Letters of Joseph Clay: Merchant of Savannah 1776-1793 and a list of ships and vessels entered at the port of Savannah for May 1765, 1766, and 1767

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LETTERS

OF

JOSEPH CLAY

MERCHANT
OF SAVANNAH 1776-1793

A LIST OF SHIPS AND VESSELS ENTERED AT THE PORT OF

SAVANNAH

FOR MAY 1765, 1766 AND 1767

ILLUSTRATED

COLLECTIONS OF THE

GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

VOLUME VHl

1913

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9abamtal;. <Sa.

1913

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Joseph Clay Frontispiece

Map Northern Frontier of Georgia facing page 32

Map of the County of Savannah facing page 96

View of Tiby Lighthouse facing page 160

View of Cockspur Fort ..facing page 224

Prrfar^

After the death of the Right Reverend William Bacon
Stevens, Bishop of Pennsylvania, the manuscripts lent to
him by the Georgia Historical Society, to assist him in
writing his history of Georgia,* were returned to the
Society. Among these manuscripts are two letter books of
Joseph Clay some of which letters are published in the fol-
lowing pages. Those left out were mostly repetitions, writ-
ten to different correspondents, and some were so blurred
and worn by age, as to be illegible. These letters are printed
just as they were written, without any attempt at correction,
A list of ships and vessels entered at the port of Savannah
from January 5th, 1765, to July 5th, 1767, was also among
the manuscripts returned to the Society. This MS. con-
sists of eighty-four pages, from which the entries and
clearings for the same month in each year, were chosen
to give an idea of Savannah's commerce. The Sketch of
Joseph Clay was written by Col. Charles Colcock Jones, Jr.,
the Georgia historian, and well known authority on Indian
antiquities,! in his "Biographical Sketches of the Delegates
of Georgia to the Continental Congress." J

Lt. Col. Archibald Campbell's "Sketch of the Northern
Frontiers of Georgia" was made by him after his capture
of Savannah to facilitate the taking of Augusta. His main
object was to establish a frontier between Georgia and
the States already in possession of the Americans, in the

* A History of Georgia, from its first discovery by Europeans to the
adoption of the present Constitution in MDCCXCVIII, in two volumes. New
York, 1848. By William Bacon Stevens.

t Antiquities of the Southern Indians. Particularly of the Georsla
Tribes. By C. C. Jones, Jr. New York, 1873.

t Biographical Sketches of the Delegates from Georgia to the Conti-
nental Congress. By C. C. Jones, Jr. New York, 1891.

hopes that the Georgia Republicans would return to their
allegiance to the Crown, and thus secure as firm a foot-hold
on American soil for the English in the South, as Canada
was in the North.

W. J. DeRENNE,

OTIS ASHMORE,

W. W. GORDON,

THOMAS J. CHARLTON, M. D.,

Committee on Printing and Publishing.

3ti0F|jI| (Wag

Ralph Clay the father of the subject of this sketch
married Elizabeth, a sister of the honorable James Hab-
ersham, intimate friend of the reverend George Whitefield,
and, during the absence of Sir James Wright in 1771-72,
the royal Governor of Georgia. Joseph Clay, the only son
of this marriage, was born at Beverley, Yorkshire, England,
on the 16th of October, 1741. At the suggestion of his
distinguished uncle, supplemented by the persuasions of
the Reverend Mr. Whitefield, Young Clay came to Georgia
in 1760. A few years afterwards, responding to the wish
of Governor Habersham, who furnished the means requi-
site for the adventure, his son James Habersham junior
and his nephew Joseph Clay associated themselves in a
general commission business in Savannah. The partner-
ship thus formed lasted about five years. With the excep-
tion of the period covered by the war of the Revolution
Mr. Clay remained actively engaged in commercial pur-
suits. He and Colonel Joseph Habersham were at one
time associated under the firm name of Joseph Clay & Com-
pany. He was also a partner in the house of Seth John
Cuthbert & Company; at another time he was the senior
member of the firm of Clay, Telfair & Company, and again
was interested as a co-partner in the house of William Fox
& Company of Newport, Rhode Island. His home was
always in Savannah, where, on the 2d of January, 1763, he
married Ann Legardfere. Soon after establishing himself
in business in Savannah, Mr. Clay became interested, in
connection with his relatives, the Habershams, in the culti-
vation of rice, which was then the principal market crop
produced upon the marish lands of Southern Georgia.
Both as a merchant and as a planter he prospered. In
conducting his business affairs he was prompt, energetic,
and competent.

By the meeting of patriotic citizens assembled at the
Liberty Pole at Tondee's Tavern in Savannah on the 27th
of July, 1774, he was chosen a member of the committee
then raised and charged with the preparation of resolu-
tions expressive of the rebel sentiments of the community,
and of the determination of Georgia, at an early day, to
associate herself with her sister American colonies in opo-
sition to the enforcement of the unjustifiable and arbitrary
acts of the British Parliament.

On the 10th of the following August he appeared with
this committee and united in submitting a report which,
unanimously adopted, proclaimed in brave language the
rights claimed by the protesting provinces, condemned in
emphatic terms the policy inaugurated by England, and
promised cooperation on the part of Georgia in all consti-
tutional measures devised to obtain a redress of existing
grievances and to maintain the inestimable blessings
granted by God and guaranteed' by a constitution founded
upon reason and justice. He was also of the committee
then appointed to solicit and forward supplies for the relief
of the suffering poor of Boston. In the rape of six hundred
pounds of powder from the king's magazine in Savannah
during the night of the 11th of May, 1775, and in its subse-
quent distribution among parties intent upon rebellion,
Mr. Clay personally participated. By the assembly con-
vened on the 22d of June in the same year he was com-
plimented with a place in the Council of Safety. To the
famous Provincial Congress which met in Savannah twelve
days afterwards, he was a delegate accredited from the town
and district of Savannah. By that Congress he was placed
upon a committee to frame an address to his Excellency
Governor Wright. He was also designated as a member
of the important ''Committee of Intelligence," and com-
missioned as one of another committee to present the
"Article of Association," then adopted, to the inhabitants
of the town and district of Savannah for signature.

Deeming it essential to the success of the liberty cause

8

that no officer of the militia should be retained in commis-
sion who refused or neglected to sign this "Article of
Association," and yet exhibiting a show of respect for
Sir James Wright, the royal governor, George Walton,
William Le Conte, Francis Harris, William Young, George
Houstoun, William Ewen, John Glen, Samuel Elbert, Basil
Cowper, and Joseph Clay, acting in behalf of the Council
of Safety, on the 8th of August, 1775, addressed a communi-
cation to his Excellency the governor, asking permission
that the several militia companies of the province should
be permitted to elect their own officers. It was suggested
that some of them were distasteful to those whom they
were appointed to command. Deeming it an extraordinary
application, dangerous in its tendency and calculated to
wrest the control of the military from the crown officers.
Sir James sought the advice of his Council. An answer
was returned : "that for many very substantial reasons the
governor would not comply with the request." Nothing
daunted, the members of the Council of Safety, who really
cared but little for the mind of the governor on the subject,
took the matter in their own hands, and proceeded to purge
the militia of any loyal element which lurked in the ranks
of its commissioned officers. The revolutionists were in
earnest. With rapid strides they marched forward, over-
coming in succession every obstacle which retarded their
progress towards the consummation of the complete over-
throw of kingly dominion in Georgia. In this rebel pro-
cession Joseph Clay was an active and efficient lieutenant.
When, early in March, 1776, Barclay and Grant threat-
ened Savannah, the Council of Safety resolved to defend
that town and the rice-laden vessels lying at its wharves,
to the last extremity. Mr. Clay was then named as chair-
man of a committee to inventory and value the shipping
in port, and all houses in Savannah and its hamlets belong-
ing to the friends of America who were prepared to parti-
cipate in the common defense. In that inventory and
appraisement were to be included the homes and property

of widows and orphans. So firm was the resolution
of the patriots, that they were determined to commit every-
thing to the flames rather than have their town and ship-
ping pass into the hands of British soldiers.

The inventory and appraisement were made with a
view to future indemnification at the hands of the general
government. Fortunately the contemplated sacrifice was
not demanded at the hands of these gallant defenders.

On the 6th of August, 1777, Mr. Clay was recognized
by the Continental Congress as Deputy Paymaster-General
in Georgia, with the rank of colonel. This position was
subsequently enlarged so as to embrace the Southern
Department. When General Greene assumed command
of this department, Colonel Clay was brought into personal
association with him, and secured his confidence and
esteem. Large sums of money were disbursed by him in
the execution of his office, and there remains no suggestion
of default or misappropriation. During the years 1778,
1779, and 1780 Georgia named him as one of her delegates
to the Continental Congress.

By the first general assembly which convened in Sav-
annah after its evacuation by General Alured Clarke and
the king's forces in July, 1782, Colonel Clay was elected
Treasurer of the State of Georgia, and his salary was fixed
at 300 per annum.

In 1785 he was named as one of the trustees for estab-
lishing the college or seminary of learning which subse-
quently developed into the present University of Georgia;
and during the following year he became one of the justices
of Chatham County. In May, 1791, he was a member of
the committee which welcomed President Washington on
the occasion of his visit to Savannah. He died in that city
on the 15th of November, 1804,*

Appleton's Cyclopaedia of American Biography fixes the date of Colonel
Clay's death as the 16th of January, 1S05. The true date, as taken from the
family records, is that which we have given above.

10

His son Joseph was a prominent lawyer, and for sev-
eral years occupied the bench as United States Judge of
the District of Georgia. Resigning this position he entered
the sacred ministry, and was regarded as one of the most
eloquent pulpit orators of his day. In later generations
the descendants of Colonel Clay have been noted in the
church, at the Bar, in the domain of politics, and in social
life.

II

If0 SnB^pli OIkg Sl^tt^ra

Savannah, the 21st Nov'r, 1776.
Messrs. Wragg & Smith, Geo'e Town S Carolina.
Gentlemen:

I wrote you sometime ago in Answer to yours of the
20th ulto since with a Gentleman of my acquaintance (Mr.
Wereat) mentioned to me that if Capt. Ash's Brig was to
be freighted or disposed of, tho' he had rather the latter,
that he shoud be glad to be concerned, & that he woud make
such Payments as woud probably induce the Owners to dis-
pose of or Charter her. I believe that he wants her for the
Public, say for the C. Congress. I acquainted him that I
believed some of the owners woud soon be here & that he
might have an Opportunity of treating with them As our
Port is now open he is Anxious to Embrace the Opportunity,
& woud be glad to know if he has any probability of
having the Brig. I promis'd him to drop you a line on
the subject which is the reason of my troubling you with
this, & am. Gentlemen

Your most Obe't Serv't

J. C.
P. S. If you propose making Mr. Wereat any offers
in regard to the Brig, you may direct to John Wereat, Esq.,
Savannah.

Dec'r 4th the foregoing was intended to have gone by
Post but missed it, since which it has been agitated in
Convention to employ your Brig in the service of this State,
but no determination has as yet been come into.

12

Messrs. Bright & Pechin & Capt. Hazard *

Copy to Capt. Buck.
Savannah Dec'r 7 1776.
Gentlemen :

the foregoing is Copy of my last in which I promis'd to
send you a Copy of our Orders to Stiles, & Invoice, &c.,
but have not been able our Convention having been sitting
constantly ever since, of w'ch I am a Member, which ha^
Employ 'd every moment of my time; our Coast remains as
far as we know pretty clear of any of the British Cruisers,
there is two or three tenders to the S'ward, but they are kept
principally at Augustine and St. Mary's River for the
Defence and Protection of E. Florida, we are Carrying on
a Battery on Tybee for the Defence of our River, I was
in hopes the Ship we sold Dorsius woud have been loaded
before Capt. Hazard had sailed, and that we might have
drawn in your favour for our half of Ship & Cargo &
remitted you the first Bill by him, However I must send
you by post or by sea from Charles Town shou'd no direct
Conveyance offer from here, I have not the least prospect
of getting a Vessel here of any kind to send to you. I have
some Leather & Indico, by me & Rice, in hopes of
something coming from you & woud have more if I
could be at any Certainty, but while times are so precarious
T do not Choose to keep a large Property by me in Savan-
nah, without some reason to expect having an Opportunity
of Shipping it soon, if you can get it done we woud be
glad to have our Insurance made on Capt. Stiles out &
Home, he sailed from this about 14 Days ago with the first
of a fresh Westerly Wind & a certainty of our Coast
being clear, as two of the Carolina Privateers where Scour-
ing it at the time, the Value of the Cargo we are jointly
concerned in is ;335.6.6 & the vessel about 480, tho'
cannot be exact as the Accounts are not made up. We
cannot Say to what place we woud have him Insured, as

Philadelphia.

13

we left it to him to go where he thought there woud be
least Risque, therefore if he learnt by any means that one
place was more infested w'th Cruisers than another he was
to avoid it, this we thought best for our mutual Interest,
as he is a Man we can rely on & who has been long
acquainted with Business ; we Recommended such Articles
to him to lay out his Cargo in, as we thought wou'd best
suit Our Markett, but did not fix them as we could not tell
where he would sell, we discourag'd his going to the Cape
as we found many of their Vessels were constantly going
& coming from the Continent, of course their Comodities
woud be high among's them & ours, very low. We cannot
fix any Prem'o if the Voyage is a Successfull one 'twill
pay a high one, & if not we shou'd be glad to be Insured
even at a high premo', so that we leave this to you, tis gen-
erally said the Continental Congress allow the Continent
to Trade w'th the Bahamas & Bermudas, I am not Clear in
it, & shoud be glad to be inform'd as they are very conven-
iently Situated for us. I most anxiously wish we coud
get a good Vessel afoot again, we cou'd soon re Establish
our Trade, the Cargo's hitherto brought in I find are of
no consequence they being so small that they are imme-
diately Consum'd, the great & Principal matter is they
have sold for such great Profits that they have been
enabled to purchase large Quantities of very Valuable &
Profitable Articles, such as Leather, &c., w'ch I would pre-
vent by constantly Buying them up were I tolerably cer-
tain of having a Vessel to Ship them off in, but till that is
the Case I cannot Venture , you may depend some one or
other among you will fix here soon if we do not Resume
the Business again, 'tis not in my power here, we have not
the least Chance, their is neither Vessels, Sails nor Cordage
or Materials of any kind, nor indeed cou'd I tell where to
get a Master for a Vessel if I had one (Bunner Commands
one of our Galleys) we are now fitting out a Brig abt 300
Bllts in order to do w'ch four or five of us are oblig'd to
join together, that we may be able to collect as many

14

materials among us as will send her to sea, neither Being
able to do it of himself, a Pc Canvas cou'd not be Bo't
among us for any price ; the Brig Stiles is in I vvoud
observe is a very fast Sailor, but as she is Square rigg'd &
of course rather lofty, she runs great risque of being Dis-
covered & chac'd than a smaller Vessel for which reason
we Empower'd him in Case he cou'd sell the Brig to
advantage, & purchase a fast Sailing Sloop or Schooner to
do it, this must be attended to in making the Insurance &
is the reason I mention it, I would only repeat if you can
get a Vessel that Sails fast any price will not be too much
for her, provided the present contest Continues. She must
if she runs a few Trips make a great deal of Money, I will
do every thing on my part, but getting a Vessel I have no
chance of doing, we are extremely anxious to hear from
N. York we expect the British Army or rather part of it
will be Sotherly when the Season for Action is over with
3^ou, and are preparing Accordingly. I have only to assure
you that I am with great regard.

Gentlemen,
Your most Obed't Serv't,

Joseph Clay.

P. S. We order'd Stiles on his return to run in to the
first Port he made from Chas. Town Southerly to Sapelo,
from any of which he can come to Savannah inland.

The Hon. Henry Laurens, Esq., Charles Town.

D'r Sir Since you left Savannah I inquired in our Sec-
retary's office for the Titles to Mr. Hawkins Land on
Rocky Comfort, and was inform'd they were not there nor
had they been Recorded on w'ch I took the first Opportu-
nity of inquiring of Mr. Netherclift relative to them who
inform'd me they were in his Possession, that they Had
not been Recorded for want of their being prov'd that the

IS

Witnesses were Residents in your State that he had kept
the Titles in his Hands Expecting that some of them might
have came here & enabled him to have had them prov'd &
Recorded he said further that he expected to come to your
Town very shortly & would take the Deeds with him to
Mr. Hawkins in Order to their being prov'd he likewise
told me that he had made inquiry relative to the Sellers
on the Land & coud not learn that there were any on it or
if there were twas only some transient back Country peo-
ple of no consequence I Endeavour'd to make what inquiry
I could relative to the Enemys Vessel to the Southward
but have not been able to obtain so satisfactory an Account
as I could wish, there is a Gentleman just from Aug't, a
Col, Lawson who I believe comes with the General who
has been to the So'ward as far as Sunburry I presume
you will be able to obtain a very full Account General
Howes coming amongst us at this juncture I am in hopes
will produce very salutary consequences to this state &
the cause in general as I am in hopes he in some measure
has alarm'd many amongst us who seem'd sunk into a State
of Security or wholly Engaged in disputes.

Messrs. Bright & Pechin & Capt. Buck.

Savannah the 17th Dec'r, 1776.
Gentlemen :

I suppose the Schooner put in there, the Schooner Capt.
Buck is intirely on the Public Account to serve as a
Packett, tho' I believe she is to take Freight whenever the
Congress dont fill her up themselves, she is to go constantly
between your Port & this. Our Convention being still
setting prevents my sending you the Papers I promis'd you.
If the Congress do not fill her themselves you may obtain
Freight, but not otherways, she is dispatch'd under the
direction of a secret Committee We have heard of a large
Fleet having sailed from New York & since that of their

16

having put into Hampton Road Virgina, but that 'twas
thought they were bound still further So'therly but no
appearance of them as yet this way I can only add that
I am with great regard,

Gentlemen

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

Savannah Dec'r 18th 1776.
Bright & Pechin
Gentlemen :

I dropt you a Line of yesterdays Date ^ Capt. Buck
in w'ch I mentioned his Vessel was intirely on the Public
Account & so in fact she is, & at the expence of the United
States: but I find she will very probably be Used for pri-
vate Advantage, the Vessel is manag'd by a secret Comittee
appointed by the C: Congress, they consign her to whom
they please, if the Public have any thing to send from this
Port or yours I presume it will have the preference, but if
not the Secret Comittee or the Person to whom they Con-
sign her may let her out to whom they please, this has been
the Case this Trip, our State did not choose to Ship any-
thing on its own Account, of course Mr. Wereat, to whom^
she was directed by the Comittee had the filling her up, or
letting her out, he has done the former, & from Observa-
tions of my own I presume he must expect to do so in
future as I find he is Endeavoring to purchase Sole Leather,
Indico &c. he has got some Comissions from your City oi;
fix'd a Correspondence there when he was with you this
last fall : I only mention this for your information I have
a notion he is connected w'th some of the Secret Comittee
in your City, however to me its seems very strange that a
Vessel which is intended as a Packet or Advice Boat to go
with Dispatch shou'd be loaded as deep as a Common Mer-
chantman, if we coud by any means procure a fast sailing

17

Vessel that woud carry from 150 to 180 Blls Rice at most
well fitted & Armd w'th 4 or 6 Carriage Guns to keep off
Boats &c., & to row on an Occasion I think we might do
something to advantage but without a Vessel we can do
nothing & one is not to be had here.
I can only repeat that I am w'th regard
Gentlemen

Your most Obed't Serv't
J. C.

Savannah Georgia 30th Dec, 1776.
Capt. John Rains

Sir: Inclosed is Invoice of five Casks Indico, Ship'd by

me on board the Schooner Sophia whereof you

are Master & Consign'd to you Amounting to the sum of
two hundred & seventy-two Pounds 13/5 w'ch you will
please dispose of at your port of delivery to the best Advan-
tage & return me particular Sales thereof the Net Proceeds;
I would have laid out in such Articles as wou'd be likely
to produce the greatest profits & take the least Room unless
you shoud Buy a larger Vessel on Account of the whole
Concern in w'ch Case a few Bulkly Articles that woud
produce the greatest profit might be brought such as Rum,
Sugar, Salt &c. the latter only as Ballast & if to be pro-
cured without too much Risque & trouble ; among the Arti-
cles of Dry Goods some of the following wou'd be likely to
command a quick Sale & produce a large profit ; low priced
white Linnens of all kinds, such as wou'd have Cost in
England from 14 to 21 ^ yd : good Osnabrigs, a large
Quantity, Strip'd Cotton Hollands of a middling Quality,
Cotton & Linnen Checks Garlix & Dovv^las ; Callicoes &
printed Linnens, Handkerchiefs of all sorts, Russia Drabs
White & Colour'd, Raven & Sail Duck, Cotton & Thread
Hose, Threads of all sorts, Pins & Needles, any coarse
Woollen Cloth fit for Negro Cloathing & that dont come

18

too high, the kind usually Imported for that purpose, into
this Province us'd to Cost from 13d to 16d ^ yd in England
^Plantation & Family Medicine such as Jesuits Bark,
Ipecacuana, Common Salts, White Vitriol, Rubarb, Tartar
Emetic, Cream Tartar, Magnesia, Spanish Flies & Melolet
for Plasters &c. I just mention these things as a Memo-
randum, but not to confine you to them in particular, as
perhaps it may so happen that you may make a Port where
none of them are to be had in w'ch Case you will be oblig'd
to substitute some other in the Room of them : I would
only make one Remark further in regard to returns & w'ch
is a very general one that is all Articles of whatever kind
that Persons of all Ranks in general constantly want &
Daily Consume or wear (& of which there are many) must
of course be in constant Demand & will always command a
Markett, therefore such things must & will always be suit-
able & proper to purchase : I woud be obliged to you to
purchase for me if it comes in your way 1, 2 or 3 Pieces
White Sheeting equal in Quality to such as usually cost in
England from 13d 14 to 20 ^ yd ; I woud only notice as my
opinion that shoud you be able to purchase a fast sailing
Sloop or Schooner of at least 150 Blls Rice Burthen, that I
do not think Any Articles you can bring here will produce so
large a profit as good Rum & Sugar, particular the former
I have only to add that I am w'th Wishes for your Success
Sir Your most Obed't Serv't,

Joseph Clay.

