of the Council of Safety, 1775-76. 347

[Johnson to Council]

Philadelphia 17. April 1776.
Gentlemen. Yesterday morning just before the meeting of
Congress the letters from Balt, which occasioned the Resolu-
tion of yesterday came to the hands of the president. By the
same express, and as I believe under the same cover came an
Anonymous letter referring to a copy therein inclosed from
Gen^l Lee to M^r Samuel Purviance. I saw and read the copy
which was in Purviances hand writing. Lee strongly urged
the immediate seizing and securing of the Gov^r. After the
minutes of the preceeding day were read the President began
reading the Anonymous letter, but he had not proceeded far
before he came to a part desiring that it might not be made
known to the Congress but, as I think, to such only as the
President might think proper to trust with the contents, the
President hesitated, for he had not before read the letter, and
seemed desirous of running his Eye over it but on being
desired to read out he did so, from the inclosure above men-
tioned as well as many expressions in the letter and M^r Purvi-
ances being the Heroe of the tale which was told in the first
person I had not the least doubt but that Purviance was the
Author and M^r Andrew Allen who saw the letter and is
acquainted with Purviances hand writing says it was his.
The letter informs that the writer of it had impressed on
Gen^t Lee, in his way to Virg^a an Idea that the Council of
Safety was timorous and inactive and represents the Council
of Safety and Convention too as being afraid to execute the
Duties of their Stations, his own and the conduct of the Con-
vention on an affair that you must remember he contrasts to
the Disadvantage of the Latter whose inaction he imputes to
want of spirit. He speaks of the orders he gave Cap^t Nichol-
son on the late alarm and how the Council of Safety was
alarmed and frightened at the spirit and boldness of them —
represents himself as an object against whom the intentions of
the Council of Safety are levelled and in proof recites a con-
versation with, or saying of one of them to the effect that he
was a warm man or a hot headed man whose power must be
pulled down or he would throw things into Confusion. As I
heard the letter read but once I cannot undertake to repeat
expressions with exactness but I think I have preserved the
sentiments and have not exaggerated in any thing and on the
whole I esteem it a vile injurious calumny calculated like his
conversation with Gen^l Lee to spread suspicion and distrust of
the only executive in our province. If I am not mistaken the
letter mentions further that some Gen^t were sent from Balt, or
were by him proposed to be sent to Annapolis, who should
engage the officer commanding the troops there to secrecy

Original.