USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Portland > The history of Portland, from its first settlement: with notices of the neighbouring towns, and of the changes of government in Maine, Part II 1700-1833 > Part 35
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Voted, That if Mr. John Thrasher does not proceed as above, that a war- rant be issued to Capt. Joseph Noyes, to convey the above -- and
to the General Court.
October 3d. The committee met at the desire of Mr. Samuel Longfellow, who on his passage to the West Indies, maet with a gale of wind, damaged his vessel, and lost part of his deck-load, and asks leave to re-load his vessel, and proceed on his voyage. Then
Voted, That he be not permitted to take any more loading on board.
Deacon Titcomb and Mr. Enoch Ilsley applied for leave to send a sloop on a whaling voyage. The committee voted that it was not in their power.
To shew further what kind of government existed at that time, I add the following :
These persons were probably Capt. Jeremiah Pote and his son-in-law, Thomas Wyer.
328
Appendix. [P. II.
FALMOUTH, Nov. 4th, 1775.
At a meeting of a number of gentlemen, from the several towns, at Col. Tyng's house, Col. Jona. Mitchell chosen Moderator, P. Jones Clerk,
Mr. James Sullivan was chosen Commander in Chief over the Militia and the other companies now in pay in the province.
Voted, That four persons be appointed to assist Mr. Sullivan.
Voted, That Col. Mitchell be second in command-Col. Fogg third-Dea- con Titcomb, Major Noyes.
Mr. Isaiah Tucker be commander to take care of the cannon and see them in order.
Voted a committee to supply the soldiers.
Voted one person to supply the people, and Mr. Wm. Owen was chosen.
Voted a person to collect what balls we can get. Mr. Brackett Marston, and Mr. John Bagley, to collect the balls.
No. VII-Page 151.
Muster roll of Capt. David Bradish's Company in Col. Phinney's regiment to August 1, 1775.
David Bradish, Falmouth, Capt. enlisted James McManners, Private, May 12.
April 24, 1774. Jona. Gardner,
Bartholomew York "
1st Lt.
John Clough,
66
Paul Ellis
2d Lt.
Thomas Paine, ¥
Wm.Farrington
Ist sergeant
Eben'r Newman,
May 12. Daniel Green,
Caleb Carter,
2d
Joshua Robinson,
Levi Merrill,
3d
Joseph Barbour
Abner Dow,
66
4th “
Josiah Shaw,
Henry Sewall,
66
2d
3d
4th "
Thomas Cavanah,
Benjamin Tukey,
Private,
Loring Cushing
Benjamin Scollay,
Zachariah Baker,
Daniel Gookin,
Daniel Marston,
Cornelius Bramhall, “
Henry Flood,
Abijah Parker,
66
66
James Flood,
Abijah Pool,
Joseph Thomes,
Zachariah Nowell, '
Samuel Cates,
Wm. Hutchinson,
John M'Intosh,
Jacob Amey,
John Bailey,
Moses Grant,
Philip Fowler,
Charles Knight,
Joseph Cox,
Matthias Haynes,
George Bell,
Enoch Moody,
John Penniman,
66
66
Wm. Moody,
66
John Scott,
Lemuel Gooding,
66
Benjamin Randel,
66
Moses Bardick,
Richard Conden,
66
Eben'r Clough,
Jona. Rand Drum Major,
John Pettingill,
Joseph Hearsay, " Fifer,
66
"
Ist Corporal.
Joshua Berry,
Isaac Child,
Samuel Dow,
Daniel Mussey,
Tobias Pillsbury,
Richard Gooding
66
66
66
329
Appendix.
No. VIII-Page 157.
The houses now standing, which survived the conflagration of the town are in Congress-street, Jeremiah Preble's and David Wyer jr's opposite the bury- ing ground, Abner Lowell's, Enoch Moody's on the corner of Franklin-street, Thomas Smith's corner of Wilmot-street, Dr. Deane's next above the meeting house. On the south side Smith Cobb's, Mrs. Greele's, Jonathan Paine's, cor- ner of Essex-street, and Jonathan Bryant's.