Savannah, Jan'y 28th 1777
Capt Samuel Stiles
Sir

^ a Letter I received from Cha's Town Dated the 24
Ins't I am informed that a Frigate was Cruising off their
Barr, & that they had reason to expect another woud be
there shortly which has induced me to drop you a line at

19

a Venture, shoud it meet you it may be of use to You. I
am also well assumed''' that the Otter Sloop is generally
between St. Johns & Augustine, sometimes she goes to
St. Marys besides which there is generally two or three
Tenders, say small Schooners & Sloops Arm'd about
St. Marys, tho' I believe they dont cruise much, being prin-
cipally intended for the protection of E. Florida, a small
Schooner Schooner under French Colours run into Sapelo
ab't a Month ago (Commanded by one Kelly) & Robbed
poor Montaugut & his Mother, again otherways we have
heard of nothing on the Coast since you left this we have
had several Arrivals since you left this Nevertheless Dry
goods good Rum, Sugar & Salt still bear good prices shoud
you get in Safe you may probably do tolerably well the
Man of War being oft will rather be of service to your
Sales. I am Sir your most Obed't Serv't,

Jos'h Clay.
P. S. Nichols Boat say the one that he Built in his
yard the Back of the Town is fitting out & will be off as a
Pilot Boat in a few days. I presume you know her she is
deck'd & appears rather like a small Bermudian Boat she
will have shoulder of Mutton Sails Mr. Telfair received
your Letter from Turks Island, your Brother is not yet
arrived.

Savannah the 24th Feb'y 1777.
Mr. John Burnley f
D'r Sir

Our Convention broke up only last Monday Night
during the sitting of which my time was almost constantly
taken up & for some days since we have been & now are
in a little confusion a Number of Soldiers & Indians having

Assured.

t Of Virginia. See letter to James Clay, dated Charles Town, Nov. 2, 1779.

20

made an Attack on our most Southern Post, Fort
Mcintosh situated on the North side of Satilla River, w'ch
they have taken, their Numbers was above 400 half of
which were Indians the others Regulars from St. Augus-
tine they brought 5 pieces of Artillery with them the Fort
was Commanded by a brave and prudent Officer one Capt.
Winn Who had 70 Men under his command but the Fort
was not calculated to resist so formidable an Attack it
being only a Stockcade whether this was only their
Advanced Party &; a larger are following them to make a
General Attack on the province, or whether they mean to
Attempt to secure that part of the Country to themselves
in Order to get the Cattle that is in it, is not yet known,
every thing is in Alotion & all are in high Spirits, & I think
I never saw greater Unanimity in this province since the
present Contest began than just now, and I have not the
least doubt if we are properly Supported of every thing
succeeding: to our Wishes.

Savannah March 1st 1777.
Mr. Dan'l Bourdeaux
Sir

The Admiralty Suit is not yet brought to an issue owing
to their not being able to get a Jury for some days past
the Inhabitants having been all on Duty occasioned by an
incusion on our Southern Frontier from Florida, but as
they have Retreated & Troops are howrlly expected I pre-
sume the Militia (or part of them) will be discharged &
Business be resumed again in two or three Days and am
Sir your most Obed't Serv't,

Joseph Clay.

P S I do not know what Articles the Prices w'th you
woud afford your sending them here indeed the Prices
here are so fluctuatery that there is no Judging from them
your Salt 10 Days ago A^oud have Produced 10/ ^ Bushel.

21

Savannah the 19th March 1777.
Mess Bright & Pechin
Gentlemen :

However if no Vessel shoud come in for 4 or 5 Weeks
I expect I shall be intirely clear of every thing I hold the
Flour a 45/ Ship Bread a 40/ & Biscuit a 12/ w'ch I hope to
obtain for the Whole of this Cargo the Onions I am afraid
will not produce 34 'i^he Cost of them we have so many here
as to reduce the Price lately to d6 ^ Bunch our Currency
the Cheese may Produce 2/ tho' I am rather afraid of it asi
it is much injured from having been so long on board. I
hope the Sloop will be ready for Sea in two or three Days
by her I shall send you some Sole Leather, Rice, Indico
& Deer Skins, also ab't 5 or 600 lb Coffee which stands me
in ab't 54 our Currency ^ tb, pray be particular in future
in mentioning the Prices of Articles w'th you particularly
W. India Produce as from the Idea I have of your Markett
it appears to be vastly higher than ours & that I might
often purchase here & Ship you so as to save ourselves if
not make a profit.

I am not certain the Sloop will be permitted to Sail as
soon as she is ready there being an Embargo on Shipping
at present tho' 'tis Expected t'will be shortly taken off.
Hazard you have doubtless heard before this was taken
off Charles Town by the Perseus Frigate & I am afraid
Thomson has shared the same fate I am w'th regard

Gent

Your most Obed't Serv't
Mr. Taarling J. C.

22

Savannah the 26th March 1777.
Mr. John Burnley
Sir

The Embargo still remains on our Shipping the Council
meets to day when I hope the}^ will take this matter into
consideration. We have a Report here that a Fleet is off
your port w'ch I hope is not true. One third of the Brig
Amity was sold yesterday for 715 & bo't in by
Mr. Weareat the other Owners not having authorized
either Mr. Houstoun or myself to go so far by a consider-
able sum on their behalf I am sir

Your most Obed't Serv't,

Joseph Clay.

Messieurs Bright 8c Pechin & Capt. McDaniel copy per

Savannah the 8th April 1777.
Mr. Rice
Gentlemen :

herewith you will receive Copy of my last to serve in
failure of the Original as I therein mentioned the Sloop
has been detained till now on Account of an Embargo w'ch
was not taken off before this Day I now inclose you Invoice
& Bill Lading of sundry Articles Ship'd on board the Sloop
Dove Capt. Daniel McDaniel on your and my joint
Account Amount'g to Six hund'd & thirty one Pounds
Ninteen shill'ng & 9d One half of w'ch being 315 - 19 - IQi^.
I have Debited your Account shou'd this Vessel get in safe
I am in hopes we shall make a profitable Adventure, the
3 Hhds W. India Rum are high though of a good Quality
& must Answer at the Prices you Quote the other 2 Hhds
are of a better Quality than your distild Rum is & I think
must do well, the Coffee if the Price keeps up with you
must bring a Considerable profit, the Sugar I presume will
pay Freight in future be very particular in regard to the

23

State of your Markett's as the course of Trade is now so
alterd & fluctuating that nothing but constant advice can
enable one to form any Judgement. I could have sent you
ab't 20 ps Russia Duck at 1 - 19s a 1 - 15s ^ ps but was
afraid twas too high tho' I understand tis in Demand with
you. Inclosed is Invoice of 2 Casks Indico & a parcel of
Deer Skins Ship'd by Joseph Clay & Co. on your & their
joint Account amounting to 167 - 8 - 7 One half of which
is to your Debit in Account with them ; many of the Skins
are much hurt w'th the worm the good ones will bring
between 2s & 3s ^ lb for w'ch reason have Averaged the
whole a 20/.

Since my last to you I have received your favour of the
20th February ^ the Georgia Packett Capt. Buck who
arrived here the 4th Inst, w'th a Cargo consisting of 64
Blls. Fine Flour 11 half Ells, do 30 blls. Ship Bread & 30
Blls Porter the Gentlemen to whom she was Consigned
Mr. John Wereat being gone into the Country had desired
me to open his Letters in his Absence, & do the necessary
Business for him w'ch gave me an opportunity of knowing
her Cargo so exactly by the same means I observe by Let'
ters from Mr. Thos. Morris that he is sending away one
or two small Vessels to this Port w'th Barr Iron Flour
Ship Bread &c all of w'ch is on Account of the United
States in Order to further Payments round to different
Ports, Buck goes from this to the W. Indies with a Cargo
for that purpose. The following Articles I think may be
Ship'd here to advantage if to be had, the first & prin-
cipal ones must be as usual, a proportion of the following:
Superfine Flour in whole, Sffine in half Blls.

"j not exceed ^ or at most one

Comon do in do > third of the whole Quantity Ship'd

J to be of this kind about 20 Blls.

Ship Bread if not risen much in price do Yz doz Blls. Pilot
Bread in half Blls. 6 or 8 Blls. good Porter no other will
stand the hot weather.

24

by

Retail at 2-3

by

do 20d to 2s

by

do lOd to 2s

Barr Iron about a Ton or 1^^ Tons I am afraid its too
high to yield much profit.

About 50 lb Chocolate if not risen too high you may ship
as far as a 100 lb.

Mould Candles sell here

Dipt do do

Soap by do do

Send about 100 Kegs water Biscuit.

Horse Collars, Chair Harness, & Italian Collars are in
great Demand & if not too high w'th you I suppose may
bring our Currency for yours but not more if you have not
Ship'd me any Chair Haness before this comes to hand
send at least 2 Setts do w'th Italian Collars.

Cotten & Wool & Cards will bring particularly the latter
a good price Say 10/ a 13/ ^ pair, indeed they are so neces-
sary an Article that they will bring almost any price.

Sickles, Hoes, Axes & Whips saw files are in great
Demand.

Yz doz. Blls Cyder might answer if good 2 or 3 Blls.
Train Oil woud bring a good price, a small Quantity of
Steel might answer. I have enumerated these Articles
just for your Information knowing the state of every thing
in regard to Trade is so altered as to render it necessary.
We have a tolerable Trade to the French West Indies w'ch
furnishes us w'th the produce of their Islands tho' at high
prices for as their Vessels are in general small the Quanti-
ties at one time is so small as rarely to leave any Quantity
of any thing on hand, we have likewise some trade to the
Dutch Islands from whence we have got chiefly Dry Goods,
but them in no Quantities as yet, this is all the Trade we
have as yet except what is Coastways & that is Principally
to & from your port and Charles Town from w'ch you may
judge whether you have any thing with you that will suit
here I suppose 2 or 300 lb Cheese if none shoud arrive here
woud bring 2/6 ^ lb in yours of the 20th feb'r you mention
there beinsr 10 Kegs Biscuit on board the Dove more than

25

charged in the Invoice. I have received onl}^ 61 in the
whole Capt'n McDaniel thinks the other 5 must have been
taken out by the Fellow they belonged to I coud have
ship'd you Indigo of the Best Quality Say of the Copper
kind a 10/ our Currency ^ tb, but your Account of that
Article discouraged me Capt'n McDaniel as far as I can
judge of him seems to be a carefull Sober Man & I am in
hopes will get safe Back. I had forgot to notice that I
received the Sloop Account under cover of your 20th Feb'r
amount 67 - 5 - 10 your Curr one half of which is to your
credit. Inclosed you have the Sloops Amount. Disburse-
ments here Amount ilO - 4 - 10 one half of which being
35-2-5 our Curr'y is to 3-our Debit, the Indico & Deer
Skins on Account of J. C. & Co. I have included in our Bill
Lading Freight of which must leave to you the Guns that
belong'd to the Brig I lent to one of our Colonels who was
going by water to the S'ward sometime ago & I am afraid
I shall find some difficulty in getting them back, if they had
been here I woud have had them Mounted in the Sloop as
twoud be a great Security against a Boat boarding her
shoud she get safe to you & you can purchase two or three
Swivels or small Guns they may be very serviceable to her.
10th April the Sloop being detained till to day by bad
weather has g'iven me an opportunity of Borrowing two
small Carriage Guns for the Sloop in the lieu of those I
lent them w'ch Capt. McDaniel has got on board with
Shott & Powder for them shoud he get in safe I think if
he had two or three 'Oars fitted twoud not be improper.
I was in hopes to have sent you Sales No, 15 by this Con-
veyance as I had it ready except Examining and Casting
up, but time woud not permit. Inclosed is a Copy of
Invoice ^ Stiles & Rains the latter is not closed on Acco't
of the Disbursements some Articles of w'ch have been
paid by the other Owners w'ch they have not furnish'd me
with & there is some small matter to add to Disbursements
we have not heard of. Stiles's Sailing from the Capes but
are rather uneasy about him as from the last Accounts we

26

had from him he ought to have been here before this we
have never heard any thing- of Rains since he Sail'd w'ch
makes us at a loss what to conjecture about him, he was to
go directly for Bermuda & there purchase a fast Sailing
Vessel. I have only to assure you that I am w'th regard,
Gentlemen,

Your most Ob't Serv't

Jos'h Clay.

Savannah May 3d 1777.
Messrs. Bright & Pechin ^ Mr. Rice
Gentlemen,

Herewith you will receive Copys of my last to you
^ Capt. McDaniel wlio I hope is safe with you before this,
as he Sail'd from here above a fortnight past, Marketts are
much the same as ^ my last. I am sorry to inform you
that my Conjectures in regard to Stiles were w'th too much
reason, he arrived three Days ago in a Boat from Jamaica
with w'ch he coasted from there along shore he had pur- ^
chased a very fine Sloop that mounted four 2 pounders & 4
Swivels, & had a Valuable Cargo on board on our Accounts,
& a very Considerable one on Freight Ship'd by or rather
^ order Dorsius either on Acco't of the United States or
Willing & Morris, he was Chaced about Nine Hours after
he was out by two Frigates & was lucky enough to get
from them, & two Days after was Chaced again by two
Sloops Warr who by dint of being a long way to windward
came up with him & took him, there was another Vessel
in Company with him when he was taken w'ch got away,
there was 8 or 9 of them came out together some of whom
were taken by the Frigates who chased them the first Day,
his Vessel cost him at the Cape 300 half Johannes & sold at
Jamaica for 130, 'tis a great Pity no method could be fell
upon to Purchase prize Vessels in the British Islands, much

27

money might be made & America absolutely served by it.
Rains I have never heard any thing of since he left this,
I am afraid he foundered at Sea he sailed the same Day that
Thomson Sail'd for Philadelphia, I will now give you an
Acco't of a more profitable concern, I mentioned to you in
some of my last we were fitting out another Vessel in w'ch
we proposed to Interest you a part, w'ch we accordingly
did & had her loaded & ready for sea when our Embargo
was laid, she was Commanded by one Hugh Inglis a very
sensible, sober & discreet Man, who had Sail'd in the Ship
we sold Dorsius ever since she was Built w'ch was near 7
years, during which time we had an Opportunity of trying
him thoroughly, unfortunately his sentiments did not concur
with the present contest he was I believe in principle a
Tory, 'tho a very prudent Man & one that never inter-
fered (at least Publickly) in Politicks, however, they were
people ungenerous enough to say he wou'd go to Augus-
tine w'th his Rice (as some others have really done before
him) w'ch place 'twas well known was in great want ol
that Article for Provisions, in consequence of w'ch the
Owners who v/ere Mr. Telfair, Mr. Jas. Habersham his
brother Joe, the Capt, & myself % each, reflecting on our
situation of our Province from its affinity to Augustine
that some of their Cruisers might possibly take him as he
went out & carry him there in w'ch Case we might not
onl}' be lossers but subject to the sensure & Calumny oi
the Malicious & ignorant, who woud say he was taken on
purpose especially as we have really tolerable Proof of one
Vessel from here being taken by Connivance of one of the
Owners ; these Considerations & there being an Oppor-
tunity of getting Rid of the Vessels & Cargo to advantage
determ.ined us to sell her here more especially as we could
not with any Propriety turn the Capt. out of the command,
as he was part Owner & had conducted himself intirely
to our satisfaction as Master, she Cost us with the Cargo
including our Commissions on the latter about il430 &
including Portlidge Bill & every thing & she produced

28

Net of every Charge 2755 so that she Yields to every owner
ab't 330 clear Profit Say on their ^4 of the Concern I had
agreable to what I wrote you formerly interested you 1-3
say one third of my Concern, of course you will be gainer
of about 110 by this intended voyage, w'ch may perhaps
be full as well & possibly better than if she had proceeded
to sea as was designed as soon as the Accot's are closed will
send you the particulars. Rains Cargo will not Cost say
for our Ya of Vessel & Cargo more Than 270 of w'ch your
1-3 will be 90. Bunner is just, now out of Employ, if I
can get hold of a proper Vessel for him & another for
Stiles & they will go, I shall try again, perhaps we may
have better luck add to w'ch I am hopes we shall effect
an Insurance Company to Insure our own Vessels Our
Coast I believe is pretty Clear I wish I coud hear yours was
also, I am in Jeopardy for you this Spring, its generally
believed Howe will push hard for your City, I am not so
apprehensive of our Markett being glutted as when I
wrote you last above 600 Blls. of the Flour that came in last
was common, add to w'ch Mr. Weareat & I am on a very
Friendly Footing & we sell each at the same Price, by
w'ch means I am in hopes we shall carry the sale through
at the Prices we began at, indeed finding the Cheese going
off fast I have obtained 2/3 for about 300 lb of it I believe
I did not mention to you that we received only 1 Bll
Onions ^ McDaniel there was no more on board that
could be found, I am just now offerd a Quantity of
Melasses a 4/ ^ Gall. I am apprehensive this Article must
keep up with you & will grow scarce here, but want of
knowing your Situation & the precariousness of the times
altogether almost deter me but I believe I shall Purchase,
if Porter can be had that will keep, twill bring a good
Profit what came ^ Buck Bro't above 8 Bll our Money.
I am

Gentlemen,

Your most Obed't Serv't,

J. Clay.

29

Savannah the 15th May 1777.
Mr. Josiah Smith
D'r Sir,

I received your favour ^ Dr. Zubly together with a
Number of Schemes of the Lottery now Drawing on
Account of the United States, no Person woud exert them-
selves more to promote any measure that might tend to
assist the general cause of America & its Defence than
myself, but the footing the Inhabitants of this State were
put on in regard to the purchase of the Ticketts as pro-
posed in yours was such that consistant with the particular
Interest of this State I coud on no Consideration have
assisted in the disposal of them, nor indeed were it even
worth the attempt from the very great Scarcity of either
your currenc}^ or Continental Money for which reason I
deferr'd answering your letter till the Assembly met when
I proposed to have laid the matter before them as I knew
there was many among us who woud gladly have become
Adventurers in the principal of Assisting the General
Cause, & who woud have been deprived of the opportunity
for want of the currency of your or the United States which
appeared to me a very great hardship more especially at
this time when we are labouring under the disadvantage of
a depreciating Currency brought on us by large Emissions
of paper Currency Emitted principally on Acc't of the
United States to pay the several Troops in this State on
that Establishment, tis true we probably might in some
degree have been Relieved from this difficulty by having
Continental Currency Circulating among us, had we have
been a little more Carefull in sending our Acc'ts to the C:
Congress in which we have hitherto been Remiss, but I
believe in future that will not be the Case & I make no
doubt in the course of a few months to see the Currency of
this State (from the very large Expenditure that will &
must be among us on Account of the United States) on as
respectable a footing as any on the Continent. I hope you

30

will Excuse this disgression it naturally arose out of the
Subject. Agreable to your desire ^ Mr. Habersham I
have delivered the Schemes to Mr. Wereat who I ani
glad to find is enabled to dispose of the Ticketts of this
State for the Currency of it, this Removes every difficulty,
he is so hearty & sincere in the present cause that you may
be assured of his promoting- the Sale of the Ticketts as
much as any man in this State can possibly do, if I can
by any means further or Expedite the Business I shall as
Opportunity offer most chearfully do it We have nothing
particular among us at present and have only to assure
you that I am with regard
D'r Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

Savannah 19th May 1777.
Henry Laurens Esq'r.
D'r Sir

Your favour of the 10th Ins't ^ Mr. Baillie I duly
received together with your Power of Attorney which he
Mr. Bailliie has proved & in Answer thereto have only to
assure you that I will most chearfully do every thing in
my Power to promote 3^our Interest & shall be very happy
if J. shall be able to render you any essential Services
therein I can easily conceive the injury you must Sustain
in your private concerns from so Sudden a Departure as
well as from so close an application as you have been
oblig'd to give to public concerns since the present unhappy
contest began I have in part felt the same inconvenience
tho' not in near so great degree as you have, however the
Public good w'th every true Disinterested Patriot will per-
vade every other Consideration. I have got our Comissary
General Mr. James Rae to confirm the Bargain Entered

31

into by Col'l Elbert for 10,000 Bushels Rough Rice, & I
hope if no unforeseen Accident happens to get him in a
few days to take the Remainder during the Administra-
tion of our late President Mr. Gwinnett an Expedition was
undertaken ag't E. Florida in my opinion w'th more Zeal
than Prudence, as I cannot think our Situation such as to
enable us to do more than Defend ourselves, & hardly
that, much less to undertake to Act offensively, Our Troops
are already gone & our Safety almost depends on their
being properl}^ supported. Our Assembly w'ch are now
Sitting have under Consideration an Application to your
State for Assistance w'ch I much mistaken if we dont stand
in great need of, as a failure on our parts must necessarily
bring this Province into a very dangerous Predicament
& w'ch I am much afraid will be the Case unless we are
Timely assisted as the Force we have is by no
means in my opinion, equal to the undertaking. You have
doubtless heard of Genr'l Mcintosh & Gwinnetts' dispute
w'ch has ended w'th the loss of the life of the latter a
mortification took place w'ch brought him to his end this
morning if the Public Business afford me sufficient time I
shall take the liberty of troubling you w'th two or three
letters for Philadelphia. I am w'th regard
D'r Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

J. C.
P S 21st April we have just heard ^ Express that Part
of our light Horse under the Command of Col'l Baker
consisting of about 100 or 110 Men being Attacked &
Defeated between St. Mary & St. Johns by a Party from
E. Florida consisting of about 100 Regulars & 40 Indians
some of our light Horse misbehaved as tis said : tho' I have
not as yet heard the Particulars this Strengthens my former
opinion.

52

Savannah, June 14th 1777,
Mr. John Burnley

I this day received your favour of the 9th Instant,
^ Express & have agreeable to your request inclosed your
Account Curr't Ballance you thereby 522..!. .7^ our Curr't
Moneys there is nothing therein omitted to your Debit that
I can recollect but the Pilotage of the Sloop which I could
not obtain the Pilot being at Tybee.

