Delegates to Congress . Letters of delegates to Congress, 1774-1789, Volume 6, January 1 1777-April 30 1777
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Executive Committee to To: John Hancock


Sir
Philada. Jany 2d. 1777

   The enclosed dispatches from the General (1) & from Mr. Palfrey are just come to hand, we have sent the latters express back and informed him of our having remitted Fifty thousand Dollars to Genl. Washington yesterday for the purpose of paying the Bounty of Ten Dollars to the Troops that reinlist for Six Weeks, at the same time we told him the letters shou'd be sent forward directly and we did not doubt of the necessary supply of money being sent him soon as possible. You will please to observe our Fund is almost exhausted. Mr. Commissary Wharton called on us this Morning for Sixty thousand Dollars; we granted him forty


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thousand with a promise of more when that is expended. Mr. Wharton has now drawn from us 80,000 Dollars, 50,000 we lent the Council of Safety (which they are to repay when your supply to them comes up), 50,000 are Sent to Genl. Washington, so that only 20000 remains out of which we have made some payments; however we shall draw on the Loan office as occasion may require & we think it might be adviseable to lodge a further Fund of 200,000 Dollars with Mr Mease to be ready for any exigencys that may happen. As the Generals letter gives you the State of his army we need not add on that Subject except to assure you that he will gather daily Strength in militia. Sincerely do we wish that this may be the last time that American Militia will be called forth to the Field, for it is a measure thought the most destructive that could be devised.

   The Enemies Ships still remain in our Bay & we fear they will do immense damage by intercepting numerous necessary supplys. Capt Hammond has discharged 47 Prisoners in consequence of Mr Morris's letter to him,(2) part of them are come up & Mr Bevan with the rest are on the Road, when he arrives we shall know the terms on which they have been dismissed. The Randolph, Hornet & Several other Vessells still remain at the Piers waiting some favourable opening to push out. Lt Colo Johnson & Major Frazer of Waynes Pensylvania Battalion called on us this morning, they say the men in that corps are as good Soldiers as any in America, but will not reinlist on any other Condition than being permitted to return home. Those terms being granted them and complied with they have no doubt of getting every Man & they, the officers, wou'd prefer them to fresh hands. We told them Congress had this matter before them upon the representation of Genl Schuyler &c, but they pressed us exceedingly to mention the matter to Congress & Urged in favour of the Pensylvania & Jersey Troops being sent down soon as possible, as the Garrison can easily be maintained by the Eastern Militia untill the New Regiments are formed & ordered up again. We are in search of a person that understands Casting Brass Canon. Mr Byers is in New Jersey but has not been heard of for some time. We shall write to him & continue our Search for others.

   With great respect we remain, sir, Your Obedient servts,

   Robt Morris

   Geo Clymer

   Geo Walton


Note: RC (DNA: PCC, item 137). Written by Morris and signed by Morris, Clymer, and Walton.

1 Washington's January I letter to Hancock is in PCC, item 152, 3: 429-31, and Washington, Writings (Fitzpatrick), 6:460-63.



2 Not found but for capt. Andrew Snape Hamond's December 30 reply, see Morgan, Naval Documents, 7:629.



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