Middle-street. Col. Tyng's, Theophilus Bradbury's, John Greenwood's, now Mrs. Jewett's, corner of Silver-street, Joshua Freeman's, corner of Exchange- street, Benjamin Titcomb's corner of Plumb-street, Marston's tavern, Ham's, corner of Centre-street, Wm. McLellan's and Benjamin Mussey's, both moved back and now standing in Temple-street, Deacon Codman's, the tavern-house now occupied by Morehead, John Barbour's, a house belonging to Gen. Pre- ble which stood where Court-street enters Middle-street, now on Court-street, lately occupied by Jonathan Stuart, the house on the corner of Court-street then occupied by the Owens, who moved to Brunswick, Dr. Watts' on Lime- street, and the house occupied by the late Dr. Harding on a court.
Fore-street. The two story wooden house on the corner of the street which leads to clay cove from Middle-street, Benjamin Proctor's, one story, now standing in the rear of Warren and Hersey's brick store. Wm. Thomes', op- posite Wyer & Noble's store, Deacon Cotton's, corner of Centre-street, mov- ed to Cotton-street, Bryce Mclellan's near the foot of High-street, and Poge's near the junction of Fore and Pleasant-streets.
Exchange-street. Mrs. Deering's, a house moved by Col. Waite to Fore- street, and now standing there above Centre-street.
Plumb-street. The Randall house east side next below Capt. Mclellan's.
Centre-street. The late Judge Frothingham's, corner of Free-street, Dins- dale's, near the foot.
Main-street. The Mclellan house next above Scribner's tavern, Motley house nearly opposite, the Asylum house which then belonged to Benjamin Larrabee, the Trott house, one story, nearly opposite State-street.
A drawing of the town was made representing it at the time of the fire of which it was proposed to make an engraving. The following graphic letter from Dr. Deane on the subject will repay perusal.
"Sir-I find you have been so partial to me as to manifest in a letter to the Col. some opinion of my skill in drawing, by desiring that I would suggest some alterations and amendments in Pointer's draft. I profess but little ex- perience in such matters ; but I have been examining it as well as I could- and in general I think the design very badly executed ; for I can find scarcely one building drawn according to truth. King-street is not so straight as it ought to have been ; and all the houses adjoining it are drawn with their ends to the street, whereas the most of them fronted it. The court-house is misera- bly done. One street is omitted, viz. that between Capt. John Cox's house and the Miss Holton's. The wind-mill should have been placed further to the
2
330
Appendix. [P. II.
northeast. Back-street should have altered its course from the meeting-house to the wind-mill. Barns and buildings of less importance are almost wholly omitted, and some large stores not inserted. All the buildings between the wind-mill and fiddle-lane on Back-street are left out. These are some of the most essential faults that have occurred to me ; but it would be endless to enumerate all the errors.
I should think it advisable that the gentleman who makes the plate should come and see the town ; for I can conceive of no other way for him to get so true an idea of it. The expense of his journey will but little augment the cost of the whole. But if it should be thought best to go on with the work imme- diately, I would suggest the following alterations :
Let barns, &c. be placed where you can recollect there were any ; and perhaps it would not be amiss to make some where you do not remember any. Not only does justice require it, but it is necessary to give the [appearance of a compact settlement. Let the meeting-house have a bell, and also a window or two in the tower. Especially let the taking of a man with a torch in Cox's lane be inserted. The stripping of a fallen officer near to Capt. Pearson's house in the street ; and the knocking down of an incendiary with the breech of a gun near to Mr. Butler's door. Perhaps it would not be amiss to have two or three teams that were belated in some of the streets, and people hud- dling goods into the carts. A man may be placed near the fire-shell that fell near the meeting-house, tossing it away with the muzzel of his gun.