Since I wrote you last my time has been so much taken
up with the Assembly that I could not Embrace any Oppor-
tunity to forward you your Accounts Nevertheless I have
not being Idle in regard to purchasing Land for you, the'
have come to no determination decisive therein, nor con-
cluded on any Bargain, among others one Burney near
Augusta who said he had been applied to by you, offered
me Land which tho' not such as I woud intirely from choice
have purchased, yet from your anxiety to have your Money
invested in Land, I will take the most Early Opportunity
of Embracing his offer as the best that has, as yet, accord-
ing to my knowledge been offered me, tis for Two Tracts
one in So. Carolina on the Road to 96 about 15 miles from
Augusta, of 400 Acres Granted in 1771 to one N. Hampton
on Horns Creek bounded by Purcell, Stringer, Roberts,
&c the other of 350 acres in Georgia Granted in 1773 on Kegg
Creek about 15 miles from Augusta the Price is 12/ ^
acre this will take nearly the Ballance due you the Remain-
der I will Endeavour to invest as soon as possible in some
small Tract; the Sloop produces rather less than I expected,
however I am content, you may depend on hearing from
me & if the fate of War does not prevent I shall be doing
something in a Commercial with you or your Friends
in Europe, as well as with your Brother in Virginia, how-
ever this depends on providence the Die is Cast generally,
this Summer will determine for the Continent, if We keep
the Enemy at Bay for this Summer tis enough ; their
utmost effort is making this Campaign with them, 'tis this

33

Year or never, the Continental Congress are sensible of it, if
you have seen their Resolves & Regulations in the begining
of April you will be convinced of it, by that tis evident
to me that at this day they have all their Army, consisting
of 110 Battalions including those in the States of So Caro-
lina & Georgia quite full with Soldiers or Militia, except
the two States aforementioned which are not included in
those Resolves ; after all tis not as we will, the Battle is not
always to the Strong, but as he who willeth all things
directs, he has as yet been remarkably on our side, may it
be so in the future Col. Elbert is not yet come to Town
therefore I could not make Application about the Keg of
Gun powder I have only to assure you that I am with great
regard

D'r Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

Savannah 2nd July 1777.
Messrs Bright & Pechin
Gentlemen :

We have been daily expecting to hear you were
attacked that is from common report, tho for my part unless
Howe is Strongly reinforced or Carlton penetrates on the
back of you I do not think 'twill be attempted, as General
Washington's Army by this I apprehend is very Strong &
much better regulated than formerly, We have an Account
by Prisoners from Augustine within this six Days that a
Transport which went there from New York under con-
voy of the Dartmouth was taking on board 200 men to
carry them to New York the talk there was that they were
to be sent Home from New York they having been 11
years in America, but the true cause in my opinion is that
Howe is weak & they were to reinforce him, Our Assembly

34

resolved at their last sitting that our Delegates at Phil'a
shoud appoint an Agent in your City for this State to
transact all Money matters on Account of the State & to
keep regular Accounts of every matter of Account between
the United States & this State w'ch Agent is to give
Security to the Continental Congress in Trust for this state,
such security to be approved of by the Continental Con-
gress this possibly may be worth your applying for, if so
I do not believe there can be any obstacle in the way of
your getting it I know none it wou'd suit better nor do I
know of any Competition unless it may be the infamous
Joe Wood, who is coming a Delegate to represent this
State but I hope his Character will be well enough known
with this Congress to prevent his or any of his family being
trusted with any thing, it may seem surprising such a per-
son shoud be chosen in a Country where he has more than
once been recorded in the Courts of Justice for a dishonest
Man but it intirely arises from a Defect in our New Con-
stitution, which is so very Democratical & has thrown
power into such Hands as must ruin the Country if not
timely prevented by some alteration in it, this has arose
in a great measure from so large a Number of the principal
People being either Tories or through fear of the Conse-
quences have withdrew themselves & wou'd not till very
late take an Active part in the present contest by which
means they lost that influence they otherways wou'd have
had & Rule & Government has got into the Hands of those
whose ability or situation in Life does not intitle them to
it I do not apprehend the C. Congress will know of our
intentions in regard to an Agent before Wood gets with
you, as I presume he will carry the Resolve with him he
was the Father of the proposition & was suspected by some
of us of having an intention to get the place for himself or
his son, & dreading the consequences of such Men getting
into a place where money wou'd be intrusted to them they
got it carried in Assembly that proper security shoud be
given by the person who was appointed & that the Security

35

should be approved by the C. Congress, hoping this wou'd
be a sufficient Barr to their getting it as they imagined they
wou'd not be able to obtain the Security I have pur-
chased in the Lottery of the United States the following ten
Ticketts: N98,141, 98,142, 98,143," 98,144, 98,145; 98,146;
98,147, 98,148, 98,149 & 98,150 which must beg the favour
of you to attend to & renew them for me in the next class
as I mean to carry them through the several Classes. I
am hopefull they may produce as much as will defray the
expence but if not I must beg of you to do it for me & let
me know the sum you are oblig'd to advance for that pur-
pose. I should be glad to be inform'd from you that
Mr. Dorsius's Bills Was paid, since my last to you we
have heard of Rains's being safe in Bermuda but that
they was so closely watch'd by the Men of War that there;
was no getting out, the first opportunity I suppose that he
can Embrace & he will push for this place so that we may
have some hopes of the Adventure by him turning out
well, yet every thing is exceedingly scarce & dear great
Voyages might be made if we coud prosecute them ; I am
hopefull towards Winter we may be able to send back-
wards & forwards again and am w'th regard
Gentlemen

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay

Savannah Aug't 10th 1777.
Edward Telfair, Esq
Dear Sir:

I hope before this you are well settled to business
labouring w'th Anxious Care for Millions yet unborn & I
woud also be glad to learn you had been able to effect any
thing for this unhappy ruind State, but I must own when
I reflect on the various applications this State has made

36

to Congress, the large sums she has from time to time rec'd
from it, without rendering any proper Account of the
Expenditure, add to w'ch our general Conduct as a State
I must say that I doubt your success ; if I have any Idea
of Mankind or from livihg so long among men, who if not
devoid of Common sense, yet Acting, I mean as a Com-
munity, always Contrary to it, I say if I have not from
this Circumstance quite forgot what is plain reason & the
nature of things in general, I think a Delegate in Congress
representing the State of Georgia is far from an agreeable
situation, & to a feeling mind who has the good of his Coun-
try at Heart a most uncomfortable one, & when I reflect on
the late Expedition & the Circumstances relative to it being
laid before Congress w'ch I dare say it will be both by the
Gen'l & Gov'r, I think it one of the happiest Circumstances
of my life I did not go with you, & should matters appear
there as I think they will, I do most sincerely Pity you,
Expence & Discord may be our Motto Our Money is
depreciated to a great degree since you left us Negros with-
out any particular Qualifications sell very Common from
5 to 600 & upwards, all kinds of Dry goods are excessive
high Butter sells a 10/ & Candles 12 a 15/ ^ lb & so on.
We have rec'd the Account of the Engagement between
our Army & the Enemys & tlio' in its consequences it does
not appear to me We reap any particular Advantages, yet
it will give our people Spirits, & Establishes to a Certainty
our Military Character from the public papers I think I
gather Clinton had reached N. York, w'ch Amazes me, his
force must be great, or ours very small, or surely he could
not have effected such a March, I hope Estaing w'th his
fleet is gone there & if so I think if we push on the Land
Side Clinton may yet be Burgoyned our Necessitys will
sell the Tory Estates as soon as the Assembly meets, & if
our next Gov'nr turns General (w'ch as most of his Prede-
cessors have done, there will be little reason to doubt he
will do so also) in w'ch Case I think by the time he has
reigned his Year out there will be a Necessity to sell every

37

Estate in the State, for God Almighty seems to have doomd
us for destruction, & that it shall be our own doing, & we
shall never rest till we have Compleated it, for I dare say
there never was a State existed that had so little Honesty
or Patriotism among its members as the State of Georgia
this may seem to be passing a hard Judgement nor woud
I wish the World in general to have the same opinion of
us, I dare say you concur with me in it, shoud any thing
particular occur before an opportunity of forwarding this
offers this shall advise you and am with great regard
D'r Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

J. Clay.

Savannah, Sept'r 29th 1777.
Mess. Bright & Pechin
Gentlemen:

The foregoing is Copy of my last to serve in failure
of the Original, since which I have received your favours
of the 13th May & 30th June, the former covering several
Sales which have not had time as yet to Examine but
Dare Say shall find them right I notice you had purchased
another Sloop & the cause that prevented your getting out
I heartily wish 'twas otherways cou'd we keep a small Ves-
sel or two running we might make a great deal of Money
if they went safe. We are under great Anxiety for your
Safety the last Acco'ts we had, if true, were very Alarming,
that was that Burgoyne was at or near Albany, every thing
seems to me to depend on a very Strenuous exertion this
Summer & fall, which if attended with Success will I
Imagine put an end in a great measure to many of our
present Distresses & troubles an Expedition is much talk'd
of by the Tories against this or So. Carolina, or both if
they are Successfull with you I presume they will hardly

38

think it worth while, & if not, I do not think they will be
able to attempt it, as they must know we may with great
propriety in that Case, expect large Reinforcements from
the N'ward by this time I imagine tis more than Probable
something Capital must have happened God grant us
Success. I am very glad you have got the Dove's Cargo
up, I am sensible it must have been attended w'th great
trouble & expence, but I am not without hopes the Sales
will afiford it. Dry Goods are very high just now, as is
Rum & Sugar & all kinds of W. India Produce, tho' as
Winter comes in I expect we shall have many Vessels
dropping in and of course then Goods may be expected to
be cheaper Our Coast has had several Men of War on it
this Summer notwithstanding which I believe as many (if
not more) Vessels have got safe in than have been taken
& as Winter comes on we Expect the Chance will be by
far more in our favour & besides which we Expect there
will be fewer Men of War Cruising on our Coast this will
be handed you by one of our Delegates, Mr. Edward Lang-
worthy, he is not a Character so Conspicuous as to have
supposed him intitled to so Exalted a Station among us
however I am in hopes he will prove himself as becomes
an honest Man he was formerly a School Master & is a
Man of Considerable Abilities he had my son Joe under
his Care a considerable time if it shou'd come in your way
to be Civil to him I shall esteem it a favour his Colleague
is Joe Wood who is sufficiently known to you. I hope we
shall soon have an open Sea Communication between us
& am with great regard.

Gentlemen

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

P. S. I have just now heard w'th great pleasure of
General Stark's success against General Burgoyne

39

Savannah Sept'r 29th 1777.
Hon'ble Henry Laurens, Esq'r
D'r Sir:

The Scouts from Augustine have for some Months past
been continually making incursions into our State for
Cattle & I believe they have carried some away lately from
the No'side of Great Ogechee, this to our very great shame
they have done with very little interruption, for though we
have had generally for some Months past from 10 to 1200
Men on the Continental Establishment besides what we
have on the Pay of the State not the smallest Check has
ever been giving to these People for sometime past except
within this few Days past tho' tis will known the Number
of the People who have committed these depredations have
never exceeded 150 including Indians & that there never
was half that Number out at any one time this is very
much complained of by the Inhabitants & with great reason
that they cannot be protected from such an inferior force
from what cause all this can proceed cannot with certainty
be ascertain'd but to Mismanagement of some kind it must
be owing, want of good Officers & strict Discipline I
believe is one of the Principal causes for our Men are cer-
tainly as good & are Endowed with as much natural Cour-
age as any other, of course the like services may with Pro-
priety be expected from them. The last week a party of
the Continental Troops came up with the Florida Scout
about 50 in Number on the North side of the Altamaha,
Engaged & drove them, Killed one or two Men & took a
Number of Cattle from them some Horses Saddles &c & I
"believe a party is still in pursuit & I wou'd fain hope may
come up with them before they get out of the State.

There is two or three Prisoners taken, from whom we
learn that their chief Subsistence in Augustine for some-
time past has been from the Cattle their Scouts have drove
from this State We received yesterday a Confirmation
of the Action near Bennington under the Command of

40

General Stark w'ch promises fair & gives great Spirits to
all true Friends the Tories here talk much of being
relieved (as they call it) very shortly by their Friends in
Augustine w'th what foundation can only be conjectured.
We are but badly prepared for a formidable Attack. Our
Divisions & our mode of Government both Distress us &
prevent our going on with that Expedition in putting our-
selves in a proper State of Defence. We ought to do
However I have no doubt we shall do well in the long run.

Mr. Jervais wrote me you desired your Money in this
State to be invested in Land. Mr. James Baile}'^ has
informed me of a Tract on Cat Head Creek belonging to
one Fulton which he says is a good one & that the Owner
is inclined to dispose of it I have desired him to inquire
further about it & to know their price & inform me Mr.
LeConte (who I believe is a pretty good Judge of Land)
likewise Recommend it to me. I have only to assure you
that I am with respect
D'r Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

J. C.

Savannah the 15th October 1777.
Brigadier General Howe
Sir :

I wrote you on the 8th Ins't in Answer to yours of the
1st which you will receive by this Conveyance no Oppor-
tunity offering sooner, since which I have received your
favour of the 5th Ins't by Major Demere I am too well
acquainted with the manner the Continental Troops have
been managd & paid to be surpris'd at your having heard
continual Complaints & Murmurings on that Subject, how-
ever notwithstanding there may be several who have cause
to complain of their not being paid, or if paid yet not paid

41

regularly, I believe there are others who have received
larger sums & Allowances than they coud have received
had their Accounts been regularly Examin'd & certify'd
agreeable to the Regulations of the Continental Congress
I will do every thing in my power while I hold my Office
to reduce things into Order & Regularity with all the Expe-
dition in my Power, and to Establish such a plan of Busi-
ness as may be in general follow'd by those who succeed
me, but I cannot have any retrospect, I can only look for-
ward. I cannot think of attempting to make out out a
Regular State of Accounts from the time the Army was
Established down to the Day I assume my Office, tis an
undertaking I cannot venture on, nor is it hardly possible
for any one to accomplish it, if any one in this State can
do it, I believe I can, being from a constant Engagement
in the public Service of the State in a civil way, as well
acquainted with the Accounts of the State if not better
than other person in it, but the Mode of paying the Army
has been so various, sometimes by the Treasurer of the
State to the Officers individually, without any regard to
whom or which of them, but just as he had more or less
influence with some of our Demagogues to obtain an
Order for Payment, & latterly principally to the Regimental
Pay Masters, many of whom I believe have not been the
most Regular in their Business or the best acquainted with
it, so that an attempt to bring up & settle the Past Accounts
wou'd be a most arduous Task, & cou'd never be com-
pleated in such a manner as to render even a tolerable
Degree of Satisfaction or to answer a Valuable purpose,
And if it is required or expected of the Deputy Pay Master
General of this State, to bring up all the past Accounts,
I absolutely decline having anything to do with it. I do
not believe I could hire a Clerk in this State only to copy the
Accounts out fair relative to the Army from the time they
were Established to this Period for the sum allowed the
D. P. M. G. ^ Annum as ^ the list you enclosed me (50 D :
^ month & 6 Ra :) much more to state them properly and

42

make the necessary inquiries into them, in accepting the
Office to begin the Business with the Appointment I sacri-
fice my own private Interest to a great degree, far beyond
what the Salary can compensate, indeed it is no object
with me, my leading Motive is to serve my Country, but
my Family have likewise some claim to my attentions I
do not mean by not having any retrospect, that if I shou'd
find out by any means in the course of my Office that any
Fraud or Mal-Practises have been heretofore practised by
any one in Office that I will not take notice of it. No, Sir,
nothing of that kind shall escape me, be the Culprit who
he may every thing of that kind that come to my knowl-
edge you may depend on being informed of immediately.

I do not apprehend that the Continental Congress
expect that the D. P. M. General of this State is to Settle
or bring up the past Accounts, because I see by a Resolve
of theirs passed I think in August last (or about the time
they made the several late legislations for the Army in
this State) that they have Voted a Sum for the Use of this
State and at the same time appointed Commissioners to
Examine & Audit our public Accounts so far as relates to the
Continental Expences defrayed by us, and to Credit our
State with the Amt. of such sums as shall appear on Exam-
ination to be due it, and to pay or order to be Paid the
Amount thereof into our Treasury whatever it may be and
at the same time they Voted 300,000 Dollars to be paid me
as D. P. M. General in this State for the Payment of the
Army, & in Case the Sum Voted for the purpose of Dis-
charging the Debt due this State from the United States
shall be found insufficient for the Purpose, that then the
said Commissioners are Empowered to draw on me for
such further sum as may be necesary, and if on the other
Hand the sum Allowed shall be more than sufficient to
Discharge the debt due us from the United States they are
to pay the Overplus into my Hands for the Use of the
United States, So that I apprehend these Commissioners are
appointed for the express purpose of Liquidating &

43

Auditing all the Continental Expences that has been
Expended and defrayed in this State from the begining
of the present Contest to the time they took the Regulation
of the Army into their own Hands & appointed their own
Officers.

I apprehend the Money ordered by C. Congress is now
on its way here, as yet I have not received any, nor any
Instructions on that Head, I presume when necessary I can
have what Money I please of the State or I may draw on
the President of the C. Congress (when I have no Money
in my Hands) for the Amount of the Commander in Chief's
Warrant or Warrants tho' I am not clear whether the
Resolve that Empowers the Pay Master or D. P. M. G. to
draw on the President does not confine it to the purposes of
paying off the Militia.

I have been this Day consulting with Col'l Elbert on
the business of my Office & the most eligible way of carry-
ing into Execution so as to answer the purposes intended
by it, & find myself much at a loss in many particulars.
I have thrown together what appears to me the general
several of the Resolves you inclos'd me so far as is neces-
sary to put the Business agoing, which I have herewith
inclosed you for your Opinion & I have made two or three
Memorandums of Matters I am at a loss about which wou'd
be much oblig'd to you for your advice therein.

I believe the Regimental Abstracts hitherto used in this
State have not been very regular or agreable to the Form
usually made use of in the Army, I shou'd be very glad if
I cou'd obtain a Copy of a proper one that I might put the
different regimental Pay Masters in a right way at once
as well as of the Rolls that are to be made out Monthly of
all the Officers in the State not Compris'd in the Regi-
mental Abstracts.

I hope you'll excuse this freedom & the trouble I give
you, which I know I have no right to do, but the earnest
desire I have to draw this State out of its present Dis-
tracted Situation, & to bring it in some degree of Credit

44

& reputation with its Sister States, I hope will plead my
Apolog"y. We are in general Novices as to the knowledge
of Government, both Civil & Military, & have little means
of obtaining information among ourselves & I look on it
in the Business I have undertaken (as well as all other)
the Principal Care shou'd be to begin well, lay a proper
and regular System down to go by, and then the trouble will
be half over, both to myself, and any other person who
shou'd succed me.

I am with great respect
Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't
Joseph Clay.

16th Oct., P. S. On reconsidering the matter of the
Deputies at the different Posts, I do not see why the Regi-
mental Pay Masters may not do that business, it wou'd be
a Saving to the States & make but very little Odds to them
as they must give their Attendance where their Regiments
are, at any rate they might do the business for a very
small addition to their present Salary I coud give them
if necesary a Deputation which I wou'd believe would be
proper as they ought to give me Security for the faithful
performance of the Trust. Perhaps there may be an
Impropriety in this which I do not See wou'd therefor sub-
mit intirely to you and am as above,

J. C.

45

Savannah the 16th October 1777.
Hon'le Henry Laurens Esq., at Philad'a
D'r Sir:

Since my last to you I have received your several
favours of the 20th Aug't & 2d Ulto, the latter ^ Dr. Hous-
ton who arrived here last Saturday Evening, who gives us
a very pleasing and Interesting Account of our Affairs
Northerly he mentions a very considerable Detachment
of Howe's Army I think 2000 being killed or taken, this
is of course considering the Situation of theirs & our Army
of great consequence as I apprehend Howe's Army cannot
be reinforced at present of Course we are so many stronger
& he so many weaker the Moments with us are now Pain-
ful for the Circumstances allow us to have great Expec-
tations & raises our hopes to the highest Pitch yet two
such Armies so near each other hourly expected to Engage,
the Events of which is of so great Importance to us, that
its impossible for us to be indifferent in such a Situation.
Mr. Baillie, has brought a Quantity of rough rice in Bar-
rels since I wrote you last, I think 44 Blls. which falls far
short of the Quantity he expected to bring occasioned by
his being disappointed in a Boat, the Expence and trouble
of bringing the rice around in the Rough & the little Value
it is of when brought here I think will hardly quit Costs
I have proposed to Mr. Bailie the beating of it out, for his
opinion he thinks he cou'd soon do it with a Strength of
Hands, I have wrote to Mr. Gervais on the Subject this
Morning to know how far he thought it practicable or for
your Interest Provided I cou'd procure a small detach-
ment to be Station'd on the Island while the People were
Employed in beating it out without that it wou'd be the
height of Folly & presumption to attempt it, I believe I
cou'd procure 25 Men to be Stationed there while the
Negroes are beating out the Rice which I should imagine
woud be sufficient to protect them against any ravaging
Party Si they woud always be informed of any consider-

46

able force time enough to quit the Island for which Purpose
they must have always with them a sufficient Boat or Boats
to carry them all off at once. I have heard from the Fultons
that they want to dispose of their Tract Land which
Mr. Baillie says is a very good Tract & that it wou'd suit
you very well, they ask in a general way 40s ^ acre and
pay't in So. Carolina Currency as they want to move into
your State should the Continental Curr'y Voted for this
State soon Arrive the difference of Money would be of no
great matter for when it once comes to be in circulation the
difference of money between the two State will not be
much for some time I expect to see one of them soon
in the interim, I have desired Mr. Bailie to ask whether
they woud take one half of the Purchase Money in this
Curr'y. I have mentioned this matter also to Mr. Gervais.
Your information in regard to the Vacating the lands of
the Absentees was very true, this infamous law for I can
give it no other appellation nor ever did not even in the
House that pass'd it ; indeed it cou'd not be said to be pass'd
by but impos'd on the Plouse the Bill was brought in with
that Clause relative to the Vacating the Lands of all
Absentees who did not come into the State within Six
Months from the Passing : I opposed it in ever}^ View Gener-
ally as being improperly timed. I thought it was no time
Grant away Lands (for the express purpose of the Bill was
for Granting Lands by opening the Land Office) and in
particular as to the Vacating the Lands of the Absentees
observed on the numberless Acts of Injustice they wou'd
commit in passing: Widows, Orphans, Minors, Friends
absent themselves on various occasions some of them per-
haps & not a few risqueing their Lives in the field in our
Defence while we are giving their property away many
joined me in opinion & the Clause was totally rejected,
the Bill went through the House without it was ordered
to be Engrossed w'hich was done accordingly, & the fore-
mentioned Clause inserted in it & through hurry & Con--
fusion at the breaking up was by some manner or other

