off, as we have reason to think there have. If ever there was a time that called for saving expenses it is now. I could wish to know whether it is expected by congress that we should send more men there at present; if we must raise them, the state must give them three or four times their continental pay, or else they can't be raised, and where to procure the money I know not.

January 28th. I am very sorry to find such heats have arisen in Philadelphia on Mr. Deane's account; this gives our enemies great pleasure to find the whigs at swords-drawing among themselves; I wish, I sincerely wish a speedy stop may be put to those disputes, or that they may be managed with more temper and candour, for the good of the common cause. Mr. Deane's conduct appears to me exceedingly imprudent, especially for a man in his character; what could be his design in his publications? surely he could not expect by them to convince congress of his fitness to be employed as a foreign ambassador, nor could he expect by it to oblige them to pass over all his former transactions without further inquiry; I should be glad to know whether there can be any body in congress that can justify his late conduct. **** I want much to hear what the British parliament are doing; for whether we are to have peace or war the ensuing summer, will depend on the measures they adopt this winter. I heartily wish for peace, with the establishment of our Independence; and if Britain acts wisely she will immediately give up her claim to the United States, and offer us peace, and unless she can find means to embroil Europe in a general war, and engage some other power against France, I think she will do it this winter.

February 6th. As to news, it is the stillest time I have known for some time, and our internal affairs remain in statu quo. The operation of the late measures on the prices of VOL. I.-Nn

things is yet unknown, but I think it must lower them something at least; but there will be no radical cure till we have a peace and our expenses lessened. Whether we are to have peace or war the present year, is determined by the British court ere this, and I feel very desirous to know. In short I long for the time when wars shall cease from the ends of the earth, and mankind be taught to cease from desolating the world, and murdering their brethren, to gratify the ambition of tyrants, the vilest and meanest of the whole human

race.

February 20th. I take notice of your sentiments relative to some persons, at this time, trying to make themselves popular and getting into public business, and think we have much to fear from them, as such late conversions are seldom to be depended on, and I wish some of them may not designedly introduce themselves to important stations, to defeat our independence, and that there may not be a coalition between some of them and our enemies. I may possibly be too suspicious, but think the utmost care ought to be taken to guard against it. I hope the states will take proper care to intrust their important business, in the hands of those only who may be depended on, and who have stood firm in our greatest difficulties. But popular applause, you know, is often easily gained or lost, and such persons will often very artfully fall in with any popular opinion, and appear very zealous on purpose to carry their points.

March 18th. We have reports here which are credited, that congress have received very interesting and agreeable intelligence from Spain. Common fame says, alliance, ships of war, and money are offered you, and on the most liberal terms if it be true, this is very agreeable news; but if the pride of the British tyrant would permit him to offer us peace with independence, &c. &c. it would be more agreeable to

me. In short, I grow perfectly weary of the war; it is enough to make one sick of human nature, to think mankind should be such fools as to distress, wound, maim, kill, and destroy one another, for no other reason but to gratify the will and pleasure of tyrants, who will take care to keep in a whole skin themselves. Captain Nathaniel Giddinge of this town, who lately returned from New York, where he was a prisoner on parole, when the British forces set out to attack Elizabethtown, and saw them at their return, informs us that they made a very shocking appearance when they came back, mired up to their middles; that he saw above 'forty wounded men taken out of their boats on the wharf where he was, and two that died of their wounds on their passage; that from their conversation, it appeared that they had been very soundly drubbed; but being on parole he was not at liberty to make any inquiries; that he heard an officer of the admiral's ship say, there were seventy men wounded belonging to their ship. We have not had the American account of the affair.

March 20th. The resolve of congress for stopping the two emissions, has not had so good an effect as I expected. When the news first arrived, it stopped for a short time the rise of every article, and many things fell and were sold for considerably less than before, but within three or four weeks, they began to rise again, and are now higher than ever, and no prospect of a stop. Two things have contributed, in my opinion, to lessen the effect of that measure; one, that the loan officecertificates, in the present depreciated state of our money, answer in any considerable payments instead of money; and the other is, that very large quantities of those emissions will be carried in to exchange for other bills. But let the cause be what it will, it is certain money is not bettered by it, as I had reason to expect. Indian corn is now sold for fifteen

dollars per bushel, hay from thirty to forty pounds per ton, and other things almost in the same proportion.

Generals Poor and Stark, col. Cilley, and several other of our continental officers are now here, with a petition to the general court, to have the wages of our regiments in the continental army made good according to contract, that is, to make up the depreciation, which they say is fifteen for one. The court are desirous of doing as much for them as they are able at this time, and promising them that at the close of the war they will see that their wages are made good to them; but that, it appears, will not satisfy them. What they (the court) do, I will endeavour to inform you in my next. Is any thing likely to be done by congress to satisfy their loud complaints? if not, difficulties I fear will arise. Perhaps you will say I am in the dumps, and always looking on the dull and melancholy side; but you are mistaken, I think it is proper the delegates at congress should be informed of the situation of affairs, with all their difficulties and dangers, as they are viewed by their constituents, that they may conduct themselves accordingly, and provide proper remedies if in their power; and you must expect, while at congress to hear from me all the difficulties that seem to threaten us, especially such as I think it may be in the power of congress to remove. Were I to talk or write to you in a different situation, I should do it in a different manner; for I really view our present political situation, with all its difficulties, vastly preferable to what it was a year or two ago.

June 19th. The avaricious disposition of the people, and the supineness and inactivity of our armies, are truly alarming, while the enemy seem more active and enterprising than usual. I wish our difficulties may rouse the continent from their lethargy, (which has been the case formerly,) otherwise, we have much to fear. The idle hopes of peace, of new and

powerful allies, of some secret and important good news received by congress, which have been circulated in the public papers, have greatly contributed to this lethargy; people began to think all our troubles were at an end, and they had nothing to do but to take the advantage of approaching good fortune, and each one lay up an estate for himself; and now to find themselves disappointed of their expectations, creates a very great uneasiness. Among all our difficulties and disagreeable prospects, however, we have one prospect that is very agreeable; I mean the present appearance of a good crop of all the fruits of the ground. I believe there never was at this season, a more fruitful appearance universally, in this part of the country; God grant it may continue prosperous to the end of the year.

July 24th. I find by the papers that terms for a negotiation, instead of being a profound cabinet secret, are discussed in the public papers. Americanus I suppose to be G. M. of N. Y., who used to sign The American. I am very sensible of the present unhappy situation of our public affairs, and ardently long for peace; but had rather risk the continuance of the war, than give up our right to the fishery. It appears to me to be of the greatest consequence to all the United States, for without it where is our nursery for seamen, and without seamen we can never be respectable by sea, and of consequence of but little weight with the powers of Europe; beside the vast advantage of the fishery in trade, equal almost to the mines of Mexico. * * The committee are

extremely desirous you should tarry at congress as long as possible, and have ordered me to signify the same to you; they are very sensible of the fatigues and hardships that you must necessarily be under by so long a stay there; but think your tarrying at this time will be an essential service to this state, and perhaps to the continent. The committee intended