I think the sun might be placed higher above the horizon, or else left out entirely. The street as you enter the town is more than twice as wide as it should be. I suppose there should be another boat attempting to land at Mr. . Cotton's, and armed men opposing it.
The hay-market should be placed where the street divides.
The wharves should be nearer parallel with the cross streets than they are.
The roof of Doctor Watts' house should be shaped after this
manner.
The roof of Col. Preble's
The roof of my house
thus, -
thus,
The roof of your shop thus, -
The roof of Mr. Marston's house thus,
The roofs of Mr. Codman's and Capt. Boynton's thus, .
Mr. Codman's store from the harbor thus,
The rest may be represented as having common, or pitched roofs.
One general fault that I observe is, that the low houses are made too small in proportion to the large ones.
Mr. Codman's lane should have been right against the front door of the meeting-house, and a little to the northeast of it, the lane that goes down be-
331
Appendix.
tween Capt. Ross' and Dea. Titcomb's. My house is 70 feet from the nearest part of the meeting-house, the barn and part of the wood-house should appear between them. The hill at the northeast end of the Neck is not near high enough ; nor do the grave-stones appear plenty enough in the burying-ground. The land should rise, you know, as you come out of the town; from Capt. Joseph Mclellan's to Mr. Joshua Brackett's, it is up-hill.
These corrigenda I have found in the draft I borrowed of Mr. Preble. Pos- sibly it may be different from that which you have. You will please to see whether these faults are in it, and direct the engraver accordingly.
What if you should write over the piece, "A View of the burning of Fal- mouth, in Casco Bay, the principal town of the county of Cumberland, in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England."
At the bottom you may put something like the following :- That execrable scoundrel and monster of ingratitude, Capt. II. Mowatt of Scotland, who had been treated with extraordinary kindness a few months before by the town of Falmouth, obtained by his most earnest solicitation an order from Graves, one of King George's admirals lying at Boston, together with the command of a small fleet, having on board the necessary apparatus, to burn and destroy the said town. He came before it the 17th day of October, in the year 1775, and near sunset, made known his infernal errand, by a flag with a letter full of bad English and worse spelling ; at the same time proposing to spare the town, and endeavour to get the order reversed, if the cannon and arms, with some persons as hostages, were delivered into his hands. The inhabitants assem- bled and voted by no means to submit to this infamous proposal. Therefore he spent the next day in cannonading, bombarding and throwing an immense quantity of carcasses and live-shells into the defenceless town, and kindling some fires with torches, whereby more than three quarters of the buildings, with much wealth in them, were reduced to ashes, and the remaining ones greatly torn and damaged-by which horrible devastation and loss estimated at , many hundreds of persons were reduced to extreme distress. And this just view of the town in flames, is made public to shew to the world a specimen of the conduct of George the third and his tory-underlings, towards colonists who were supposed to be uneasy under British tyranny ; and what vengeance was executed upon them long before the corrupt court of Britain declared them to be in a state of rebellion.
If you do not like the words execrable scoundrel, you may say, infamous in- cendiary, or what you please. Your humble servant,
Samuel Freeman, Esq.
SAMUEL DEANE.
A notice of the burning of the town extracted from a London paper.
LONDON, Dec. 22, 1775. To the Printer of the Public Leger.
SIR-If the accountof the burning of Falmouth is true, I shall blush when- ever I recollect that I am an Englishman. Is it possible to read that horrid re- cital, without feeling one's mind agitated by a mixture of pity, horror, shame,
332
Appendix. [P. II.
