Benjamin Franklin Papers

The Pennsylvania Committee of Safety to the New York Provincial Congress, 19 August 1775: résumé

The Pennsylvania Committee of Safety to the New York Provincial Congress

LS: New York State Library; copy:5 Harvard University Library

<Philadelphia, [August 19,6 1775]: We have received your request for gunpowder.7 After we had furnished all we could spare to the army and neighboring colonies, we heard from General Schuyler that he was in need and sent him 2200 pounds in care of the Albany committee.8 We did not then know, as he probably did not when he wrote, that a huge quantity had arrived in New Jersey from South Carolina and been forwarded to him, so that our supply will be unnecessary. It has not in all likelihood gone beyond Albany and might, if you apply to him, be brought back for your use. Signed by Franklin as president.>

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

5The LS, like that to the New York committee above, Aug. 17, has been damaged by fire; the copy is complete.

6Supplied from the copy, where the date is clear. According to the minutes of the committee, however, the letter was written on the 21st: Pa. Col. Recs., X, 312–13.

7Above, Aug. 16.

8See BF to Schuyler above, Aug. 10.

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