CHAPTER VI.

1780 TO MAY, 1781.

JOHN COLLINS, Daniel Mowry, James M. Varnum, and Ezekiel Cornell elected Delegates at the General Election in May-Resolution of thanks to past Delegates-Ward and Hopkins Controversy reviewed-Delegates instructed by the Legislature to petition Congress for an Appropriation for Repairs on the College Edifice-Attendance of Delegates-Correspondence between Delegates and the Executive-Summary of the Sessions and Business of Congress-Depreciation of Paper Money-Final Ratification of Articles of Confederation-Review of the Labors and Honors of the Delegates from Rhode Island.

At the General election in May, 1780, John Collins, of Newport, Daniel Mowry, of Smithfield, and James M. Varnum, of East Greenwich, were elected delegates to Congress. At the April town meetings, there was no choice of the first delegate, three candidates having been voted for. The Assembly, in grand committee, elected Ezekiel Cornell, of Scituate, to fill the vacancy. Their commissions were similar to those issued the preceding year, to their predecessors in office, and including a provision that one delegate might represent the State, when the others were necessarily absent. Only one of the delegates of 1779 was reëlected this year.

The following resolution was passed at the May session:

This Assembly, fully sensible of the many and great benefits which this State hath derived from the exertions of those eminent abilities and the unremitted attention to the momentous objects of their appointment, with which the conduct of William Ellery and Henry Marchant, Esqs., as delegate from this State, to Congress, hath been distinguished,

DO, THEREFORE, VOTE AND RESOLVE, AND IT IS VOTED AND RESOLVED, That the thanks of this Assembly be given to these gentlemen.

Mr. Ellery, at the same session, received the appointment of Associate Justice of the Superior Court. The omission of Gov. Hopkins' name from this peculiar vote of thanks, and certain other changes made in the State officers at this election, induce a suspicion that the old party lines between Hopkins and Ward, or town and country, were beginning again to be revived.

It being shown to the Assembly, at May session, that the college edifice in Providence had been used as a barrack and a hospital for the army, and thereby so injured as to render it unfit for the purposes for which it had been erected, they instructed the delegates to present the subject to Congress, and urge an appropriation for its repairs, at an early day.

During the year, the Assembly granted various sums to the delegates, to be accounted for in the settlement of their accounts with the State, for services and expenses.

At the commencement of this year, Mr. Collins and Mr. Ellery were present in Congress, under their election the year previous. Mr. Ellery, at the time, was one of the members of Congress on the Board of Admiralty. After the expiration of his term of office as member of Congress, he was appointed one of the three Commissioners of that Board, who were not members. This was on the 23d of June. This office required his attendance at the place where Congress was in session.

WILLIAM ELLERY TO Gov. GREENE.

PHILADELPHIA, May 16th, 1780. SIR-Mr. Collins, who left this place last week, and, it is said, has gone home, will acquaint your Excellency with the occurrences between our last and his departure. Since that time, we have received letters from Dr. Franklin and Mr. Adams, by the Marquis de Lafayette, bearing date from about the middle of February to the first of March, and containing in substance, the following intelligence:

The Court of London hath earnestly applied to the Court of Russia for assistance, and was absolutely refused. A hearty friendship subsists between

the latter and the Court of France. The Dutch entertain more favorable sentiments of us than formerly, the Stadtholder, who hath been against us, acknowledges he hath been deceived, and is for furnishing unlimited convoys to their trade. Ireland is not satisfied; Scotland is uneasy at the countenance given to the Roman Catholic religious associations and committees of correspondence, those terrible engines to despots, which have alarmed the Ministry of Great Britain. France seems determined to preserve a decided naval superiorty over the British in the American seas. More ships and troops are coming out, and perhaps some of them may come to our immediate assistance. The success of the British fleet off Gibraltar, hath flushed the spirits of our enemies, but not at all disheartened the Spaniards.

Captain Jones, in the Alliance, is ordered to America. The three ships she captured, and which were obliged to put into Denmark, have been ordered by its king to be delivered up to the British Consul. Against this conduct Dr. Franklin hath remonstrated and demanded a restoration of the prizes, or their value. What effect his memorial will have is uncertain. Three millions of livres are to be advanced annually by France, to assist us in procuring clothing, &c. for the army. These are the principal articles I can recollect. As my constituents have thought fit to remove me, I could wish to return home as soon as possible, and therefore, hope that one of the newly appointed delegates may be directed to set out for this place as soon as may be convenient. It will be absolutely necessary in order to my return, that I should be furnished with a considerable sum of money, to enable me to pay my debts, to purchase a horse, one of mine having died, and to bear my expenses. There is no money in the treasury; I have no acquaintance that can supply me; and I very much question whether twenty thousand dollars could be procured here, money is so scarce and the demand for it so great, even upon the credit of the State, if I were authorized to offer it. Therefore, permit me to urge, that that sum be sent to me by the first delegate, otherwise, I may be obliged to continue here months at the expense of the State, without having it in my power to do it any service.