indignation and resentment ; to burn a town, thus in cold blood, surpasses every idea of savage barbarity and brutality. I want language to express my keen feelings ; if I, who am an Englishman, unconnected with America, ex- cept by the ties which ought to bind fellow subjects, even not known to an American, am thus agitated by the contemplation of such an infernal scene, what effects must it have produced in the breasts of those, who saw their habi- tations smoking in ruins ? Must they not have been raised to a pitch of fury and madness, not to be equalled in bedlam ? If we are to believe that account, the same inhuman, cowardly revenge has involved the whole coast of Amer- ica in one common ruin. Was that a way to promote the welfare of the Em- pire ? Was that a way to conciliate their affections ? Was it consistent with the bravery, the generosity and humanity of the English nation ? The Americans will think it was the act of the English nation ; but how unjust their supposition. The English nation recoils with horror from the news, which even to their imagination is dreadful ; they execrate the tory minis- ters who commanded the shocking devastation. And what end could this in- humane measure be supposed to answer ? Did ministry imagine that the in- fliction of so cruel a calamity, was a likely way to bring the colonies into an acknowledgement of the power of parliament ? Impossible ; setting fire to their town, was the utmost they had to fear, and when the utmost had been done, which the most malignant tory-heart could accomplish, could it be ex- pected that men, whose rage had been excited by the most provoking injuries, would ever consent to grant to friends, what they refused to brethren ? In what other light can they be supposed to view the ruins of their once flour- ishing cities, than as the vindictive efforts of feminine malice, disappointed in its attempts to conquer ? Having borne our utmost vengeance, cruel ven- geance, that reflects more shame on us, than misery on them, can we be idiots enough to imagine that they will ever again consider England the country which gave birth to their ancestors? Will they not teach their infant off- spring to execrate our name? Will they not rehearse the cruelties ? and pointing to their stately ruins, bid them contemplate the works of Englishmen! But why do I trouble myself with writing, or you with printing-this Empire is devoted to its fate ; ministry have no regard to its interest, and there is not virtue enough in England to save it from destruction. With but a very few exceptions, our great men are gamblers, spendthrifts and coxcombs, and our great women are w-s. All ranks of men and women are intent only on their pleasures, living beyond their fortunes, and trying with each other, who shall be most extravagant, and most abandoned. What fate can attend a country which has thus put virtue, and even decency at detiance? what but contempt and ruin ? THE GHOST OF WHI.
333
Appendix.
No. IX-Page 158.
Losses sustained by the inhabitants in the destruction of the town Oct. 18, 1775.
We, the subscribers, chosen by the town of Falmouth, to examine and liqui- date the accounts of those persons who suffered by the burning the town afore- said the 18th of Oct. 1775, by the British fleet under the command of Henry Mowatt, have examined and liquidated the same according to the best of our judgment, which amounts to the sum of fifty-four thousand five hundred and twenty-seven pounds thirteen shillings. For the inspection of Congress, of which the following is a list.
PETER NOYES,
NATHANIEL WILSON, )
JOHN WAITE,
ENOCH MOODY,
RICHARD CODMAN, JOHN JOHNSON jun.
Committee.
DANIEL ILSLEY,
JOSEPH NOYES,
Falmouth, Nov. 2, 1776.
Names.
Loss in Buildings. Personal Est. Cartage. Total.
Enoch Freeman, Esq.
£790
£304
£10
£1,104
Stephen Longfellow, Esq.
1,035
74
10
1,119
Jedediah Preble, Esq.
1,715
645
10
2,370
John Cox,
523
142
5
670
Simeon Mayo,
1,810
334
10
2,154
Paul Little,
510
167
6
683
Benjamin Titcomb, ,
316 10s.
316 10s. -
Philip Kelley,
120
120
Jonathan Morse jun.
225
46
3
274
Josiah Tucker,
200
10
3
213
James Purinton,
506
40
3
549
Jane Sweetser,
309
6 10s.
315 10s.
Joseph Bailey,
300
300
Melatiah Young,
76
6
2
84
Colman Watson,
153
153
Stephen Morse,
40
3
43
John Stevenson,
50
165 10s.
10
225 10s.
Moses Haskell,
413
80
8
501
Benjamin Pettengill,
365
25 10s.
