[14] Ibid., vol. ii, p. 208.
[15] Ibid., vol. iii, p. 342; vol. iv, p. 43.
[16] Ibid., vol. iii, p. 488. In the discussion referred to Paine remarked that the “ministerial post will die a natural death; it has been under a languishment a great while; it would be cowardice to issue a decree to kill that which is dying; it brought but one letter last time and was obliged to retail newspapers to pay its expenses.” Lee was more facetious, saying: “Is there not a Doctor, Lord North, who can keep this creature alive?” On December 25, 1775, it was announced that incoming mail would not be sent to the various colonies but would be held in New York and advertised.
[17] Journals of the Continental Congress, vol. v, pp. 719, 720; vi, p. 926.
[18] Ibid., vol. vi, p. 931.
[19] Ibid., vol. vii, p. 29.
[20] Ibid., p. 153.
[21] Journals of the Continental Congress, vol. vii, pp. 258, 347; ix, 816, 817, 898; xi, 550.
[22] Ibid., vol. v, p. 551.
[23] Ibid., pp. 681, 682; ix, 907. In the second draft the postal clause comes under Article 14 and in the final draft under Article 9.