University of Virginia Library

SATURDAY 22. MARCH

A letter was recd from Genl Washington inclosing his address
to the convention of Officers with the result of their consultations.
The dissipation of the cloud which seemed to have been gathering
afforded great pleasure on the whole to Congress; but it was observable
that the part which the Genl had found it necessary &
thought it his duty, to take, would give birth to events much more
serious if they sd. not be obviated by the establishment of such
funds as the Genl, as well as the army had declared to be necessary.[77]

The report of the come on Mr. Dyer's motion, in favor of

a commutation for the half pay was agreed to. The preamble
was objected to, but admitted at the entreaty of Mr. Dyer who
supposed the considerations recited in it wd tend to reconcile the
State of Cont to the measure.

An order passed for granting 35 licenses for vessels belonging
to Nantucket, to secure the Whaling vessels agst the penalty
for double papers. This order was in consequence of a deputation
to Congs representing the exposed situation of that island,
the importance of the Whale fishery to the U. S., the danger of
its being usurped by other nations & the concurrence of the
Enemy in neutralizing such a number of Vessels as wd carry on
the fisheries to an extent necessary for the support of the inhabitants.

The Come, to whom was referred the letter from the Secy of
F. A., with the foreign despatches &c reported

1.

• That our Ministers be thanked for their zeal & services in
  negotiating the preliminary articles.

2.

• that they be instructed to make a communication of the
  separate article to the Court of France, in such way as would best
  get over the concealment.

3.

• that the Secy of F. A. inform them that it is the wish of Congress
  that preliminary articles had been communicated to the
  Court of France before they had been executed.

Mr. Dyer said he was opposed to the whole report; that he
fully approved of every step taken by our Ministers as well towards
G. B. as towards France; that the separate article did not
concern the interests of France & therefore could not involve the
good faith of the U. S.

Mr. Lee agreed fully with Mr. Dyer, said that the special report
of facts ought to have been made necessary for enabling Congs to
form a just opinion of the Conduct of the Ministers, and moved
that the report might be recommitted. Mr. Wolcott 2ded. the motion
which was evidently made for the sole purpose of delay. It
was opposed by Mr. Clarke, Mr. Wilson & Mr. Ghoram the 1st. &
last of whom had however no objection to postponing; by Mr.
Mercer who repeated his abhorrence of the confidence shewn by
our Ministers to those of G. B. said that it was about to realize
the case of those who kicked down the ladder by wch they had

been elevated, & of the viper which was ready to destroy the
family of the man in whose bosom it had been restored to life,
observed that it was unwise to prefer G. B. to Spain as our neighbours
in W. Florida.

Mr. Higginson supported the sentiments of Mr. Lee, sd. that the
Ct. de V. had released our Ministers & that he agreed with those
who thought the instruction of June 15. cd. relate only to questions
directly between G. B. & U. S.

Mr. Holten thought there was no sufficient evidence for praise
or blame; and that both ought to be suspended untill the true
reasons sd. be stated by the Ministers. He supposed that the
separate article had been made an ultimatum of the preliminaries
by G. B. & that there might also be secret arts. between G. B. &
F. If the latter were displeased he conceived that she wd. officially
notify it. Mr. Rutledge was agst. recommitting but for postponing.
The motion for recommg. was disagreed to, but several
States being for postponing, the vote was no index as to the
main question.

It had been talked of among sundry members as very singular
that the British Minister should have confided to Mr. Adams an
intended expedition from N. Y. agst. W. Florida; as very reprehensible
in the latter to become the depository of secrets hostile
to the Friends of his Country, and that every motive of honor &
prudence made it the duty of Congs. to impart the matter to the
Spaniards. To this effect a motion was made by Mr. Mercer
2ded. by Mr. Madison. But it being near the usual hour of adjournment,
the house being agitated by the debates on the
separate article; and a large proportion of members predetermined
agst. every measure wch. seemed in any manner to
blame ye. Ministers & the Eastern delegates in general extremely
jealous of the honor of Mr. Adams, an adjournment was pressed
& carried without any vote on the motion.