3
393 10s
Benjamin Jenks, 1
80
129
4
213
Esther Stickney,
13
13
Jabez Bradbury,
80
6
2
88
Nathaniel Hale,
8
20
2
30
Peter Woodbury,
70
70
Thomas Newman,
220
33
2
255
Simon Gookin,
15
2
17
Pearson Jones,
110
3
113
Paul Cammett,
26
30
2
58
Joseph Hatch,
7
7
.
42
1
-
334
Appendix.
[P. II.
Names.
Loss in Buildings. Personal Est. Cartage. Total.
Jemima Harrison,
20
2
22
Margaret Due,
'8
8
.
Tucker & Newman, Adm. to 3 230 the est't of J. Thrasher, dec'd
230
Robert Dryburg,
14
4 18
Josiah Bailey,
20
20
Abijah Parker,
10
10
John Thurlo,
400
8 5s. 4d. 3
4115 4
James Swain,
20
2
22
John Archer,
48
2 4s.
50 4s.
John Hans,
9
1
10
Thomas Cobb,
100
100
James Frost,
11
11
Josiah Shaw,
8
8
John Butler,
1,066
451
6
1,523
Enoch Freeman jun.
11 12s.
11 12s.
William Brown,
7
7
Joshua Lawrence,
340
26
3
369
Wheeler Riggs,
13
6
2
21
Daniel Riggs,
120
120
Joseph Ingraham,
200
100
1
301
Caleb Carter,
39
16
1
56
Abigail Crosby,
120
10
2
132
William Hoole,
15
1
16
Paul Prince & Co.
500
500
Philip Fowler,
2 8s.
2 8s.
Samuel Bradbury,
154
12
2
168
Daniel Pettengill,
269
81
3
353
Mary Kelly,
102
102
Joseph Blancher,
460
460
William Hustin,
250
13
2
265
Samuel Freeman, Esq.
540
330
3
873
Sam. Freeman for Wm.Horton
300
300
George Burns,
37
63
2
102
William Harper,
389
116
4
509
Ebenezer Snow,
125
20 10s.
3
148 10s.
Thomas Bradbury,
201
12
3
309
John Baker,
228
23
3
234
Mary Coverly,
120
30
2
152
Jonathan Lambert,
100
20
2
152
Wanton Stover,
400
22
2
424
Edmund Mountfort,
320
29
3
352
Noah Noyes,
370
30
2
402
Peter Merrill,
10
5
1
16
-
335
Appendix.
Names. Loss in Buildings. Personal Est. Cartage.
Total.
Mary Corser,
5 47
52
Ezekiel Hatch,
114
2
116
Joshua Brown,
170
170
John Burnam,
450
100
3
553
Ebenezer Mayo,
538
94
8
630
Moses Lunt,
66
9
3
78
Jeremiah Veasay,
70
14
1
85
Jeremiah Berry,
173
36
3
212
John Bradbury,
30
6
2
38
Josiah Baker,
200
6
2
208
Chipman Cobb,
60
60
Ebenezer Gustin,
100
4
2
106
Lucy Conden,
4 10s.
4 10s.
Nathaniel Deering,
320
95
1
416
Christopher Kelley,
369
33
4
406
Joseph Riggs, jun.
210
5
2
247
Summers Shattuck,
8 10s.
8 10s.
Jonathan Morse,
140
24
2
166
John Nichols,
150
1
151
Samuel Mountfort,
400
36
2
438
John Greenwood,
60
106
2
168
John Veasey,
56
7
3
66
Abraham Stevens,
9
2
11,
Margaret Maberry,
500
Mary Cunningham,
13
1
14
John Wood,
6
1
7
₮
Pelatiah Fernald,
36
1
37
Abraham Osgood,
26
44
2
72
Joseph Emery,
100
59 10
159 10
George Warren,
230
48
2
278
Thomas Wyer,
222
101
2
325
David Wyer,
67
67
Isaac Randell,
18
6
24
John Dole,
4
4
8
Peter Warren,
4 8s.
1 4s.
5 12s.
