morning last, I sat off for Providence in order to attend the Commissioners, agreeable to their Notification of the 6th Instant; at Wrentham I was told by Majr. Tyler1 that they had adjourned to the 23d. of March; in consequence of this, I returned home on monday. Genl. Lovell is ill with the Gout. I Should have been earlier, but my health was bad, & almost a constant Series of Storms last Week.
I beg that you will inform me, whether all Papers coming into your hands as Comrs. &c., must not be Sent to Congress? I ask this, because I 22 have many Papers put up for the Comrs., of wh. I have no Copies, & wh. I would Copy if time permits provided they are not to be returned into my hands.
Royall Tyler (1757–1826), a 1776 Harvard graduate, was at this time serving as a major in Gen. John Sullivan’s campaign against Newport. His later career as a lawyer in Boston was augmented by a notable literary success. In 1791 he settled in Vermont, where he eventually became chief justice of the Supreme Court (American National Biography).
Our General Assembly are now sitting, they have agreed to Stop the currency of the Bills of this State (except small change under a dollar) by the 20th. of march next in private dealing, and in the Treasury by the first day of July next, except from persons in the Army & out of the State making proof that they had not opportunity to bring them in by that time, who may bring them in by the 1 Novr. next & not afterward. Both Houses have also Agreed to Accept & approve the report of the Convention for Regulating prices without any alteration & ordered a Bill for an Act to be drawn thereon. The Assembly have also laid Taxes for Collecting 600,000 dollars toward Supplying the Continental Treasury, one half to be paid the first Day of June & the other the first of November next. It is the General opinion here that we can neither fill up, or keep up the Army unless immediate & effectual measures are taken to reduce the present high prices, & render the medium Stable. It is hoped that the System of measures recommended by congress if Strictly Adhered to by all the States will produce those Salutary effects.
I wish to be Informed what your Assembly have done or are likely to do respecting those measures. Some Traders & Speculators here, are opposed to the regulation of prices by Law, but by the best Information I have been able to Collect the people in General are in favour of it. An express Sent by the Governor to Congress returned Yesterday & brought Several letters & 23 papers but they contain no very material news. He Says he was informed on his way home that a party of our Troops had taken a foraging party of the Enemy, of 300 men with Sixty Waggons & two Field pieces.