FOOTNOTES:
[44] The numbers here mentioned are greatly exaggerated. No accurate returns seem to have been made, but the loss was afterwards estimated to have been, on the part of the Americans, 300 killed, 600 wounded, and 400 prisoners, chiefly of the wounded. The British loss was about 100 killed, and 400 wounded. Holmes's Annals, 2d Ed. Vol. II. p. 265.
FROM THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
Yorktown, 6th October, 1777.
Gentlemen,
We shall follow your example in confining this letter entirely to yours of May 26th, respecting the loan, and the mode of raising it by appropriation of vacant land. It remains doubtful yet, whether there is any vacant land not included within the charter limits of some one of the thirteen States; and it is an undetermined question of great magnitude, whether such land is to be considered as common stock, or the exclusive property of the State within whose charter-bounds it may be found.
Until this business has been determined in Congress, and approved by the States, you will readily discover the difficulty of doing anything in the way of raising money by appropriation of vacant land. We consider your proposal on this subject as of very great importance; and we shall not fail to solicit the attention of Congress thereto, whenever the pressing business of the campaign will permit.
In the mean time, we see no reason that should prevent the young nobleman, of Irish extract, from coming to America, because the suspension of the question concerning vacant lands will not obstruct his views of getting the quantity he may want either by original entry, or by purchase on the most reasonable terms, upon the frontiers of those States, where vacant lands are in abundance to be met with. We are warranted to say that such rank, as that nobleman may have when he leaves service in Europe, will be granted to him here. Congress clearly discern, with you, gentlemen, the all important concern of supporting the credit of the continental money, and with this view have proposed, as you will see by the enclosed resolves, to pay the interest of twenty millions of dollars by bills drawn on you.
This we hope will in time replenish the loan offices so effectually as, with the aid of taxation now generally taking place, to prevent the necessity of future emissions. By your letters of the 25th of May we have no doubt, but these interest bills will be paid with all due punctuality. About five millions only of the twenty voted are yet borrowed, and the interest on those five will not be drawn for in bills till near a twelvemonth.
We are, &c.