FROM THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
Philadelphia, 2d May, 1777.
Gentlemen,
Your despatches, dated February the 6th and 8th, were safely received by us about the middle of April. We observe your remarks on the timorousness of the French merchants, respecting the formation of trading companies, which, you say, is occasioned by the change and fluctuation of news. That the spirit for trade will always be governed by the rise and fall of military strength, is a maxim always to be admitted in the first attempts to establish a commerce between any two nations, because success in war is supposed to give security or protection to it. But this timidity ceases naturally, as soon as a trade is opened, for losing or gaining after that equally produces a spirit of adventuring further. Therefore we wish to enter into a trade with them as soon as possible, because as nothing can abridge or prevent their profits, but the enemy's making prizes of their ships, the consequence will be, that they will either be encouraged by the gain, or aggravated by the loss to come to a serious understanding with the Court of Britain. We advise you to be constantly holding up the great advantages, which the crown and commerce would receive by their possessing themselves of the West Indies, and we trust to your wisdom in making all the use possible of the English newspapers, as a channel through which to counteract the tide of folly and falsehood, of which you complain, and rest assured that every material circumstance, either for or against, will be despatched to you, with the utmost expedition.
By information from New York, it appears that the more discerning part of the English Generals begin to give up the thought of conquest, and of consequence the fear of totally losing the trade of America must accompany the despair of arms; therefore, we conceive that the English newspapers are now calculated to deter the French from beginning to taste the sweets of our trade. Their falsehoods, rightly understood, are the barometers of their fears, and in proportion as the political atmosphere presses downward, the spirit of faction is obliged to rise. We wish it to be understood, that we pay too much respect to the wisdom of the French Cabinet, to suppose that they can be influenced by such efforts of visible despair, and that we have too much reverence for the honor of the American Congress to prostitute its authority, by filling our own newspapers with the same kind of invented tales, which characterise the London Gazette.
We observe that General Howe, in his letter to the administration, printed in the London Gazette of December 30th, apologizes for not having written to them since his taking possession of New York, nearly three months. Here is the proper field to speculate on silence, because this business is conquest, ours defence and repulse; and because, likewise, he has the sea more open to him than we have, had he any thing to send that would please. Therefore, silence on his part is always to be considered as a species of good news on ours.
The Congress highly approve your dividing yourselves to foreign Courts, and have sent commissions for that purpose, and likewise, commissions for fitting out privateers in France.
The Mercury, from Nantes, is safely arrived in New Hampshire. The Amphitrite and Seine, we are yet in hopes of. We shall notice the conduct of Nicholas Davis. We have presented Marshal Maillebois' sentiments on the mode of war, to Congress, who are greatly pleased therewith, and entertain a high respect for the author.
Our last account gave you a state of news down to March, since which nothing material has happened. The enemy, wearied and disappointed in their last winter's campaign, still continue in a state of inactivity at New York and Brunswick. The Congress is returned to Philadelphia. General Washington remains at Morristown, and occupies the same posts as when the last despatches were sent you. The principal object now is, the recruiting service, which has been greatly promoted by some late resolves of Congress. Our troops have been under inocculation for the smallpox with good success, which, we hope, will be a means of preserving them from fevers in summer, however it will frustrate one cannibal scheme of our enemies, who have constantly fought us with that disease by introducing it among our troops.
When we look back to the beginning of last December, and see our army reduced to between two and three thousand men, occasioned by the expiration of the time for which they were enlisted, we feel exceedingly happy in contemplating the agreeable condition and prospect our affairs are now in. We have, since that period, reduced the enemy more than our whole army, at that time, amounted to, and scarce a day passes, in which they do not suffer either by skirmishes or desertions.
The Congress have it in contemplation to remove the garrison from the present fort, in the District of Ticonderoga, to fort Independence, in the same District, which they judge will command that pass with greater advantage, and is a much healthier situation. We mention this, as the enemy will probably give an air of triumph to the evacuation, should it be done. The distance between the two is about a quarter of a mile.
As General Howe is preparing a bridge of boats, we think it possible that he might, by a sudden and forced march, reach this city; but we are clearly of opinion, that he would be ruined by the event; and though we are not under much apprehension of such a movement, yet we think it proper to give you the case, with our opinion thereon.
We are, gentlemen, your obedient humble servants,
BENJAMIN HARRISON,
ROBERT MORRIS,
THOMAS HAYWARD,
JAMES LOVELL.