Jacob Adams,
39
2
41
Edward Watts,
80
108
4
192
Else Greele,
1
6
6
Cornelius Brimhall,
402
5
407
Enoch Moody,
4
4
8
Cornelius Briggs,
4
4
Thomas Sanford,
150
28
6
184
Mary Horn,
75
2
77
John Johnston,
45
45
5
Jonathan Bryant,
5
500
336
Appendix. [P. II.
Names. Loss in Buildings. Personal Est. Cartage.
Total.
Tho. Sanford adm. to the est. ? of Arthur Hewell, deceas'd
534
534
Zebulon Noyes,
281
40
2
323
Moses Bagley,
80
.
80
John Martin,
199
3
202
Joseph Thomes,
40
6 12s.
2
48 12s.
James Gooding jun.
6
18
2
26
Nathaniel G. Moody
170
30
3
203
James Flood,
36
36
Enoch Ilsley,
1,123
978
6
2,107
Isaac Ilsley jun.
200
10
2
212
Est. of Sarah Mosely, dec.
466
40
506
John Thrasher,
75
44
2
121
Ammi Hilton,
253
11
3
267
Joseph Silvester,
203
5
2
210
Silvanus Brown,
10 13s.
10 13s.
Joseph Quimby jun.
310
310
Benjamin Rand,
462
94
3
559
Moses Shattuck,
180
268
3
451
Josiah and Joseph Noyes,
346
107
1
454
Joseph Quimby,
470
40
3
413
Abijah Pool,
204
8
212
Joseph Harding,
6
6
Thomas Motley,
80
8
2
90
Jesse Harding,
11
11
Josiah Riggs,
720
23
3
756
Timothy Pike,
500
96
5
601
Benjamin Waite,
730
29
3
762
Henry Young Brown,
15
15
Henry Wheeler,
40
25
1
66
James Gooding,
404
10
3
417
John Waite,
540
59
26
625
Heirs to the estate of John ? Waite, deceased,
505
505
Ephnim Broad,
8
2
82
Stephen Woodman,
320
11
3
334
Moses Noyes,
100
2
102
William Pearson,
70
12
2
84
Timothy Noyes,
10
2
12
Mary Bradbury
200
33
3
236
Mary Stickney,
270
19
1.
290
James Cobb,
60
60
John Tukey jun.
450
47
2
499
Dudley Cammett,
133
-
8
2
143
.
337
Appendix.
Names.
Loss in Buildings. Personal Est. Cartage. Total.
Samuel Lowell,
18
1
19
John Minot,
14
1 15
Jonathan Elwell,
94
12
2 108
Town of Falmouth,
288
288
County of Cumberland, 800
800
Proprietors St. Paul's Church, 1,200
1,200
Committee for Joshua Moody, 200
30
230
John Tyng, Esq.
120
120
Nathaniel Coffin,
673 6.8.
48 6.
721 12 8
Committee for Mrs. Lowther,
150
150
Rev. Thomas Smith,
400
20
4
424
Anna Oulton & Co.
437
191
2
630
Harrison Brazier,
122
24
2
148
David Woodman,
107
25
2
134
Thomas Child,
29
2
31
Abigail Cobham,
56
3
59
John Kent and Oxnard,
392
3
395
Ephraim Jones,
370
22
2
394
Moses Pearson Esq.
592
96
3
691
Ebenezer Owen,
333
110
2
445
Roland Bradbury,
70
2
72
John Ingersoll,
120
2
122
Stephen Waite,
935
216
8
1,159
Lemuel Cox,
20
1 10
21 10
Wm. Waterhouse,
406
73
1
480
Moses Plumer,
544
2
5
551
Joseph McLellan,
30
87
4
121
Elizabeth Freeman,
5 13
5 13
Zachariah Nowell,
336 13 8
336 13 8
David Noyes,
419
48
4
471
Jeremiah Pote,
656
198
4
858
Mary Shearman,
4
4
Jacob Bradbury,
185
11
2
198
Thomas Cummings,
1,106
164
1,106 16 4
John Bailey,
11 6
1
12 6
David Stoddard,
133
64
3
200
James Johnson,
6
6
Lucy Smith,
60
60
John Fox,
150
150
Additional Losses at Falmouth.
