John Jay to Alexander McDougall, 22 December 1775
Philadelphia, 22 d Dec. 1775
Dear Sir
Few Things have for some time past given me more Pleasure than the address with which you managed the Gov rs . Letter on the Subject of Lord Norths motion. It occasions however both Surprize and Concern that the Sin of Fear (as Lewis Morris calls it) should operate so powerfully on some of your Patriots, as it seems to do.
The Provision for the Delegates I imagined Would be similar to that of Connecticut. however as the Convention has thought proper to move on other Principles, I am determined that pecuniary Considerations shall never induce me to quit the Field so long as my Employers Constituents will keep me whole, The Allowance they have agreed upon will, if I retrench a little, about do that.
It must be obvious that keeping much Company, is necessary to obtain a personal Influence with the Members, and that the Colony is interested in their Delegates possessing such Influence. Should we ever converse upon this Subject I will mention some important Instances of its Use.
I am glad you think of reducing our Number. Five is certainly sufficient: 3 of them to be a Quorum. 1
The Congress I am persuaded will not make the Loan you ask. 2
Your Conduct relative to Sear–s Expedition so far as it respects Connecticut is certainly proper–But I suspect this will be the first Instance of censuring the Followers without reprehending the Leaders–It is time that your Government should acquire a firmer Tone. 3
Tomorrow I shall go to Elizabeth Town–for a Week–and shall devote the first Leizure Hour I have to telling you twenty things about which Want of Time compels me now to be silent.
Mr. Duane complains to me that you have taken no Notice of a Letter he wrote you some time ago. He says it was friendly and expected you would treat it as such–It respected some Observations made on your Detention from the Army, & his Remarks on that Subject which were just. 4
Coll. Morris was very useful at the Indian Treaty and had he not, by being accidentally at Pittsburgh, given the Congress an opportunity of supplying Dr. Franklins absence, by appointing him Com s . pro Tempore, there is Reason to believe our affairs in that Quarter might have suffered. 5
As to Arms, I think you should take Care how you strip yourselves to cover your Neighbours Nakedness–Neighbours too who have no Reason to expect–It is Time that you should look to your own Necessities–New York never stood better with Congress than now–your Alacrity in raising & arming your Troops last Summer &c. is compared with the Tediousness & slow moving of others.
Some Powder has arrived here–but the Fleet will consume it– 6 more has arrived to the Eastward & the cavalry will take that–For the future remember that Charity should begin at Home. God bless you. Yours &c.
John Jay