opprobrium of distrust. I beg leave to ask why he rived therefrom, to each State, whose support, de is left without means to pay the purchasers he em- fence, Security and Asylum, its nature and inst ployed, to enable them to pay their debts, and set-tution forms. At the same time, that it is th tle their accounts with him? fruitful source of decency, decorum, good order Are we not all servants of the public? why and every terrestrial blessing, especially to the poo should one servant, without apparent reason, distrust another? I beg leave to enclose my Speech to the General Assembly of Connecticut, at last May Sessions. In it you will find my sentiments fully and truly expressed on the subject it con tains. I have the honour to be, with truth and JONth TRUMBULL. SPEECH OF GOV. TRUMBULL. GENTLEMEN of the Council: Mr Speaker: Gentlemen of the house of representatives: It is with deference that I mention the Subject which induceth me to stay you at this time. and weak who ought to find beneath its shade an protection, a sweet peace and tranquility not to b interrupted or disturbed. An Act of this Assem bly made and passed this time twelve month, of dered the stile of His Excellency to be given th Governor of this State. This savouring too muc of High-Titles, and not beneficial, may it not hor orably be repealed? It passed without any pro vious knowledge, expectation, or desire. Askin pardon from you, and from my successors, I d sincerely request its repeal. It is Ionor and Happiness enough to meet th approbation of Heaven, of my own Conscienc and of my Brethren. I take this opportunity to add, That the Statut Laws of this State need to be revised, and forme agreeably to our present condition. Is it not bes to appoint a Committee for that End? JON TRUMBULL. SIR, LEBANON, 10th Decem. 1778. With gratitude to our Sovereign Lord, Protector & Father, & to you my brethren, I do cordially acknowledge, the Honor, benignity and goodness shewed me in the course of my being one of your number, notwithstanding my weakness and YOUR esteemed favor of the 10th of last month unworthiness. is now before me. I feel a pleasure in the est The great end of Government is the Security, mation you express of the services of my late so Wellfare and Peace of the People; that they may the first Commissary General. My own though lead quiet and peaceable lives, in all Godliness and have often turned in the same strain; and Honesty; therefore the great object of Govern- fondly think still, that the disadvantages accruin ment is Piety and Virtue. Honor and Wealth are to the States, in consequence of his being oblige not the objects; the former is productive of many to leave that service, is not overrated by your est evils; the latter, the occasion of Covetousness, Op- mation-but that is passed. He is gone. I no pression, fraud and injustice, with their concomi- only wait for that justice I think is due his Estat tants. Piety towards God, and moral excellence from the public, for those services he actually per amongst men, are the sure foundations of Holiness formed. I observe, in your letter, a stroke rela & Happiness. High sounding Titles intoxicate the ing to the adjustment of the Accounts. From th mind, ingenerate envy, and breed disorders in ill state of health in which the Commissary Gen a Commonwealth, and ought therefore to be avoided. ral left the Army, from the increase of his diso ders after his retirement, and the long and s It is the Lord hath made the Separation of the vere conflict he endured, with a complication of di Colonies from Great Britain, and laid the foun- eases untill his death, Congress may easily form dation of these rising United States. It becomes to themselves an excuse for the accounts not ha them to put away and avoid every thing incongru- ing been adjusted by him. The unavoidable diff ous with their great object and tending to their culties attending an adjustment by his Administra hurt. tor, utterly unacquainted with the accounts, n The Amiable and Salutary Constitution of Gov- gentleman, versed in business, can be ignorant o ernment made and ratified in this State from its A delay must therefore now be reasonably ex beginning; and I wish to see, or rather hope, simi-pected. I have the pleasure, however, to inform lar Constitutions may be established in all the that his Cash Account is in a fair way to be prop United States of America. Its true grandeur and erly prepared for settlement, and that their a solid Glory do not consist in high Titles, splen- pearance, allowing for times & circumstances i dour, pomp and magnificence, nor in reverence which the business was conducted, is favorable b and exterior honor, paid to their Governors and yond expectation. These accounts, which are sta Rulers, but in the real and solid advantages de-ing and collecting by my son, Mr Jonathan Trun VOL. II. 2 enclosures, are received. That to Col Champion | tion, Copies inclosed of my Letter of the 5th inst, was immediately sent to his house by a safe hand. to Maj. General Sullivan, & of my two, of the 18th I have delayed your messenger one day in hopes and 26th inst. to Maj. General Gates;-trust our of seeing the Col-probably he was not at home. doings to fill our quota for the Continental Army, In addition to your account of salted provisions, for defence of the North River-and proposalls for you may set down 100 bbs of Pork, we have di- the State of Rhode Island, will meet approbation. rected him to take and forward out of the Stores The British King and Parliament continue uniof this State. We have 2 or 300 bls more that will form in their line of conduct towards the Colonies; not be witheld, where most needed. Beef is bet- they mistake our understandings, as at first they tering every day. Now is the pinching time; The did our Resolution. Army, & my Son, feel the effects of the new regu- May the supream director of all events give lation of the Commissariate; the former in danger wisdom in Council, Strength and vigour in the for want of supplies that ought to have been made Field; cause this new rising Empire to take deep the last season the latter very weak and feeble, root, to grow, flourish and to become a praise in the principally caused by the treatment he met. I Earth. Sustinet, qui Transtulit. Every branch hope & trust both will recover the shock. Noth- in the true vine, that beareth not fruit, our heavening will be wanting from this State, or those con- ly Father taketh away, and every branch that cerned in supplies, to make them adequate The beareth fruit he purgeth, that it may bring forth Troops of this State will come in fast. Heaven more fruit. I am, with sincere Esteem & Regard, hath wrought marvellous things for us. May Please to send by Mr Brown two or three doz. strength and vigor be given to extirpate our cruel of Blanks for Commissions, Instructions and and insidious Enemies. May their vile policy and Bonds for privateer Ships. evil designs be baffled. There can be no solidity in any offers the British Commissioners can make. The plan is evidently to divide and distract our Councils; to unite the opposite parties in England, to bring into Administration, La Chatham and Shel- Honble PRESIDENT LAURENS burne; to declare no war with France; to send over Reinforcements, to wreak their vengeance on America. Our Heavenly Protector, I trust, will spare and defend us. YOUR Letter of the 5th inst, with the inclosure was delivered by Mr Skinner laid before the General Assembly. The Act for regulation of Prices, suspended, until the rising of the Assembly in October next. Your other Letters of the 9th and 10th inst., with the inclosures, are received. A general Embargo, with penalties, was laid by an Act of the General Assembly in the Sessions of May.... the powers of Government will be vigorously exercised to carry into effectual execution this most necessary and salutary measure. Private SIR, JON TRUMBULL. LEBANON, 29th June 1778. ON information that my son Joseph Trumbull, late Commissary General, from fatigue beyond his strength, being dangerously ill, Lord's day mornning 14th instant, I left Hartford, and came to Norwich; found him better than my fears. He is in a feeble condition, easily overset. I visited him the 22d instant, and left him on the gaining hand. He prays his best compliments to you, and gratefully acknowledges the receipt of your late letters. Hope he will be able so far to attend his Accounts, as to send his Cash Accounts. Mr. Hoskins, his head clerk, and others employed in his Accounts, are busy on them—not to equal advantage without his assistance. 'Tis easy to conceive that in two years and half supplies of the Army, they are large and extensive. He had reduced his business into method, and got into a good train. From the Fatigues of his business, but chiefly the trouble, sorrow, and grief for the treatment he received after all, broke his Constitution; bro't him next door to death, and renders his recovery doubtful; -former health and strength never to be expected. Our Delegates transmitted a Resolve of Congress 13th inst., requesting the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay and Connecticut, imme- His experience taught him the incongruity and diately to raise their quota of Troops to be under impracticability of the new regulation of the Comthe command of Maj General Sullivan, for relief missariate; After experience teacheth us, he was of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plan- right. The Army feel its bad effects to this day. tations. I beg leave to refer to your Considera- It grieves him to the heart to be branded with the opprobrium of distrust. I beg leave to ask why he is left without means to pay the purchasers he employed, to enable them to pay their debts, and settle their accounts with him? rived