If it is in your power, I should be extremely happy you would meet us at Head Qrs. in the course of two or three days, that we might have an opportunity of confering on some matters highly important to the Interests of these States.(1)
If it will not be convenient to you to meet us at the above place, I must take the liberty of intreating your return to Congress, where the exertion of your abilities was never more necessary, than at this time. The loss of South Carolina (which we must every momet look for) will involve in it consequences, truely alarming to the Union. Their extensiveness a few moments reflection will suggest to you. You may suppose my apprehensions arise from local prejudices, & my spirits rather depressed from the loss of the Country to which I belong. Such a conjecture is natural enough, but permit me to Assure
Our currency, for a long time has struggled hard to support it's existence, & just now beginning to emerge, will I very much fear from this misfortune, again sink into it's former, & infinitely worse condition, nay, my apprehensions carry me yet further, for should what I suspect happen, I fear it's total annihilation. I mean the loss of No. Carolina. I see nothing to prevent it, & I believe our enemy have at last seen their true interests, & the conquest of the Southern States is now become their object, & a Settled plan formed to effect it. Many other things may be mentioned, that immediately affect ourselves. But good God! What effect the completion of this plan must have on our affairs in Europe. Your own enlarged Ideas, require not, the aid of my poor abilities to point out.
Our money sinking into ruin, our army in extreme distress, & inconsiderable in numbers, the enemy making rapid Strides in conquest, the people of these States all asleap &c.&c.&c. Can you at such a time find in your heart to leave us? For heavens sake, deprive us not of your assistance at such a time. Let me repeat my earnest request my worthy friend for your return to Congress, that your Country may reap the benefit of your abilities at this alarming crisis.
I have a thousand things to Say to you, which prudence forbids being committed to paper, but will reserve in hopes of seeing you at Camp.
If I have taken a freedom with you, which you may not think me entitled to, I must intreat your excuse, & hope you will impute it to that cause, that actuates us both-The ardent zeal we are impressed with for the welfare of our Country.
I am my Dr. sir, with the most sincere Esteem, yr. most Obedt. servt.Jno. Mathews
It is clear from Mathews' entreaty and Philip Schuyler's April 23 appeal that the Committee at Headquarters-Mathews, Schuyler, and Nathaniel Peabody-greatly valued Livingston's advice and influence. He had been a central figure in the move for army reform and had drafted the original instructions to the committee granting more extensive powers than were later conferred by Congress. See Mathews to Horatio Gates, March 14, 1780, note 2; and Congress' Instructions to the Committee at Headquarters, April 6-13, note 3. Livingston, who was in New Jersey at this time attending his wife in childbirth, acquiesced in the committee's request and met with them at Morristown in mid-May. For Washington's wish that Livingston himself had been made a member of the committee, see Committee at Headquarter's Memorandum, May 14, 1780, note 2. Livingston returned to Philadelphia upon news of impending aid from France to press for the committee's program. See Livingston to George Clinton, May 18, 1780.