Nicholas Rogers to John Jay, 4 June 1777

[Philadelphia June 4th, 1777]

Sir

I think it my duty to trouble you with these few lines concerning the papers that M r . Deane has committed to my Charge & which I promised to deliver into your hands, had I found you in the Congress as M r . Deane informed Me–€” You will use certain liquid (that M r . Deane told me you had) upon the Margin of the printed Sheets so as to make legible what M r . Deane has wrote; should it not have it–€™s proper ^ effect ^ which I am afraid of as the Letters were put into a Tin Box in a Barrel of Rum which was eat through & I am afraid has damaged them, the enclosed Letter is of the same Contents and I hope will make up whatever deficiencies may be in the margins–€”

according to M r . Deane–€™s orders you will please to seal up the printed papers and send them to M rs . Deane 1 after you have read and considered them with Attention–€” I lived at Paris in the same house with M r . Deane & had the Pleasure of being particularly intimate with him so that I became in some measure his Confident. Could I flatter myself with the hopes of your Correspondence I should be happy to inform you or answer you any Questions concerning the most of M r . Deane–€™s transactions the last summer which he performed with the Warmth of the most zealous of Patriots–€”my coming by the ^ Way ^ of Westindies is the reason of the date of your Letter being so old–€” I was taken with General Du Coudray within fifteen Leagues of Cape Ann by the Greyhound frigate but made a most singular escape from them–€”

I shall go off for the Camp in a few days where I hope to have the pleasure of a letter from you directed to the Care of M r . Clem t . Biddle deputy Quarter Master. 2 –€™Till then I remain your sincerest humble servant

Nicholas Rogers

N.B. The enclosed Letter from M r . Deane I will ^ send ^ by another Opportunity as I dont think it prudent to hazard them by the same post.