Your two late favors by post came duly to Hand and note their Contents.1 You will see by Gaines Paper what our Convention ^have^ done on the Subject of Governor Tryon’s Letter;2 I hope it will please the Friends of the Common Cause, and avoid the difficulties, that Paper was designed to put us into. Mr Smith brought ^on^ the Consideration of the Letter by motion, followed by a String of resolutions, purporting, that we had not withdrawn our allegiance, that this and protection was reciprocal, that we considered his Excellency’s Letter, as a mark of his affection for this Colony, wished he might know the sense of the Colony, on Lord North’s Motion; in ^Constitutional^ array. in Mr. Scott and Mr Hobart,3 consulted a sett of resolves, in order to ^cast^ them out, but they contained an approbation of Calling an Assembly. Here you may easily conceive the difficulty that must have ensued. The Friends of the cause agreeing in what I feared, might ruine us. After much Debate the Congress was convinced, that while on the on[e] ^hand^ we did not interdict, the Calling an Assembly, but approved of that part of Constitution, yet it would be dangerous on ^the other^ to approve of the calling of one, as we could but ^not be^ certain ^but^ they might divide the Colonies: If an Assembly should meet, we gave it as our opinion they ought not ^to^ treat seperatly, and that the Colony had already by its Delegates, declared their Sense on the Motion of Lord North. ^[in margin] These sentiments produced the resolves.^ Thus the Tories have lost an opportunity of dividing the People by new, and ill grounded fears, of a design to become indepen[den]t, and the Whigs run no risque of a disunion of this, from the other Colonies of which I think there might have been Some danger, if an assembly had been called, by our approbation, as was intended. The particular ground of this apprehension I shall communicate to you, when, I have the pleasure of seeing you. Suffice it now, that no prudent marriner should put his Vessel to sea in a Storm out of a Sure ^& Safe^ Haven. Since I began this, your favor of the 13th was handed to me. It gives me great pleasure, that any of my hasty communications give you satisfaction: This will convince you of my determination to continue it. I think I have mentioned to you that the Parsimonious Spirit of the Colony, is very manefest in its Conventions. Attending to this, I Judged it most likely to Succeed, in my intended motion for a provision to the Delegates, by confining it to near the Connecticut allowance;4 and knowing, that they despised being paid for their Time, and expected only a reimburstment of their expences, and that what was given by that Colony under this denomination, would not be adequate for yours; I moved that you should be allowed five dollars per day ^each^ for your expences for every day, you were absent from your Families on the Public business. Suffolk by instruction, moved for an amendment that it be three Dollars; but they lost it 11 County Votes by 10. Tryon moved another amendment for 4 dollars; fearing, that this would be carried, NewYork and Albany, offered to compromise for a Guinea, and enter it Nem. Con;5 but they were too certain of carr[y]ing it, to agree to this proposal. And carried it was: NewYork and Albany only against it, so that the provission is now fixed. It goes to the Delegates of the last as well this Congress.6 The Treasurer is ordered, upon certificate from the Convention or the Committee of Safety, of the Number of days, the delegates were on the Public Service in quality of Delegates to pay the money. Whenever you furnish this, the former, will issue; and the payment will be made as soon as we receive the first money from Phia. Two Members of Congress are appointed to go for the 50,000 Dollars.7 The Convention wait for the New Counties, appearing by their Deputies, to make the representation fuller, before they enter on the Choice of the Delegates. The Number ^will^ certainly be lessened, to Three or Five, I am inclined to think the latter will be the number.8 What you wished to have done, on the New England expedition, is the very thing done. The Letter to the Governor complaining of the Incursion, inclosed a Vote of Thanks for their ready, assistance in queling the West Chester insurrection: And a Letter was this day agreed upon, to Delegates, to obtain a resolution of Congress to present prevent incursions of that kind for the future. The favourable opinion you are pleased to express of my placeing me at a Certain post is very obliging. Altho I suffer here by the Public business, harrassed ^almost^ to death, Yet I fear I should not Suffer ^less^ there from apprehensions, that would arise from the State of the Colony. I have much to say to you and but little time to do it. What is done, or to be done, with the guns taken at St. John’s and Chamblee? They are greatly wanted in the Southermost part of this Colony, where no Price can purchase a sufficient quantity. If all the Arms we could collect here, to remove Carlton’s Yoke from Cananda, are to remain there, as well as those taken from the instruments of his Tyranny, I fear the next Year, will one put one on us, as grievious to be borne as that we took of, from our Neighbour’s. I suppose the Army was Sent to Canada, to enable the inhabitants to speak out, if they Chose it, and join the Virtuous Confederacy; and to secure ammunition, the first of these is effected, But it was utterly improbable, that ^any^ officer of desernment, would suffer you to obtain the Last. If they dont join the confederacy, before the opening of the Spring, will it answer any Valuable end, for the united colonies, to maintain a large army there to compel them? Will not the continental army, in this case, if they are at Quebec, be exposed to have their communication cut off with Montreal, by the Enemy’s landing Troops & intrenching, between those places, as they will have the command of the Navigation by their Navy? These are questions that should be well, and early considered, least our success’s there, should weaken, instead of strengthening the Confederacy. If the Congress mean to maintain any of the sea ports, they ought to leave no stone unturned to procure Heavy cannon; these mounted in Fachine9 Batteries, and Bomb’s are the only of instruments, which terify and destroy Ships of the Greatest Force. The materials for these, are in Great abundance to be had in our own Country. Why then have we not errected large furnaces capable to cast such ordinance?

19th Decr

The News of the day. Mr Curson’s Son a merchant in St. Eustacia,10 writes, his Father, that a fleet had arrived at martinico, with great quantities of military stores; and two Batallions of Troops part of Eight destined for that Island; to be ready for the call of the Continent. Be the end, what it may, certain it is, that nation never keep such a Force in the Island in times of peace or ordinary speculation. God grant that our Nation, may attend to the things, which make for her Peace & Safety, before they are eternally out of her Power. I am Dear Sir, your affectionate Humble Servt.