mind; you will see Doc Franklin's sentiments, in the extract enclosa.

Last Tuesday came on the important question for fixing a place for the seat of Congress; after a deliberate discussion the competition appeard to be between two places, the banks of the Pawtomac near Georgetown, and the banks of the Deleware near Trenton; the determination is in favour of the latter, but not with that unanimity that could be wished; whither this determination. will be found so agreable as ultimately to give satisfaction & effectually ascertain the residence of Congress, time will discover.

As neither of us thought of staying any longer than the present year when we came from home, we are not possess of the Act of Assembly appointing delegates for the ensuing year; it will therefore be necessary for delegates to come forward with their credentials for the next year, or leave the State unrepresented.

Congress have been employd some time in preparing matters for a treaty with the late hostile tribes of Indians, in order, among other things, to settle a line or boundary for them & prepare the way to dispose of some of the western lands, & by that means discharge a part of the national debt; when this business is finished it will be communicated to your Excellency.

We are disappointed in our hopes of a recess of Congress during this autumn; the unexpected delay of the definitive treaty & the important matters depending on that event render it alltogether unsafe for Congress to adjourn at present, and as full a representation as may be seems necessary.

We have the honour to be, with the highest respect, Your most obedient, humble servants.

His Exy Gov' TRUMBULL.

SAM. HUNTINGTON.

BENJ. HUNTINGTON.

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON TO JONATHAN TRUMBULL.

PRINCETON, Octor 16th, 1783.

SIR, Since the last joint address from myself and collegue, nothing very remarkable hath occurd.

Mr Van Berkel, the Dutch ambassador, after a long passage is at length arriva in Philadelphia, but hath made no communication to Congress respecting his mission.

I do myself the honour herewith to transmit your Excellency by the bearer, Mr John Franklin, two vollumes of the Journals of Congress for the current year as far as they are published; also duplicates of a list of the officers in the Executive Departments under Congress.

The office of Secretary for Forreign Affairs is now entirely vacant; the Marine Department almost vacant, & will probably be wholly abollished; & the War Department allow only one officer, and the expence diminished more than half by a late report of Committee for that purpose.

By the best intelligence from New York, which is in some measure authentic, it seems probable the Brittish expect wholly to evacuate their posts at that place & its vicinity in the month of Novem. Their long delay hath made Congress cautious of disbanding the Continental army, but it is hoped the period is not far off when further expence on that account may be prevented.

The instructions relative to treaty with the Indians (mentioned in our last) is allmost finished.

I expect to leave Congress the last of this month, should have set out sooner in order to meet the Assembly before their recess, but am reluctant to leave some important matters now depending.

I have the honour to be, with perfect esteem & regard, Your Excy's humble servant.

Govr TRUMbull.

SAM. HUNTINGTON.

Indorsed 16th Octo, 1783. Honble Sam. Huntington, de sundry, recd at

N. Haven.

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON TO JONATHAN TRUMBULL.

His Excellency the Governor of Connecticutt, now at New Haven. PRINCETON, Octor 22a, 1783.

SIR, Congress have recommended to the United States to set apart the second Thursday in Decem' as a day of publick thanksgiving.

They have also resolved that in future two places be prepared for the residence of Congress, viz., at or near Trenton on the Deleware & at or near Georgetown on the Patowmac, & until accomodations are provided necessary for the purpose, to set alternately at Trenton in Jersey & at Anapolis in Maryland, & in consequence have agreed, on the 10th of Novem' to adjourn from this place to meet at Anapolis on the 25th of the same month, & to set at each place not more than one year, nor less than six months, if public business shall require so long a session in the year.

This plan hath been adopted after mature consideration of a variety of circumstances, too tedious to be fully enumerated.

The appointment of the only place for their residence at or near Trenton did not give satisfaction, and for want of present accomodations it seemed necessary to remove to some other place for their session the ensuing winter, & was thought essential for the public welfare by most of the delegates to avoid the city of Philadelphia, & all other large trading cities in future, & in this sentiment we presume our constituents fully coincide.

After all, time & experience will best determine upon the wisdom & utility of the measure.

I have the honour, to be with the highest respect,
Your Exy's humble servt.

His Excellency the Govr of Connecticutt.

SAM. HUNTINGTON.

Indorsed: 22nd Octo, 1783. Honble Sam' Huntington, de sundry, recd N. Haven, 1st Nov❜ seq.

INDEX.