Philadelphia Feby 20th 1781.
Dear sr.,
I did myself the honor of sending a few lines by Col Forrest, who left this place on Sunday morning. Capt. Paul Jones arivd in this City on Saturday night from L’Orient which he left about the Middle of Decr. We are cruelly disapointed in not receiving any Cloaths or Arms by him. A Vessel with cloaths, which saild with him, when he was oblig’d by a Storm to return to Port, Capt Jones says, was taken, & carried into England. The arms he had on board were damag’d, & Landed, & coud not be put in order against his departure. He has not brought any public Stores that I hear of, excepting abt 400 Barrells of powder, & some lead. Cloathing for ten thousand men ready made up, besides a considerable quantity of Cloth &c & the arms remaind in France for other opportunitys.
On the first day of my appearing in Congress, I deliverd the Act empowering the Deligates of Maryland to Subscribe the Articles of Confederation &c.! It was read, & enterd on the Journals. The presence of another Delegate is only wanting to compleat this important business; I find the hopes, & expectations of Congress very sanguine on this event.1 A Letter receivd by Col. Moylan from his Brother at the 10th Dec. from L’Orient, gives every reason to believe, as far as a Merchants authority will go, that a considerable assistance by Ships, & men may be lookd for Soon from France.
Please to present my Comps to Mrs Lee. I am, with great esteem, Your Excellency’s Most Obt Servt.Danl Carroll2
Receiver’s copy, Maryland State Papers (Red Books), Maryland Hall of Records Commission, Annapolis.
1 Carroll had taken his seat and "deliverd the Act" to Congress on February 12; "another Delegate," John Hanson, attended on the 22nd. JCC, 19:138 - 40, 185. For the final ratification of the Articles of Confederation, see Thomas Rodney’s Diary, March 1; and Samuel Huntington to the States, March 2, 1781.
2 This day Carroll also wrote the following letter to unidentified correspondents, but probably James Brice, John Hoskins Stone and Samuel Turbutt Wright, for whom see Carroll to Lee, February 13, 1781, note 4. "Gentlemen. I enclose three packets; by next post I will arra[n]ge that business agreable to yr desire. Many happy years to Col. Stone & his Lady, & wish my other two friends woud give me an opportunity of Saluting them in the Same manner Soon. I beg leave to refer you to mine to his Excellency. Maj. Wright will hear from me by next post abt his Business." Lloyd W. Smith Collection, NjMoHP.