George Washington Papers
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From George Washington to the Massachusetts General Court, 12 August 1775

To the Massachusetts General Court

Cambridge. Head Quarters. August. 12. 1775

Gentlemen

I have considered the Papers you left with me yesterday: those of them, which relate to Jones, shew him to be a most malignant, & inveterate Enemy to his Country, & as such I trust he will meet with his Deserts: But I have such various, & important Matters requiring my constant Attention, that I must beg Leave to refer him, & all others under similar Circumstances to the Authority of the Province, both for safe Custody & Punishment.1

The Payment of the Troops is of such indispensable Necessity, that I must endeavour to use the Powers committed to me by the Honorable Congress so as to remove this Cause of Complaint. I propose to direct the new Paymaster2 to commence his Payments from the 1st August, & hereafter continue them monthly. I have considered that there are few, if any Men, who have not served two Months; and tho. some have received their Advance twice, it cannot be supposed there are many who have had more: The two Months Service, will then be set against the double Advance, and if a strict Scrutiny is immediately made, which I would recommend; the Accounts may be settled to that Time, the Delinquents probably be detected, and in the End, Justice done both to the Province & the Men. If any Embezzlements have been made by the Officers, they will stand accountable to the Publick, but at all Events the Soldiers are intitled to, and must have their Pay, if any Service is expected from them.3 The Shirts, Shoes, Stockings & Breeches provided by the Province can be taken on the continental Account; but I apprehend, there will not be the same Necessity to provide Coats, the Continental Congress having ordered Hunting Shirts as an outside Dress—under which, a warm Waistcoat will be cheaper, and more convenient.4

As to the Expedition proposed against Nova Scotia by the People of Machias; I cannot but applaud their Spirit & Zeal, but after considering the Reasons offered for it several Objections occur which seem to me unanswerable. I apprehend such an Enterprize inconsistent with the general Principle upon which the united Colonies have proceeded. It is true, that Province has not acceded to Measures of the Congress and they have therefore been excluded from all commercial ⟨Intercourse with the other Colonies; But they have⟩5 not commenced Hostilities against them, nor are any to be apprehended: to attack them therefore is a Step of Conquest rather than Defence, & may be attended with very dangerous Consequences. It might perhaps be easy with the Force proposed to make an Incursion into the Province; to overawe those of the Inhabitants who are inimical to our Cause and for a short Time prevent their supplying the Enemy with Provisions, but the same Force must continue to produce any lasting Effects. As to the furnishing Vessels of any Force, you Gentlemen will anticipate me, in pointing out our Weakness, & the Enemy’s Strength.6 There would be great Danger, that with the best Preparation we could make, they would fall an easy Prey, either to the Man of War on that Station, or some who would be detached from Boston. I have been thus particular to satisfy any Gentlemen of the Court who incline to adopt the Measure: I could offer many other Reasons against it, some of which I doubt not will suggest themselves to the Honbe Board: But it is unnecessary to enumerate them, when our Situation as to Ammunition absolutely forbids our sending a single Ounce out of the Camp at present.7 I am with great Respect & Regard Gentlemen Your most Obedt and very Hbble Servt

Go: Washington

LS, in Joseph Reed’s writing, MWA; Df, NHi: Joseph Reed Papers; LB, DLC:GW. copy, DNA:PCC, RG 360. Varick transcript, DLC:GW. The letter-book copy and the Varick transcript are dated 11 Aug. 1775, but the LS and draft are dated 12 Aug. 1775. Minutes in Perez Morton’s writing on the LS indicate that the letter was read in the council on this date and referred to the house of representatives, which this same day appointed Col. Ebenezer Sayer (Sawyer), Col. Joseph Cushing, and Nathan or Seth Cushing to consider the letter and report on it. See also Mass. House of Rep. Journal, July–Nov. 1775 sess description begins A Journal of the Honorable House of Representatives of the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England. Watertown, Mass., 1775. (Microfilm Collection of Early State Records). description ends ., 69. On 14 Aug., according to Morton’s minutes, the council added John Whitcomb and Benjamin White to the committee. For the committee’s report, see the Massachusetts General Court to GW, 18 Aug. 1775.

1These papers have not been identified. For a discussion of Inchabod Jones’s capture and imprisonment, see Committee of the Massachusetts Council to GW, 11 Aug. 1775, n.3.

2James Warren, speaker of the Massachusetts house of representatives, was named Continental paymaster general by Congress on 27 July (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 2:211). Warren held both offices concurrently.

3For GW’s determination to pay the army on a regular basis, see General Orders, 10 Aug. 1775. For the settlement of the Massachusetts pay accounts, see Committee of the Massachusetts Council to GW, 11 Aug., Massachusetts General Court to GW, 18 Aug., and General Orders, 24, 31 Aug., 5 Sept. 1775.

4For the transfer of clothing from the Massachusetts to the Continental account, see GW to James Warren, 23 Aug. 1775.

5The words within angle brackets, illegible on the LS, are taken from the draft.

6The draft reads “Strength at Sea.”

7The Patriots at Machias in the District of Maine Proposed to seize Windsor, Nova Scotia, with a force of one thousand men and a fleet consisting of four armed vessels and eight transports and then use the town as a rallying place for Patriot sympathizers in the province. A general uprising, they hoped, would ensue, enabling them to march on Halifax and take control of the provincial government. Although this expedition was not undertaken, a similar plan was put forward a few months later. See GW to Hancock, 30 Jan. 1776.

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