therefrom, to each State, whose support, defence, Security and Asylum, its nature and institution forms. At the same time, that it is the fruitful source of decency, decorum, good order, Are we not all servants of the public? why and every terrestrial blessing, especially to the poor should one servant, without apparent reason, dis- and weak who ought to find beneath its shade and trust another? I beg leave to enclose my Speech protection, a sweet peace and tranquility not to be to the General Assembly of Connecticut, at last interrupted or disturbed. An Act of this AssemMay Sessions. In it you will find my sentiments bly made and passed this time twelve month, orfully and truly expressed on the subject it con- dered the stile of His Excellency to be given the tains. Governor of this State. This savouring too much of High-Titles, and not beneficial, may it not honorably be repealed? It passed without any previous knowledge, expectation, or desire. Asking pardon from you, and from my successors, I do sincerely request its repeal. I have the honour to be, with truth and JONth TRUMBULL. Honble HENRY LAURENS Esquire. SPEECH OF GOV. TRUMBULL. GENTLEMEN of the Council: Mr Speaker: Gentlemen of the house of representatives: It is with deference that I mention the Subject which induceth me to stay you at this time. With gratitude to our Sovereign Lord, Protector & Father, & to you my brethren, I do cordially acknowledge, the Honor, benignity and goodness shewed me in the course of my being one of your number, notwithstanding my weakness and unworthiness. It is Honor and Happiness enough to meet the approbation of Heaven, of my own Conscience and of my Brethren. I take this opportunity to add, That the Statute Laws of this State need to be revised, and formed agreeably to our present condition. Is it not best to appoint a Committee for that End? JONth TRUMBULL. SIR, LEBANON, 10th Decem. 1778. YOUR esteemed favor of the 10th of last month, is now before me. I feel a pleasure in the estiThe great end of Government is the Security, mation you express of the services of my late son, Wellfare and Peace of the People; that they may the first Commissary General. My own thoughts lead quiet and peaceable lives, in all Godliness and have often turned in the same strain; and I Honesty; therefore the great object of Govern- fondly think still, that the disadvantages accruing ment is Piety and Virtue. Honor and Wealth are to the States, in consequence of his being obliged not the objects; the former is productive of many to leave that service, is not overrated by your estievils; the latter, the occasion of Covetousness, Op- mation-but that is passed. He is gone. I now pression, fraud and injustice, with their concomi- only wait for that justice I think is due his Estate, tants. Piety towards God, and moral excellence from the public, for those services he actually peramongst men, are the sure foundations of Holiness formed. I observe, in your letter, a stroke relat& Happiness. High sounding Titles intoxicate the ing to the adjustment of the Accounts. From the mind, ingenerate envy, and breed disorders in ill state of health in which the Commissary Genea Commonwealth, and ought therefore to be avoided. ral left the Army, from the increase of his disorders after his retirement, and the long and seIt is the Lord hath made the Separation of the vere conflict he endured, with a complication of disColonies from Great Britain, and laid the foun- eases untill his death, Congress may easily form dation of these rising United States. It becomes to themselves an excuse for the accounts not havthem to put away and avoid every thing incongru- ing been adjusted by him. The unavoidable diffious with their great object and tending to their culties attending an adjustment by his Administrahurt. tor, utterly unacquainted with the accounts, no The Amiable and Salutary Constitution of Gov- gentleman, versed in business, can be ignorant of. ernment made and ratified in this State from its A delay must therefore now be reasonably exbeginning; and I wish to see, or rather hope, simi- pected. I have the pleasure, however, to inform, lar Constitutions may be established in all the that his Cash Account is in a fair way to be propUnited States of America. Its true grandeur and erly prepared for settlement, and that their solid Glory do not consist in high Titles, splen- pearance, allowing for times & circumstances in dour, pomp and magnificence, nor in reverence which the business was conducted, is favorable beand exterior honor, paid to their Governors and yond expectation. These accounts, which are statRulers, but in the real and solid advantages de-ling and collecting by my son, Mr Jonathan Trum ap time, as circumstances will admit. A youthful, DEAR SIR, LEBANON, 6th Septem2 1779. I HAVE the honor and pleasure of your communication of the 8th of July last. The arrival of Admiral