George Washington Papers
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To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 9 October 1775

From Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.

Lebanon [Conn.] 9th Octo. 1775

Sir

I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Letter of the 21st of Septr—have no disposition to increase the weight of your Burdens, which in the multiplicity of your busines must be sufficiently heavy, nor inclination to disturb the harmony so necessary to the happy success of our public operations; am persuaded no such difficulty will any more happen.

It is unhappy that Jealousies should be excited, or disputes of any sort be litigated between any of the Colonies, to disunite them at a time Our Liberty, our property, our All is at stake—If our Enemies prevail, which our disunion may occasion, our Jealousies will then appear frivolous and all our disputed Claims of no Value to either Side.

Your’s of the 5th was delivered me the 6th—have not heard of the Small Fleet you mention—imagine their primary Object is Newport—they may likewise design an Attack on some of Our Towns1—The Letter enclosed to the Commissary General was delivered him at his arrival on Saturday.2

President Hancocks Letter of the 30th of Septr was delivered me the 4th instant, requesting me to meet the Committee from the Congress on the 12th at Cambridge to confer touching the continuing, supporting, and regulating the Continental Army—Our General Assembly meeting on the day appointed for the proposed Conference rendereth it inconsistent with my duty to attend the latter. Agreable to their desire shall appoint a proper person to represent the Colony at the Conference—expect to obtain the favour of Deputy Governor Griswold to accept such appointment3—had the meeting been earlier, it would have afforded me satisfaction to have attended, given me the pleasure of waiting on You and the other Gentlemen, besides gratifying my Curiosity to see the Works the Army have made. I am, with great Truth and Esteem Your Excellency’s most Obedient very humble Servant

Jonth. Trumbull

ALS, DLC:GW; LB, Ct: Trumbull Papers.

1The squadron attacked Falmouth in the District of Maine on 18 October. See GW to Hancock and GW to Nicholas Cooke and Trumbull, both 24 Oct. 1775.

2See Joseph Reed to Joseph Trumbull, 5 Oct. 1775, quoted in GW to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., that date, n.3. The previous Saturday was 7 October.

3Matthew Griswold (1714–1799), who served as deputy governor from 1769 to 1784, and Nathaniel Wales represented Connecticut at the conference, which began on 18 October. Hancock’s letter to Trumbull of 30 Sept. appears in Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 2:81–82.

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