Phila Sepr. 26th. 1780.
Dear Sir
Tuesday half past 11 o'Clock
I thank you for your favor of the 22d1 wch. was this moment handed to me by the Prest. of Congress and as the Post will leave this at 12 o'Clock I cannot give you that general information which I wish & you desire.
I fear Gates was premature, it was from his information that I gave you the intelligence respecting the Maryland Line. For two or three days repeated Accounts by private Intelligence has been reced of the Arrival of 19 Sail of the Count de Guechens Fleet at Rhode Island but as Congress has received no Official information I fear, its News fabricated by Speculators. I am under the greatest apprehension for the French at that place.
The Delegates from the Eastern States say that the meeting of the Congress or Convention is for the purpose of falling upon ways & means to provide for the Army. I suspect something more - a little time will discover their design. Some late Moves by Virg. seconded by New York - has alarmed some Members of the Eastern States - And I hope will produce good Effects as it will probably attach them more to the Maryland claim than formerly.2 I am glad to hear the Mercht. at Baltimore take our Money at 40 for one as it will soon in consequence thereof pass here indeed it is at least 50 Per Ct. better than Continental. As my Collegues Seem well satisfied with remaining here and as I am convinced I can be of little Service I shall soon take my final leave of Congress & return to Maryland.3
Present me to Mrs. Lee & believe me truly, Your Excellencys affectt friend,
Daniel of St. Thos Jenifer
Receiver’s copy, Hampton L. Carson Collection, Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa.
1 For the September 22 letter from Lee and the Maryland Council concerning the lack of clothing for Maryland troops, see Md Archives, 43:299 - 300. See also Maryland Delegates to Lee, this date.
2 Jenifer may be referring to the Virginia proposal, which was debated on September 18, to secure reimbursement for maintaining civil government in the western territory, for which see James Madison to Joseph Jones, September 19, 1780.
3 Although Jenifer cast his last vote of this congressional term this day, he remained in Philadelphia until October 9 because of illness and apparently out of a determination to influence the drafting of new instructions for John Jay concerning the free navigation of the Mississippi River. See JCC, 18:867; Jenifer to Lee, October 2, James Madison’s Notes on Marbois’ "Observations," October 6 - c.16, note 2; and John Hanson to Lee, October 9, 1780, note 3.