47

imposed upon the Speaker who Signed it this may seem
surprising to you who are not acquainted with a Georgia
Assembly such as they now are. Forms in which Public
Bodies are almost the very essence they do not suit us we
know nothing about them, we cheifly meet to carve out
some way of Fleecing the State, accomplish it in the best
manner we can & then break up, go home & live on the
Spoils of our Country This a Melancholy Picture did I
not know your Attachment to our State I wou'd not lay it
before you, I by no means intend to expose my Country
God forbid I have & shall use all the means in my power
to Save her & raise her reputation & which I assure you I
have great hopes of even this wicked Act is an Omen when
the House met again the Validity of it was called in Ques-
tion & denied as an Act of the House, no one was hardy
enough to own it tho twas well known numbers of our
Inhabitants had alloted to themselves the Lands of
Absentees & were ready to seize on them at the Expiration
of the time. However so much as related to the Lands of
Absentees was repealed without opposition & the matter
done intirely away I am obliged to you for your good
Opinion of me & for recommending me to the Post of D.
Paymaster General for this State, this Appointment has
laid me under great difficulties in my own mind on many
Accounts & it was with difficulty I cou'd come to any
Determination it has been my constant opinion to have
nothing to do with any Offices where Salaries were affixed
since our present contest began. I have been offered them
in almost every capacity within our own State, but as Con-
stantly refused them; my chief objection arose from a
Spirit of Avarice I saw Early take place among us which
I was sure if not timely prevented woud bring on our
ruin I have seen nothing as yet to make me alter my
opinion I have given up almost my whole time to the
Public (greatly to the injury of my Family) for this two
Years past & wou'd never receive any thing for it, tho Act-
ing in several Capacities which intitled me to it, but 'twas

48

from the first a fixt Rule with me, that, that Principle that
induced as to engage in the present Contest should have
prompted every one who cou'd afford it, to render their
services freely & that none but the needy should have
received pay, unless it were the Military or Men who
Engaged in Offices which took up their whole time &
thereby prevented them from doing any thing for them-
selves & on the other hand the great Damage this State
has suffered from Offices of every kind of getting into
improper hands & Low People unqualified for them had
great Weight with me. This has been too much the Case
among us, & which has arose from nothing more than the
Men of Abilities & Capacity and Fortune in general holding
Principles incompatible & inimical to the American cause
shou'd I have refused to Act immediately it might have
fell into some such Hands as a Joe Wood perhaps or one
of his Sons or Creatures whom I look upon to be as much
real Enemies in effect to this State, from their levelling"
Principles & Conduct as the King of Great Britain, or any
of his Adherants another unsurmountable obstacle. Our
Constitution says any Person holding a place of Profit under
this State or any Military Commission under any of the
United States, shall be deemed incapable of being a Mem-
ber of Assembly, on the whole I concluded to take the
appointment for the present, & have Declared if its thought
incompatible with my Seat in Assembly, I shall if I am
elected at the next General Election (which I have the
greatest reason to suppose I shall) give it up immediately
which I will do & have wrote General Howe to that Pur-
pose if I find I can render any particular service, by hold-
ing it longer than till the Sitting of the Assembly & it
shou'd be thought to incapacitate me for my Seat (which
may be the Case, as Joe Wood tho a Deputy to his son a
lad about 15 or 16 years of Age who was Pay Master to
the 1st Continental Battalion was permitted to keep his
during the two last sittings) I will do it However in two
or three weeks I shall be able To determine better ^I find

49

our Friend, General Mcintosh is called to the Northward
which I am very glad of both for his own & the State's
Sake, 'twas impossible for him to have, or give any satis-
faction here, prejudice was so strong against him, Col.
Elbert who now has the Command in his Room is
universally respected and I believe his character as a sol-
dier is indisputable he has paid great attention to Military
matters for many Years past, & is a great Disciplinarian
which is much wanted in our State I heartily wish he
cou'd be promoted so as to have the Chief Command in our
State which I believe none but a Brigadier can with pro-
priety do he is better acquainted with our State than any
Person that cou'd be sent into it he is Active, Vigilant
& Brave & takes great delight in his Profession which with
me is every thing, twas owing to Gwinnett principally that
he had not the 1st Regiment when it was raised. Gen'l
Mcintosh's getting it was owing to a Compromise between
the Parties in Convention.

I am in hopes if the campaign terminates as we expect
to the Northw'd favorable, that Congress will be able to
strengthen this State, & if Possible, reduce our Neighbors
the Floridians till that Province is Conquered we can have
no Security our & your back Country People that are
Disaffected are continually backwards & Forwards giving
them every information our Domestics are running to
them & Numberless other Grievances we are subjected to
from our Vicinit}^ to them We have the greatest reason
to expect we shall be attacked by them, if not Avith a View
to reduce us, yet in such a manner as to give an Oppor-
tunity to their Scouts & Indians to carry off our Stocks,
w'cli is & must be their chief support cou'd they have
been prevented Robbing us of our Cattle, I have been
credibly informed they wou'd have been drove to the great-
est straights long ago. Col. Elbert is now collecting the
Troops in Order to Establish some Strong Posts, partic-
ularly S'therly with a view to overawe the Floridians, & be
ready to repulse any Attack but tis with concern I inform

50

you that I heard him & Col. Habersham within this two
Days say that the three Regments of Infantry wou'd not pro-
duce 600 effective Men owing principally to Desertions,
Sickness has carried a Number of the Third Reg't off, the
first & second together have not lost exceeding 8 or 9 Men
this Fall the Reg't of Horse has been so managed & such
irregularities in Officering, that it has never been of much
service & little can be expected from it at present We have
two Troops of Horse & two Battallions of Minute Men
which were raised under the pretence of Defending our
Western Frontiers, but in my opinion the principal View
was to make Offices & Places not that we do not want a
Force to defend that part of the Country, we are in great
want of it, but I have very little expectations from Troops
(particularly in the back Country) who choose their own
Officers, which was the Case with these except the Field
Officers who were chosen by the Assembly I hope if these
Troops are kept they will be put under the Continental
Generals 'twas with the greatest difficulty we cou'd pre-
vent our Assembly Resolving during the last Sitting to
break out with the Creeks which if had taken place we
must have been broke up as a State at once & yours greatly
Distressed this was principally push'd by the famous
Col. Wells, the principal motive I believe plunder & Offi-
ces 'I hope the Congress will Embrace some favourable
Opportunity to Chide us for our Folly, 'twou'd have great
Weight & be of Service the Situation of our Country lays
so much on my mind that I don't know where to stop. I
have already got to an immoderate length which hope you'll
excuse I shall only remark that I think the late Regula-
tions Votes of Money for our Assistance will tend greatly
to our advantage particularly if we can have Sense enough
to improve them, & that we are under great Obligations
to you for your Support therein, and am with great regard.
D'r Sir. Your most Obed't Serv't, J. C.
Gen'l Mcintosh sets off for Phil'a in two or three Days
by whom shall trouble you again.

51

Savannah the 21st October 1777
Henry Laurens, Esq.
D. Sir:

I wrote you in great haste a long scrawl the 15th Ins't,
Crude and indigested Col. Habersham was just going off
for Charles Town from whence I suggested a safe Oppor-
tunity for Phil'a might soon offer, as 'twas uncertain then
whether General Mcintosh might go so soon ; as he did not
appear then to be very positive when he shou'd set off;
I am now to return you thanks for offering in so obliging
a manner to be my Security as D. P. M, General for this
State I apprehend no further Security than yours will be
required I am sure it is not necessary; but least the Con-
gress shou'd have laid down to themselves Rules or Regula-
tions, by which one or more Securities are required on such
Occasions I have wrote to my Friends Bright & Pechin
to inquire of you relative to it & if a farther Security is
required I have desired them to procure it for me I
believe I mentioned in my last that I had proposed to
accept of this appointment at least 'till the meeting of the
next Assembly w'ch will be in January next, & that then
if I shou'd be again elected, to resign it, unless they wou'd
allow me to keep my Seat & the office too, because I appre-
hend I could render more Service to the State as a Member
of Assembly than by holding the Appointment I am
intirely of your Opinion that the Importance of this State
has not been Considered with that attention it deserves,
nor have the Congress I believe been made Sensible of the
great Advantage it may be to the United States in their
Hands, & of how much Disadvantage it wou'd be to the
common cause shou'd the Enemy be able to possess them-
selves of it & at same time of how little ability we are
of ourselves to Defend it without their Assistance I am
afraid some of our Delegates have not been well enough
acquaint'd with it themselves, & were they (or any one
else) to form their opinion or ideas of it from the Resolu-
tions & Conduct of our late Congress & Assembly they

52

wou'd be grossly misled there has been two States of the
Prov'e made out and reported to our Congress they were
agreed to & the Executive Body Ordered to transmit them
to the C. Congress for their information but I am afraid
they never reached them, if they did, I dare say Mutilated,
because I do not think they were Agreable to the Ideas &
Declarations of some of the Men in Power at that time in
them the many natural Advantages of this Country were
Enumerated the Number Enemies it is exposed to both
Savage & Civilized, being a Barrier State, the Strength we
have within ourselves, which is far very far short of suffi-
cient to Protect & Defend us how great the Sacrifice we
had made in joining the Confederacy having Comparatively
Speaking no hope of Defending ourselves against the fury
of our Enemies, but must in all probability be subdued by
them whenever attacked unless Supported by our Sister
States which under Providence we hoped wou'd be able to
bear us through, & in this Confidence, put every thing to
Hazard no other State in the Confederacy run so great
a risque, all of them have some internal Resources for
their Defence & their Sister States on each Side of them
(New Hampshire excepted) ready to Support them. We
on the other hand Surrounded almost on all Sides by
Enemies & no internal resources of our own before the
present Contest began We never had in the best of Times
3500 Effective Men in this State this may be hard to
believe, but wou'd the Compass of a Letter admit of it I
cou'd give the most incontestable proofs of it nor did we
ever in one Year raise by Taxes a sum exceeding 3500.
I know this may appear as Strange but my Knowledge of
these things is from the best Authority I always thought
it my Duty as a Member of Assembly to make my self
acquainted with every thing relative to the State of the
Prov'e, to attain which I used to search the Different
Offices & take every other means I cou'd to obtain infor-
mation the last Year Taxes were Collected, 13200 Negro's
A^ere paid for, this I presume was short of the Numbei

53

actually in the Prov'e as there is always some Delinquents
& Negro's coming in after the lime of Year Taxes are
Collected* much has been said & propagated about the Dis-
affected in this State that their are many Disaffected in
it is past any Doubt ^but I believe no greater proportion
than in any other State, & I believe fewer from Principle
than in most Fear from the very exposed situation of this
State has operated very powerfully on many wel; Affected
Citizens, who if a proper force had been Early Sent into
this State wou'd have declared themselves & Acted very
differently this undoubtedly was wrong in them, but it
must be considered rather as a human frailty than a Crime.
I imagine at this Day what with the Numbers who have
quitted the State, Entered into the Army &c, we cou'd not
on an Emergency Collect together 1500 or at the uttermost
2000 Militia let the Cause or Occasion be ever so Urgent.
Yet Sir I believe it is within your knowledge that our
Assemblies & Gov'r & Council have at times Voted &
Acted as if we had 100,000 Men in it as but the other
Day our most strenuous Efforts were oblig'd to
be exerted to prevent this State Entering into
a War with the Creek Indians tho' at that very time these
People as a Nation were giving us the most convincing
Proofs of their Pacific disposition towards us by driving
Stuart's Deputies out of their Towns & burn'd their Houses.
Wells was the Instigator or may have heard we Voted 15
Battallion's of Alinute Men at one time these & like Cir-
cumstances I am afraid must have impressed Congress
with strange Ideas of us shou'd they be in any
degree formed from our Public Conduct & must be very
different from what for our Interest they ought to be
Our Demagogues have usually carried their Extraordinary

* From these Circumstances a great benefit notwithstanding will accrue
to this State Our Rate of Expence will be in proportion to the Number of
Inhabitants, w'ch will be favourable to us & in tho next place beins a Young
Country our Resources will be increasing & of course we shall be enabled to
pay our Quota to the general Expence with much ease to ourselves, &. sooner
perhaps than any other State In the Confederacy.

54

Schemes by deluding the ignorant Members (of which we
have too many) by telling them twou'd be a Continental
Expence & of course be no great Burthen to them or their
Constituents as we shou'd only pay an /88 part of the
expence which wou'd be nothing, &c. I observe the Con-
gress have Voted 100,000 for the purpose of reimbursing
as Continental Expenditure, the sum we have emitted since
the present Contest began is upward of 200,000.

I thank God I see a Dawn of Hope arising amidst all
our Distresses, the Fever abates, the Delirium decreases,
& Men seem to be coming to their Senses. And if we are
Prudent & some good Men among us have a little Patience
& just Embrace Opportunitys as they offer & not force
them things will soon come to Rights again. And if Con-
gress was to take up any matter (& of w'ch I think there
are many) & give us a little Chiding by way of Advice
it wou'd Produce great good. Our Constitution which
some good Men thought a very Valuable one is likewise
working out its End, at least of the most exceptionable
part the late Grand Jury for this County presented as
Grievances their being no Check on the Assembly the
unequal Representation, &c, tho' notwithstanding this
Mr. Wood will say all the World like it & speak well of it
that the People of this Country are very fond of it And
to set aside every objection that may be made to it that
none but Tories find any fault with it & of course it must
be all Perfection my reason for troubling you with the
Concerns of our State is my reliance & that of many others
for the Interest & love of it in the Grand Council of tho
United States is on you, as we know you have on mar.y
Occasions demonstrated your Attachment & warm^ist
wishes for its Happiness, Messrs. Walton & Brown' son
we have reason to Expect are on their way home and the
two who are now on their way, to succeed them I am afi aid
wont to do us much honour. Wood has Sense but he
wants real Patriotism & liberal Sentiments, if he d<>es
good it will be for his own Interest, or because it is not

55

incompatible with it, as to Langworthy tho a man of
Sense in some Views yet in regard to Government his
Ideas are not very extensive he may be an honest Man
in honest Company but he has no Steadiness or firmness
in his composition he will Court Popularity at the
Expence even of his Understanding; the last Man with him
is his Man such Characters never beget the Confidence of
thinking Men in my last to you I mentioned Col'l Elbert
but least it should miscarry I wou'd take the liberty to
repeat my Wishes in regard to him (& that of many others)
that he might be Promoted so as to be continued in the
Chief Command of the Troops within this State, which I
imagine nothing less than a General Officer with Propriety
can have he is much respected by the Inhabitants in Gen-
eral particularly the better part & I dare say woud give
great Satisfaction, his Abilities as a Soldier I beleive are
unquestionable, it was always his Delight & the Profession
he has made his Study for several years past and his
knowledge of this Country puts it in his Power to serve
us more effectually than a Stranger cou'd do, he is Active,
Vigilant & Brave & will I am sure make it his whole Study,
& I have not the least Doubt will be an honour to his
Country and do Credit to the American Arms I believe
our Delegates will concur in his Promotion but I doubt
whether they will be forward in Promoting it, for tho it
has been the constant practice of General Mcintosh's
Enemies (of which they are in the Number) to raise
Elbert's merit in Order to depress the Gen'rs, & as it were
to play off one against the other, yet I never beleived they
had any real regard for him, nor do I beleive does Elbert
his Sentiments are too liberal for them & they know he
will do his Duty as a Soldier & that with highest regard
to the rights of the Citizen) yet they know he will not be
impos'd on, nor Sacrifice the Service to their Caprice, by
suffering any improper interferences of an ignorant Execu-
tive Body for 'tho the Enemies of Gen'l Mcintosh complain
of his not being subordinate to the Civil Power, yet his

56

greatest fault was in my opinion his giving up too much
to them I am rather Surpris'd I did not receive my Gen-
eral Instructions with my Appointment relative to the
mode of conducting myself I cou'd have Wished to have
had something of the kind for my Guidance as I want to
lay a regular Plan for carrying on the Business in future.
I observe the Pay of the Galleys is not mentioned in the
Pay list for the Southern department nor of the Artillery,
the former is much wanted, I am one of the Navy
Board & we are under great difficulties for want of it to
Guide ourselves by Our Delegates have it in charge to
procure them and send them with all Dispatch, I wish they
may neither neglect nor delay the matter When I men-
tioned the rough Rice on Broughton Island I included
part of what was sold to the Public they having
not taken away more than 1200 Bushels of it,
General Mcintosh told me a few Days ago he
wou'd Order the remainder to be carried to the
Main the Commissary (Mr. Rae) has rather trifled in that
matter, he Promised me a Considerable time ago he wou'd
send a Man to receive it on the Island. I told him he
might leave it there as long as he pleased after he received
it. I believe his neglect has been more for want of proper
People about him to do his Business than from any inten-
tion however Col. Elbert is bound likewise to comply w'th
the Agreement & shou'd it not be taken away agreable to
Gen'l Mcintosh's Promise I shall Urge him on the Subject
We are in the greatest Anxiety to hear the fate of our
Arms We have heard of General Howe's being within
a short Distance of the Schuylkil God grant us Success
& preserve our General in the hour of Danger, and am w'th
respect

Yours, J. C.

57

Savannah, 21st October, 1777.
Messrs. Bright & Pechin.
Gentlemen :

^Doct'r Houstoun I received your favour of the 9th
Ulto. inclosing me a Letter from Capt. Wood Air, Pooler
is Dead & neither of his Partners are in Savannah as soon
as I have it in my power I will Endeavour to do the need-
full for him I believe an Agent for our State will not now
be wanting as the C. Congress have taken the management
of the Army into their own Hands (where the greatest
Expenditures lay) by Appointing their own Officers I
do not know positively that this will be the Case 'tis only
my private opinion.

I heartily Wish we cou'd resume our Trade again as
usual & that your Port was only as open as ours I hope
by this General Washington has gained a Victory, it wou'd
be a great Step towards relieving you of the whole Con-
tinent 'tis with the utmost Anxiety we wait for intelli-
gence from your State the last Accounts were not so
favourable as the former ones the Voyage ^ the Dove
will prove a very profitable one if I had the time I wou'd
have sent you the Sales of her Cargo here ^ this Convey-
ance tho' you know the Prices every thing sold at 'tis not
in my Power to get a Vessel here but at a most Exor-
bitant price I dare say such a one as the Dove cou'd not be
purchased under a Thousand Pounds our Currency which
wou'd be more than the profits of the Voyage wou'd afford
as soon as your Ports are open 3^our Markets will imme-
diately alter & at present while you are Surrounded on
all Sides by your Enemies the risque will be too great
the Prices of many Articles here are much altered & some
not to be had, Deer Skins, Sole Leather & Beaver are
Scarce ever to be met with Indico that's good is from 15/
to 20/ (this Article I think will fall) Rice 10/, Dry Goods
& West India Produce fluctuate I shall expect if our
Army has but tolerable Success, soon to see a Vessel from

58

you & shall prepare Accordingly. We have but few Men
of War on our Coast just now, however they must always
be very cautious as a Day may make great odds We have
two Pilot Boats for our Bar.

I received a few Days ago from Congress an Appoint-
ment to be D. Pay Master General for this State an Office
quite unexpected & one I am by no means desirous of nor
do I suppose I shall hold it long 'twas owing principally
to Col'l Laurens (one of the Car. Delegates) I believe that
I was appointed he is one of my Securities by an Offer
of his own I do not know whether more than one is
required by Congress in this instance it's not necessary
because he is quite sufficient for any sum that may be
required as a Security however least it shou'd I have
wrote him that I shou'd desire you to inquire whether
more than one Security is required, & if it is that you wou'd
procure it for me which must beg the favour of you to
do the Condition I presume is for the faithfull perform-
ance of the Trust Pray let me hear from you by all Oppor-
tunities I shall always drop you a line as they Offer and
am w'th great regard.
Gentlemen

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

P. S. When the Men of War are on our Coast they
are much frequenter off Charles Town than ours.

Savannah Decem'b 5th 1777.
His Excellency Major General Howe
Sir:

I received your several favours of the 8th & 17th, Ulto
the former in Answer to mine to you relative to many
matters to be carried into execution by the Deputy Pay
Master General with your opinion thereon which I am

59

very much obliged to you for; the latter advising me with
your having advanced to Capt. Bradley of the Continental
light Horse, One Thousand Dollars to enable him to march
and bring into this State some men he had inlisted for that
Regiment in the State of North Carolina.

You may depend on my giving you the Earliest notice
of the Arrival of any Money in this State for the Use of
the Army. I am with great respect,

Sir your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

Savannah Decemb. 6th 1777.
Mr. John Lewis Gervais *
D'r Sir:

^ Col'l Habersham I received your favour of the 28th
Ulto. I observe what you say in regard to the Rough
Rice at Broughton Island the Price with you 20/ ^ Bush'l
is an encouraging one, & I shall try hard to get some Craft
to bring a load to you, tho' they are exceeding scarce &
Freight very high yet if we even give one half for the other
it will be much Better than selling it here since my last
to 3^ou Mr. Bailie has brought 44 Barrels more from the
Island to sunburry, where he sold it at 17/16 ^ Bll.
Amount of w'ch i38-10/ our Money he has paid to me
he is now gone for a nother load w'ch he has Engaged at
the same place w'ch is much better than bringing it 'round
here.

I observe your opinion in regard to the land on Catt
Head the restruction on the lands of Absentees is intirely
done away the former Law, which was certainly a very
unjust one, have been repealed by another law passed the
last Sitting of the Assembly In regard to the Wench you
mention to be disposed of in case she will bring i200 hun-

Charleston, S. C

6a

dred Pounds Sterling, if you mean by that sum 200 our
Currency I make no doubt it may be got for her, but if you
mean that sum in real Sterling Money, or even in your
Currency, I do not believe it cou'd be obtained if you mean
200 our Money I think it's less than she w^ou'd in all prob-
ability produce in your State allowing for the very great
loss there will (in all probability) be in Remitting Money
from our state to yours at present the loss wou'd be enor-
mous, I am in hopes when the Troops in our State are paid
in Continental Currency that things will mend something
in that respect.

