Annapolis April 5th. 1784
Dear Sir,
By this time I hope your health has been materially benefitted by your voyage to Europe. Our latest Advices from London announce great violence & confusion arising from the contests between Pitt & Fox. In this Country we are more harmonious & composd. The cession of all the territory northwest of the Ohio, belonging to the Virginia, has been formally made by that State & accepted by Congress. Generals Clarke, Wolcot, Green, Butler & Mr. Higgenson are appointed to negociate a treaty & purchase from the Indians their claims, which will secure the settlements in that Country, & enable us to satisfy the demands of the Army, & sink the public debt by the sale of the Lands. A consummation devoutly to be wishd.
I expect, if there is any sense left in the english Nation, they will turn their attention to Lord Shelburne, who I believe is the only man capable of saving their Country from the ruin that threatens it from such Counsellors & Contests. If you see Lord Shelburne, please to present to him my best respects, & the same to Dr. Price. I beg you will make my Compts. to Mrs. & Mr. Deberdt. On the other side is a Copy of the report on your Letter.
1 It has not been acted upon, from the number of public matters which have occupyd Congress.
Farewell.
A. Lee
The Committee to whom was referrd a Letter of Decr. 13. 1783 from Jos. Reed Esqr. submit to Congress the following Resolution Resd. That Congress always entertaind a high sense of the zeal, abilities & activity in the public Service manifested by Joseph Reed Esqr. formerly Adjutant general in the service of the U.S. & late President of the State of Pensylvania. Committee Mr. Howell, Mr. Lee, Mr. Tilton.
Receiver's copy, Joseph Reed Papers, New York Historical Society.
1 Reed's letter of December 13, 1783, asking for a "Testimonial of the Approbation" of Congress for his wartime conduct which he might use as a letter of introduction in his travels abroad had been referred to a committee appointed December 22 and renewed January 26 consisting of Lee, David Howell, and James Tilton. The committee's January 30 report, for which see the postscript to this letter, was not acted upon and on May 17 was included among matters to be referred to the Committee of the States. On June 2, however, it was also listed among those items that no longer required action. The Committee of the States apparently concurred with the latter recommendation when it took up the report on July 12. See JCC, 25:836n, 26:60, 27:399, 529, 585; and PCC, item 19, 5:237 - 38, item 78, 19:459 - 62, item 185, 3:90, item 186, fols. 140, 146. For political considerations involved in Congress' inaction, see Elbridge Gerry to Reed, May 5, 1784.