assured that many must suffer if not soon supplied, and that he came passenger with Capt Bailey home, who, he is well satisfied, is a person of good character and a true friend to his country, and his representation of matters relative to the distresses of the people on sd Island may be relied on for truth, and further this Deponant saith not. Dated at Norwalk, this 17th day of March, 1780.

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, ss.

NORWALK, 17th March, 1780. }

JONATHAN SEYMOUR.

Personally appeared Jonth Seymour and made solem'n oath that the matters contained in the above decleration is justly and truly stated, according to his best understanding.

Before STEPHEN ST JOHN, Justice of Pc.

We the subscribers, the Civil Authority and Selectmen of the Town of Norwalk in the County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, do hereby certify whom this may concern that Capt Ebenezer Baily, the signer of the memorial contained in this sheet of paper, hath applied to us for our opinion with respect to there being provisions to be spared from among the inhabitants of sa Norwalk, on which we give it as our opinion that the inhabitants stand in want of his cargo and would be glad of an opportunity to part with rye and Indian corn for his articles, and that such provisions may be spared for that purpose, and we further certify that the within Deponant, Jonth Seymore, is a person of varacity and that credit ought to be given to what he declares.

Given under our hands, in Norwalk, the 16th day of March, A. D. 1780.

ELIPT LOCKWOOD | Justices of

Indorsed: 16th March, 1780. Civil Authority & Selectmen of Norwalk,

de a Permit for Eben Bailey, Nantucket, recd p Capt Thorp, 23a inst.

ROGER SHERMAN AND OLIVER ELLSWORTH TO JONATHAN

TRUMBULL.

His Excellency Jonathan Trumbull, Esquire, Governor of the State of Connecticut, Lebanon.

PHILADELPHIA, March 20th, 1780.

SIR, -The President will transmit to your Excellency the resolutions of Congress for sinking the continental bills of credit and issuing new bills on the credit of the several States, which we hope will be approved by your Excellency & the Honorable the General Assembly.

It was judged impracticable to carry on the war another year with the present currency, and no other plan has been proposed that appeared so likely to relieve us from the embarrassments of a fluctuating currency as that which has been adopted by Congress. The depreciation here has been at the rate of sixty for one and in the Southern States from forty to fifty. Neither the scarcity or the collection of taxes have had any effect to appreciate, or fix, its value. 'Tis apprehended that the new bills will be effectually secured against depreciation, from the smallness of the quantity to be in circulation, the funds provided for their redemption, the shortness of the period, and the payment of an annual interest. The preparing them under the direction of the Board of Treasury, and the insurance of payment by the United States in case any State shall by the events of the war be rendered incapable of redeeming them, will give them a currency throughout the United States and be a security against counterfeits.

This emission of bills will not only introduce a stable medium of trade, but increase the revenue the amount of five millions of dollars equal to specie. The six tenths of the bills to be emitted will enable the States to purchase the specific supplies called for by the resolution of

the 25th of February last, and the remaining four tenths will supply the continental Treasury for paying the army, &c., while the States are collecting in the old bills by taxes; and although it is recommended to collect in the continental bills by monthly assessments, it may be expedient to give the people an opportunity of paying the whole at one payment. It may also be expedient for the States to allow new bills to be exchanged for the old, that the old may be drawn out of circulation as soon as possible to prevent further imposition by counterfeits, and if there should be a scarcity of money people might be allowed to pay their rates in provisions, to be delivered at the magazines at the prices fixed by Congress. The new bills will be prepared and forwarded to the States as soon as possible.

We hear that the Honorable Assembly have ordered a new emission of bills. We beg leave to submit to your Excellency whether it will not be expedient to stop the issuing of them, and immediately adopt the plan recommended by Congress. We should be sorry to have that fail of the good effects expected from it by any act or omission on the part of the States. The same proportions are kept up in the present requisitions as in the resolution of the 7th of October last, wherein Connecticut is rated much too high, but hope that wont prevent her compliance, at least to the amount of her quota, which would be about one twelfth part, in case none of the States were disabled by the events of the war from raising their quotas. Perhaps her quota in present circumstances would be more than one eleventh part of the whole. Repeated assurances have been given by Conthat those States which do more than their proporgress tion shall be equitably compensated.

There is a report before Congress for fixing the rate in specie at which the loan-office certificates shall be paid. It is expected that a new regulation of the Quarter Mas

ter's and other staff departments will soon be established on the most economical plans whereby much expence will be saved. They will be accommodated to the late regulation of making the purchases by the States. The prices of the specific articles to be furnished by the States were estimated at about 50 per cent above the prices in 1774. They include all expences of purchasing and delivering them into the magazines. The motives for adopting that measure were, the rendering the supplies more certain and equable among the States, and to prevent frauds & abuses, and the aid of the States in procuring supplies was found to be absolutely

necessary.

By a letter from General Lincoln of the 22a ultimo, we are informed that part of the British forces that left New York were landed on St. John's & James's Islands, near Charlestown, the numbers not ascertained, but he thinks there is a good prospect of making a succesful opposition to them. Mr Lawrence expected to sail for Europe the 26th of Feb.

We are, with the greatest respect,

Your Excellency's humble servants.

His Excellency Governor TRUmbull.

ROGER SHERMAN.

OLIVER ELLSWORTH.

Indorsed 20th March, 1780. Honble Sherman & Elsworth, Esq's, de the resolve to extricate from a fluctuating medium, &c., recd 1st April, 1780, mane, p Brown.

OLIVER ELLSWORTH TO JONATHAN TRUMBULL.

Philadelphia, March 23, 1780.

SIR, -Permit me as a private citizen to express my wishes that the late resolutions of Congress on the subject of finance may meet your Excellency's approbation and support. Your Excellency must have long seen with

alarming apprehensions the crisis to which a continued. depreciation of the paper currency would one day reduce our affairs. It is now, Sir, just at hand. Without more stability in the medium, & far more ample supplies in the treasury than for months past, it will be impossible for our military preperations to proceed, & the army must disband. The present moment is indeed critical, & if let slip the confusion & distress will be infinite. This, Sir, is percisely the point of time for the several Legislatures to act decidedly & in a manner that the world will forever call wise. It is now in their power by a single operation to give a sure establishment for publick credit, to realize the publick debt at its just value, &, without adding to the burdens of the people, to supply the treasury. To furnish one common ground to unite their exertions upon for the accomplishment of these great purposes, your Excellency will easily percieve to be the spirit & design of the resolutions above referred to. They speak a language too plain to need any comment. I will only add concerning them that they have been the product of much labor & discussion; and tho' some States may have reason for thinking they are not the best possible, yet they are the best Congress could agree upon; and should these be rejected I confess I do not well see on what ground the common exertions of the several States are to be united and continued hereafter.

Your Excellency will forgive me the very great freedom of this letter, and permit me the honor of subscribing myself,

With the highest respect,

Your Excellency's most obed', humb' servt.
OLIVE ELLSWORTH.

His Excellency Governor TRUmbul.

Indorsed: 23d March, 1780. Honble Ol. Elsworth, de sundry, recd 1st

April seq., mane, p Brown.