Our Successes to the Northward have been indeed
great the hand of Providence has been very remarkably
for us may we be truly thankfull for his Protection & Care
Howe's situation is certainly desperate, shoud he fail of
opening a Communication with his Brother by water I
shoud not be surprised to hear he was obliged to Surrender
himself & Army into our hands an Event which we might
naturally conclude woud pave the way for peace on hon-
ourable terms w'ch God Grant. I am w'th respects,
Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

Savannah the 16th Dec 1777.
Mess. Bright & Pechin
Gentlemen :

Since my last to you I have received none of your
favours the present is to advise you with the Arrival of
Capt. Rains with a fine fast sailing Schooner, Burthen about
200 Blls. Rice he brought in a Quantity of Salt w'ch will
Average about 16/ our Money ^ Bushel & some Rum w'ch
we have sold for 30/ ^ Gall. & a very few dry goods he
will be loaded again in two or three days for Bermuda with

61

a Cargo of Rice where if he gets safe, 'twill yield a tolera-
ble profit & the returns if he gets in again a very great one
I am in hopes the Proceeds of the Cargo he brought in
will repay us the Outfit & send him to sea again clear of
any advance, tho' cannot be certain as his being so long
out has made his Disbursements run high the Men of
Warr that lay constantly of Bermuda kept him in port, they
at last quit for want of Provisions & repairs & he push'd
out. We have several Cruisers on our Coast tho mostly
off Charles Town notwithstanding which we have more
Vessels get safe in than falls into their hands & as the
winter sets in (w'ch has been remarkably mild with us
hitherto) the Chance will be much more in our favour
shou'd they even remain on our Coasts w'ch I think tis
probable they may not I hope before this Howe is a
Prisoner or obliged to quit your state tho I woud fain
hope the former We are inform'd by the last Acc'ts that
his Army did not exceed 8000 Men tis Amazing to me
in such a populous Country as yours, he was ever permitted
to march 10 Miles backwards or forwards he could not
have done more, if so much, in our very weak state the
Disaflfected must be very numerous among you the conduct
of the Quakers appears to me infamous some of them in
my opinion from what I have heard of them deserve hang-
ing if Howe is reduced I cant help thinking the worst will
be over with us I hope you will soon have it in your power
to resume Trade again as usual & that you will be able to
get one or the other of the sloops if not both out very soon
these are times with luck to make Money I have only to
assure you that I am with regard
Gentlemen

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

62

Savannah Dec 15th 1777.
Abraham Markoe Esq'r.
Sir

Sometime ago a Negro of our State who had been at
Charles Town call'd on me & told me that your Boatswain
was in Jail there & that he had desired him to call on me
to Ask me to try and to get him out I was much sur-
prised at this & doubted the information 'till Capt. Bunner
went to Charles Town who I desired to inquire into the
Circumstances w'ch he did & found twas really so he had
shiped on board some Vessel bound to Cha's Town as
a Freeman & on the Voyage was directed* by the Capt'n in a
Robbery who in consequence of w'ch on his Arrival at
Charles Town put him into prison where he has remained
ever since I determined to advise you therewith for some-
time past but the Situation of the times w'th you & the
difficulty in procuring a safe conveyance prevented I
woud have taken him out but did not know how far it
might be agreeable to you & nother reason operated with
me against my taking him out the fear that he might run
from me w'ch he might very easily do by getting on board
some Vessel or by pushing back to Charles Town and ship-
ping there as a Free Man in the manner he did before
however as the Avinter may affect him in Jaol I think of
sending for for him here by the first safe Conveyance &
lun the risque till I hear from you I hope General Howe
is before this Reduced & that you are in a state of tran-
quility. This will be Sent to you by Dr. Read,

sic.

63

Savannah Dec'r 22d 1777.
Messrs. Bourdeaux & Atkinson
Gentlemen :

Since my last to you I have received your several
favours ^ Capt. Bunner & of the 24th Ulto I shou'd have
wrote you before this but have been waiting till I could
settle with Mr. Houstoun in Order to have it in my power
to transmit you my Acco't Curr't at same time which I
have not yet been able to do owing to his Old Claim of
being paid in your Curr'y w'ch he still insists on.

I have wrote to Mr. Markoe relative to his Negro &
was in hopes to have heard from him on the subject direct-
ing what was to be done with him as the Season is now
rather severe, & may be expect'd to be much more so
very shortly he may suffer from laying in Confinement add
to w'ch he must be a Continual Expence for w'ch reasons
I wou'd venture to take him out & wou'd be oblig'd to you
shou'd any safe Conveyance offer to this place inland to
send him to me I am not apprehensive he will attempt
to get away before he arrives here as he has repeatedly
sent to me to take him out of Jail & seems desirous of
getting here Mr. Gervais is sending a Boat to me belong-
ing to Col. Laurens w'ch if not come away before this gets
to hand wou'd be a good Opportunity his Jaol Fees what-
ever they may amount to I will remit you ^ first Oppor-
tunity after I know the Amount.

In regard to Mr. Browns Account, tho I have not the
least doubt of the propriety of it I do not know what to
do with it Our State caa with no propriety be call'd on
about it, they having received no part of the proceeds of
the 1-3 of the Amity it was Condemned in our Courts but
that was all, it was libelled by the Continental Agent, and
Confiscated for the Benefit of the United States & paid into
the hands of their Agent accordingly who will not pay
any part of the Proceeds out of his hands without the
Orders of the Continental Congress to whom only in my
opinion the Application shou'd be made.

64

In regard to the Deserters taken up by Capt. Allen I
once mentioned it in our House of Assembly who neither
absolutely refused payment nor yet agreed to Order the
payment it was thought rather hard that any of the Officers
of the dif^'t States shoud demand payment for any service
of that kind as it was supposed to be a piece of service
that their duty as an Officer in some degree made it incum-
bent on them to perform whenever Opportunity oiYerr'd I
am wishing you the Compliments of the Approaching Sea-
son w'th respect.

Gentlemen

Your most Obed't Serv't

J. Clay.

Savannah 29th Dec'r 1777..
Mr. Philip Minis
Sir:

I have Considered about the Wine & will take Nine
Pipes at the price you mentioned, that is One Hundred
Pounds our Currency ^ Pipe if paid in this Curr'y, or Five
Hundred Pounds Carolina Currency ^ pipe if paid in that
Curr'y or Continental Money.

I shall prefer paying for them in Car'a or Continental
Money if in my power on Acc't of the diff'e of Price but
least I shoud not, woud Choose to have the Option of pay-
ing in either as I may find Convenient, or in Case I coud
make out to pay for a part of them in Car'a or Continental
Money woud expect the same difT'e in price to be made
in proportion to the sum paid if this proposal is agreeable
to you I will desire Capt. Rains to receive the Wine & see
if filled up & am
Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

65

Savannah March 5th 1778.
Mr. John Lewis Gervais, Esq
D'r Sir:

^ Monsieur Le Vacher I rec'd your esteem'd favour
of the 20t'h Ulto unluckily since he has been here I have
been confined by a Sore Throat & fever, tho' I thank God
am now pretty well recovered w'ch has deprived me of the
pleasure of being so well acquainted with that Gentleman
as I wish'd the wench Betty I sent for from Wrights
Savannah for Col'l Elbert with whom she now is, but she
makes really a very poor figure indeed reduced I presume
by Sickness Mr. Springer wrote me when he sent her that
she had been long sick & he was afraid she woud lose one
of her Eyes however there is no danger of that now she
being much better than when she first came over but is
still so poorly & weakly that she can render little or no
service and withal appears Elderly, her appearance is
extremely against her & no one will purchase her & give any
thing of a price for her unless they are particularly
acquainted w'th her Qualities I have acquainted Col'l
Elbert w'th 3^our determination in regard to the price of
her w'th wiiich he seemed much dissatisfied & I believe
will decline taking her if so I must send her back again as I
am sure her present appearance will not command a price
at public Sale she had hardly any Cloaths when she come
over Mr. Elbert has given her some woollen Cloaths & she
has been attended by a Doct'r ever since she has been here
both of w'ch were absolutely necessary & indeed she seems
to have reap'd much benefit since she has been here if they
return her I presume they will expect to be reimbursed
these Expences as she has not been able to render them any
services in lieu of them.

I am very glad to learn the Boat got round safe I do
not think there is or will be any danger in proceeding to
Broughton Island again they must always be cautious to
prevent being surprised or entrapped Your Assembly in

my opinion have Acted very w^isely respecting the recom-
mendation of Congress relative to confiscations we have
gone into the matter very largely & that in a way that I
fear will neither do us Credit nor render us much advantage
as a State, I am w'th great respect.
D'r Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't '

Jos. Clay.

Savannah 12th March 1778.
Ralph Izzard Jun'r Esq'r
Sir:

I was in hopes I shou'd have had the pleasure of seeing
you before you returned to Carolina the several Accounts
against me & Joseph Clay & Co. due to the Est of Mr. Stead
I am very desirous of having setled as soon as possible, as
it by no means suits us to be paying Interest on Money
we have no use for, & which it is a very great hardship
even to be left in our hands more especially at a time
we can make no Use of it nor do we think it resonably or
just that we shoud pay Interest for a Debit we can neither
remit or pay to any one, which is the Case now, & has been
for sometime past. We know it is also hard on Mr. Steads
representatives that they cannot have their Money remitted
to them agreeable to contract & are very willing to do
every thing in our Power that can be reasonably expected
of us to make them ample satisfaction.

Our House of Assembly were about passing a Law
to oblige all Persons, who have any Moneys in their hands,
belonging to the British Merchants or subjects of the King
of Great Britian, to pay the same into the Treasury of this
State, how far this is just or right I will not say, but nothing

67

but the Country members being tired of Staying in Town
prevented the Law passing, tis thought the Assembly will
be called again very shortly when I make no doubt it will
be the very first Business they will go upon, I shoud wish
if possible before this happens to settle the Debt we are
due to Mr. Steads Estate with you if you have a power to
receive the same, I presented your Memorial to the House
but as the Law it alluded to did not come into Debate it
was not taken under Consideration, it is very uncertain
what may be the determination on it when it is considered
You are very sensible tis not in our power to comply with
our original contract the paying the Debt in G. Britian, &
its more than probable may not be in our power for many
Years, if during our lives, for God only knows how long
the present War may last, every thing in very precarious,
we have now very large sums due us in this Country & are
possessed of property enough to discharge our contracts
with great ease to ourselves but how soon may be the case
be reversed, an Attack on this weak Country woud, the
perhaps not complete the intire Reduction of it, be the means
of depriving us and many who are indebted to us of the
means of paying any thing to those we or they are indebted
to. This is far from being an improbable supposition, but
what if the War continues any time may with the greatest
reason be expected, what we woud wish is that if you have
a power to receive the Debts myself & J. C. & Co. are due
to Mr. Steads Estate that you woud take the same into
your Consideration &. point some way that we may have
it in our Power to discharge it perhaps we may be able
to pay you a part in So. Carolina by means of Continental
Money, or you may choose to invest part of it in Lands ir^
this State & which I think may be done to advantage, so
as to prevent any loss, I shall very probably set off for
the Northw'd in four or five Weeks time, before which I
shoud wish to come to some agreement or settlement with
you on this Head, and have only to assure you that any

68

plan that you can point out by which we can make you
satisfaction, we will if in our Power comply with, I shoud
be very glad to hear from you on the subject as soon as
possible, and am, with respect
Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

Mr. Josiah Smith, Jun'r.
D'r Sir:

I received your esteemd favour of the 24th Ulto which
I should have answered before this but the very confused
State of Public Affairs here prevents that attention to other
matters that otherways woud & ought to be given the
Act you mention is one of those things that has given great
uneasiness which in its very nature was fraught with injus-
tice, & its Circumstances as to many of the objects it reached
which can be only known generally here was Still worse this
County have given great opposition to the operation of it,
so far as a general disapprobation of it goes & have peti-
tioned the Assembly, who are to meet the 27th Inst, to
reconsider it & recommended Sequestration instead of con-
fiscation & I believe most part of the State will concur in
that opinion unless it may be the St. Johns people whose
Zeal so often lead them into Violent Actions that nothing
but that & their want of a more general knowledge of Men
& things can plead their excuse. The Commissioners or
some of them who were appointed to Act in this County
began as is generally said to Act as if the Estates had been
confiscated for their sole benefit instead of the States which
first gave the Alarm here & laid the foundation for the
Opposition it has met with w'ch was & is so general that
some of the Commissioners have resigned & the others
not have not for sometime past taken on them to Act so

69

that the Law is in effect Suspended for the present Never-
theless as its uncertain what the Assembly may determine
in regard to it I woud advise your sending a Power of
Attorney here as soon as convenient w'th a Stated Acct.
in Order that your Claim may be immediately made in
Case the Act shoud be enforced I have several Claims
to make for myself which I have not yet given in nor do not
intend till I know the determination of the Assembly I
will make yours at the same time w'th my own & do every
other matter relative to it for your Interest therein & will
advise you what further Steps may be necessary as they
occur.

We have suffered very much from Fire within this
four or five Weeks & what makes it very Alarming we have
the greatest reason to Suspect they have been done on purT
pose the last which happened on Friday last broke out in
two places at the same instant happily one of them was
extinguished immediately the other Burnt 9 or 10 Houses
before it was Stopped Our Galleys say three of them
attacked three of the enemys Vessels last Saturday which
were in one of our inlets to the So'ward & took them with-
out the loss of a Man the Enemys Vessels were well
manned & made a Shew of Resistance but as the Galleys
came near to them & finding I suppose their Shott too
heavey for them they of a Sudden took to their Boats &
quit their Vessels without firing a Gun or setting fire to
them the Galatea was in Sight at the same time working
up to their Assistance the Vessels are two Brigs the Hin-
chinbrook the Rebecca & a Sloop of 8 Guns the Galatea
was at the Anchor in Jekly Sound when the Express came
away an Attack was meditated on her shoud a favourable
opportunity offer We are very apprehensive of an Attack
from the So'ward w'ch woud not have given us any uneasi-
ness but for the very great additional Strength they have
been for some time past & are daily receiving from the
great Defection in your Back Country who are daily going
over to them By a Capt. of a Vessel who was taken &

70

carried into Augustine w'ch he left in a Small Vessel only-
three days ago we are informd that the last Party that left
your County of between 3 & 400 were arrived at Fort
Tonyn on St. Marys that they give out there that they
expect 700 more immediately after them however this I
hope your Government as they are forewarned will prevent
We have heard of many small parties crossing from your
Country for some Months past of 5 & 6 at a time & I
believe one Party of above 20 this Capt, from Augustine
also mentions that Bacchop was to Sail the Day after him
to Cruise on our Coast in a fine large Bermudian Sloop
(formerly belonging to one Stammers) she Mounts 14 Guns
and has between 60 & 70 Hands among w'ch are 3 or 4
good Pilots w'ch join'd to Bacchops own knowledge of the
Coast may make her very formidable to our Trade I am
w'th great regard

D'r Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

Jos'h Clay.

Savannah May 19th 1778
Sir:

^ Mr. Wood I received an Order dated York Town
18th March last drawn by the President of Congress on
the Commissioners of the United States Loan Office in
this State for 202.423 Dollars payable to me or Order a
Copy of which you have inclosed in consequence of which
I have apply'd to the Commissioners (Messrs. Obryen &
Wade) for pay't who have promised to discharge the Ball'e
due on the Order so soon as they are in Cash w'ch in all
probability will not be for some Weeks to come as it
depends intirely on an Emission of paper bills credit
Ordered by the Assembly at their last meeting to be
immediately struck off the Printing of w'ch I know is not

71

as yet even begun the Commiss'rs of the Loan office talk
of deducting all the sums they have paid for Army Uses
since they were appointed Commissioners, which will
amount by a List of sums they shewed me to upward of
120,000 Dollars, including the sums they have paid me
which does not exceed 50,000 Dollars, the other part of the
sum consist principally of Draughts paid by them in favour
cf different Officers, it also includes the iSOOO p'd to Col'l
Elbert or his Order just before the Troops Marched from
this Town I do not think I can consistently allow any
Discount from the Order except for such sums as I have
received myself.

The Assembly Voted i60,000 for the Use of the Army
& they directed Messrs. Stone & Davies to pay the Loan
office Certificates lodged in their Hands by the late
Governor to the Commissioners, (Obryen & Wade)
appointed to Countersign them w'ch I understand they
refuse to do, if so we shall be deprived of them till they
are forced out of their Hands by Law. Mr. Wood brought
with him 250,000 Dollars in Continental Curr'y which
appears b}^ a resolve of Congress to be part of the sum of
500,000 Dollars granted by them to this State for the Sole
purpose of calling in the Curr'y of the State that has been
Emitted for the purport of the Continental Troops, as ^
the Enclosed copy of said Resolve which I received from
the President Mr, Wylly Since w'ch Capt. Lucas of the
4th Reg't has arrived here & brought with him the Remain-
ing sum of 250,000 Dollars, which Col. Elbert directed him
to pay to me for the Use of the Army & to which he has
no objection, but as it appears very clearly to me to be the
Remainder of the sum granted by Congress to this State,
I cannot think I have any right to receive it without some
further Authority.

Our Assembly Ordered ^ of all, the sums Borrowed
by the State and for which Certificates was given by the
Treasurers to be immediately paid off out of the sum
brought by Mr. Wood, after doing of which I understand

71

the State will have remaining in its Treasury upwards of
i20,000 in Continental Curr'y to answer any exigencies of
Government, exclusive of the 250,000 Dollars brought in
by Capt. Lucas, so that I think the State might lend that
sum to the Army for a time without any injury to itself,
or at least a part of it, till they can be reimbursed by Con-
gress which there can be no doubt woud be immediately
done. The Money has not, that I have been inform'd of,
been Demanded of Capt. Lucas by the State the President
I have talk'd with on the Subject, he I believe woud be well
satisfy'd that the Army had it but as the matter stands he
does not think he can do anything in it perhaps if you
were to write to the Governor he might agree to lend it
I presume he is on his March So'therly before this as I
understand he was to quit his camp on Ogeechee the
begining of this week.

Capt. Lucas remains here & will retain the Money
in his Hands till he hears from you unless it should be
demanded of him by the State in which case he woud be
at a loss how to Act & perhaps not know how to refuse
delivering it up it was delivered to him from the Treasury
without any particular directions or Orders, he says, twas
expected he woud have overtaken Mr. Wood before he
reached Georgia, in which Case he should have delivered it
to him without hesitation as he understands it woud
have been sent by him (Mr. Woods) coud the Treasury
have furnished him with it before he left Congress.

We have nothing new here that can be depended on,
tis said a Vessel arrived at Charles Town from France
brings an Account of a general Embargo having been Laid
in that Kingdom which gives rise to various conjectures.
I am with great respect

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Qay.

73

Major General Howe
Sir
20th. Capt Lucas since writing the foregoing has
delivered the Money to the President & taken his Rec't
for the same in a special manner which he will shew you
he found there was like to be some uneasiness on Acct of
his keeping the Money in his hands which induced him
to this Step I have understood that the Governor is
expected here before he proceeds So'therly & that he will
probably be in Town within three or four days at farthest.

Savannah May 30 1778
Major General Howe
Sir

I rec'd your favour of the 25th Inst, and have agreable
thereto appiy'd to Mr. Obryen for the Ball'e of the Draft
drawn on him by Congress as one of the Commissioners
for the United States Loan Office, & at same time
acquainted him that I expected to receive it in Continental
Currency as no other Money woud be equal to the sum
drawn for in answer to which he acquainted me that he
coud pay in no other Money but the paper Bills of Credit
issued by this State that he was directed to issue and lend
the Continental Loan Office Certificates for the Curr'y
of the State, which he had done, at least so many of them
as had been put into his Hands & that no other Money
cou'd have been obtained for them he further acquainted
me that he woud endeavour to furnish me with from five to
ten thousands Pounds on Monday next I have mentioned
to Mr. Wereat the contracting for a Post Rider to go
between Savannah & the Army the Man you mention,
Richardson, is gone Express to Congress for the State,
we neither of us know of any other Man to be procured
who is willing and able to undertake the Business perhaps

74

Person might be procured out of the Army fit for that
purpose on much easier Terms than any we coud hire, &
possibly more to be depended on for his punctuallity I
shall write you again in two or three days, or so soon
as I receive any Money out of the Treasury advising you
therewith and am with great respect,
Sir

Your most Obed't Servt

Joseph Clay.

