the Undersigned entreats that they would be pleased not to delay the recommendation to the several States which are now assembled in their Legislative Capacity, and he considers this as the principal means of executing the orders which he has received not to admit of any farther delay of the Agents of the French Fleet and Army in rendering their Accounts Philadelphia 1st December 1784. (Copy) [7-53] (sign'd) De Marbois [Joshua Wentworth to Ebenezer Thompson.] Portsmouth Dec 18th 1784 Sir, I receiv'd your favor of yesterday's date, Informing the Honor confer'd by His Excellency the President of this State & the Hon ble Council, by the Appointment as a General Officer in the Militia — This Instance of their attention of so high a Promotion cannot fail of my most respectful acknowledgement of the Honor done me— Yet Sir I must with regret beg of you to acquaint His Excellency & the Honble Council that I cannot accept the Command, being sensible of my inability to discharge the Necessary Duty, & the annual infirmity which attends me I remain with respectful Compliments to His Excellency & their Honours the Council Sir, y' most obedient & very h1 Servt Honble Ebenenez Thompson Esq. [7-54] [A Fragment of Testimony.] Capt French brought in and examined, acknowledges his fault informed that Capt Stone was at his house last monday morning in told him that he was informed by Colo Peabody that the Gen Court had passed an Act granting Liberty to the Refugees to return to this State and that the state was going to purchase their Estates for them He ye sd French further said that to the best of his remembrance the said Stone told him that Peabody said he had his Information from members of the Gen1 Court Majr Cochran on examination said that he never was with the Convention party until Wednesday last that he has to Say in Justification of his conduct, that the people Assembled voted him an officer of the party and urged him until he accepted Capt McKean on examination said that he was not of the party that, he came into the Town Sometime before the party arrived. that he protested against their proceedings that Maj' Batcheldor, John Gregg and Samuel Morrison were Evidences of his objecting against their Conduct - Evidence that he brought grogg to the guard at the east Door. Henry Batcheldor on examination said that he had no though of insulting the Court when he came from home, but acknowledged that he was with the party but was not armed. Capt Cochran on examination said that he had no knowledge that the party was going to offer any insult that he rode into Town with the party only to make a larger appearance that the Gen' Court might see who wanted redress of grievances. full evidence that he called for assistance when he was taken. Ens Cotton on examination said that he had no kind of concern with the party in any way or manner. David Batcheldor on examination said that he was with the party but that they proceeded entirely contrary to his notion, for he was entirely against their bringing arms full proof that he said that unless the Gen' Court would grant their Petition he would Starve them till they would comply & much more Wm Knowlton on examination said that he was foolishly drawn into a Scrape, and that he meant no injury to the Court John Gregg on examination said that he was with the party that he came from home unarmed, but acknowledged that he armed himself by the way, and kept with the party and was active with them it was proved that he damnd the Gen' Court and said they were worse than the Refugees &c &c [7-55] [Petition for Increase of Currency.] To the Honble the Council & House of Representatives in General Court convend, at Concord, State of New Hampshire The Petition of the Subscribers Inhabitants of said State humbly sheweth, That it is with real reluctance, and not with the Spirit of Ostentation, We now look up to your Honors, as the Guardians of our Rights, for the redress of Grievance - That we profess ourselves to be liege Subjects of the State to which We belong, Fellow Citizens in the Cause of freedom & Mankind. That as such We are ever willing to pay our just Debts when requird, and to live on terms of justice and equality with our Neighbors. But that at present the Quantum of our circulating Medium is so small, especially in this part of the State, and the number of prosecutions so multiplied, that the whole Currency, it seems, scarcely pays the contingent charge of Law suits. That We humbly conceive our Burden to be insupportable, unless some remedy be speedily apply for our Releif, similar to that adopted by the Legislature of Massachusetts, whereby Stock of various kinds, Farm produce, State Security &c are made a Tender in lieu of Silver & Gold, or otherwise as your Honor shall see fit, so that the honest Husbandman may not be under the fatal Necessity of reducing his innocent Offspring to beggary by the cruel process of Executions & Vendues! We earnestly, & with filial respect, implore redress;-& your Petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray. Noah