Michael Hillegas to the American Commissioners, 5 June 1777
Michael Hillegas1 to the American Commissioners
ALS: American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress
Baltimore June. 5. 1777.
Dear Sir
Ever since Congress left this place and return’d to Philada: have I been fixed here, I however hope for Orders to follow them before long. I make no doubt but that you are already acquainted with Congress having established a Continental Loan Office taking Money on Interest. I have just now received five hundred Dollars of William Smith Esqr: one of the Delegates in Congress from Maryland, for which have given him a Certificate No. 1m983, Which Certificate he is sending on Speculation per Capt. Thos. Moore bound from hence for France.2 As those Certificates bear an Interest it is hoped that during these troubles they will inter alia answer as a remittance. But if as a new affair in France they should be any way Questioned, I no way doubt you will do what you can to give them Credit, and that in such way as you may Judge best, either by endorsement or otherwise. I would write you news, but have not any. Capt. Moore I suppose will carry the late papers which will shew That as yet we are not Crushed but that on the Contrary, our Affairs are better than could have been expected. I have the honor of being with great respect and Esteem Your most Obedient Servant
M. Hillegas
Contl Treasr
Doctr: Benja: Franklin or Silas Deane Esqr at Paris
Addressed: Honble. Benja: Franklin & Silas / Deane Esqrs. or either of them Embassadors from the States of America at the Court of France
Notation: Letter from M. Hillegas to Commissioners June. 5. 77
1. The continental treasurer: above, XXIII, 518 n. His letter to BF of the same date as this one, below, indicates more clearly the cordial relationship between them.
2. Congress returned to Philadelphia at the end of February; Hillegas stayed behind to supervise the business of the treasury. For the loan office see above, XXIII, 280–1, and for William Smith the Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774–1961 (Washington, D.C., 1961), pp. 1624–5; Smith, Letters, VI, xvii. Thomas Moore was, we assume, the former captain of the Maryland brig Fortune, mentioned in vols. I-IV of Naval Docs, and probably commanded the Maryland brigantine Columbus in 1778; a man of that name died in Baltimore, aged 74, in 1820: Charles H. Lincoln, Naval Records of the American Revolution ... (Washington, D.C., 1906), p. 254; John T. Scharf, History of Baltimore City and County ... (Philadelphia, 1881), p. 101.