Savannah May 30th 1778.
Honbl'e Henry Laurens Esq'r
Sir

I shoud have wrote you before this informing you with
the State of your concerns, here so far as they had come to
my Knowledge, had I not expected to have been with you
before this when I shou'd have had the pleasure of acquaint-
ing you with them in person & which nothing has pre-
vented but the very distressed condition of our State the
Continual depredations from E, Florida of almost every
kind both by Land & Water the Machinations of our
Enemies amongst ourselves supported & Encouraged from
that country, w'ch has too evidently shewed itself amongst
us lately, particularly in the back parts of your State held
so dismal a prospect to View as rendered the Idea of leav-
ing a Wife & Eight Children (the Eldest of whom between
13 & 14 years of age) intolerable, & I may say to the highest
degree imprudent at this juncture as they woud in case
of any Invasion or Public Calamity during my absence have
been intirely helpless ^We are now with Assistance of your
State carrying on an Expedition against that Country
which if Successfull will remove many of our distresses,
give Security to our State & promote the general Cause
Necessity has Reduced & drove us to this Step, we coud

75

not debate on the subject, matters were Ripening so fast
that either we must reduce them or they woud subdue
us, the Daily increase of Men they were obtaining from
the defection of the back Country people woud have made
them so formidable in a Short time that they woud have
over run us, & rendered our Situation so very uncomfort-
able that we must have either quitted the State or Sub-
mitted to them Whereas if Succeed every thing will go
on well with us in a short time Our Trade will increase w'ch
has been greatly annoyed from Augustine Our Lands will
be better cultivated, & we shall have more time to
attend to & regulate our internal Police & fall on some
means to pay off & Fund our Debts the depredation of the
Floridians to the So'ward for some time past preceeding
our Troops marching that way made it extremely dangerous
the attempting to fetch any Rice from Broughton Island a
party of them were once or twice on the Island though I
do not learn that they did any considerable damage there,
since I wrote you last, we have had 1066 Bushels brought
to Sunburry & sold there a 2/ ^ Bushel & Mr. Gervais I
make no doubt, informd you that he had purchased a Boat
for the purpose of bringing Rice from the Island & that he
had received some from there w'ch produced a better price
than it woud have done here as well as gave a considera-
ble advantage from the difference of Money the Army now
Marching to the So'ward have also had some of the Rice,
what Quantity we do not know. Mr, Baillie sets off this
Day for Broughton Island by Water in Order to bring
some more away I get an Account of what has been taken
away for the Use of the Army there has always been a
White person at the plantation till within some time past,
the last person that lived there was killed by some of the
Floridians between Broughton Island & Yekly where hq
had been or was going on some Acc't or other I have been
Acting or rather Endeavouring to Act as D. P. M. G. to
the Army in this State for between 2 & three Months past,
but the want of Money has rendered it impracticable for

76

me to afford any affectual service in that Department. I
have at this time Drafts on me drawn by Gen'l Howe for
several thousand pounds & not a shilling in hand to answer
any part of them I have advanced a considerable sum
myself & the Agent, Mr. Wereat, has done every thing in
his power, & has supplyd the Gen'l with all the Cash either
of his own or the United States that he coud lay his hands
on, & I believe the Gen'l has also borrowed of Individuals
this is a very distressing Situation & must be attended to or
the Consequences may be very fatal I believe I might have
borrowed Money at 8 ^ Ct. Interest or I coud have
obtained Cash for Bills on Congress had I any Authority
to draw or Borrow, But I have none that I know of, indeed
I never received any Instructions or line on any matter

within my Department except one Dated the March

last from the Auditor Gen'l Mr. Gibson inclosing me the
Draft for 202,423 Doll's on the Commissioners of the loan
Office I have mentioned these matters to Mr. Telfair, on
of our Delegates who I hope will lay them before Congress
in Order that some remedy may be apply'd to prevent the
Army being at any time hereafter reduced to the same
Situation the State has Voted a sum for the Use of the
Army say 60,000 if the same shall be necesary part of
w'ch is now Striking off & Signing & in 4 or 5 Days I
expect to receive a part of it, this will afford a supply for
sometime but some provision must be made for the future
tis with the utmost reluctance that the State advances a
shilling to the Army not so much for want of the will as
the means they have very little dependence on raising
any sum adequate to its wants But by Borrowing at Eight
^ Ct. Interest or limitting Paper Bills of Credit When
the Money the Congress sent here Mr. Wood arrived we
were paying Interest for near 140,000 our Curr'y Bor-
rowed principally for Army Uses And we have Emitted
so much in paper Bills of Credit, that the Value of it is
reduced to nothing & every Article of produce (Rice
excepted) and Merchandise is risen to an extravagant

n

height in price Indico 20/ ^ tb Corn 12 a 15/ ^ Bushel Beef
2/ ^ tb Butter 6/ & 7/ ^ & Rum 60/ ^ Gall. Osnabr'gs
12/ a 15/ ^ yd. & so on the Prices of Goods have been
raised from Complicated causes, two principally tne one
the large Emission of Paper Bills Credit, the other a Spirit
of Extortion nursed & kept up by Jews & others worse than
Jews who are contin'ly buying up every Species of Goods
they can lay their hands on & selling them out again at
advanced Prices these kinds of dealers in my opinion are
greater Enemies to the United States & do them more injury
than the Fleets &: Armies of G. Britian. It is with equal
reluctance the Army receive their pay in the Curr'y of this
State & they complain of it overmuch & w'th some reason as
their whole pay for a year if paid to them in this Curr'y will
not maintain them at this juncture three Months whereas
if it was paid them in the Curr'y of the United States the
Case woud be very differrent as they coud purchase every
Article they stand in need of for near half the price they
can do w'th our Curr'y. The Continental Troops in this
State have never received one farthing in any other Money
than the paper Bills of Credit Emitted by this State from
the first Hour the}^ came into it to this minute w'ch has
been equally prejudicial to the State, I hope you will
excuse my trespassing on your time with these very disa-
greeable Subjects but they Engage my attention so much
that when I touch on them I hardly know when to leave off.
I can hardly expect the favour of a line from you as very
moment of your time I know is & must be devoted to
matters of the highest moment & consequence to the United
States.

I am w'h respects and regard

D'r Sir Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

78

Savannah June 2d, 1778.
Messrs. Bright & Pechin
Gentlemen :

I was in hopes before this to have had the pleasure of
hearing from you I have wrote you several Letters w'ch I
presume have not come to hand. Mr. Telfair who comes as
one of the Delegates to represent this State carry's this
with him w'ch I hope will come safe to hand I think the
time is not far off when we shall have peace restored to
our Land & the Tyrant obliged to acknowledge his Folly.
If War between G. B. & France takes place w'ch there seems
to be but little doubt of they must withdraw Troops from
this Continent, & many of their Frigates & Cruisers from
cur Coasts which will give a great opening to our Trade
& be of great serivce to us in every other respect. Rains
has made a Second Voyage to Bermuda & will proceed in
two or three days on a third the last Voyage will be a
profitable one, the one before not so much so, how the
present one may turn out we can't Judge. I was in expec-
tation of coming your way this Summer, but am afraid I
shall not be able to get away in time so as to get back before
the Winter sets in and if so I shall decline it altogether I am
very sorry to learn by a Letter that your J. B. was a
Prisoner in Philadelphia I hope he is before this got his
liberty. I cannot help thinking if the dissafifected among
you were not very numerous that Howe coud not have kept
possession of the City so long as he has internal Enemies
are the worst we have & do us most mischief & are least
intitled to any indulgence we have suffered from them much
we are now carrying on an Expedition against East Florida
w'th an intent to annoy them as much as we can & if in our
power to reduce them I have only to add that I am with
great regard

Gentlemen,

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

P. S. Mr. Telfair is one of Rains's Owners.

79

Savannah June 2d 1778.
Major General Howe
Sir:

Since I wrote you last I have rec'd from the Treasury;
five thousand pounds w'ch I have paid to Mr. Rae agreable
to your Order & taken his Receipt for the same. I expect
to receive a further sum to Day w'ch shall apply in dis-'
charge of your Orders as they come to hand. Mr. Rae
acquaints me he has made a Considerable purchase of Capt.
McCullough, for the Use of the Army that if he cant get
the payment for them made in Bills on Congress he,
McCullough, will allow a very large discount on the
Amount of the purchase, I think he says 25 or 30 ^ Ct.
this is worthy of Consideration, & will occasion so great a
saving to the United States as to fully justify such a Step,
the Amount of the Articles purchased by Mr. Rae he Says
is near 7000. I have told him that I shall have no objection
to take upon me to draw for the Amount, which I will very
readily do & State the reasons to Congress for so doing
provided you give an Order for the sum & approve of my
drawing the Bills, in that Case. I believe it will be necessary
that you shoud write to Congress at same time advising
them therewith by way of Letter Advice to the Bills a
Circumstance of this kind might in my opinion be of service,
it woud serve to conceive* Congress how much the Army
Suffer'd by being paid in the Curr'y of this State & how
great a saving to the United States there woud have been^
if the several Articles & Stores necessary for the Army in
this State coud have been purchased with Continental
Curr'y.

Mr. Rae is applying to me for a further sum of Money,
he says he is in great want of it, & that the procuring pro-
vision for the Army depends much on his getting it. I am
at a loss how to Act, on the one hand I have no Authority

Sic.

BO

to pay any Money without your Order, & on the other I
wou'd be sorry to see the service injured from too punc-
tilious an attention to form, especially at this Critical junc-
ture. Mr. Cowper who is gone for the North'wd desir'd me
to remind you of a sum of Money lent by him for the Use
of the Army, w'ch he woud be glad to receive as soon as
convenient.

I am with respect
Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

Savannah 4th June 1778.
Major G. Howe
Sir:

I have this day received out of the Treasury Seven
Thousand Pounds & Mr. Rae urging the necessity of being
supply'd with a further sum before he went to Camp I have,
pd. him Five thousand two hundred & fifty Pounds out of
it, this I hope will meet with your Approbation, & that you.
will furnish him with your warrant on me to that Amount.
Capt. McCuIIough I am inform'd from Mr. Rae has alterd
his mind in regard to the payment of the goods bought of
him, his demand now is the Curr'y of the State, rather
than allow any discount on Bills, this alteration in his
opinion I am induced to believe as been effected from the
late favourable Advices from Europe, he Says he had
rather lend our State the Money at 8 ^ Ct. Interest than
pay a Prem. on Bills I believe I coud furnish the Money
in a Day or two if requisite but I told Mr. Rae that I coud
not pay him a farther sum before he had your Order which
I presume he will apply to you for,

I have paid away the Chief part of the remainder of
the 7000 to several persons who had your Orders for the

81

I have pd. them all but shoud very glad as the Continental
Congress require it, that in future they may be Counter-
Signed agreable to said regulations I have also pd. Mr.
Waudin i22-3-6 this Day ^ your Order, which I am at a
loss how to Enter, it not being spccify'd in said Order for
what service or in department the said sum was to be
apply'd or be charg'd to; which by the Regulations of
Congress they shoud be in Order to enable the Auditor
General to make proper Entrys from them.
I am w'th regard

Sir, Your most Ohed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

Savannah May 30th 1778.
Sir:

I rec'd your favour of the 19th March last mentioning
a Warrant on the Commissioners of the Loan Office for
two hundred & two thousand four hundred & twenty three
Dollars w'ch I rec'd ^ Mr. Joseph Wood & have
acquainted Major Gen'l Howe therewith. I have pre-
sented it to the Commissioners who promise to pay me
the Ball'e due thereon so soon as they are in Cash for the
same, the Money I have already received will be deem'd
as part of the said Draft, as the sums paid me by the
Treasurers was out of Moneys raised from the sale of the
loan Office Certificates. Our Liegislature having appoint'd
the Treasurers Commissioners to Countersign the said
Certificates & apply the proceeds to the Use of the Army.

Inclosed you have my Accounts from the time I rec'd
any Money for the Use of the Army to the 30 April last viz :

from the 1st of March last to the 31st of said Month
Amount of sums paid by me for the use of the Army during

that time as ^ said Account 11761.. 13..11^

from the 1st April to the 30th of said Month amount of

82

Same. I observe some of your Orders drawn lately not
Countersig-ned, w'ch I presume has been owing to Accident

Ditto P'd by me for D'O during that time as per ditto

2717..15-8

And there remains a Ball'e due me by the United States
of 1929..8..10^ being so much advanced by me out of my
Private Cash. You'll observe I have not p'd a farthing
but by Orders of Gen'l Howe who is Commander in Chief
within this Department, but in Case of his absence from
the State which often happens as I shoud (his principal
residence has heretofore having been in So, Carolina) I
shou'd be at a loss to know whether the next Officer in*
Comm'd within the State woud have the same right &
Authority to draw on me, & Whether his Orders & War
rants woud be sufficient Vouchers for my paying any
Moneys the Resolves of Congress Say no Person Shall
have Authority to draw but the Commander in Chief
within the Department what is considered a Department
in this Instance I am not a judge of, I know the Congress
have in some Case Divided the United States Generally
into Departments that is Nothern, Southern & Middle,
but whether in Army matters it is Considered in the same
manner I wish to be inform'd, I have not made out any
Acc'ts for this Month, what has been paid being so exceed-
ing trifling for want of Money to pay with that it was not
worth While, the Army has been reduced to the greatest
Distress in this State for want of Money, the Gen'l has
had great difficulty to keep things in any tolerable degree
together for want of it, I was at a loss to know in what
manner to make out my Accounts no form being pointed
out by the Resolves, or whether they were to be Cer-
tify'd by the Gen'l or sworn to had the Gen'l been here
I shoud have got him to have Certifyd them Whether
requisite or not, but he is a very considerable distance
from this So'therly with the Army I have just made out
a plain Acc't Curr't Stating the several Payments as they
were made & have Endeavoured to explain the services

83

they were paid for so far as they came to my knowledge, the
Resolves of Congress direct that Abstracts be made up
Monthly of all such Officers who are not comprised in the
Regimental Abstracts, which at present is impossible to
be done in this State, there being no Certify'd Pay list
to form it from within it, that I know of I have a Pay list
for the So'thern Department for the Infantry, as it stood
in June last but its said there are many Alterations since
that Period, nor does it contain the Pay of several Officers
who I presume shoud be included in the abstract. Quarter
Master, Muster Master & Commissary Gen'ls & their
Assistants nor does it go higher than a Brigadier Gen-
eral. We have no pay list for the Artillery or Cavalry,
It is absolutely necessary that a Complete list shoud be sent
as speedily possible, till this is done & the Army properly
& regularly supply'd with Money, Army matters cannot be
put on a proper footing, I do not know whether these
matters lay within your Department or not, if they do not,
I hope you will excuse my troubling you with them, I
have never received a line from any one relative to my
office since my appointment, but from you, nor do I know
where properly to apply for Information, I woud wish to
obtain it that I might have it in my power to render as
effectual services as possible, which was my only motive
for undertaking it.
I am,

Sir, Your most Obed't Serv't,

J. Clay.

Savannah June 8th 1778.
Major General Howe
Sir:

I rec'd Yesterday your favour of the 2d Inst, and have
only to assure you that you may depend on the Exertion
of every means in my power to obtain as soon as possible

84

a sufficient sum of Money to discharge the Arrears of Pay
now due to the Army, I have day this rec'd 5242.. 10s out of
the Treasury which with what remain'd in my hands of
former sums makes upwards of 7000 now in my pos-
session for the Use of the Army, I will also immediately
look out for a proper person to Act as Pay Master at the
Camp so long as you shall judge necessary. In Order to
expidite the paying of the Army the Regimental Abstracts
shoud be made out immediately by the several Regimental
Pay Masters, by which we shall learn what sum will be
necessary to discharge the Arrears now due & woud sub-
mit it to you whether they shoud not be directed to make
them all up to one fix'd Period, or at least every Company
& Officers in the same Regiment, w'ch has not I believe
hitherto generally been the Case, in those I have received
I notice the Rolls for the Companys in the same Regiment
are not made up tjj the same time, nor have all the Field
& Staff Officers Pay been made up to the same period, the
making them all up in the same Regiment or Battalion to
one time in my opinion woud tend to prevent Errors or
Impositions, the Rolls & Abstracts shoud likewise be more
particular than they have hitherto been, the end & inten-
tion of them is to promote regularity, & as far as may be
prevent Frauds, to do which the Rolls shoud specify under
seperate Columns every Mans Name, their Station or
Office, when inlisted or the Dates of their Commissions,
for what time they were inlisted for, their pay ^ Month,
from what time the pay is due, to what time its charg'd,
& then the total sum each Private or Officers Pay Amounts
to, these are in my opinion essential requisite's in every
Pay Roll, few or none of which that I have seen have had
them. I am not sufficiently acquainted with the nature
of them to know whether they shoud not contain other
matters perhaps their shoud be a Column for remarks
specifying whether the Men are all present, or whether
any of them have Deserted & when, &c. I know the
present juncture when the Troops are on the March is

85

not favourable for establishing Regulations nor will the
various necessary matters that must take up all your time
& attention, afford you leisure to Consider them just now,
nor can it be expected, nor shoud I have mentioned them
had they not when the Paying of the Army was the Sub-
ject naturally have arisen out of it. I woud notice one
other matter that is whether the Regimental Pay Master
shoud not Account frequently for Moneys they receive on
Abstracts or otherways, not one of them have accounted
with me as yet. Perhaps it may have owing to the very
confused & distracted Situation of Affairs for sometime
past & the Army having been on the move. I have rec'd
from Mr. Wm. Matthews Muster Master Muster Rolls
for the several Battalions Artillery Companies & Regi-
ment of Light Horse made up to January & February last.
I am w'th respect,

Sir
Your most Obed't Serv't,

Joseph Clay.

Savannah, June 20th, 1778.
Major Gen. Howe
Sir:

I this day rec'd your Letter of the 11th Inst. Capt
McCoullough has been gone for So. Carolina some days
past. I understand the Chief Justice, Mr. Glen, is his
Attorney with whom I will take care and Settle the pur-
chase Mr. Rae made of him, I woud have done it this day
had the Chief Justice have been in Town, I have been
very much disappointed by Mr. Bards not coming to you
w'th money as I expected, but hope in three or four days to
have some other Person on the way with it to you, I have
near Ten Thousand Pounds now by me, & have not the
least doubt but I shall be able to procure by some Means

86

or other a sufficient sum to discharge the Arrears,
due the Army, & to Answer every other purpose you may
have occasion to draw for in future. Dr. Houstoun apply'd
to me this day relative to a Number of Sick at Sunburry
belong'g to the Army, who he inform'd me were in want
of many Necessarys that coud not be procur'd without
Cash, & that the Commissary of hospitals had not any,
considering the Situation of these Poor Unhappy People
& how hard it woud be on them to want any thing that
necesary & can be procured I have desired him to pur-
chase what may be wanting, & promis'd to supply the
Commissary with whatever sum may be necessary to pay
for them, I hope this will meet with your Approbation,
& that so soon as the sum expended in this Business is
ascertained, I shall receive your Warrant as a Voucher for
disbursing the same, and am with respect.
Sir, Your most Obed't Serv't,

J. Clay.

Savannah, June 26th 1778.
D'r Sir:

I received yours of the 24th Inst. & am exceedingly
sorry to Learn the Situation of our poor Soldiers, tis
intirely out of my line to supply money in the Manner pro-
posed, Nevertheless it must not on this occasion be wanted.
Humanity & every other obligation forbid it, I have wrote
Capt. Maris ^ this opportunity relative to the Business,
the Commissary of Hospitals wou'd be the properest per-
son to conduct the Matter, & into whose hands I shou'd
for regularity sake rather have chosen to have paid any
Money for the use of the Sick, however on this occasion
I shall not hesitate to pay it in that way that will the most
speedily & effectually relieve these poor people from their
Distressed situation.

I presume you have heard that Bochop & Osborn are

87

Both taken & Carried into Charles Town, it may be
depended on as a fact, tis reported & I believe on tolerable
Good Grounds that Jas. Moore is Killed & his Brother
taken, we have no other News here, that any dependance
can be placed on, Shoud you find anything further
Necessary to promote the recovery & welfare of the people
under Your Care that I can be of any assistance in, you
may depend I will very chearfully render it, and am w'th
regard,

D'r Sir,

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.
Dr. James Houstoun

Savannah June 26th 1778.
Sir:

I received Yours of Yesterday's Date, relative to the
poor Sick Soldiers at Your place, it is by no Means within
my line to Supply Money in the Manner proposed, nor can
I have any voucher for any Sum paid by me but by the
General's written order, the present Case is Certainly a
very extraordinary one, & such a one as calls loudly for
immediate relief, nor shall I hesitate a Moment to afford
every Assistance in my power so far as Supplying the
Sick may render Necessary the General appointed Mr. Box
Commissary of Hospitals who in my opinion, shoud by
himself or some person under his appointment, supply &
provide every thing Necessary for the Hospitals & to whom
all Sums requisite for that purpose shou'd be paid & the
Expenditure accounted for by him, I shall Mention the
Matter to him, in the interim, that these poor people May
not Sufifer You may depend. I will reimburse & furnish
every sum that may be necessary to provide them with
what they stand in Need of. The Commissary shou'd sup-
ply every thing that may be wanting & you draw on me

88

in his favour, he had best Kept a Separate Ac't of what he
Supplies the Hospital & Your orders shou'd mention
Specially the Sums drawn for as for the use of the Hos-
pital as to all arrears of every Kind. I make no doubt
they will all be very Speedily Settled, the want of Money
has prevented hitherto, but that I hope will not happen in
future. I am w'th respect,

D'r Sir, Your most Obed't Servant,

Joseph Clay.
Cap' Thos. Morris.

Savannah, June 26th, 1778.
Sir:

I received Yours of Yesterday's Date and am truly
sorry for the occasion, the great want of Money for the
use of the Army has brought great Difficulty on it, &
Embarrass'd all the officers Acting for it in their Several
Departments & rendered their Duty extremely irksome &
disagreeable to them, I have found it extremely so myself,
however this has been & is an evil which I have the great-
est hopes, will be Soon remedied, & that it will never hap-
pen again to so great a degree.

I have wrote Cap' Morris that I will immediately pay
any Draught he may draw in Your favor for the purpose
of Supplying the Sick Soldiers with such things as they
may Stand in Need of until proper orders are given by the
General for that purpose, the Commissar)^ of Hospitals
wou'd in my opinion be the proper person to have provided
for these People however they must, nor cannot want,
what is necessary for them can be procured through any
impropriety in the Means for obtaining them, t'would be
inhuman & disgraceful to us as a State, as Hospitals
Expenditures are particular ones, I woud advise Your
Keeping a Separate Ac't of the Sums You disburse in that

89

line as the Congress particularly recommend that all Expen-
ditures of Money be particularly and Separately accounted
for that the different charges may be properly arranged in
the General Accounts.