Arbuthnot, the known determination of the British Cabinet against this State; the present position of the light Troops on Long Island, and other circumstances unite to confirm my apprehension of an almost immediate invasion. May the Lord of Hosts be our Protector and Saviour. bull, will by him be exhibited for settlement, on his | our yearly expenditures should certainly be rearrival in Philadelphia. I am, I confess, serious- duced, by a yearly payment of taxes, and as ly alarmed at the State of our Currency, and the much of the public funded Debt paid, from time to seeming delay of the necessary remedies. A fine spun theorem [theory?] on this occasion, I deem unnecessary. It will not answer our purpose. A careful attention to the nature and causes of the disorder, will naturally lead to the remedies needful; the cure must be radically attempted, or the applications will but increase the disease. The practice of Monopolizers, Engrossers, &c, are a great source of our evil. These however, are not the principal. Such as they are, think they may be reduced. Are not the means, by which we have Honorable HENRY LAURENS Esquire. been conducted to this situation, instructive lessons, pointing us to the cure? So long as our magazines were kept full, and our stores plentifully and seasonably provided, Speculators had not the opportunity of imposing an artificial scarcity & demand upon the Public; and thereby making their own prices upon the articles of public consumption. Is it that we have exhausted our resources, that our supplies are now so scantily made from hand to mouth? perpetually keeping up the demand, and playing in tune to the desires of the ungodly seekers of gain? Certainly not. Our internal resources are still great; our magazines can again I have lately received an Answer to my letter of be filled - they must be filled; the idea of scar- the 27th June 1777, addressed to Baron Van Der city, from this artificial demand, must be removed. Cappellen. Enclosed, is his original with its enThis appears to me to be one great remedy. An- closures, written in French; The protest of the other, and very principal one, is to reduce the City of Amsterdam in Dutch, which [I] wish to quantity of circulating Cash, and means de- be returned by Mr. Brown, after communicated to vised to prevent the necessity of constant, and per- Honble Congress. I have a [Qu. no?] translapetual new emissions for new emergencies. To tion; no person near me is competent to doing it do this, Loans and Taxation must be co- well. I am unwilling to trouble you, yet venoperative. Taxation alone, will be too slow and ture to ask the Favour to procure me a good transdilatory. Loans must, therefore, be adopted; and lation of the whole. Enclosed is a packet for him, of these I think a foreign Loan must be most eli- prepared in answer - left open for Congress and gible. I dont know how an internal one, in our your observation to communicate so far as you present circumstances, would operate. I am rather think fit and prudent. Please to seal and forof opinion, that, untill the value of the Paper Cur- ward the same by the first good conveyance. I rency is fully ascertained, by the Public, and so entertain raised expectations of some solid benefit long as a rapid depreciation is going [on], your to the public from this nobleman. Money and monied people will rather choose to make the best goods may be had most advantageously from the of their money, in some kind of business, than to Hollanders. trust to an uncertain future redemption in the hands of the Public. Confederation being finished, and Funds established, a foreign loan, I think, may undoubtedly be obtained; and this improved, in sale of Bills of Exchange, at the rates they will fetch, and perhaps a part invested, and realized, in silver and gold, brought into the States, and delivered for the redemption of part of our Bills, at such discounted rates, as would be easily com- Is there no means to prevent the further depreplied to, might be attended with very salutary con- ciation of our currency? can there be no radical sequences. At same time, in aid of this remedy, cure? The measures used formerly, in the case of heavy taxation should be kept up; our debts old Tenor bills, answered the end at that time should be paying; our new emissions should be why not at the present? The bills are of the naas small as possible; and punctually sunk off;-ture of Tallies, that each individual may know & My youngest son, John hath an inclination to visit Europe. If he may appear in character, be useful to the public, and make an Emolument for himself, shall not set myself in opposition. Is there no employment with Doct Franklin, Secretary, &c. that may be had?