Perfumes, as of Eden, flow'd sweetly along, The queen of the world and the child of the skies." Samuel Kettell, Specimens of American Poetry (Boston, 1829), I, 246–247. V165. Woman's Work for the Soldiers (1780) BY MRS. ESTHER REED AND GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON Mrs. Reed was the wife of Joseph Reed, for whom see No. 61 above. The letter shows the interest and spirit of self-sacrifice of the time. - Bibliography: W. B. Reed, Life and Correspondence of Joseph Reed, II, 253-255, and Life of Esther Reed.· . For Washington, see No. 195 below. SIR, THE Philadelphia, July 4th, 1780. HE subscription set on foot by the ladies of this City for the use of the soldiery, is so far completed as to induce me to transmit to your Excellency an account of the money I have received, and which, although it has answered our expectations, it does not equal our wishes, but I am persuaded will be received as a proof of our zeal for the great cause of America and our esteem and gratitude for those who so bravely defend it. The amount of the subscription is 200,580 dollars, and £625 6s. 8d. in specie, which makes in the whole in paper money 300,634 dollars. The ladies are anxious for the soldiers to receive the benefit of it, and wait your directions how it can best be disposed of. We expect some considerable additions from the country and have also wrote to the other States in hopes the ladies there will adopt similar plans, to render it more general and beneficial. With the utmost pleasure I offer any farther attention and care in my power to complete the execution of the design, and shall be happy to accomplish it agreeable to the intention of the donors and your wishes on the subject. The ladies of my family join me in their respectful compliments and sincerest prayer for your health, safety, and success. I have the honour to be, With the highest respect, Your obedient humble servant, E. REED. SIR, Banks of Schuylkill, July 31st, 1780. Ever since I received your Excellency's favour of the 20th of this month, I have been endeavouring to procure the linen for the use of the soldiers, and it was not till Saturday last I have been able to meet with any fit for the purpose, it being unavoidably delayed so long. I have been informed of some circumstances, which I beg leave to mention, and from which perhaps the necessity for shirts may have ceased; one is the supply of 2000 sent from this State to their line, and the other, that a considerable number is arrived in the French fleet, for the use of the army in general. Together with these, an idea prevails among the ladies, that the soldiers will not be so much gratified, by bestowing an article to which they are entitled from the public, as in some other method which will convey more fully the idea of a reward for past services, and an incitement to future duty. Those who are of this opinion propose the whole of the money to be changed into hard dollars, and giving each soldier two, to be entirely at his own disposal. This method I hint only, but would not, by any means wish to adopt it, or any other, without your full approbation. If it should meet with your concurrence, the State of Pennsylvania will take the linen I have purchased, and, as far as respects their own line, will make up any deficiency of shirts to them, which they suppose will not be many after the fresh supplies are received. If, after all, the necessity for shirts, which, though it may cease, as to the Pennsylvania Troops, may still continue to other parts of the army, the ladies will immediately make up the linen we have, which I think can soon be effected, and forward them to camp, and procure more as soon as possible, having kept in hand the hard money I have received, until I receive your reply. The circumstances I have mentioned will, I hope, appear a sufficient motive for the ladies postponing the execution of the plan your Excellency proposed; I will not, therefore, take up your time in apologizing for the delay. I have to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from your Excellency of the 20th, to which I would reply, that if the scheme to give the soldiers hard money, should be thought proper, of course, the putting the money I have, into the Bank, could not be done, and I find, on inquiry, that considerable advantage may be had, by laying out hard money either in linen or any other article. . E. REED. MADAM, Head-Quarters, Orange Town, August 10th, 1780. I have the honour to thank you for your favour of the 31st ult. It was not my intention to divert the benevolent donation of the ladies from the channel they wished it to flow in. I gave my opinion in consequence of their request, but I shall be equally ready to subscribe to theirs, and will execute their commands in the manner most agreeable to themselves. At the same time I have my apprehensions (from the peculiar circumstances of our army) that a taste of hard money may be productive of much discontent, as we have none but depreciated paper for their pay. A few provident soldiers will probably avail themselves of the advantages which may result from the generous bounty of two hard dollars in specie, but it is equally probable that it will be the means of bringing punishment on a number of others whose propensity to drinking, overcoming all other considerations, too frequently leads them into irregularities