I am w'th regard
D'r Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

Savannah the 26th June, 1778.
Mr. Will'm Gibbons, Sen'r Esq'r.
Sir:

Inclosed is a letter for Gen'l Howe informing him
with the business you have undertake to execute & the
sum you have with you to enable you to effect it, with
which I woud wish you were at Camp as speedily as possi-
ble, as the Army have considerable Arrears of Pay due
them which for want of Money we have been prevented
from paying as it became due. You have likewise inclosed
a pay List for the Army in the So'thern Department also
such Resolves of Congress relative to the manner of Paying
it and the Duty of Pay Masters as have come to my hands,
which must be your guide in the execution of this Busi-
ness. You'll observe no Order or Warrant for Money can
be paid but such as are drawn by the Commander in Chief,
which Orders or Warrants so drawn must be Counter-
signed by his Secretary, and they shoud specify generally
the Service the same is to be apply'd to, these are requi-
site, required & directed by Congress, the want of Money
has prevented the Army being regularly paid off since I
have been in Office nor am I acquainted to what time they
were paid up by the several Pay Masters apointed by this
State, in this we must endeavour to get the best information
we can, & I will advise you with every thing that comes
to my Knowledge relative thereto, I have paid the several

90

Regimental Pay Masters as under being for Pay as ^
Abstracts, Viz. :

Mr. Benjamin Odingsele Pay Master to the Third
Battallion for pay due said Regiment to the 20th March
last (Capt Rawleigh Downmans Comp'y excepted whose

pay is only charg'd to the 1st of said Month) 3498..4..7^

Mr. Geo'e Randolph Pay Master to the light
Dragoons for pay due Capt. Benjamin Walkers

Troops to the 24th Feb'y last 1144..8..15^

Paid ditto for pay due the Third Troop to 20th

March last 119..14..7

do for Lieut. Jno. Billos* pay to the 12th March

last 49.. 6..8

do for his Own Pay as Pay Master to 22d March

last 60

1373.. 9::iy2
Paid Lieut. Col. Marburry ^ Order of Gen'l
Howe for pay due the 4th Troop Dragoons to

the 14th November last 676..0..0

To do the due 6th to the 10 Oct'r last 75..0..0

751..0..0
The above are all the sums I ever paid as pay to the
Army & which I acquaint you with for your Information, I
shoud have furnished you with the Muster Rolls but those I
have received are so Old a Date that I do not apprehend
they could be of much service in Checking the Pay Rolls,
the latest Date of any of them, are to March last, I pre-
sume they have been Muster'd since that Period or that
they will be very soon & that I shall be furnished with a
Copy of the Muster Rolls.

In regard to the pay of the Army I apprehend it can-
not be drawn for till every Capt. or Commanding Officer
of a Company in a Regiment has made up the Rolls of

Sic. Should be Bilbo's.

91

their several Companies, which for the Sake of regularity
shoud all be made up to one time, that is in the same
Regiment, as the Abstracts are directed to be made up
Monthly the Regimental Paymasters make up the
abstracts from the said Rolls, & include therein all the
Staff & Field Officers belonging to their respective Regi-
ments, the Abstracts thus made out are to be first Cer-
tify'd by the Col'l or Commanding Officer of the Regiment,
and afterwards by the Brigadier or Commandant of the
Brigade: When the abstracts are thus compleated they
come into the Deputy Paymaster Gen'ls Department, who
I conceive is re Examine them again as to v/hether the
pay is fill'd up agreeable to the Establishment of Congress,
whether they are agreable to the Muster Rolls, & that
there are no more Officers commissioned or Non commis-
sioned than are allowed to a Regiment, & also whether
the sum is right cast & if they are, a Receipt is to be given
for them to the Regimental Paymaster, who by that means
obtains a Warrant for Amount of the Abstracts, which if
we are in Cash is to be immediately paid taking a Receipt
for the same, obliging them therein to promise to be
accountable for the sum so paid to the Deputy paymaster
Gen'l of the State or his successors in Office agreable to
the Resolves of Congress, if the Abstracts on Rolls are
found deficient in any of the foregoing Particulars I woud
not give a Receipt for them untill they were rectify'd, or
the Commander in Chief v/as made acquainted w'th any
objections they were liable to, after which it he directed
they shou'd be rec'd notwithstanding any improprieties or
irregularities in the making them out or otherways, I shoud
think it a sufficient Justification for receiving & giving a<
Receipt for them immediately.

As it will be necessary that you transmitt me the sev-
eral Orders & Accounts of Money paid by you by every safe
Conveyance, you had best take Duplicates of all receipts
to serve in failure of the Originals. I have usually taken
Receipts on the back of the Warrants, or Orders, those

92

that are not taken on them shou'd specially refer to
them, & their dates, & in all Entries for Cash paid be par-
ticular to specify the service its to be applied to reciting
the same as nearly as you can from the Warrants & Orders.
I have only to request you v^ill keep me regularly
advised with what sums you pay out, & as nearly as you
can what farther sums you are likely to stand in need off,
that I may have time to provide the same & remit it to
you,

and am w'th regard

D'r Sir, your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

Savannah, 26th June 1778.
Major Gen'l Howe
Sir:

This Will be handed you by Wm. Gibbons, Sen'r, who
has undertaken to act as Deputy pay Master to the Army,
& I flatter myself will execute the Ofiice to the satisfaction
of all concerned as far as lays in his power, he brings w'th
him twelve thousand pounds Current Money of this State, &
I shall endeavour to remit him from time to time what
further sums he may stand in need off to enable him to
answer w'th Punctually the Draughts you may draw on
him.

I have furnished him with such of the Resolves of Con-
gress as have come to my Hands relative to the Pay Mas-
ter's Department, & given him every other Instruction in
my Power, I wish we may be able to get the Regimental
Pay Masters to make out regular Rolls and Abstracts for
the Pay due their Respective Regiments they have been
extremely irregular hitherto, & as I hope we shall not
in future want Money to pay the Army it becomes due, if
the Abstracts for each Regiment were made up to certain
Periods it woud be better.

In my last I acquainted you that Dr. Houstoun had

93

apply'd to me relative to furnishing Money to provide
necessarys for a number of Sick Soldiers at Sunburry;
w^hich I had comply'd with, since w'ch I have rec'd Letters
from Capt. Morris, Commissary Coddington & Dr. Hous-
toun, who is attending the Sick at Sunburry, setting forth
the Distressed Situation they were in for want of Money
to provide for those People ; the Commissary and Capt.
Morris say they have extended their Credit as far as it will
go, that they cannot purchase any thing more without Cash
& desire of me to assist them till they can procure proper
Warrants from you for that purpose, as I could not bear
the Idea of people in their Situation wanting any Assist-
ance that coud be afforded them, being convinced it woud
give you pain to know they wanted for one moment merely
for form Sake, I have wrote them to draw on me for any
sum they may have occasion for, to enable them to provide
for the Sick Soldiers there till you give further Orders,
Capt. Morris is to draw in favour of Mr, Coddington for
what sums may be necessary, & I have wrote him to keep
a seperate Account of the Expenditures for the sick, as I
presume the charge shoud by some means or other be
brought into the Commissary of Hospitals Acco'ts, Dr.
Houston writes me of the 24th Inst, that 12 had died before
he reached Sunburry, that there was then 117 there who
were in a ver}^ poor way that they were 120 at Sapelo who
were all in a fair way of recovery.

As there will be considerable difficulty in getting
Money carried Safe from this Camp, especially as I cannot
procure it in very large sums so as to send sufficient sums
at once to answer the purposes of the Army any length
of time being oblig'd to collect in 2 or 3 thousand Pounds
at a time, it will be of advantage to draw for as many
sums payable here as the nature of the services they are
intended for will admit, I am w'th respect,
Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

Jos. Clay.

94

Fra. Coddington Esq.

D. Commissary Purchaser.

Savannah, July 3d 1778.
F. Coddington, Esq.
D'r Sir:

I have paid Dr. Houstoun One Thousand Pounds &
have taken his Receipt for the same promising to pay it
to you for the Use of the Sick & Invalid at Sunburry. I
have given him the Order you inclosed, w'th a Receipt on the
back of it for you to Sign, w'ch will enable him to take up
his own Receipt from me. When you transmit any Orders
in future that are Negotiable please to draw an Order on
the back of it making it payable to the Person you choose
shall receive it. I wou'd only notice that what sums I
advance in this way must be apply'd to the immediate
Relief of the Sick & Invalids within your Department.
Nothing but the Necessity of the Case can be any Justifi-
cation to me for paying it. Arrears due you must stand
'till the General gives Orders for the Payment. I am
Sir, Your most Obed't Serv't,

J. C

Savannah July 26th 1778.
Mr. John Lewis Gervais, Esq'r.
D'r Sir:

I this day rec'd the inclosed Letter from Mr. Maxwell
relative to a Negro of Col'l Laurens's that is runaway, I
am rather afraid both from the tenor of the Letter, & from
what Mr. Ballit* informd me that the fellow has hopes of
being sold to some Person or other there abouts I have
not wrote to Mr. Maxwell on the Subject, Our Southern
Expedition being ended I presume Mr. Maxwell is at home,
& I woud hope he Will take some steps to secure him, as
Mr. Baillie has talk'd w'th him on the Subject, however I

Balllle.

95

intend to write him requesting he will Endeavour to appre-
hend & have him Confin'd at Sunburry till we can send for
him.

At the particular request of Col'l Laurens I accepted
an Appointment as D. P. M. G. to the Army in this State,
w'cli tho' not very troublesome at present, yet affords me
great anxiety for want of C. Money to pay them with, they
having been hitherto paid in the Curr'y of this State w'ch
they have always rec'd w'th reluctance, owing to its being
much under Value of the C. Curr'y, but its now so much
depreciated from the very large Emissions, want of a suffi-
cient Trade & Extortion, that they almost declare they
will not receive it any more, nor is it to be wondered at
when Osnab'gs sells from 3 to 3>4 Doll's ^ Yd, Rum 16
Doll's ^ Gall., &c &c, & add to w'ch our State has no
Public Store to supply the Soldiery w'th at an under rate,
of Course they cannot possibly subsist on their Pay, this
matter has been represented to Congress & I make no
doubt they will send Money to Pay the Troops very
shortly, but in the interim we know no what to do my
reason for mentioning this matter I woud be glad of your
Opinion whether you think I coud obtain in your State
10 or 20,000 Sterling or rather 70 or 80,000 Doll's in Cont'l
or Car'a Curr'y for my Bills on Congress, even at a mod-
erate Discount, Provided they could not be obtained at
Par. General Howe I know woud do any thing in his
power towards promot'g the business if it shoud be neces-
sary I woud be very much oblig'd to you for a line relative
to this matter ^ first Opportunity. I presume Mr. Baillie
has inform'd you before this that all the Buildings on New
Hope Plantation was destroy'd, you woud have heard
from me before this but I have been almost constantly in
the Country for sometime past, I hope Mrs. Gervais is per-
fectly restored to her Health, and am with great respect,
D'r Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

96

Savannah Aug't 5th 1778.
Major General Howe
Sir:

I expected to have had it in my power before this to
have sent you Rect's for the sums you advanced to the
Copes, but when I came to pay them your Draft in their
favour on me, they refused to allow any Discount from the
Draft till the Receipt they say they gave you for the Money
they received was deliver'd up, alledging that while that
remained out they could not have a proper discharge, they
also said they must have an Account & Receipt for the
Amount of the Articles they rec'd of you, & w'ch they del'd
to the Commissary of Issues ^ your desire, to be a Voucher
for them on a settlement of their Accounts, I ask'd them
why they did not make these objections to you while you
were here, they said they did not occur to them at that
time, & that they were ready to pay or Discount the Money
whenever their Receipts were delivered up, & an Account
& Rec't for the Articles delivered the Issuing Commissary..

On my return home the Evening I was with you I
found the inclosed Receipts among my papers, w'ch I did
not recollect that you gave me or said any thing about
them, therefore, presume they got there by Accident have
therefore taken this oportunity to return them to you.

I mentioned to you my doubts whether Col'l Elbert
coud with propriety agreable to the regulations of Congress
draw on me for Money, I have reconsidered the matter
& find my self streng'thened in that opinion, in some
Instances the Resolves are positively against it, in regard
to the Pay of the Army the Resolves Say the Abstracts
shall be certify'd by the Comm'g Officer of the several
Regiments & afterwards by the Brigadier, therefore for the
same person to Certify & draw for the Payment likewise
woud be an absurdity, I believe Col'l Elbert concurs with
me in opinion, what sums he has drawn on me for I have
or shall pay, but I shoud think it proper that you shoud send
me a General Warrant to advance him what Moneys he

97

may occasion for before I can be properly authorized or
have a sufficient Voucher to enable me to Settle with Con-
gress for any sums I may pay to his Order.

We have nothing new or remarkable, the Discontents
of the Army for want of pay run very high or rather for
want of being paid in Continental Money, indeed such is
the Depreciation of our Curr'y that it is the highest injus-
tice to think of offering them it but what can be done till
Congress affords us some Relief, I know not, if Money can
be taken upon Bills in Caro'a to such an Amount as woud
afford any Relief I woud Chearfully do it, & woud come
to Cha's Town to negotiate the Business, I have wrote
to a friend of mine (Mr, Gervais) ^ this Conveyance who
I know is very conversant in matters of Business desiring
his opinion on the matter & to inquire how far its practi-
cable & have taken the Liberty to mention to him that if
any thing lay with you as to the Strengthening of my
Drafts, that I was sure you woud very chearfully do it.
Col'l Elbert has directed all the Abstracts for the several
Regiments to be made up to a certain Period, by w'ch we
shall come to a Knowledge what sum is due the Troops
for Pay, & be thereby able to judge what sum will answer
the purpose provided we can obtain it. I am vv^'th great
respect.

Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

Jos. Clay,

Savannah 25th August 1778.
The Hon'ble John Houstoun, Esq'r.
Sir:

I have called at your House two or three times in
Order to have received your Answer relative to drawing
on the Treasury in my favour for Money to support the
Continental Troops in this State, but unfortunately you

98

happen'd to be out of Town Many of the Troops from
their having been so long out on Command have consider-
able Arrears of Pay due them, for which & several other
Services, I am Daily called on for Money, which lays me
under the necessity of troubling you again & to request
your Honour will be pleased to give me an Order on the
Treasurers for the sum Voted by the Assembly for the
purpose of Paying & Supporting the Continental Troops
in this State, or any other sum you may think proper and
for w'ch I will give them Receipts from time to time as I
shall receive the same, and am with great respect,

J. Clay.

Savannah Sept'r 1 1778.
*

Sir:

during the time the Men off War lay at cockspurr a
Negro Fellow belon'g to me Named Chance, by trade a
Cooper, Run away & went on board one of them, if I am
not wrong inform'd the Vessel Commanded by Capt.
Stanhope, who afterwards landed him in Augustine where
he now is in the hands of Mr. Penman I have been told sev-
eral of the Negro's that were carried away by the Men of
War at the same time have been sent back to their Owners
w'ch has induced me to ask the favour of you to Endeavour
tc get this Fellow sent to me ^ the Return of the Flag Truce
if he is deliverd to the Rev'd Mr. Holmes, who has been
kind enough to undertake to be the Bearer of this, or to
Mr. Kent or Capt. Pray they will take care of him for me
there are two other Negro's who were carried away at
the same time if they coud be sent back I shoud be very
glad I do not know who has them in possession the one
is Named Sterling he is the property of an Orphan in

* To Mr. Brown.

99

Scotland & was left to him by one Hugh Burn for whose
Estate I am an Executor, the other is Named Adam &
belongs to the Estate of the Rev'd Mr. Zouberbuhler
Deceased, for Est'e I am also an Executor My best respects
to Mrs. Brown and believe me to be with regard
D'r Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

Savannah Sept. 1, 1778.
Will'm Devaux* Esq'r.
D'r Sir:

I am informd there has been a Negro in Beaufort Jaol
or work house of a Considerable time past Named Carolina
who belongs to the Est'e of Mr. Hugh Burn Deceased for
whom I am an Executor I will be extremely oblige to
you if so to take himout & send him ^ any Safe Convey-
ance & whatever the Fees may Amount to I will remit
you immediately either in Car'a or Continental Money I
woud be obligd to you if you woud inform me what you
think he woud fetch if he sold in your State at Public Sale
for Cash, as I have some notion of disposing of him I am
w'th regard,

D'r Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't
Joseph Clay.

* Deveaux.

100

Savannah Sept 2d 1778.
Messrs. Bright & Pechin
Gentlemen :

^ favour of Commodore Bowen * I take the oppor-
tunity of dropping- you a line hoping as the Tyrants Troops
have been oblig'd to leave your City that you are both
return'd to your Habitations there to remain undisturbed
any more by the Horrors of War as I think their Business
seems to be almost over on this Continent whatever it may
be at Sea. We are far from being in a State of Security
being continually harrassed by a Banditti Supported &
paid from the Provinces of East Florida who are con-
tinually mak'g depredations on us by steeling our Horses
& Negro's &c, however I hope we may by some means or
other be able to get them rooted out the ensuing Winter
nothing but our Situation in that respect prevented my
seeing you this Summer.

I am in hopes we may soon be able to resume our
Business I shoud be glad to learn whether our Sloops
Escaped the Enemy ^Every thing is extremely dear with
us Rum 60/ ^ Gall., Muscovado Sugar 30 : 40, & Osnab'es
15 a 20/ ^ Yd. & Woolen Cloth of the coarsest kind 50/ a
80/ ^ Yd, & so on I think if it shoud be convenient you
might send a Vessel here & the sooner the better as I am
sure there will be Adventurers soon from among us who
will be pushing for the No'th'd Business with all their
might. Rains I presume you heard was taken on his pass-
age Outwards for Bermuda all his Acc'ts are not closed
as soon as they are will furnish you with them, we shall
clear something by him. If I had a Vessel in my power
I woud send her to you immediately tho from the Extrava-
gant price of every thing, & provisions (& of course Rice)
being prohibited I shou'd be at a loss what to Ship Sole
leather 5/ ^ lb, Indico near 20/ Beaver & Furrs not be
had we hav'g little or no Indian Trade for want of goods

* Commodore Oliver Bowen.

101

Deer Skins 5/ ^ ft) & so on every thing in proportion Barr
Iron is in very great Demand Our Blacksmiths now
charge 5/ ^ ft) for their work the first Cargo that comes
in if not too large & too dear will do well I am of opinion
these very high prices will not keep up many things pre-
sent themselves to make me think so the prospect of the
War not last'g long, & the French joining us & protecting
our Trade will operate powerfully for us. I shall be
extremely anxious to hear from you to learn how you have
been Situa'd for sometime past I sincerely felt for you
as I am apprehensive the Enemy being so long in your
Country must have occasioned great Distressed.
I am w'th great regard,
Gentlemen

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

Savannah Georgia Sept'r 9 1778.
His Excellency Henry Laurens, Esq'r, President of the

Honb'le the Continental Congress.
Sir:

Agre'able to the Resolves of Congress I have made up
my Acct's as Deputy Master Gen'l in this State to the end
of every Month but no safe Conveyance offering they have
remain'd in my Hands this three Months past. I now
inclose them as under from the 1st of May to the 30th
June Ball'e due me at that Period 4371..9..1>^ being so
much advanced by me for the Use of the Army more than
I had rec'd from the 1st of July to the 31st Ball'e then
remaining in my hands belonging to the United States
54:67. .18..iy2, & from the 1st to the 31st Ulto Ball'e then
due me 3247. .19. .8 being so much pd by me for the Use of
the Army more than I had rec'd the reason of there being
no Acc't for May I had no Money during that Period.
You have also inclosed for information a Copy of Acc't

102

Curr't between me & the Commissioners of the loan office
(Messrs. Obryen & Wade) from which you'll find there
is a Ball'e due me on your Draft dated the 18th Mar. last
41883 Dollars w'ch they say they cannot pay hav'g already
paid me the full Amount of the Certificates lodged in their
Hands.

I shou'd be glad to know by what means I can have
my Acc't Ex'd and passed as it is a very great risque to me
their remain'g unsettled. I have only a single Voucher
for every sum I pay, w'ch by many Accidents may be lost
or destroyed add to w'ch I am but little acquainted with
the duty of my Office nor have I the means of information
for want of w'ch I may be daily committing Errors & pay-
ing away Money improperly, w'ch if my Acc'ts coud be fre-
quently Audited mig*ht be prevented. By the Resolves
of Congress I observe no Money can be drawn for out of
the Military Chest but by the Commander in Chief in the
Department. I am at a loss to determine what is intended
by a Department, if a Department includes several States
I presume Gen'l Howe is the Commander in Chief in this
department, & if so, he only can draw at present he is in
So. Caro'a & Col'l Elbert as Senior Col'l & Commanding
Officer of the Continental Troops within this State is daily
drawing on me for Money for Army Uses, which when in
Cash I have always pd. indeed, the Army coud not have
subsisted without Money therefore necessity compell'd
me in some degree to do it whether regular or irregular or
the Troops must have wanted Provisions and every other
necessary.

Capt. Hancock of the 2d Geo'a Battalion is the Bearer
of this who I understand goes to Congress at the request
of the Officers and Soldiers in this State and with leave
of the Commanding Officer to Solicit their being pd in
Cont'l Curr'y, indeed their Situation in this State is truly
distressing, their pay though very adequate under almost
any Circumstances except ours to support them properly
in their several Stations is now from the very high price

103

of every thing among us far very far short from Answering
the purpose of affording them even Common necessaries,
& I am told some of the Subalterns have already quitted
the service for no other reason than the not being able
to support themselves in it, they complain very much of
not rec'g their pay in the Curr'y of the United States this
they think wou'd greatly alleviate if not remove all their
Complaints. We have at present little or no Foreign Trade
to give a proper Credit & Circulation to the Curr'y of this
State, the Emissions of w'ch have been very large, of course
the greatest part of our Trade is inland (chiefly with So.
Carolina) w'ch occasions the Continental Curr'y to be
much sought after, & Goods can be purchased with it at
much cheaper Rates than with our own Curr'y w'ch
induces them to believe they woud be enabled to support
themselves on their pay if they coud be pd with it how
far this woud be the Case I am not able to judge, but I
am of Opinion unless their is a public Store Established
for the Officers & Soldiers where they may be supplied
with necessary Articles at low prices even the paying of
them in Continental Curr'y will by no means effectually
serve them. I woud hope & wish that something might
soon be devised to raise the Credit of the Curr'y of this
State w'ch woud be the most effectual way of serving them
& us tho as I before observed unless the Troops can be
supplied with necessaries at cheap Rates they will hardly
be able to subsist in this State during the War on any pay
that can be afforded them.

