Delegates to Congress . Letters of delegates to Congress, 1774-1789, Volume 2, September 1775-December 1775
Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library

| Table of Contents for this work |
| All on-line databases | Etext Center Homepage |

Silas Deane to To: Elizabeth Deane


My Dear
Philadelphia Septr 15th 1775

   I wrote you from Trenton, last Sunday,(1) but miss'd a Conveyance untill on Tuesday, by the Stage, to Care of Mr. Hazard. Hope You received it. I think I promised you a long Letter in it as soon as I arrived here, which shall disappoint you of, tho' this by Brown is sure of coming safe to hand for which want of Spirits occasioned by a sever cold must be my excuse.

   I have been casting in my Mind how to procure you a passage to this place. Suppose Mr. Webb who wants to come, at least as farr as N. York could contrive to put his light Horse, with Two others, into Browns Stage and so come on, to New York, where I would meet you, with my Carriage. Think of this and write me by the first post after the Receipt of this. Tell my Brother Simeon, that Monsieur Tetard is gone Chaplain to the New York Forces, so that his views of studying with him are over, for the present.

   The Congress have hardly begun Business, New Hampshire, & N. Carolina being absent.(2) This City is still busy in military parade, & preparation It is well they are for something is Necessary to keep them employed, and to divert their Attention from the Melancholy


-14-

appearance of their River destitute of Navigation. No less than Sixty Sail left this place, on the day the Nonexportation took place, & None have arrived since except one Shipp from London. There is Nothing New worth sending you thus farr. Pray forward me a Lettr. from your Father, as soon as received. I am my Dear yours S Deane


Note:

   RC (CtHi).



1 Deane's letter to his wife of September 10 briefly described his journey southward and reported that: "Govr. Ward joined Us at New Haven, & Mr. Cushing, so that We have had just Company eno. to be agreeable. Col. Dyer has been unwell, but not so as to delay Us." CtHi.



2 Although the New Hampshire delegates arrived this day, the first mention of the arrival of any of the North Carolina delegates is contained in Secretary Thomson's October 12 entry in the journals recording John Penn's appearance. JCC, 2:252, 3:290. Robert Treat Paine, the last of the Massachusetts delegates to take his seat at this session of Congress, attended for the first time this day, having arrived in Philadelphia the preceding evening. Robert Treat Paine's Diary, September 14 and 15,1775. MHi.