-Shall mention the same to our Delegates without further Sollicitation. a bear his burden in an equal proportion. An ap- upon the body of the old and decrepid George preciation will prove more pernicious than depre- Jacobs, senior, by George Herrick and others, ciation. Justice ought to be sought for and done and return made to the court as follows: to all, as far as is possible. Taxation is an infallible remedy. A tax nominally high is as easily borne as one of a lower denomination, where the value is the same. 'Tis always best to pay our debts, when the means for doing it is in our power, which is assuredly the case while the bills, or tallies, are so equally distributed. "The testimony of George Herrick, aged thirtyfour years, or thereabouts-Testifieth and saith, that sometime in May last, by order of their Majesties Justices, I went to the prison in Salem to search George Jacobs, Sen., and likewise Wm. Downton. The Goal keeper, and Joseph Neal, Is it not high time for Congress to erect and Constable, was in prison, and concerned with me establish Boards, of Treasury, of War, of Navy, in the search. When, under the said Jacob's of Appeals, and every other executive part? right shoulder was found a tett, about a quarter of No member of Congress to [be] employed thereon, an inch long, with a sharp point drawn downwards, -'tis burdensome, and on all accounts disagreea- so that I took a pin from Downton, and run in ble and detrimental. The apparent frequent calls through the said tett, but their was neither water, for yeas and nays are unprofitable and dis- blood or corruption, nor any other matter, and so gusting. Wm. Downton Testifyeth to the above written. And we further testify and say, that ye said Jacobs was not in the least sensible in what we had done, for after I had made return to the Magistraits, and returned, I told y° said Jacobs, and he knew nothing before. Let us trust in the Lord, persevere to the end, and wait with patience untill our labors crowned with success. are I am, with great Truth and Regard, Dear Sir, Your most obedient hble Servant, JONth TRUMBULL. P. S. Please to find means that my letter may be Franked to Amsterdam; whatever the charge may be, will repaye. Honorable HENRY LAURENS, Esq. SALEM WITCHCRAFT we made return. Sworn in Court, August 4th, 1692." of a witch mark upon the body of the poor old This most indubitable evidence of the finding man seems to have sealed his fate; for he was, with John Proctor, forthwith convicted, and sent back to prison, where the latter made his will, and they were, with several others, hung at Gallows Hill, on the 19th of August, 1692. George Jacobs, Sen., was ignominiously buried alone, on a Birch Plain, on his own farm, at Danvers-Port, where his grave can be seen at this day. After the delusion had subsided, George Herrick, to judge from the following petition, appears to have suffered severely by poverty and neglect, occasioned, we have reason to believe, by his close connection with that sad tragedy: "To his Excelency, Sir William Phipps Knight, Capt. General Governor of their Majesties Teritories and Dominion of y Massachusetts Bay, in New England, and to the Hon. William Stoughton, Esq., Lieut.-Governor of said Province and BY S. P. FOWLER, of Danvers Port, Mass. Upon examination of the Court Documents, relating to this delusion, we are strongly impressed with the belief that George Herrick, of Salem, was present at the execution of Giles Cory, in the capacity of a Deputy Sheriff, and when that unfortunate old man was pressed to death, was the person mentioned by Calef, who, when his tongue was pressed out of his mouth, forced it in again with his cane. Perhaps there was no person more actively engaged in the prosecution for witchcraft, or who afterwards suffered more from the indignation and reproach of an afflicted community. He himself informs us that for the term of nine to the Rest of the Honoured Councell months and upwards, he was constantly employed The Petition of your Poor Servant, George in serving warrants, and apprehending prisoners, Herrick, Most Humbly Sheweth- That, whereas attending examinations at courts, and conveying your Excellencies and Honors Poor Petitioner prisoners from prison to prison. We have proof that he was very active at the executions, a swift witness against the accused, and visited prisons for the purpose of searching prisoners for "witch marks"- it being understood in those days, that the devil affixed his mark to those in alliance with him, exhibiting itself in the form of a teat or excrescence, and found to be callous or dead. This cruel and detestable examination was performed having been employed as Marshall and Deputy Sheriff for the County of Essex, for the Term of nine months and upwards, in Serving of Warrants, and apprehending many prisoners, attending Examinations, and Courts of Oyer and Terminer, as likewise by mittimus and writs of habeas corpus, have often conveyed Prisoners unto Prison, and from Prison unto Prison, it hath taken up my whole time, and made me Incapable to get any thing for |