January 1-December 31, 1781 215

Jarboe & others who I have ordered to Carry them to you to be dis-
posed off as you think Proper.
The Chaps had with them a Pretty deal of very good wearing
Apparel, such as shirts, Breeches, Waiscoats &c Summer Ware, and
which they say partly belonged to the Marques La Fayette, which I
imagine is truth, they (the Privateer) took Middleton's Boat in
which the MarqueS^ts baggage was shiped. I have taken the Liberty
of telling those who took them to leave them a Shipt, & divide the
rest amongst them, as an incouragement, which in future will be to
our Advantage their being a great many Strolers who ought to be
detected & who the Common People are to apt to let pass unnoticed.
Should be glad the Comm^sry of Purch^s could be down as I expect to
have some of the Militia at the Place of Rendez. to-morrow.

April 27

[Sam. Huntington, President, Philadelphia, to The Honorable

Matthew Tilghman Esq.]

Your Favour of the 21^st Instant I have had the Honor to com-
municate to the United States in Congress Assembled. I am directed
to inform you that it was by no Means their Intention in the Recom-
mendation therein referred to, to hold up your Situation as desperate,
much less to preclude the Idea of Resistance. The Intelligence they
had received led them to apprehend that it was in Contemplation with
the Enemy to take Post at New Castle, for the Purpose of a grand
Forage on the Peninsula between Delaware & Chesapeake Bays.
The Attention due to the general Interest required that immediate
& effectual Precautions should be taken to disappoint such an Expe-
dition of its object. With this View it was recommended to remove
from the Reach of the Enemy all Provisions & Forage which would
not be necessary for the Consumption of the Inhabitants, a Precau-
tion pointed out by the very Nature of the Case, which was the more
eligible as it tended to prevent the Invasion as well as to render it
abortive, and which had been adopted in Similar Instances without
objection or Complaint.
The Intelligence since received by Congress of the Designs of the
Enemy has been so far from rendering the first Plan inexpedient or
unnecessary, that it has determined them to give it greater Prompti-
tude & Efficacy by their Resolution of the 23^d Instant, of which a
Copy is enclosed. The Extent & strictness of its Execution, as well
as of the preceding Act, must no Doubt be governed by Circum-
stances, and by the Discretion of the Executives & the Board of War.
Whatever Respect may be paid to these Recommendations, or what-
ever may be the Event, Congress will have done their Duty.
Your Determination to exert yourselves to the utmost for your
Defence, and your Confidence in the Bravery & Affection of your
Citizens afford Congress the highest Satisfaction, and they perswade

April 27

Red Book
No. 8
Letter 31