Philadelphia March 12h 1782
My Dear sir,
The post Came in late last night, and I have Scarce time to Acknowledge Your Excellencys favour of the 5th.
1 If it is meant, that the Delegates in Congress are to receive the 35/ allowance in red money, it will be prudent in us to decamp in time, for that money will be of no more use to us here than so much waste paper.2
I thank your Excellency for your kind offer in procureing my ballance in red money. Will have the honor to write you more fully by the next post. Mr Worthingtons Phaeton will be finished in about three weeks. Price 160£.
No Arrivals here in three weeks past, nor Any to the Eastward that we Know of. We are Extreamly Anxious about the Issue of the Engagement, Said to have been between the French and British fleets in the West Indies, and the fate of St Kitts which depends upon it. No particulars respecting that matter. The Account Extracted from Rivingtons paper is altogether false. I have Seen a New York paper of the 4th - nothing particular in it. They have Certainly no Account in New York of the matter, or if they have the Event has been unfavourable to them, or the Account would have been printed. General Green is in possession of the Enemys post at the Quarter Princeton House, which is within five Miles of Charles Town and a detachment haveing been Sent into Georgia the Enemy have drawn in all their outposts to Savannah.
3
I have the honor to be with perfect Esteem & regard, Your Excellencys most obedient servt,
John Hanson
The French Minister Sent off from hence Saturday last for Williamsburgh. He goes down on the East-shore and intends to spend Some time at Annapolis on his return. NOTES:
Receiver's copy, Lee, Horsey, and Carroll Papers deposit (1985), Maryland Historical Society.
1 Not found, although another letter of March 5th from the Maryland Council to the state's delegates in Congress is in Md. Archives, 48:92.
2 For Maryland's disappointing experiment with a special emission of "red money," see Hanson to Philip Thomas, January 29, 1782, note 2.
3 Hanson also repeated this intelligence in a brief personal letter of this date to his son-in-law, Philip Thomas. Hanson Letters, MdHi.