Jerfey inclufive be compleated (a thing not to be expected), we fhall, after the neceffary detachments for the frontiers and other purpofes are made, have an army barely fufficient to keep the enemy in check in New-York. Except this is done, they will have nothing to hinder them from throwing further reinforcements to the fouthward; and to be obliged to follow by land every detachment of their army, which they always make by fea, will only end in a fruitlefs diffipation of what may now be called the northern army. You may be affured that the most powerful diverfion that can be made in favour of the fouthern ftates, will be a refpectable force in the neighbourhood of NewYork. I have hitherto been speaking of our own refources. Should a reinforcement arrive to the French fleet and army, the face of matters may be entirely changed. Arms. I do not find that we can, at any rate, have more than 2000 ftand of arms to fpare, perhaps not fo many; for fhould the battalions which are to compofe this army be compleat, or nearly fo, they will take all that are in repair or repairable. The 2000 ftand came in the alliance from France, and I kept them apart for an exigency. fhould the defenfive plan be deter. mined upon, what ammunition can be fpared will be undoubtedly fent to the fouthward. Cloathing. Of cloathing we are in a manner exhausted. We have not enough for the few recruits which may be expected, and except that which has been fo long looked for and talked of from France fhould arrive, the troops muft next winter go naked, unless their states can fupply them. From the foregoing reprefentation, you will perceive that the proportion of the continental army, already allotted to southern service, is as much as, from prefent appearances, can be fpared for that purpofe, and that a fupply of arms, ammunition, or cloathing of any confequence muft depend, in a great measure, upon future purchafes or importation. Nothing which is within the compafs of my power shall be wanting to give fupport to the fouthern ftates; but you may readily conceive how irkfome a thing it must be to me to be called upon for affiftance, when I have not the means of affording it. I am with the greatest regard, Your moft obedient Ammunition. Our ftock of am- Hon. Benj. Harrison, Efq. munition, though competent to the defenfive, is, by a late estimate of the commanding officer of artillery, vaftly short of an offenfive operation of any confequence. Should circumftances put it in our power to attempt fuch an one, we muft depend upon the private magazines of the ftates, and upon pur allies.On the contrary, T Mr. Adams, ambaffador from HE following letter from the American Congrefs at Amfterdam, to Thomas Čufhing, Lieutenant Governor of Maflachufets, was found on board the prize Brigantine Brigantine Cabot, and carried into than it was in the anfwer returned to the petition of Congrefs. Pride, indeed, feems to be endemial to Amfterdam, Dec. 15, 1780. that nation; but I think it won't be long before we fee its downfall. DEAR CUSHING, I writ to you on the 2d instant by way of France, under cover, to Congrefs; but our friend Heartwell, who delivered me your difpatches, going out by way of St. Euftatia, may get this letter to you fooner than the other. You will have heard of the unfortunate capture of poor Laurens, with his papers, and the British ambaffador's memorial to the States General in confequence thereof. What it may produce is yet doubtful, though the general opinion here is, that it will be nothing alarming. Sir Jofeph Yorke has prefented a second memorial, but you may depend upon it the states will not be bullied into any thing. It is thought that England will not at this conjuncture widen the breach with the Republic; but, even if they thould, it will do us no harm for them to have more enemies to contend with, A rafh ftep taken by them at this time, when all the powers of Europe are jealous of them, and favourably inclined to American independence, may prove their entire ruin. Our independence is confidered here as ettablished. The Emprefs of Ruffia has already, in effect, taken a decided part in our favour, and other European nations are well inclined to fupport our cause. In this city we have many powerful friends, who, as well as all Europe, difdain the pride of the British miniftry, which is not lefs confpicuous in the memorials prefented to their High Might ineffes, I proteft I fee no ground for your gloomy apprehenfions. You talk of the difficulty of recruiting the army, the depreciation of Congrefs notes, the complaints of public creditors, and the flood of counterfeit money among you, &c. Thefe doubts and fears are really provoking, and the fource of them only in your own irrefolute breast. Can you expect to gain your point, or accomplish any thing great, without the common incidents of war? Compare yourselves with other countries, and fee their exertions for things of much lefs moment. England, for example, at the beginning of this war, was a hundred and thirty millions in debt, and yet the British miniftry, merely to gratify their pride, involved their