New York April the 7th 1785
My much valued friends letter of March the 24th1 was this day delivered to me, but not by Mr. Kirkland or Colo. Allan, it came from our Door-keeper who told me that it had been picked up on Long Island. I received it however, with that true content that your letters always bring with them. You have certainly done me justice when you have taken me for an Unchanging Friend. I endeavor not to take up friendships lightly, and therefore I am not capable of lightly laying them down. But in this case, I am much too sensible of the honor done me by your friendship not to wish most sincerely for its continuance. And the true reason for want of punctuality in writing, I assigned to you in my letter of March 14th last. The reasons there assigned will, I hope, secure for me your pardon for having employed an Amanuensis (my Nephew Shippen) upon that letter.
Your recommendation of Messrs. Kirkland & Allan are very sufficient to procure for them my utmost favor.2 Here you observe that I have personal knowledge of the deserts recommended. I have, but it was not necessary when I reflected who it was that recommended.
I hope that we have gained your approbation by sending our Patriot friend Mr. J. Adams Minister to London. I hope also for good things from that Mission. Spain seems mal-affected to us, but as she has a commencing dispute with Great Britain about the Musquetto shore, perhaps we may find in her Minister, expected here this month, a more accommodating spirit concerning the Mississippi than has yet appeared.
I am, with sincerest sentiments of esteem, My dear Sir your affectionate friend,
Richard Henry Lee
Receiver's copy, Samuel Adams Papers, New York Public Library.
1 See Adams, Writings (Cushing), 4:312 - 14.
2 Adams had appealed to Lee's "Sense of Justice" in advancing the Rev. Samuel Kirkland's claims for compensation for his services in ministering to and maintaining the neutrality of the Six Nations during the war and John Allan's bid for reimbursement for his services as superintendent of Indian affairs in the Eastern department. Kirkland's April 6 memorial was referred on the 20th to a committee consisting of David Howell, Samuel Holten, and William Samuel Johnson whose April 25 report was read the following day but not addressed until June 1 when Congress awarded Kirkland pay, subsistence, and expenses for his services from 1779 to the present, but denied the committee's recommendation that he be appointed chaplain to the U.S. troops to be stationed at the western posts so that he could "continue his services among the Indians of the six nations and endeavour to preserve their attachment to the interests of the U. States." See JCC, 28:285n.2, 297n.1, 306 - 7, 407 - 8. John Allan's April 20 petition was referred the following day to the board of treasury which reported June 6. The board denied Allan's claim for the emoluments of a military officer since his commission was purely a civil one, but recommended that he be paid $3,494 for his services to June 4, 1783, and $870 45/90 for his final months of service until he learned of his dismissal. Congress approved his salary for the final months on June 13 but delayed approval of his salary to 1783 until September 29 when it was charged to the requisition for 1784. See JCC, 28:287n, 431 - 32, 456, 467n, 29:780.