Annapolis Decr 29. 1783
Dear Bland
I write to you more to let you know I am alive and remember you than for any thing I have to communicate. Hitherto we have been just able to make up seven states. Nothing material therefore has been done. The only question of consequence has been whether seven states were federally competent to ratify the definitive treaty, after nine had ratified the provisional articles of which it consisted. Congress were divided in opinion and therefore nothing done.
1 The Massachusetts assembly have sent a letter to congress complaining of some unfair statements in the estimate of the national debt and of the article of contingencies in the financier's account.2
My love to Mrs. Bland & complements to all friends.
Adieu.
A Lee
Transcription, Arthur Lee Transcripts, Virginia Historical Society.
1 See Thomas Jefferson's Draft Resolution, December 27, 1783.
2 The Massachusetts legislature's remonstrance concerning old Continental bills of credit had been cast in the form of an October 28 letter from Gov. John Hancock, which was read in Congress on December 18 and referred to a committee chaired by Hugh Williamson, for which see JCC, 25:815; and Massachusetts Delegates to Hancock, February 1, 1784.