country in an expence of twenty millions per ann. more. This caufes a depreciation of their money, and complaints among their creditors, who have quite as much reafon as yours, mott of them having already funk forty per cent. of their capital. Shall we then, who have our all at ftake, talk of burthens, and the perplexities of a paper medium? Different nations have different modes of raising money for the public expenditure, which is ufually done according to the genius of the people, and the form of their government. Most of those in Europe have occafionally been driven to the ufe of paper-money [R] 2 or making, public fecurities ferve the purposes of a medium in trade; and the English have gone more extenfively into this expedient than other nations: but I believe none have ever made use of it with lefs inconvenience, or given their creditors lefs caufe of complaint, than the ftates of America have done heretofore. But when almoft every public department among you is filled, as I am informed, with men of rapacious principles, who facrifice the common weal to their private emolument, whe encourage gambling, voluptuoufnefs, and every vice, what good can be expected from the wifeft inftitutions? I wish thefe good gentlemen, whom you mention, would exert themselves in their feveral profeffions to top thofe growing enormities which are the fouree of all the calamities of the country, and which fooner or later, if not ftopt, muft end in its deftruction. Our money matters are in a good way, which I writ to you fully upon in my laft. You must have patience till they can be accomplished, and in the mean time do the best you can. Many here who know the country laugh at your complaints, and fay that a few duties and excifes, judiciously laid throughout the continent,would pay the whole army expences without being felt. I advife to reftraining the confumption of foreign fuperfluities, and introducing fumptuary laws; though it may be policy, for the encouragement of foldiers, to indulge them in a livery as fplendid as may be con venient. I am forry to see you fo anxious for an accommodation, and wish you had fhewn how it could be done. Are you aware of the res volutions that will unavoidably take place? New arrangements made, and the ftates new modelled, the better to ferve the purposes of defpotifm; the captors of British property obliged to dif gorge; a debt of four millions fterling to be paid to the British merchants to fettle old fcores; your fifhery restrained and put under new regulations; forfeited eftates returned to their former owners; a door opened for innumerable law fuits for illegal payments; the property of the whole continent fet afloat; and, after all, are you fure our great ally would confent to it? In truth, I can fee nothing fhort of independence that can fettle it, without the remedy being more fatal than the disease. It is true, I believe, what you fuggeft, that Lord North fhewed a difpofition to give up the conteft, but was diverted from it, not unlikely, by the representation of the Americans in London, who, in conjunction with their coadjutors in America, have been thorns to us indeed on both fides the water; but I think their career might have been ftopt on your fide, if the executive officers had not been too timid in a point which I fo ftrenuously recommended at first, namely, to fine, im prifon, and hang all inimical to the caufe, without favour or affection. I forefaw the evil that would arife from that quarter, and wished to have timely stopt it. I would have hanged my own brother if he had took a part with our enemy in this conteft. I believe there never was an inftance of fuch delufion as thofe people are under to facrifice their country, or country, their intereft, and their beft connections, to fide with a people who neither reward thank them; and I have good authority to fay, that a great proportion of them have nothing to live upon but their loyalty. One would think that this alone, if it was known and believed, would be enough to prevent others from falling into the fame fnare. Heartwell, who has been fome time incognito in London, will give you much useful information; he will tell you the talk we have had about a ftipend for, which would be money well laid out. Those who exert themselves for much in our cause ought to be rewarded, as we are moft eflentially ferved by it; but profound: fecrecy must be observed. I fhall write to the governor, wherein I fhall be more explicit. upon fome matters which I have writ to Congress upon, and which he probably will communicate, which makes it unneceffary to add any more to you at prefent. I am your affectionate friend, &c. (Copy) JOHN ADAMS. The following authentic Extracts from the Corn-Regifter, are taken from Accounts collected from the Cuftom-Houfe Books, and delivered to Mr. John James Catherwood, by Authority of Parliament. An Account of the Quantities of all Corn and Grain exported from, and imported into England and Scotland, with the Bounties and Drawbacks paid, and the Duties received thereon, for one Year ended the 5th of Ja nuary, 1782. EXPORTED. |