Washington, George, 1732-1799: The writings of George Washington from the original manuscript sources: Volume 8, 1745-1799. [The Modern English Collection at the University of Virginia Electronic Text Center.]

George Washington To The President of Congress

Cambridge, February 9, 1776.

Sir: In compliance with the resolves of Congress I have applied to General Howe for the Exchange of Mr. Lovell; a Copy of my Letter and his answer thereto, you have inclosed. -- Capt. Watters and Capt. Tucker who command two of the Armed Schooners, have taken and sent into Gloster, a large Brigantine, laden with firewood 150 Butts for Water and 40 Suits of Bedding bound from La Have in Nova Scotia to Boston; She is one of the Transports in the Ministerial Service, the Captain says that he was at Halifax the 17th. January and that General Massey was arrived there with two Regiments from Ireland.

The different prizes were all Libeled, immediately on receipt of the resolves of Congress, pointing out the mode; 81 but none of them yet brought to trial, owing to a difference between the Law past in this Province and the Resolution of Congress. The General Court are making an Amendment to their Law, by which the difficulties that now occur will be removed, as I understand it is to be made conformable to your resolves, the unavoidable delay attending the bringing the Captures to trial

[See Journals of the Continental Congress, Dec. 20, 1775.]

is greviously complained of by the Masters of these Vessels, as well as the Captors, many of the former have applied for Liberty to go away without waiting the decision, which I have granted them.

I beg leave to recall the attention of Congress to their appointing a Commissary in these parts to attend the providing of necessaries for the Prisoners who are dispersed in these Provinces. Complaints are made by some of them, that they are in want of bedding and many other things. As I understand that Mr. Franks 82 has undertaken that business, I wish he was ordered to send a Deputy immediately, to see that the Prisoners get what is allowed them by Congress, also to supply the Officers with Money, as they may have occasion; it will save me much Time and much trouble. There are yet but few Companies of Militia come in; this delay I am much affraid, will frustrate the intention of their being called upon. As the Season is slipping fast away when they maybe of service. The demands of the Army were so very pressing before your last remittence came to hand, that I was under the necessity of borowing £25,000 Lawful, from this Province; they very chearfully lent it, and passed a vote for as much more if required.

[David Franks acted as British commissary of prisoners.]

I have not repaid the sum borrowed, as I may stand in need of it, before the arrival of another supply, which the Demands of the Commissary General, Quarter Master General, and paying off the arrearages, will very soon require.

Your esteemed favor of the 29th. Ulto. is just now come to hand, it makes me very happy to find my conduct hath met the approbation of Congress.

I am entirely of your Opinion, that should an accommodation take place, the Terms will be severe, or favorable, in proportion to our ability to resist, and that we ought to be on a respectable footing to receive their Armaments in the Spring: -- but how far we shall be provided with the means is a matter I profess not to know under my present unhappy want of Arms, Ammunition, and I may add men, as our Regiments are very incomplete, the recruiting goes on very slow and will I apprehend be more so, if for other services the men receive a bounty and none is given here.

I have tried every method I can think of to procure Arms for our Men; they really are not to be had in these Governments [belonging to the Public] 83 and if some method is not fallen upon in the Southern Governments, to supply us, we shall be in a distressed situation for want of them; there are near 2000 men now in Camp without Firelocks. I have wrote to the Committee of New York, this day, requesting them to send me those Arms which were taken from the disaffected in that Government, the Congress interesting themselves in this request, will doubtless have a good effect. I have sent Officers into the Country with Money to purchase Arms in the different Towns, some have returned and brought in a few, many are still out, what their success will be I cannot determine.

[The words in brackets are in the writing of Washington.]

I was in great hopes, that the expresses, resolved to be established between this place and Philadelphia, would ere now have been fixt. It would in my Opinion, rather save, than increase the expence, as many Horses, are destroyed by one Man coming the whole way, it will certainly be more expeditious, and safer than writing by the Post, or private hands, which I am often under the necessity of doing. 84 I have the Honor etc. 85

[This letter was read in Congress on February 22; considered in Committee of the Whole on February 23; and committees appointed to contract for arms and encourage their manufacture, Another committee was appointed to encourage the manufacture of powder.]

[On March 14 a general resolution was adopted recommending the disarming of the "notoriously disaffected to the cause of America" throughout the Colonies; the arms taken to be paid for.]

[In the writing of Stephen Moylan.]

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