To George Washington from Corny, 6 July 1780
From Corny
Providence 6th July 1780
Dear General
I am just Arrived from Poppisquash, too much applause cannot be given to the Zeal and attention of Doctor Craig; the dispositions relative to this Establishment entitle him to every gratefull Sentiment,1 and I shall be particularly carefull to acquaint the Count de Rockambeau how much we are obliged to him.2
This Hospital will be exceeding usefull for Summer, and for the Convalescents, the Salubrity of the Air is excellent, but it must be confess’d that it may be subject to the Attempts of the Enemy, if New Port is not Guarded, and if the Batteries at the Entrance of the Harbor remain unprovided with Cannon.
Doctor Craig had in vain requested the Colledge of this Town to be given up to him that the principal Hospital might be Establishd there, General Heath without doubt reluctantly Approved the Objections of the Council of this State, which influenced them to reject the Doctors request. on my Arrival here, I took the liberty to represent in the most firm and pressing Manner, that this House was indispensably necessary; I represented my reasons, in the Requisition I made to the Council,3 who Orderd the Colledge to be imediatly given up to me, and I lost no time in employing Workmen to put it in a proper Condition for the destin’d Service.
I must acquaint your Excellency, that the difficulties encounterd in this Affair, arrise principally from Mr Manning a Minister of this place; who endeavord to inflame the people, and to perswade them that the Town would be infected with a Contagious disorder, in Consequence of the Establishment; I was beyond measure astonished that the two Browns, the Brothers of Collo. John Brown, publickly opposed it,4 they so far forgot themselves as to declare loudly, that they hoped the People would blow up the Hospital, and they threatned the Carpenters who were at work at the Colledge with the loss of the Esteem and Custom of the townsmen and Action of Damages at Law, if they continued to work; nor could the Workmen (who had left their Bussiness) be prevailed upon to begin again, untill Bonds of Indemnification were given them, Under other Circumstances I should have been induced to demand of Messrs Brown’s the Reasons of their proceedure, and of the insult, which marks their Conduct; at Present I confine myself to represent it to your Excellency, convinced that you will acquaint them, that this Stran⟨ge⟩ Conduct is totally opposite to those Sentiments that Unite the two Nations, and too full of Sedition and disrespect to be tolerated at the Instant His Majesty is sending assistance to his Allies; and will not I trust be pass’d over with impunity.
I cannot refrain my dear General from acquainting you that on the Journey I made to New Port for the purpose of receiving the Establishments, and of making some dispositions, I saw both with regret and surprize, that notwithstanding the Application I made on the 24th of last Month there has not been even at this time any Measures put in execution to repair the Ferrys which must be Cross’d in the Road from Providence to Newport;5 Bristoll Ferry is inaccessable, and the Wharfs on each Side are impracticable; I bruised the Wheels of my Carriage, and was obliged to hire a Sloop to return to Providence, it ought to have been foreseen that these Ferrys were indispensibly necessary for the service of the Army, and that the repairs become every day more urgent; I represented this Consideration to General Heath on Monday 26th June,6 and I entreated him at the same time to have them repaird at the King’s Expence, because I have observed that the Quarter Masters attribute their want of Activity to the failure of their Supplies, the General wrote on this head to the Council of the State on Tuesday the 4th July,7 but as I was convinced that these delays (which are without doubt inevitable) would be prejudicial to the service of the Army which we hourly expect; I am determined to prevail on Monsr De la Touche to assend to Bristoll for the purpose of imploying his Crew to repair the Ferry.8
I shall have the Honor to acquaint your Excellency the Moment the Fleet Arrives.9 I am with every respect and Consideration Your Excellencys Most Obedient and Most humble Servt
Ethis De Corny
LS, DLC:GW. GW replied to Corny on 15 July.
1. For the proposal to establish a hospital on Rhode Island’s Popasquash Neck for the expected French expeditionary force and its eventual placement at Rhode Island College (now Brown University) in Providence, see James Craik to GW, 11 and 21 June, and William Heath to GW, 20 and 25 June; see also GW to Craik, 24 May and 29 June, the latter found at Craik to GW, 21 June, n.4.
2. Lieutenant General Rochambeau commanded the army corps coming with the French expeditionary force.
3. In his letter to the governor and council of Rhode Island dated at Providence on 24 June, Corny requested that they furnish him “an establishment for an hospital for the service of the French army.” He preferred that the hospital be located in the college building in Providence because of its desirable, healthy location; because of its security from enemy attack; and because the college building “was particularly adopted, fixed and absolutely appointed by the Court of France and Doctor [Benjamin] Franklin, for the reception of the sick of the French army” (, 9:119).
4. John Brown and his brothers Joseph, Moses, and Nicholas were all benefactors or trustees of Rhode Island College.
5. In response to Corny’s memorial requesting the repair of these ferries, the Rhode Island general assembly in its session begun on 3 July appointed a committee to inform him of the legislature’s disposition “to take every possible measure for the accommodation of the expected armament of our generous ally, and for the facilitating the important objects of their destination; and that they have furnished Ephraim Bowen, Jr., Esq., deputy quartermaster general, with money, and directed him to make the necessary repairs at the said ferries, under the direction of the said committee” (, 9:145–46).
6. This letter has not been identified.
7. On 3 July, Maj. Gen. William Heath, at Providence, wrote Rhode Island governor William Greene a letter which in part reads: “Monsieur De Corney has represented to me the present bad State, of the Ferrywaies &c. at Bristol Ferry, a Communication between this place and Rhode [Aquidneck] Island which will be much used on the arrival of our allies, and has requested that the necessary repairs may be immediately made, I should have ordered the D.Q.M.G. to have ⟨at⟩tended to it without the least delay, but not fully knowing what regulation that Ferry was under, and thinking it Probable the Honble the Assembly, would chuse themselves to direct the repairs, and accommodations, I have deferred doing any thing in the Premises untill the Assembly conveened, I request your Excellency would be pleased to lay this matter also before the Assembly” (MHi: Heath Papers).
8. Captain La Touche-Tréville commanded the frigate Hermione, then operating out of Newport, Rhode Island.
9. See Corny to GW, 11 July, found at William Heath to GW, that date (second letter), source note.