Thomas Jefferson Papers

To Thomas Jefferson from the Virginia Delegates in Congress, 3 April 1781

From the Virginia Delegates in Congress

Philadelphia April 3d 1781

Sir

We have been favord with Your Excellencys enclosing a State of the affair between Mr. Nathan and the Commonwealth of Virginia which we are endeavoring to put in train for a decision on the Principles you have been pleased to direct, the event of which Your Excellency shall be informd of as soon as tis decided. The Unfortunate consequences which have attended the Naval engagement of Chesapeake on the 16th Ultimo, we feel with unspeakeable regret, as they have snatchd from us the pleasing prospects we had cherished for some time past, of frustrating the Sanguine project of the Enemy (of subjugating most of the Southern States this Campaign) and thrown our Country into a Situation which must require her utmost exertions, with all the aid that can be sent her to extricate her from. This we shall leave no means unessayed to effect, on our parts.

The same unhappy event, has deprived us of the immediate Use of the Arms and Stores, which were to have gone from Rhode Island (the Cargoe of the Comite) on board a french frigate, but we have the satisfaction to Inform your Excellency that they are safe arrived at this place, in the Frigate which was to have Carried them to Virginia. We have orderd them to be landed and have taken the necessary steps to forward them with all possible dispatch by a safe Route to Virginia, having committed them to the Care of Colo. Febiger, under the direction of the board of War but it is with much concern that we find on this as well as on many other occasions where we might yield considerable service to our Country on pressing emergencies, the want of small sums of Money is frequently an insurmountable obstacle to a speedy execution of our intention, and the important matters which engage our attention in Congress, interferes with the necessary attention required by such objects when the ready means of executing them are [wanting?]. The Remedies to these inconveniencies we leave to the Wisdom of Your Excellency and the Legislature. We have the Honor to be Yr. Excellys Most obedt. Svts.,

James Madison Junr

Theok. Bland

RC (Vi); in Bland’s hand and addressed and franked by him; signed by both delegates; endorsed; “James Madison Jr. April 12th. 1781.”

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