Decr. 10th. 1778
Dear Sir
It was not possible for me to acknowledge your favor of Novr. 29th1 by the same post wsh. gave me pleasure of knowing that you & your lovely family were well. Nor will I now particularly notice the subjects you hinted to me. I will rather give you a few Entries of our Journals, and an anecdote of our friend Adams to enable you to read the Prints wth. a proper comprehension of the plotting spirit of some of the chaps who are scribbling therein, and of the serpentine, malicious and elusive course which others have been contriving for themselves since you left us.
Temple came to this City about 10 days ago bringing Letters of high Recommendation both to Congress & to the Delegates of Massachusetts. His Letters were from the Council of our State, Govr. Trumbull, Genl. Washington, Govr. Livingston and the first whigs indisputably of Boston. Mr. Adams conducted Mr. Temple from his Lodgings to the President’s to introduce the Delivery of the mentioned Letters. This single call at the Door of the man’s Lodging is termed to the public "so frequent in exchange of Visits," and probably by the very tall Wisacre who was for constituting a semblance of the french Lieutenancy of police to fall in with, pimp upon and otherwise entrap all visiting strangers, even so far as to write fictitious Letters and intercept the Answers. But I drop this pitiful subject only remarking that the HINT2 in the prints is a good answer to our recommendatory Letters, for there was nothing public or private which Mr. T ought not rather to have communicated by Letter than by a visit. I must give you my Key to his whole Proceedings. It is in the Cry of the Preacher "Vanity of Vanities, all is Vanity."
1778 Novr. 30. On Motion
Resolved That Congress meet on Wednesday Evening at 6 o Clock to consider the proceedings of the Courts martial on the Tryals of Majr. Genl. Lee, Majr. Genl. Schuyler & Major Genl. St. Clair.
Decr 1st. A Letter of Novr. 30th from Silas Deane Esq was read, whereupon, Resolved That, after Tomorrow, Congress will meet two Hours at least each Evening beginning at 6 o’Clock,
Saturday Evenings excepted, until the present State of our foreign affairs be fully considered.
Decr. 5. A letter of the 4th from Silas Deane Esqr. was read. Ordered that Monday Evening be assigned for hearing Mr. Deane & that he be notified to attend.
Decr. 7th. Resolved that Silas Deane Esqr. report to Congress in Writing as soon as may be his Agency of their affairs in Europe together with any Information which he may judge proper.
That Mr. Deane be informed that if he hath any Thing to communicate to Congress in the Interim, of immediate Importance, he shall be heard Tomorrow Eveng at 6 oC[lock.] He published on the 5th notwithstanding our Resolve of the 1st upon his Letter of Novr. 30th. It is true he dates Novr. blank to give his Peice the air of precedency but if he had really appealed to the Public why write to us on the 30th.
He had made himself a Culprit before our Bar by refusing to answer any Interrogatories "tending to criminate himself." He was the cause of after dating.
I need add no more to you; therefore conclude, your humble Servant affectionately,
Js. Lovell.
Receiver’s copy, Lee Papers, American Philosophical Society.
1 Richard Henry Lee’s 29 November letter to Lovell has not been found, but for a letter that Lee wrote to William Whipple on the same day and that discusses several major congressional concerns, see Whipple to Lee, 8 November 1778, note; and Lee, Letters (Ballagh), 1:453 - 55.
2 The article, entitled "A Hint," to which Lovell is alluding, appeared in the 8 December 1778 issue of the Pennsylvania Packet. For further information on Samuel Adams’ relations with John Temple, see Samuel Adams to Elizabeth Adams, 13 December, to James Bowdoin, 19 December, to John Winthrop, 21 December, and to Samuel Cooper and to Charles Chauncey, 25 December 1778.