But I suspend the Indignation which is natural from such mysterious Measures. The doubts which perplex maybe yet be cleared up when this whole System is revealed. The British Mininstry may, notwithstanding present strange Appearances, be in earnest to pursue maxims, which out of office they avowed; which introduced them to power; and which are dictated by the general voice of the nation which they govern. In short they may convince us that the accidental Victory which the too fortunate Rodney obtained over a part of the fleet of Count DeGrasse, and the transient Advantages in the Island of Ceylon, and on the Coast of Coromandel, have not made them mad.

Adieu, my dear sir, and continue to place among the most affectionate of your Friends, him who is with every sentiment, Esteem and Respect your Excellencys Most obedient & very humble Servant

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

[No. 4730.]

Governor Greene of Rhode Island Notifies Governor Clinton Why His State Failed to Sustain New York in the Proposition to Strengthen the Articles of Confederation.

Warwick, 26th August 1782.

Sir, I had the Honour of receiving your Excellencys letters of the 25th ulto. and the 4th Instant, and have laid them before the General Assembly, who have requested me to inform you, that the conduct of Robert Stodard has been such, when with the Enemy in Rhode Island, as to render him so disagreable to the Inhabitants of this State, that they do not think it prudent for him to remain here, and have, therefore, requested me to issue my order for him to depart.

The Resolve of your State respecting their proposing to Congress to recommend to the United States to Assemble a General Ccrvention for the purpose to revise and amend the Confederation, they did not pass any Resolve respecting it, as they appeared to be satisfyed with the powers already vested in Congress by the aforesaid Confederation. I am, Your Excellencys, obedient & very Humble Servt.

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

[No. 4755.]

W. Greene

Ezra L'Hommedieu to Governor Clinton-News from Europe and the disordered Finances of the Country.

Philadelphia, Sept. 11, 1782.

A Ship arrived here last Evening from Holland, which Place she left the 28th of July: she is loaded with Goods on Account of the United States to the amount of Thirty Thousand Pounds Sterling.

Letters by this Ship confirm the Report of the Capture of the greatest Part of the Quebec Fleet.

We have no Particulars of the Negotiations of a Peace so much. talked of. Mr. Adams is still in Holland. Mr. Jay is in France. It is supposed that the late Change in the British Ministry, will for some Time prevent a general Peace, as the present Ministry are much averse to the American Independance

Congress have for some Time been employed in devising Modes for establishing Funds in the different States on General Principles, for the Payment of Interest on Moneys which now on or hereafter may be loaned: a Land Tax is talked of, and also a Poll Tax, but as all the states must agree, when we consider, that the 5 pr Cent act is not yet complied with, I have not much reason to expect the several States will readily adopt this, if it should be

recommended; it is agreed for the present to raise 1,200,000 for the Payment of Interest of Money loaned and for the Interest of debts due from the United States; the Inhabitants of each state to be paid their Interest out of the Monies to be raised in the State to which such Inhabitant shall belong or when the Money was loaned. The Quotas of the States as agreed on and different from the last Quota in respect to each other. Connecticut is 133,200; New York 54,000; New Jersey 66,000.

The Resolutions of our Legislature recommending the Convention, will not I believe have the Effect that many Gentlemen expected, as but very few States seem disposed to grant further Powers to Congress, and tis said some of the States will not adopt the Act of Congress of* for fixing the Quotas for past ex

penditures otherwise than is directed by the Confederation; however, the Documents our Committee may procure probably hereafter may be of use to the State.

With respectful Compliments to Mrs. Clinton, I am, Sr, with great Esteem your Excellencys very Humble Servt

His Excellency Governor Clinton.

[No. 4759.]

Ezra L'Hommedieu

Robert Morris Submits to Governor Clinton Acts of Congress for the Amelioration of the Troops.

Circular E

Office of Finance, 12th September, 1782.

Sir, I do myself the Honor to enclose to your Excellency (Number one and two) two Acts of Congress:† the first is of the fourth,

Blank in original.

† Wednesday, September 4, 1782.

