We have the Honor of forwarding at this Time a Warrant for two millions of Dollars granted for the Use of the State before Mr. Partridge left Philadelphia but not then carried through the necessary Forms. (1)
The inclosed Extract from the Journals with the Information which our Colleague can give will prove how the main Point relative to the Expences on the Penobscot Expedition was left undecided.(2) He will also enable the General Assembly to judge whether it was proper for the Delegates to push strenuously for a Decision of that Point during the then apparent Temper of Congress, or to wait for further Directions from the Court.
We have the Honor to be with great Respect, Sir, Your most humble Servants.James Lovell
S. Holten
[P.S.] Mr. Gerry had stepped abroad after approving [this] letter & the bearer could not [wait his return].
1 George Partridge had left Philadelphia on April 9. For the warrant referred to here, see Samuel Huntington to the Massachusetts Council, April 14, 1780.
2 For the ''inclosed Extract, ' which consists of "Propositions'' moved in Congress by the Massachusetts delegates on March 22 but were not actually entered on the journals, see JCC, 16:276-77. Although Congress did not endorse Massachusetts' request to make the costs of the Penobscot expedition a Continental expense, it did approve retention by the state of $2 million collected in Massachusetts-"until the accounts of the expence [of the expedition] could be prepared and submitted to the consideration of Congress." See JCC, 16:339-41; and James Lovell to Samuel Adams, April 9, 1780.