Philadelphia 28th September 1779.
Dear Sir,
I have not had the pleasure of writing to you since the 14th Inst.1 Yesterday I was honored with your favors of the 12th & 19th.2
You have quite mistaken the motive for "Committing for consideration," the Motion was made by a very sincere friend of yours, he had entertained hopes of bringing before the House a proper Report, a tolerable one was prepared, received & read, & Monday 21st or 14th, I forget which, "set apart" for considering it in the House, but altho repeatedly called for, its unpleasantness, as I apprehend, proved a Bar against taking it up.3
Your friend did not think it quite perfect he had therefore prepared certain amendments which he would have brought on the Book & will still endeavor to make the whole appear to public view - you shall be particularly informed in due time.
You will have heard before this day of Count d’Estaing’s arrival near Charles Town South Carolina, that operations against the Enemy at Beaufort & Savanna were in hand; I expect every hour to learn of some important event in that quarter, probably the first intelligence will be brought by the Count himself who may be daily expected at Sandy hook or Rhode Island. Our Commander in Chief is properly authorized to co-operate vigorously with him. The Season of the Year was much against the Forces of our Ally to the Southward, a few days easterly wind with autumnal Rains would blast our prospect but I hope the weather has favored them.
Inclosed herein you will find a general account of three days work, it will be an exceedingly painful task to recite by & by the particulars, I shall make no comment, I have acted one uniform & consistent part, dictated by Conscience for the good of my Country as well as for doing justice to a meritorious Individual - my wishes are not accomplished, I am nevertheless persuaded the day will come when that injured Individual will receive both Justice & honor from his Country.4
By the next Post I shall determine whether to leave Philadelphia this winter, & you shall if I determine to go, be informed precisely the day. At present time will not favor me to pay that respect to your favors now before me which is due. I must hasten to the square Room where I often meet many crooked things.
I pray God to bless you & entreat you to be assured that I continue with sincere Respect & Esteem, Dear sir, Your obliged & obedt. servt.
Henry Laurens.
Receiver’s copy, Lee Papers, American Philosophical Society.
1 Not found.
2 Lee’s letters of September 12 and 19 are in the William Gilmore Simms Collection of Laurens Papers, no. 31, MHi microfilm; and Lee, Letters (Ballagh), 2:149 - 52.
3 Laurens is here commenting upon a passage from Lee’s September 12 letter concerning Silas Deane’s memorial to Congress for reimbursement for his expenses since June 1778. For Laurens’ discussion of this subject, to which Richard Henry was responding, see Laurens to Lee, August 31, 1779.
4 See note 6 below appended to Laurens’ second postscript to this letter.
5 For the "advices" containing this intelligence, see Samuel Huntington to Thomas Jefferson, September 30, 1779, note.
6 Although Laurens made at least four references to this incident in his surviving correspondence, the event and document to which he is here referring remain a mystery. His cryptic references in his letters of this date to Ellery and to Whipple contain little additional information on the subject, and although he later decided to send the document referred to with his next letter to Richard Henry, that intriguing enclosure has not been found. See the preceding and following entries; and Laurens to Richard Henry Lee, October 12, 1779.