James Lovell to Samuel Holten on the financial situation of Congress - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC01450.020.15
From Archive Folder	Collection of 20 letters pertaining to James Lovell and Samuel Holten
Title	James Lovell to Samuel Holten on the financial situation of Congress
Date	9 May 1781
Author	Lovell, James (1737-1814)
Recipient	Holten, Samuel
Document Type	Correspondence; Military document
Content Description	Signed with initials. Discusses a letter sent to Elbridge Gerry concerning money. States that Congress cannot move forward with the creation of a new system during this wartime without money from the states. Writes "Congress without their money prefer(?), depending on the punctual supplies of the states are, at this critical period of the Campaign, as a set of Clockmakers from whom an Orrery or Microcosm is expected tho their Hands are evidently struck with the dead palsy."
Subjects	Congress Continental Congress Government and Civics Finance Economics Revolutionary War Coins and Currency
People	Lovell, James (1737-1814) Holten, Samuel (1738-1816)
Theme	The American Revolution; Religion
Sub-collection	The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859
Additional Information	Lovell, Holten, and Gerry were Continental Congressmen from Massachusetts.
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Transcript	Show/hide May 9th. 1781 My dear Sir I had begun to write to you, to go by Post yesterday, but fell upon a Topic not fit to be trusted in that Way, and therefore covered you a news Paper under a few Words of Intelligence. I had a private Occasion to write afterwards to Mr. Gerry somewhat largely about money, and therefore do not add any Thing to the inclosed Scrawl, persuaded that He will converse with you respecting my Letter and the Position of your Delegates here. But I must not refrain from adding that their private Embarrassments are but a small Clue towards explaining their public. Congress without their money Presses, depending on the punctual Supplies of the States are, at this critical Period of the Campaign, as a Set of Clockmakers from whom an Orrery or Microcosm is expected tho their Hands are evidently struck with the dead Palsy. I shall trouble you not again with any private Concerns. If I can hobble up Street I will endeavor to make the Backwardness of the Printer of the Journals less & less a Disadvantage by giving you often manuscript Heads of what you ought to know - . Affectly. & with Esteem yrs. JL Hon. Mr. Holton

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