Papers of John Adams, volume 5

Order to Continental Officers, 22 September 1777 JA Continental Congress Continental Army, officers Order to Continental Officers, 22 September 1777 Adams, John Continental Congress Continental Army, officers

Order to Continental Officers

Bethlehem,1 September 22, 1777

Having here observed a diligent attention to the sick and wounded, and a benevolent desire to make the necessary provi-293 294 sion for the relief of the distressed as far as the power of the Brethren enable them,

We desire that all Continental officers may refrain from disturbing the persons or property of the Moravians in Bethlehem; and, particularly, that they do not disturb or molest the houses where the women are assembled.

Given under our hands at the place and time above mentioned.

John Hancock, Samuel Adams, James Duane, Nathan Brownson, Nathaniel Folsom, Richard Law Eliphalet Dyer, Henry Marchant, William Duer, Cornelius Harnett, Richard Henry Lee, Henry Laurens, Benjamin Harrison, Joseph Jones, John Adams, William Williams, Delegates to Congress.

printed : ( PMHB ), 13:71–72 (April 1889), from extracts from diaries in the Moravian Archives, Bethlehem, Penna.

Members of the congress had hastily left Philadelphia in the early morning of 19 Sept., when they were warned of Gen. Howe's approach. To ensure the safety of the papers of the congress, some of them took a circuitous route by way of Bristol, Trenton, Easton, Bethlehem, and Reading to Lancaster, to which place the congress was adjourned; within two or three days the members moved to York (JA to AA, 30 Sept., Adams Family Correspondence , 2:349–350; JCC , 8:754–756).

From Samuel Freeman, 25 September 1777 Freeman, Samuel JA From Samuel Freeman, 25 September 1777 Freeman, Samuel Adams, John

From Samuel Freeman

Sir Boston Sept. 25 1777

Knowing how much you have at Heart the Establishing the Currency of this State and the United States—I take this opportunity to inform you that last Week the House, in a Committee of the whole, took under consideration the Report of the Committees lately met at Springfield—and voted to report, that

1. All the Money not on Interest (small Change less than a Dollar excepted) be called in and exchanged for Treasurers Notes on Interest, no note to be less than £10

2. That a Tax of £300,000 be levied on the Inhabitants to be paid by the first of January next

3. That in future Taxes be assess'd quarterly

4. That no more Money be emitted

and yesterday the House (64 out of 108) accepted the first paragraph.1 The other four are to be taken up to day.

We have emitted during the War as follows viz

295 image

Notes—On Interest	£636,400.
Bills of and above a Dollar	439,079.	7.	4
Bills less than a Dollar	30,962.	12.	8
In all	£1100,442.2

This includes about £15000 that was burnt, being misprinted. I am, with respect Your Honors most obedt. &c very humbl servt

Sam Freeman

P.S. If it is not too much Trouble and theres no impropriety in it shou'd be oblijed to you for the Emissions of Congress.

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “To Hon. John Adams Esq Philadelphia Free”; postal marks: “Boston 25 SE”; docketed: “Freeman Sept 25, '77.”

The bill was not passed, however, until 13 Oct., when a tax of £400,000 was also authorized, the first £250,000 due on 31 Jan. 1781 and the remainder on 31 Jan. 1782 (Mass., Province Laws , 5:734–737).

The correct total is £1,106,442.