On the report of a grand committee, consisting of a member from each state: Resolved, That 1.200,000 dollars be quoted on the states, as absolutely and Immediately necessary for payment of the interest of the public debt; and that it recommended to the legislatures of the respective states, to lay such taxes as

and the second of the tenth Instant. It is my particular Duty, The SubSir, to pray the Attention of your State to these Acts. ject is important, and will I doubt not, be considered according to its Magnitude. Number three is an Order of the fifth Instant. I have thought it most proper to send you the whole Letter referred to in that Order, as also of the Letter of the thirtieth of July, enclosing Estimates for the ensuing Year which has a necessary Relation to the other. When Congress shall have finally determined on these Objects, I shall do myself the Honor to transmit the Result.

With perfect Respect I am, Sir, Your Excellency's Most obedient & humble Servant

His Excellency the Governor of New York.

Robt. Morris.

shall appear to them most proper and effectual for immediately raising their quota of the above sum.

Resolved, That the money so raised in each state shall be applied towards paying the interest due on certificates issued from the loan office of such state, and other liquidated debts of the United States contracted therein, before any part thereof shall be paid into the public treasury.

Ordered, that the foregoing resolutions be referred to the grand committee to assess and report the quota of each state.

Tuesday, September 10, 1782.

The grand committee, consisting of Mr. Gilman, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Howell, Mr. Dyer, Mr. Duane, Mr. Witherspoon, Mr. Clymer, Mr. M'Kean, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Lee, Mr. Williamson, Mr. Rutledge and Mr. Telfair, to whom were referred the resolutions of the 4th, in order to assess the quotas of the several states of the 1,200,000 dollars, required for the payment of the interest of the domestic debt, report.

"That the 1,200,000 dollars, to be raised for the payment of the interest of the domestic debt of the United States, be apportioned to the several states according to the following quotas, viz.

[No. 4787.]

Robert Morris Appeals for Justice for the Army.

Circular,

Office of Finance, 5th October 1782.

Sir, I do myself the Honor to enclose to your Excellency the Copy of an Act of the first Instant.* You must permit me, Sir, to call the particular attention of your State to this important

*BY THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED.

October 1st, 1782.

The Committee to whom was referred a representation of the legislature of New Jersey report:

"That it appears from the said representation that complaints have been made to the legislature of New Jersey by the officers of the line of that State, of partial payments made by other States to the troops of their particular lines and that it is proposed by the said legislature unless measures be taken by Congress for securing equal justice to the troops of New Jersey, to apply to their use a part of the Taxes required by and allotted for the disposition of the United States in Congress Assembled ;

"That by the Articles of Confederation all charges of War and all other expences incurred for the common defence or general welfare and allowed by the United States in Congress Assembled are to be defrayed out of a common Treasury, which shall be supplied by the several States and the United States in Congress Assembled are to ascertain the Sums so to be supplied and to appropriate and apply the same in defraying such expences;

"That in pursuance of this delegated power, Congress did in the Month of November last require of the several States their respective proportions of the Sum of eight Millions of Dollars for the service of the current Year, in which service was included the payment of the Army so that in case of compliance with the said requisition the whole Army will be regularly and duly paid;

"That if, therefore, Individual States undertake without the previous warrant of Congress to dispense any part of Monies required for and appropriated to the payment of the Army or any other purposes of the Union, the Foederal Constitution must be so far infringed;

"That such infractions ought the more to be guarded against, as they tend to subvert the plans which Congress have adopted and are now carrying into effect for a uniform and economical Administration of the Public Revenue as they must prolong the existance of unsettled accounts between the United States and Individual States, from which great inconveniences have been experienced, and as they cannot fail to produce ultimately discords among the several States and intermediate confusions and murmurs in the Army " Whereupon

"Resolved That the legislature of New Jersey be informed that Congress have adopted every means in their power for securing payment of the arrears due to the army prior to the 1st day of Januy. last, and for the regular payment of the Army in future, which they hope the several States will exert themselves to enable Congress to accomplish, and that Congress have discountenanced all partial payments of the Army by particular States;

"Resolved, That no Monies paid by any of the States to the Officers & Soldiers of the Army of the United States as pay for the Year 1782, be considered as advanced in behalf of the United States and that the same be not credited to the State by which the advance shall have been made.

Resolved That the several States be required to make speedy payment of the representative quotas into the public treasury that Congress may be thereby enabled to pay the officers and Soldiers of the American Army the amount of their pay for

the present Year.

Exd.

Chas. Thomson, Secy.