James Lovell to Arthur Lee

I wrote to you on the 13th of June, but to my Surprise found the Letter in the commercial Committee Rooms on the 10th of July, the Martinico man having left it behind though he took the Journals & Gazettes to be forwarded by Mr. Bingham to France & the Hague. My above mentioned Letter was sent under Cover to Mr. Adams to the Care of Doctr. Franklin, it seems Mr. A will have left France before the Polacre comd. by Capt. Sapet can reach it.¹ It is needless to copy the whole as, now, the Weeks of the Journals are printed to which I there referred largely. Some parts however I shall now repeat.²

Extr June 13. "The Term recalled having been used in regard to Wm. Lee and Rph. Izard with an Idea strenuously supported by some of bringing them to America, tho others who were affirmative meant only vacating the Commissions a second Resolve passed that they need not repair to America. I give them no official notice now nor shall I without the particular order of Congress because I am again left alone, your Brother Richd. having resigned his Seat as I hear, and gone home; and further, because something definitive ought to be decided in regard to Compensation for Services of the Commissioners.

"An attempt has several times lately been made to chuse a new Committee of for. Affrs. instead of filling up the old one. This you will perceive to be singularly decent towards the one who had steadily attended. Nay it is said that such a Comtee. is useless. I am sure I find an immense deal that ought to be done, and have found a great Burthen in what has been done by a Member of Congress without Secretary or Clerk, little as you and the other Gentlemen abroad may have been benefited by my Labors. Quires of my Writing have been sunk in the Seas most of it near these Capes.

"I expect further attempts to get rid of you. It was a fear of that and a desire to scrutinize Mr. D - - that made Mr Laurens, I imagine, give into the late motion.³ But I think you will rise above the Malice of the Faction which you have long known or, if you find your Usefulness destroyed, you will readily tell us so, and desire to make way for some other person. I have by me large packets left by yr. Brother, with Copies of Proceedings respecting you, but I will not send them round about as a Frigate must soon go directly from hence, or at least a Pacqt. Boat. I tell Mr. J Adams more on that head. I suspect Roguery in the Stoppage of yr. Letters; how else is it that we have not a Line from any of you?

"Mr. S Adams goes home Tomorrow - for good & all as he says. This goes Via Cadiz, a Copy via Martinque.

"Your Friend and humble Servant, JL.

"Vid Journals, Apr 6, 15, 20, 21, 22, 26, 28, 30, May 3, 22, 24, 25, 27, June 8, 10.

"Letters from A Lee, Aug. 7, 11, 21, 27, 31, Sep 9, 30, Oct 19 P.S. Nov 29, Novr. 4, 15, 18, 20."

I will now, Sir, add a few remarks. Your Quotation from Whitlock I have read in the Congress to strengthen what I have often urged there.⁴ Nothing can more naturally suggest itself to a Politician, one would think yet I have affirmed Truth when I told you that the Comtee. was said to be now an useless Institution.

What remark am I to now make upon some of yr. Conduct referable to the 5th Line of the 3d page of this Sheet?⁵ I will not trust my own Judgement, but I suspect your most steady friends here will differ. I presume you meant to take their Opinions as you could not at such a distance judge of all Circumstances. Else why cover to RH or F.L⁶ At present a Veil of Secresy is on the Business, as well as on that committed to R.H. or F.L. or J.L.⁷ Your Letter defensery has been read.⁸ Yr. first Letter to Shelburn brought that Water up to the Eyes of some, who are evidently unfriendly to you, which is the Consequence of strong unexpected Admiration. The Letter from Jennings and your Answer are as valuable as a marble Pillar erected to the honor of yr. Probity and prophetic sound Judgement. Beux’s is as honorary to him as a sensible spirited Gentleman as it is disgraceful to others. All the other Vouchers were familiar to me. I have been so engaged & so unwell that I have only had the single chance of listning in Congress; but I shall renew my Pleasure soon.

The Report respectg. Supporting the Ministers was again recommitted this day but I told the House that I could not risque Censure by not officially informing Mr. W Lee & Mr. Izard of the Proceedings of the 8th of June. How easy & how tollerably decent would it have been to have recalled their Commissions for the Reasons h[anded] down in the original Report of the Committee of 13 - vid 2d head Apr. 15th, but the 4th head was meant to accomplish the point with you; the most sanguine not being discouraged at the Idea of Killing Doctr. F⁹ secondarily, or sacrificing all Character in themselves of Impartiality upon the Ground work on which they meant to gibit your Fame. But I have said all my Eye sight will allow at this late hour of the Night and the Express goes off at Dawn. Yr. affectionate Friend,

Js L