I am, with the highest sentiment of respect,

Your Excellency's most obedient servant,

WILLIAM ELLERY.

P. S.-The enemy at New York are in great confusion, it is said, from an expectation of a visit from France. No late news from Charleston.

MESSRS. ELLERY AND COLLINS TO GOV. GREENE.

PHILADELPHIA, May 21st, 1780.

SIR: - In our last letter, we informed your Excellency that the haughtiness of Great Britain had determined her to try her strength another

campaign. It is unnecessary to say it behooves the United States to be fully prepared to resist her greatest efforts, but it is our duty to tell you plainly, that unless immediate and essential relief is given to our embarrassed finances, it will be impracticable. The sinews of war must be braced, and more regular and more ample supplies brought into the treasury than it hath received for months past, or our military preparations must cease, and the most pernicious consequences ensue. Congress has long seen, with alarming apprehensions, the crisis to which a continued depreciation of our paper currency would one day reduce our affairs. They have given frequent and faithful warnings to the several states, and have exerted every power, on their part, to avert the impending mischief, but to little or no purpose. The evil, like an uncontrolled torrent, hath advanced on with rapid progress and now threatens to overwhelm us. Under these circumstances, Congress has thought it necessary to adopt a new plan of finance; and have accordingly come to the decisive resolutions which we now have the honor to enclose to you.

The main objects of them you will readily perceive are, by one operation, to give an establishment to the paper medium, to realize the nominal debt of the United States, and find supplies for the treasury.

We have taken the liberty to point out very briefly the objects of the plan referred to and the necessity which compelled Congress to adopt it. We will only subjoin, that if it should meet the approbation of our Legislature, we hope that they will immediately make the necessary provision for carrying it into effectual execution.

In a letter lately written by Mr. Ellery to the Lieutenant Governor, he mentioned the substance of a letter received not long since from Dr. Franklin, and also transmitted the translation of a letter from the King of France to Congress; and at the same time desired His Honor to communicate them to your Excellency and the General Assembly, with an apology for our not writing the Government.

Since then we have received no intelligence from Europe or any other quarter. We are in daily expectations of hearing something from the southward. We have received no advices from thence later than the very beginning of February, and they only announced the arrival of part of the British fleet off Georgia, without particularizing their number or the number of troops aboard. Indeed it could not be ascertained.

Enclosed is a resolution of Congress of the 29th of February last, which may be of use in the settlement with the Continental officers and soldiers of our State.

Congress has passed resolutions recommending a revision of their tender laws, &c., of which we will also transmit a copy if one can be procured before the post goes out

Since writing the foregoing, Congress has received a letter from Gen. Lincoln, of the 22d of February, in which he observes, "The uncertain events of war will not authorize an assurance of success, but I think, if my requisition of two thousand militia from the country is complied with, and Gen. Hogan with our other expected successors arrives in time, we may flatter ourselves with the probability of an effectual opposition." The intelligence in the papers respecting the enemy, &c., at the southward is good, and renders it unnecessary to copy any more of Gen. Lincoln's letter. We are with the greatest respect,

Your Excellency's most obedient servants,

WILLIAM ELLERY.
JOHN COLLINS.

WILLIAM ELLERY TO Gov. GREENE.

PHILADELPHIA, May 23d, 1780.

SIR: Since my letter by the last post, I have been informed that Gen. Cornell, who was chosen first delegate by the Assembly, was to set out very soon after the election; so that, in all probability, the money I requested might be sent me by the first delegate that should come on, will not come by him. I have now to request your Excellency that it may be transmitted as soon as possible, for the reasons assigned in my last. I have applied to my acquaintances for a small sum to pay my washerwoman, and cannot even get that, so scarce is it and so difficult to be had. One of them told me that he had been offered thirteen per cent. for two hundred dollars. I have a warrant on the treasury which I would sell and sustain the loss of a discount, if I could do it, rather than sustain the reproach of repeated dunnings, and of continuing here at the expense of the State, without being in a capacity to be useful to it. I am not the only poor delegate here; many are in the same circumstances, and have been obliged to write to their states for a supply of cash. I hope that this matter may be attended to, and that my earnest request may be complied with.

We have no late accounts that may be depended on from Charleston. Yesterday, it was reported that the enemy had attacked the works on the 25th ultimo, and been repulsed. This day's report is that no attack had been made on the 28th; that the enemy had cannonaded them for fifteen days with but small effect; that they had invested the town, but our troops were in good spirits and determined to hold possession to the last. If they have held out to this time, it is my opinion that the enemy will abandon the siege. The letter which your Excellency will receive from Congress before this reaches you contains the foundation for this opinion.

There is a prospect of an active campaign. I wish we may be prepared