and disorder which must be corrected. A shirt would render the condition of the soldiery much more comfortable than it is at present, and no prospect of public supplies (in any degree adequate to our wants) are yet opened to my view. The provision made or making for the troops of Pennsylvania, and the late importation from France, is small, in comparison of our aggregate call, and affords a melancholy prospect of continued sufferings. SIR, I have the honour to be, Madam, with the most perfect respect, GEORGE WASHINGTON. Banks of Schuylkill, August 10th, 1780. I had the honour of receiving yours of the 10th instant, to which I would reply, that the ladies had not the most distant wish that their donation should be bestowed in any manner, that did not perfectly accord with your opinion. I shall, therefore, without delay, put the plan in execution, and I am in hopes our expedition will prove, at once, our industry, our earnest desires to promote the comfort of the soldiery, and our cheerfulness to comply with your request. . . . E. REED. William B. Reed, Life and Correspondence of Joseph Reed (Philadelphia, 1847), II, 262-266 passim. CHAPTER XXVII-THE LOYALISTS 166. A Tory's Recantation (1775) BY R. H. AND A COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE This piece shows some of the processes applied to the refractory to make them adhere to the measures of the majority, and discloses one of the functions of the committees of correspondence. — Bibliography of the loyalists: Tyler, Literary History of the Revolution, I, chs. xiii-xvii, xxii; L. Sabine, Biographical Sketches of Loyalists, Introduction; Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, VII, 185-214; Channing and Hart, Guide, § 141. I ACKNOWLEDGE to have wrote a piece, and did not sign it, since said to be an extract of a letter from Kent county, on Delaware, published in Humphreys' Ledger, No. 3. It was not dated from any place, and is some altered from the original. I folded it up and directed the same to J. F. and Sons. I had no intention to have it published; and further, I let them know the author thought best it should not be published; nor did I think they would. — I am sincerely sorry I ever wrote it, as also for its being published, and hope I shall be excused for this, my first breach in this way, and I intend it shall be the last. R. H. To the committee of correspondence for Kent county, on Delaware. May 2d, 1775 SIR.The president of the committee of correspondence, by and with the advice of such other of the members of that committee as he was able to collect and consult, this day laid before the committee of inspection for this county, your letter wherein you confess yourself to be the author of the Kentish letter (commonly so called) published in 3d No. of Humphreys' Ledger. The committee took the same into consideration, and have unanimously resolved that it is unsatisfactory, and you are requested to attend the committee at their next meeting on Tuesday the 9th inst. at French Battell's, in Dover, and render such satisfaction to the committee, as will enable them to clear the good people of this county from the aspertions of that letter, and justify them in the eyes of the public. Signed by order of the committee. To R. H. GENTLEMEN. With sorrow and contrition for my weakness and folly, I confess myself the author of the letter, from which an extract was published in the 3d No. of Humphreys' Ledger, said to be from Kent county, on Delaware; but at the same time to declare it was published without my consent, and not without some alterations. I am now convinced that the political sentiments therein contained, were founded on the grossest error; more especially that malignant insinuation, that "if the king's standard were now erected, nine out of ten would repair to it," could not have been suggested, but from the deepest infatuation. True indeed it is, the people of this county have ever shewn a zealous attachment to his majesty's person and government, and whenever he raised his standard in a just cause, were ready to flock to it but let the severe account I now render to an injured people, witness to the world, that none are more ready to oppose tyranny or to be first in the cause of liberty, than the inhabitants of Kent county. Conscious that I can render no satisfaction adequate to the injury I have done my country, I can only beg the forgiveness of my countrymen, upon those principles of humanity, which may induce them to consider the frailty of human nature- and I do profess and promise, that I will never again oppose those laudable measures, necessarily adopted by my countrymen, for the preservation of American freedom: but will co-operate with them to the utmost of my abilities, in their virtuous struggle for liberty (so far as is consistent with my religious principles.) R. H. Resolved unanimously, that the committee do think the above recantation fully satisfactory. THO'S. NIXON, Jr. Clerk. May 9th, 1775 GENTLEMEN. - Whatever the public opinion may be of what I have heretofore said respecting the contest between Great Britain and the colonies, I do solemnly assure you that I have never had any thing in view but a reconciliation between them, upon the full establishment of all the constitutional rights and privileges of America. Which rights. and privileges I am determined to defend with my life and property |