I arrived at this Town the Day before yesterday, and found Congress had formed only the Day before, having elected the Honble. W. H. Lee Esqr. of Virginia President. Nine States were present yesterday in Congress;(1) the States of New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York and Maryland are not yet represented; there is however one Delegate present from each of said States, except the latter. I am informed there is a Prospect of a full Representation of all the States in a short time, an Event much to be desired at this time in a particular manner, and which it seems has very seldom happened of late years.
I was very particularly enquired of by the Members in general when Doctor Johnson might be expected, it being universally known that you had an Appointment. I mentioned the Week after next, they discovered not a little Impatience at so long a Delay, which I endeavoured to excuse by your recent Appointment to the Office and the Difficulty of immediately disengaging yourself from that Multiplicity of Business in which you were involved. I hope I did not set the time too short.(2) A Variety of Matters, some of which are of great and general Concern, are referred to Committees, which will probably take up some time to ripen. I earnestly intreat of you, Sir, to endeavour to be here before those Subjects are brought under Consideration.
I am Sir, with great Esteem, your most obedient and very humble Servant, Joseph P. Cooke
RC (CtHi: Johnson Papers).
1 According to the journals only seven states "were present yesterday," the day Cooke took his seat in Congress, although nine were present on December 3d. See JCC, 27:654-55, 659. And Cooke should have written R.H. Lee for W.H. Lee Esqr. of Virginia.
2 Johnson set off from Connecticut on December 21 but did not reach New Jersey until the 26th, two days after Congress adjourned from Trenton. According to his diary, he met Cooke that day at Hackinsack on the latter's return trip to New York. William Samuel Johnson Diary, NNC. Johnson thereupon returned to New York himself, and after being approached by the agents of Massachusetts on their land claims in the state of New York wrote to Jesse Root on December 28 for information on the evidence and arguments that had been used in the 1782 trial at Trenton over Connecticut's Wyoming Valley claims. "You know already," he concluded, "that Congress have adjd to this City to meet on the 11th of Jany & I am not informd of anything worth acquainting you of which has pass'd at Trenton except their having fix'd the Federal Town within 6 miles of the Falls of Delaware either above or below on this side or the other as shall appear most expedient on further consideration. And having resolv'd to send an ambassadr to the Court of Madrid to remonstrate on the subject of the Missisippi Navigation &c. Direct for me at Mrs. Miller's in [South?] Chh Street No 73 opposite the Chh, & believe me to be with sincere Compts to Mrs Root, & all yr agreeable Family...." Susquehannah Co. Papers, 8:163-64.