Delegates to Congress . Letters of delegates to Congress, 1774-1789, Volume 14, October 1 1779-March 31 1780
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James Lovell to To: John Adams
Dear Sir [October 5? 1779]
(1)
I inclose to you the decent Fashion in which it was yesterdayopinioned to let the World know Mr. Lee has a Successor. Pray strive byMr. Isaac Smith's Knowledge of the Sailing of Vessels to let Arthur getthe paper(2) before his Foes.
The (3) Ministers are to have per An[num] £2500 stg. TheirSecretary £1000 in full of Services & Expences, to commence at Outsetand finish in 3 months after a Recall being notified.3 So that they may gethome as they can But will by seperate Resolution be provided for out.
The funds are to be settled by a recommitment. I judge the Reptwill get only the addition of order to the Coml. Comtee. of Produce orBills to be deposited subject to the Officers Draughts. But I have hintedyour being Authorized to obtain a Loan as the others are. And I think youwill readily obtain more than Pocket Money from either truly whigEnglishmen or such as are desirous of buying our good Graces in Americathat they may afterwards pluck us in the Way of Commerce.
Adieu, Dear Sir, Yrs. J. L.
Note: RC (MHi: Adams Papers).
1 Although he failed to date this letter, Lovell probably wrote it onOctober 5. The enclosure that he sent to Adams was undoubtedly theOctober 5 issue of the Pennsylvania Packet (which he also sent to WilliamWhipple this day), containing extracts of congressional resolves ofSeptember 28 and October 1 concerning John Jay's appointment asminister plenipotentiary to Spain and Congress' vote of thanks to him "intestimony of their approbation of his conduct in the chair [i.e., as presidentsince December 1778]." The decision to make these public was made byCongress on October 4 hence Lovell's opening comment "it was yesterdayopinioned to let the World know Mr. Lee has a Successor." See JCC,15:1114,1134, 1139; and the following entry.
That is, the enclosed Pennsylvania Packet of October 5.
3 Congress adopted these resolves on October 4.JCC, 15:1143-45.
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