Johnson david Nage William Presson Benjamin Wells Paul Wells 龍嚴 Peter grene Ebben Bery Joseph omoa thomas mcCluer Daniel Wheeler Stephen Webster [7-56] Jonathan Crawford Benj" Goold Peter Mayhew Timothy Ingalls Epraim Keys [Sale of Excise on Spirituous Liquors, 1785.] Sir This may certify, that at a Public Vendue holden at the dwelling house of Capt Amos Fisk Inn-holder in Haverhill in the County of Grafton, on tuesday the twenty fifth day of January instant. The Excise on Spirituous Liquors in said County, for the Term of one Year, commencing the first day of October last, was bid off to Ebenezer Green of Lime in said County Esquire, for the sum of Eighty pounds lawful money, and he has given a bond with two sufficient Securities - Freeholders & Inhabitants of said County -Conditioned for the faithful payment of said sum Dated Haverhill 25th Jany 1785 Timothy Bedel Charles Johnston Committee His Excellency Meshech Weare Esquire President [7-57] [Petition in Favor of Colonel David Webster of Plymouth.] To his Excellency the President and the Honble the Council of the State of New Hampshire The Petition of the subscribers in the County of Grafton-humbly Sheweth That whereas Coll David Webster of Plymouth was appointed Sheriff for said County in a critical Period of political affairs, & has executed said office, with Fidelity to his Country, & to this State in particular, — as well as to very general approbation of the Inhabitants of said County of Grafton:- that by the disposition of his affairs to serve the public in this capacity it would be detrimental to his Interest, & unless the public good plainly pointed the preference of some other to succeed him it would appear implicit inattention to the merit of said Webster's good behavior, to be neglected now: that it would tend to embarass the settlement of affairs commited to him, & in part executed, & make much additional Cost, under which the County already groans, to have said affairs committed to another for further execution: that it is very improbable if any other, not so firmly attached to the American Cause should be appointed to succeed him, that it would give so general satisfaction as said Webster has done We therefore pray your Excellency & Honors that said David Webster may be appointed Sheriff for said County of Grafton, & we shall as in duty bound ever pray &c [7-58] [Letter from John Sullivan to the Senate, 1785.] Durham February 14th 1785 To the honorable the Senate of the State of New Hampshire Gentlemen, I understand that the Committees Report in my favor, at the last Session, was postponed; upon some persons suggesting that the former Committe had allowed me more than a dollar per day, for my services in Congress in the years 1780 & 1781. In order to remove this difficulty I inclose you a Certificate, to prove what every member of the Committee must know; & what was openly reported in the House at the time (myself being present.) The members of the House were much incensed, & ordered the Report to be recommitted and lest it should be suggested, that the second Committee allowed more; your own Records will prove that the Second Committee (consisting indeed of nearly the same persons) reported less than the former I am convinced that there is not a person on Earth, that can Seriously say, that one Dollar per Day is Sufficent for my Loss of time, and the fatigue, and trouble, I had in the Service, and I should be exceedingly grieved if it could be believed, that I deserved less than those who served with me & after me: I am willing to allow their Talents Superior to mine, but they could not have the same or even an equal burthen- The Journal of Congress will show that I had the burthen in all affairs which respected the Army, you know yourselves that I had alone to oppose New York in its Claim to Vermont-you have allowed the others five Dollars a Day I have offered to receive the same, & make a deduction in favor of the state of two hundred Dollars; although every person must know that five hard Dollars will purchase more at this Day than it would at that time; now if the present Report is rejected can any possible reasons be assigned for refusing my other offer? I am perswaded that those who have been uniform in their opposi tion to my claim, only expect that they will eventually drive me to the necessity of appealing to the public; & thereby oblige me to render myself obnoxious to the Legislature: but in this they will find themselves mistaken; for although I have procured all the materials for a publication and only waited for the decision of the assembly at this Session I only mean to state facts as they really are and by pointing out the Conduct of one or two Individuals acquit both branches of the Legislature from voluntary Injustice - I have been exceedingly surprised to hear that it has been whispered in the Senate that Congress presented me with thirty pounds for my Expeces in securing the Arms and Artillery at Fort William & Mary; when others expended more money than I did in getting them secured; If |