1. Huntington enclosed a letter that Matthias Halsted, justice of the peace in Essex County, N.J., wrote from Elizabeth on 21 April to New Jersey delegate Abraham Clark, then in Philadelphia: “I am Sensibly Grieved at the unavoidable Delays that have happened in Procuring the Inclosed Vouchers Respecting the Conduct of Mr John Adam D. C. of Pris[oner]s & in forwarding them, I should have sent them some time since but Expected to have procured More to Accompany these, As the Instances of his Partiallities, Briberies & Illicit Trade are Numerous; but Many of the Witnesses are Extreemly Cautious in Declaring Anything unless Compelled, Alledging they may suffer in Cases of future Captivity if he Remains in Office; Concieving the Inclosed with My Declaration will be sufficient To Convince Congress that his Conduct as a publick Officer has not been strictly Justifiable I Concluded it best to forward the Inclosures without further Delay, Submiting it to your better Judgment Either to lay the Matter before Congress in its present situation, or to Give me further Instructions how to proceed in the Business.” Halsted then detailed Adam’s mishandling of prisoner exchanges and concluded with an assurance “that from the best Information, I verily believe on Trial, not less than twenty Instances of Bribery & Partiallity Can be proved if Necessary Without Going twenty Miles for a Witness” (DLC:GW). On 27 April, Congress read Halsted’s letter “with sundry papers enclosed” and ordered their transmittal “to the Commander in Chief” (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 , 20:452). Direct experience as a prisoner informed Halsted’s allegations (see William Livingston to GW, 15 Dec. 1780).

Huntington enclosed depositions that Joseph Stanbery, Isaac Frazee, and Stanbery’s son Porter swore before Halsted on 20 March 1781. Frazee reported that Adam accepted “a Barrel of Cyder” to “get his Brother out with the Next flagg.” Porter Stanbery indicated that Adam demanded “a present of six or Eight pounds of fresh Butter” for his wife after hastening Stanbery’s exchange, but he instead took “upwards of 20 pounds” of beef that Stanbery had gotten for prisoners still in captivity (DLC:GW).

Huntington also enclosed an affidavit from David Miller, justice of the peace in Essex County, dated 7 April. Miller asserted that on 24 March “a Jury of Good & Lawfull Men” condemned for sale “Merchandise & also a Waggon & two Horses, & a Chair & one horse Conveying the same … for Coming out of the British lines. The Whole sales Amounting to £301.2.4 Lawfull Mony of the State.” The landing occurred “out of a british flagg at Elizth Town Point under the Imediate Inspection & Direction of the said Mr Adam, who was in the Chair with a part of the Goods on his Way from the Point aforesaid to the town When the seizure was made” (DLC:GW).

2. The enclosed proceedings and resolution (erroneously dated 27 rather than 28 April) related the congressional recommendation that state governments provide depreciation pay “to the Officers & men now or late of the regiment of Artificers commanded by Colo. Baldwin” (DLC:GW; see also 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 , 20:462, and GW to Jeremiah Bruen, 16 April, and the source note to that document). For distribution of the resolution, see Huntington to Certain States, 1 May, 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 , 17:203. For the pay of artificers when established, see Huntington to GW, 19 Nov. 1779, n.1.

3. See GW to Huntington, 21 and 25 April 1781. Huntington incorrectly dated the later letter (see the source note above).