251To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Huntington, 14 December 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Excellency will receive herewith enclos’d two acts of Congress of the 11th instant and one other of this Day by which you will be inform’d that Congress have determin’d to call upon the several States to furnish their quotas of such Supplies as may from time to time be wanted for carrying on the war taking due care to suit the conveniencies of the several States, and the articles by them...
252To Thomas Jefferson from Samuel Huntington, 15 December 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Philadelphia, 15 Dec. 1779 . Circular letter to the state executives enclosing a resolve of Congress of this date recommending an embargo on exports. FC ( DLC : PCC , No. 14); 2 p. Enclosure missing; printed in JCC Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789 , ed. W. C. Ford and others, Washington, 1904–1937 , xv , 1383. TJ had anticipated the recommendation of Congress in his Proclamation...
253To Thomas Jefferson from the Board of War, 16 December 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Williamsburg, 16 Dec. 1779 . When Col. Travis entered into a contract with Edward H. Moseley to build a ship of war for the state, Moseley refused, after the contract was written, to accede to the terms unless it was stipulated that if the vessel were destroyed by the enemy it would be the state’s loss. Col. Travis agreed, but through haste the stipulation was not entered into the written...
254To Thomas Jefferson from the Board of War, with Reply, 16 December 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Williamsburg, 16 Dec. 1779 . In Feb. 1779 Mark Talbot agreed with Capt. Maxwell and Col. Travis, commissioners of the navy, to build a vessel of war for the state. Talbot, supposing he had a bad bargain, did not comply with the terms of the contract. When called on in June for delivery, he stated that the enemy had destroyed the vessel, though it appears that timbers for the hull had not been...
255To Thomas Jefferson from the Board of War, 16 December 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Williamsburg, 16 Dec. 1779 . There are three captains, two lieutenants and four cornets in Maj. Nelson’s corps. Two gentlemen are appointed to recruit the quotas of a lieutenant. If they have not done so, they do not belong to the corps of horse, and the officers who have raised their quotas and are now on duty should be the officers of the three troops of horse and should rise according to...
256To Thomas Jefferson from William Phillips, 16 December 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
New York, 16 Dec. 1779 . A flag-of-truce vessel brings this letter, together with food and stores for the Convention troops. To save expense it is desirable that the flag vessel “be permitted to go up the James River as far as possible to discharge her cargo.” Capt. Farquhar of the 20th Regt., who comes with the flag, brings a supply of money and will need an escort from the vessel to...
257To Thomas Jefferson from the Board of War, 17 December 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
Williamsburg, 17 Dec. 1779 . Workmen are needed for the next year at the shipyard. The commissioner should attend the sales of British property and purchase Negroes for that purpose instead of hiring them, because the hire is so exorbitant. A pair of sawyers would not cost less than £600 per annum. Signed by Nelson, Barron, and Lyne. Countersigned: “In Council Decr. 18th. 1779. Approved. Th....
258To Thomas Jefferson from Philip Mazzei, 18 December 1779–9 January 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
We Know at last, that D’Esteing’s melancholy affair happened in Georgia; that our few regulars there behaved very well; and we hear that it was the militia who did not Keep their ground; and that the pretended treachery did consist in the villany of one of our officers from New-England, who deserted and informed the enemy of Desteing’s plan for the attack. We are convinced that D’Esteing’s...
259To Thomas Jefferson from the Board of Trade, 18 December 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
[ Williamsburg ] 18 Dec. 1779 . The public shipyard at Cumberland should be discontinued because of the enormous cost of maintenance. The trading department has only six vessels, and there is little prospect of increasing the number. These can be kept in repair at less expense than the present cost of the public yard. Tr in Board of Trade Journal ( Vi ); 1 p.; printed in Official Letters...
260To Thomas Jefferson from Archibald Cary, 18 December 1779 (Jefferson Papers)
I have delay’d Answering your letter respecting the Goods Sent to Majr. Hay, in hopes of Giveing you Some Certain Account of the Theft, but as yet have not been able to Fix it with precision; I am however on a Good Sent [Scent], and hope Shortly to Give you an Account of the offender. The badness of the Weather and a Cold which by Venturing out on a Damp day a Cought prevented my being in Town...