Daniel Pettengill,
£359 17 8 Philip Fowler,
2
Abigail Crosby,
143 68 Paul Prince & Co.
500
James Frost,
79 15 2 Joseph Ingraham,
300
$
-
338
Appendix. [P. II.
Daniel Riggs,
120
Moses Haskell,
493 3 6
Mary Kelly,
102 15 2 Nathaniel Springate, 20 7
Wheeler Riggs,
19 68 County House, per Mr. Long-
Joseph Blanchard & Co.
460 fellow's certificate, 495
Mary Huston,
233 41
Thomas Child, 42 3 4
Samuel Bradbury,
148 10 6 John Kent,
422 7 1
No. X.
Proceedings of the inhabitants to obtain relief from Europe, with letters from Gov. Bowdoin and Pownal, and an address to the people of Ireland.
No. 1. LETTER FROM B. TITCOMB.
BOSTON, OCT. 25, 1783.
I have, with sacrificing near three days of my time, completed the address to England, which I last night delivered to the care of Mr. John Wheelwright, who is to sail this day for London. With the advice of Mr. Bowdoin, Mr. Powell and some other gentlemen, we have directed it to Gov. Pownal, as Doct. Price is engaged for Charlestown. The address to France being sign- ed by three of the committee only, Mr. Bowdoin is of opinion it will not an- swer, as it does not correspond with the certificate that attends it, and which I have now enclosed, that you may draft it anew, and get all the committee to sign it, and send up either to Mr. Powell or Bowdoin as soon as possible, as the vessel bound to France, will sail in eight days. I have given a copy of it to the French consul, who has been so kind as to engage to write to the French minister, and enclose it to him. We have concluded to direct it to Dr. Franklin, as Mr. Adams might be on his passage home ; so that you may complete a letter to him correspondent to the address, and Mr. Bowdoin's let- ter to Dr. Franklin, which with another letter to the committee, I have en- closed. I think it also advisable for the committee to write to Mr. Adams, as it is possible he may not have sailed for home. Mr. La Tome, the consul, thinks it advisable that his letter and the one to Dr. Franklin, should both go together in the same ship bound to France. If you direct it to Mr. Bowdoin, he will get the governour's certificate annexed and cover, and direct them, &c. As the mail is now closing, I subscribe
Your friend and humble servant, BENJAMIN TITCOME.
No. 2. LETTER FROM GOV. BOWDOIN.
BOSTON, SEPT. 24, 1783.
SIR-I received your letter of the 15th by Mr. Titcomb, who communicated to me the papers the committee had prepared. One set of them, viz. that in- tended for England, has been completed, and directed to Gov. Pownal, en- closed and sealed up with a letter of mine to that gentleman, which I have delivered to Mr. Titcomb for Mr. Wheelwright, who takes the charge of it,
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Appendix.
and will sail the first wind for London. A copy of my letter to Gov. Pownal is herewith sent to you. The other set has been completed, so far as it could be here ; one of the papers of it not having been signed by several of the committee. After consultation with some friends, it was judged advisable by Mr. Titcomb and myself, that it should be sent to Dr. Franklin, to whom, in consequence of your letter, I have written on the subject ; and my letter to him unsealed, is with the papers intended for France ; which for completion, you will receive by Mr. Titcomb, and then dispose of them as you think prop- er. I went with Mr. Titcomb to the French consul, with whom we had a good deal of conversation, about which he can inform you ; and also in what way we thought it advisable that this business, as it respects France, should be conducted. He can inform you also of the reasons, why the first mention- ed papers were directed to Mr. Pownal. It will give me great pleasure to know, that this affair has been conducted in a manner, that meets with your approbation ; and still greater, if it should finally prove successful.
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