I woud beg leave to mention my own Situation in
regard to Money which at present is & has been heretofore
very distressing Since the Commissioners of the loan
OfiEice paid me the Moneys they had in their hands I have
been supplied at different times by the State the State
wish if possible to avoid emitting any more Money & in
preference to w'ch Borrow what they want at a very high
Interest (8 ^ Ct. ^ Annum) & very often they cannot
procure the sums wanted, w'ch is the Case just now, the

104

sums wanted from the excessive price of every thing being
very considerable. I have received from the State, includ-
ing the sums Credited me in my Acc'ts upwards of 120,000
Dollars over & above the sum pd me by the Commissioners
of the loan Office, notwithstanding w'ch their are now
Orders out unpaid of 100,000 Dollars & for w'ch I am Daily
& hourly call'd on for payment, & have not a Shilling in
hand to discharge them with I believe I coud procure
Money on Interest or for Bills Exchange for the latter I
am sure I coud, but never having rec'd any Instructions
on that head nothing but extreme necessity woud induce
me to do the one or the other I wou'd hope that some
method will be fell on to put me in a very different situa-
tion for unless I can by some means or other be supply'd
w'th Cash to pay of the Demands of the Army as they
come in, it will lay me under so many difficulties that it
will be impossible for me to do the Duty expected of me
add to w'ch it will bring great Distress on the Troops in
general by mak'g the Inhabitants very backward in the
supplying them with such things as they stand in need of.
I am w'th great respect.

Sir, Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

Savannah Sept'r 9th 1778.
His Excellency Henry Laurens Esq'r
Sir:

By this Conveyance I have sent you all my Acct's to
the 31st Ulto. I know not whether I have been right in
so doing, but never hav'g received a line from any Board
or Office giving me any Directions how to conduct myself
I am totally at a loss to whom I should apply or with
whom I shou'd correspond on the Business of my Office.
I have repeatedly seen matters that appeared to me
improper but for want of knowing how far I was author-

105

ized to interfere have not been able to notice them unless
I can be properly supplied with Money & Instructed how
to conduct myself it will be impossible for me to Execute
the office.

We are again very much infested with Tonyns Ban-
ditti Stealing our Horses & Negros & doing us all the
Mischief they can as Thieves two or three of them have
been killed this last Week by our Scouts your Overseer
who carry'd your Negro's to Florida is in Jaol here & will
be hanged if sufficient Evidence can be procured all these
Thieves claim the Priviledge of being prisoners of War
as Soldiers in the service of the King of Great Britain &
some of them have Commissions however our Inhabi-
tants seem determined that very few of them shall have
in their power to claim the Priviledge by Killing them if
Possible wherever they meet them. They are mostly in
small Companies of 5 or 6 Each. We have been lately
much alarmed by the Creek Indians who murdered a Num-
ber of People in the Ceded land's but all seems to be quiet
again this Country can never enjoy any tranquillity nor
its inhabitants have any Security for their Property till the
Florida's are Reduced Tonyn with his Thieves & Stuart
& his adherents with the Indians will always be annoying
us. I have only to add that I am with great regard &
respect,

D'r Sir:

Your most Obed't Serv't,

J. Clay.

106

Savannah 16tli Sept'r 1778.
Major Gen'l Howe
Sir:

^ Cap't Pourcin & Mr. Murray I rec'd 3^our favours
of the 21st & 27th Ulto & the following sums Viz :

^ Mr. Murray 1485 Georgia Dollars Say 371.. 5..0

^ Capt. Pourcin 2000 do do do 500.. 0..0

under cover of yours the 27th Ulto

31 3-10 ditto Sav.... 7..16..6

*871.. 1..6

mak'g together in the whole Eight hundred & seventy nine
pounds one Shill'g & sixpence Current I\ioney of the State
of Georgia & for w'ch sum you have now inclosed a Receipt
as for so much rec'd of you for the Use of the Continental
Troops in this State. I have not yet apply'd to the Copes
again relative to their discounting your Money having
none to pay them they have Orders on me from Col'l
Elbert for a considerable sum but I have not a farthing
to pay them with. I have received from the Commissioners
of the United States loan office all the Moneys they had
in their hands whole Amount Forty thousand one hundred
& Thirty Five pounds this Currency Since w'ch I have
rec'd between 20 & 30,000 out of the State Treasury but
I obtain it so slow & in such small Sums that it answers
very little purpose & give me infinite trouble in obtaining
it If Congress do not afford us some relief very shortly
I know not what will be the Consequence the Moneys I
have rec'd of you I am forced to apply in payment of
abstracts for pay due the 2d Battalion & Artillery I am
in hopes to receive some out of the Treasury in two or
three days when I shall again apply to the Copes Com-
modore Bowen has not apply'd to me for any money to
pay the Gallies if he should I will Endeavour him.

I mentioned to you my doubts in a former Letter as

107

to the propriety of Col'l Elbert drawing- on me for Moneys
without your Orders to me for that purpose the Necessity
of his having- that power is very apparent but the Express
words of the Continental Resolves are against it for w'ch
reason I think I ought to have your Order as a Voucher
for my so doing. I am with great respect,
Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

Sept'r 25, 1778.
John Lewis Gervais Esq'r
D'r Sir:

I wrote you some time ago that I had received some
Money of Col'l Elbert in part payment for the Wench sold
him belonging to Col'l Laurens & that I expected shortly
to receive the Ballance in a Bill on your Tov^^n c[!^ Capt.
Bunner who is the Bearer of this. I have sent you the
sum I received of him as under, Viz :

in Continental Currency 412 Dollars. .32/6 Each. 669..10..0
in Carolina do 188 do do 305..10..0

in do do do 154.. 0..0

1129.. 0..0

making in the whole Eleven hundred & twenty nine Pounds
your Currency which you'll please receive on Account of
Col'l Laurens the Ballance I have not yet received so
soon as I do will remit it to you.

I wrote you some time ago relative to the practibility
of obtaining money in your State for the Troops on Bills
I presume from Circumstances it is not practicable however
if its otherwise I should rather decline the matter as the
Troops appear more reconciled than they were & willing
to bear their present Distresses till Congress can do some-

108

thing to relieve them. We have nothing New among us
the Floridians & Indians by their Robberies & Murders
keep us in a continual State of Alarm a fine Ship from
Florida bound to Jamaica with Lumber & Naval Stores
was brought in here by the Crew. I am with regard,
D'r Sir:

Your most Obed't Serv't,..

Joseph Clay.

September 7th 1778.
D'r Sir

No Conveyance for Philadelphia offering since writing
the foregoing that I could Embrace, has detained it in my
hands. We have been greatly alarmed with the dread of an
Indian War a Number of People have been killed on the
Ceded Lands, in the whole about 20, & People were flying
from their Settlements fearing the defection was becoming
general among the Indians. No Mischief has been done
for this two or 3 Weeks past & from the best accounts we
can get what was done was only by a party from the Upper
Towns, headed as is supposed by some White Persons, &
the People are returning to their Habitations again but
We can expect no Security or Safety, for our Inhabitants
till the Florida's are reduced or a Peace takes place; the
Murders being so generally committed on the Ceded Land
induces me to believe that the Treaty relative to the
Indian Debts not being comply'd with has been in a great
measure the occasion of them.

We are again infested by the Floridian Banditta taking
our Horses & Negro's away we have had a Negro or 2
taken ofif within two or three miles of the Town & Horses
from all parts of the State, the situation of our State is
really extreme by distresing exposed to our Enemies. In
case Loan Office Certificates are allowed by Congress &

109

they shou'd not go off brisk here, we must call all our
money in declare it no tender in Law after such and such
dates & make it redeemable by the Certificates hov/ever
shoud peace take place w'ch it more than probable may
shortly be the Case we shall go upon intire Now plans.

D'r Sir

Your &c

J. Clay.

Savannah Aug't 29 th 1778.
John Lewis Gervais Esq'r
D'r Sir:

Your favour of the 1st Inst, came to hand only this
week, in regard to the rough Rice at Broughton Island I
have repeatedly endeavoured to get it disposed of to the
Army, but never cou'd bring them to any fix'd Bargain,
10,000 Bushels were agreed for by Mr. Rae @ 1/ ^ Bush'l
a very considerable time ago, & he was to have it measured
& put by for him, that it might lay at his Risque; I often
spoke to him about it & he as often promised it shoud be
done, but that was all, Mr. Taarling has married & been
likewise very sick since he returned from Carolina, which
has prevented my applying to him on the subject, from
what I coud learn from Mr. Baillie tis more than probable
they took away near 2000 Bushels while the Troops were on
the So'thern Expedition, no exact account can be obtained,
because a Considerable part of it was taken away without
measuring rough Rice sells here from 4/ to 6/ ^ Bushel,
I suppose about 5/ is the general Price, What it may be
worth at the So'therd I am not a Judge, but will inquire
if General Howe can contrive the Payment in So. Carolina
I think a considerable abatement might be made rather
than receive it here, I shou'd think 17/6 your Curr'y for
what was taken from Broughton Island very moderate
if paid in Carolina Col'l Elbert at first appeared dissatis-

110

fied in regard to the Price of the Wench, but he has agreed
to take her at it, & about a fortnight ago paid me about
illOO your Currency, &: has promised me the ballance in
a few days, which will send to you ^ first opportunity,
Inclosed is a bill of Exchange dated Bermuda the 29th
Oct'r for sixty Eight pounds Bermuda Curr'y on. Mr
Rich'd Cole of your Town in favour of Capt. John Rains
payable at Ten days sight which will be obliged to you
to endeavour to obtain payment for, the Bill is liable to
a very Material objection its not being endorsed by Capt.
Rains, nor have I it my power to remedy it, Capt. Rains
being at this time a Prisoner in the hands of the Enemy,
having been taken in a Vessel belong'g to Col'l Habersham,
Mr. Jas. Habersham, Mr. Telfair & myself whose property
this bill is, it being taken by Capt. Rains for a ballance
due on a small Vessel he sold in Bermuda belong'g to them,
& has now been long due, & this is the only Bill out of
several that has come to hand, if he required any Indemni-
fication we will freely give it, but for so small a sum I
shoud presume Mr. Cole will hardly think it necessary,
Inclosed is also a Letter of Advice belon'g to the Bill,
I have endorsed the bill as for Capt. Rains payable to you,
I hope you will excuse the trouble & believe me to be w'th
great regard,

D'r Sir Your most Obed't Serv't

Jos. Clay.

Ashley river the 10th Mar 1779.
Geo'e Abott Hall Esq'r
D'Sir

I am informed by a Letter I have rec'd from Camp
that the Military Chest both from this & our State runs
very low, & as I woud on my part wish to send a supply
there as quick as possible, & I presume Mr. Gervais will
be likewise of the same opinion, for which purpose I have

111

wrote him ^ this Conveyance requesting the favour of
him in Case he has not already sent a Supply on his own
Account, that he woud ^ the same Conveyance he sends
for him self forward fifteen Quires say One hundred &
Sixty five thousand Dollars for me w'ch sum shoud he
apply for I must beg the favour of you to pay him. In
Case he cannot forward it Mrs. Clay (who comes to Town
to see her Daughter &c will, if she can conveniently, bring
that sum or perhaps as far as Twenty Quires up here with
her, as its more than probable I shall not be in Town
before I proceed to Camp, you will therefore be kind
enough to furnish her with what she may choose to bring
up. Mr. Habersham & myself are busily employed in pro-
curing provisions & setling our Negros, the former of w'ch
we find great difficulty in doing, every thing being very
scarce about here, we are obliged to Cart grain for our
Horses 12 Mules or give a very extravagant price for it-
We have heard in a general way of Ashs Defeat, so far as
we have been informd it appears to me to have been a very
shamefull Affair, & I hope will be strictly inquired into,
, we shall be obliged to you for any news, & am with great
regard, D'Sir,

Your most Obed't Serv't

Jos. Clay.

Savannah December 15th 1778.
John Gibson Esq'r Auditor General at Philadelphia
Sir:

I rec'd your favour of the 20th July last respecting
several matters relative to my Office w'ch I shall duly attend
to, I have ^ this Conveyance inclosed Congress my Accounts
for the Months of September, October & November which
hope may be approved of; in these Accounts it will appear
that a very large part of the sums charged in them were
paid by the Order of Col'l Elbert, this I did under a

112

General Order of Gen'l Howes, directing me to pay to Col'l
Elbert or to his order any sum or sums he might
draw on me either for the pay of the Troops or the Military
Department, the Business of the Army could not have
been carried on if this mode had not been adopted, as no
one woud have supplied them with any thing if they had
been under the necessity of travelling from Savannah to
Charles Town in Order to obtain from General Howe (who
most commonly resides there) a Draft on me for the Pay-
ment of their Money.

I have endeavoured in the making out my Accounts
to be as explicit as in my Power, specifying the purposes
every sum was paid for, where any sum is charg'd to an
Officer in the service that is not expressed to be for any
particular purpose, it is for the Use of his Department &
for the Expenditure of w'ch they are to be accountable, as
I thought it needless to express in every charge made
against any Quarter Master, Commissary or Pay Master
&c, that it was for the use of their Department, as by
charging it to them as such it naturally follows it was for
their Use in that station & for w'ch they must be Account-
able since the 31st of July last all the Extra Rations
allowed the Officers has ceased, & they have drawn for their
Subsistance Money in lieu thereof agreeable to the late
Establishment. You'll observe a sum of 10,000 Dollars
charged as paid to Stephen Drayton, Esq'r, Deputy Quar-
ter Master General in State of So, Carolina for his use
in that Department, how far it may be proper that the
Moneys appropriated to the use of one State, shoud be
apply'd to that of another I am not a Judge but I presume
I have no right to refuse the Commander in Chiefs Warrant
let them be drawn for what ever purpose they may. You'll
also notice that several Orders have been paid partially
part at one time, & part at another; this has never hap-
pened but when I have not had a sufficient sum in my
hands to discharge the whole of the several Drafts drawn
on me, & have from that cause been reduced to the neces-

113

sity of making partial payments Mr. Taarling has
resigned his appointment as D. Q. M. General & Mr. Rich'd
Wylly (a very Worthy Gentlemen of Intergrity & Ability)
is now Acting in that Department, I mention this to
explain what is meant by sums charg'd as paid to Mr. Taar-
ling to enable him to settle his Accounts the sum of
100,000 Dollars Credited the State of Georgia was a loan
from this State, granted on a special Application of the
Officers by Petition to the Assembly, setting Forth as a
very great grievance the Troops being paid in the Cur-
rency of this State from the very great depreciation of
it, & I was obligd to give a Receipt for the same as D. P.
M. G., Promising to return the like sum again whenever
the Military Chest arrived here, which I shall do as soon
as I am called on for that purpose, this loan was granted
for the special purpose of paying the Troops & no other
nor has it been appy'd to any other, & is the first Money
any of the Continental Troops in this state ever received
after they came into it in any currency but the Currency
of the state ; I coud wish that I was furnished with proper
Instructions to direct me in every part of my Duty fully,
the Resolves of Congress that have been passed from time
to time at least such of them as have come to my hands,
are so detached, & in a few Instances more than partial,
& only respecting particular parts of the service, that they
rather serve to Embarrass than direct, this is what every
Officer Acting in any department in this state Daily Com-
plain for the want of. By the Resolves Abstracts are to
be made up ever}^ Month by the Regimental Pay Master
& to be regularly Certifyd & then lodged with me until
Orders are given for Payment, from this I presume I have
noth'g to do with the particular pay Rolls, tho from what
is required in some other Resolves it woud appear as if
they were to be Examined & Checkd by me. One of the
Regimental Pay masters appointed by the state & who
has lately resigned, & no other, apply'd to me to receive
his Vouchers & give him a DiscHarge for the Moneys he

114

had received from me, which I refused, as in the first place
it did not appear to me that I was properly Authorized so
to do, & in the next the Vouchers were not all of them
such as according to my Judgement were proper ones, I
observed in some of the Pay Rolls the Pay of Deserters
were charg'd up to the Day they Deserted & paid to the
Commanding Officer of the Comp'y the belong'd to, & the
pay of the Men that died in the service also charg'd up to
the time they died & paid to the Major of the Regiment
& I have also noticed on some Occassions where I have
had an Opportunity of seeing the Pay Rolls that many of
them were very deficient in point of Form, some of them
most egregiously so, & made out in such a manner as must
give great Opportunity to ill disposed persons to take an
Advantage of the Public, nor have we any Established
Form for the Abstracts, which I presume as well as for
the Pay Rolls there ought to be, for my part I am quite
a Stranger to the Dutys of my Office further than my
reason & such of the Continental Resolves as have come
to my hands have inform'd me, tis quite a New Business
to me & which I entered on it with a view to be usefull
only, & it gives me pain to see any thing I am concerned
in be carried on in an improper manner. I rec'd some
Months ago from the Deputy Muster Master Mr, William
Matthews a Number of Muster Rolls of the Continental
Troops in this state, some of them as late down as last
March, but none later, nor have I rec'd any since. By one
of the Resolves of Congress I observe I am directed to
consult the Commander in Chief in this department on
appointing Deputies at such Posts as he may think neces-
sary, to supply with Money such officers as may be sta-
tioned there as he (the Commander in Chief) shall direct,
but I am no where inform'd what pay these Deputies are
allowed, I have not had occasion as yet to appoint any
but I presume there will soon be a necessity for me to
appoint some, when that happens it will put me to great
difficulty, the Reg't P. Masters were formerly allowed

115

Captains Pay, But I am afraid that allowance will induce
but very few in this Country under its present Circum-
stances in whose integrity & ability I coud confide to
accept of such an appointment, & give me security for
their good behaviour & faithfull discharge of the Trust
reposed in them, which if I am to be accountable for their
Conduct they must do, & that I can hardly expect any one
to do where his Pay for a Year will not enable him to live
decently three Months in that Year, for such is our unhappy
situation at present If I am not accountable for their
Conduct the Case will be different, as to me I will endeav-
our to do the best I can, for my part I woud recommend
if its not in compatible with the service that any Officer
in the line be appointed to this Business, with additionate
pay, in the same manner as Regimental Pay Masters this
mode I shoud suppose might Answer as a temporary
Expedient to serve untill the Value of our Money renders
it more adequate to the service expected which I woud
flatter myself is not far distant. By some Resolves passed
the 13th October last I observe I am directed to furnish
the Deputy Quarter Master, the Deputy Comissary & the
Deputy Clothier Generals, with Money for the Use of
their respective Departments, And they are also directed
to deliver their respective Accounts of Expenditures to the
D. P. M. General, & that their Receipts shall specify the
same to have been paid in Continental Currency, this to me
is quite a New matter I mean so far as relates to their
Account, I never understood that I was to have any thing
to do with any Accounts but my own, nor have I as yet
ever received an Acc't from any Officer or Department in
the state, if I am to have any thing to do with them I must
be particularly Instructed how far, & in what manner I
am to govern myself relative to them, I woud observe that
that not one of the Regimental Pay Masters have, that I
know of, ever setled their Accounts since I have had any
thing to do with the Army, nor has any ever offered me
any Vouchers (the Instance mentioned in the foregoing

116

only excepted) for the Expenditures of the sums rec'd by
them, nor do I believe that any Pay Masters appointed
by the state ever made a proper settlement of their
Accounts, I woud be glad to know in what manner I am
to have my own Accounts setled & who is give me proper
Discharges for them, if they find them right, I have already
paid away a very large sum of Money for every farthing
of w'ch I am accountable, & for the payments of w'ch I
have nothing to Shew but a Number of Warrants & Orders
w'ch may be lost or destroyed by Various Accidents, w'ch
is a situation I by no means choose to be in, if some mode
is not Pointed out by w'ch I can obtain a settlement at
short periods, there is no motive or any thing that can
induce me to continue to Act under my Appointment. I
can by no means think of running tlie risque of leaving my
Family with long & large Public Accounts unsetled. I had
forgot to mention that the last 40,000 rec'd by me from
the state of Georgia was paid me by Meisseurs OBryen &
Wade, Treasures of this state, as Commissioners of the
United States loan Office, to w'ch office they were appointed
by the Assembly of this state, & by whose direction they
paid the same to me, how far this may be regular I know
not, but as I received that sum of them as such Its proper
that I shoud notice it that they may be Credited therewith
accordingly You'll also notice the Credit of 49,883 Dollars
rec'd of the same Gentlemen, being for a Ball'e due me
on the President of Congress Warrant on the Commis-
sioners of the loan Office in my favour Dated York Town
the 18th March last.

I observed in the foregoing that the pay of the Deserters
have been drawn for up to the time they Deserted by the
Captain of the Companys they respectively belong'd to.
I woud also notice that I understand the Officers who have
received the same, alledge as a reason for their so doing
that they had advanced the sum out of their Pocketts to

117

these Men in part of their pay, & that at a time when the
pay Masters had not Money to Pay them with. I am

Sir, Your, &c.

J. C.

Savannah 15th Dec'r 1778.
Joseph Nourse Esq'r Pay Master to the board of Warr

& Ordnance
Sir:

I wrote you the 21st Ulto from Charles Town ^ the
Return of the Escorts to the Money, advising you with
my having received the same & found it right; Amount
as ^ Invoice 500.00 Dollars, w'ch sum I have carried to thQ
Credit of the United States as ^ my Account to the 30th
Ulto transmitted ^ this Conveyance will more particu-
larly appear at the request of the Escorts I paid them
200 Dollars Each making in the whole 1000 Dollars, as^
the inclosed Receipt to serve in failure of the one sent you
by them this sum I have Debited the States.

I sometime ago rec'd a Letter from Mr. Moses Young
for you, inclosing a Receipt of Adjutant Taylors of the
4th Geo'a Battalion for 200 Dollars, directing me to deduct
the same out of his pay, this Gentle'n has not that I can
learn ever been in this State. I shoud be glad to know
whether I shall send you his Receipt back again during
my Stay in Chas Town Accounts came there that the
Enemy from Florida had invaded our State & penetrated
far into it, which induced me to lodge by far the largest
part of the sum rec'd from you in their Treasury, not think-
ing it prudent to carry more with me than was necessary
for the then present exigincies this will necessarily
occasion some further Expence in getting it here, which
woud not have been the Case had matters been otherways,

118

as I should have taken it with me by water inland free of
any charge, I am with respect,
Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't
Joseph Clay.

Sav'h 19th December 1778.
The Hon'ble Henry Liaurens, Esq'r President of Congress
Sir:

I had the honour of Receiving your esteemd favour of
the 16th October last, inclosing several Acts of Congress
Dated the 13th of that Month relative to my paying the
Deputy Commissary, the Deputy Quarter Master and the
Deputy Clothier General, such sum or sums of Money
as they severally want in their respective Departments, &
also directing me to pay the Officers & men belonging to
the Continental Gallies in this state, & to transmit an
Account of the same to the Board of Treasury at the end
of every Month to all of w'ch I shall pay the strictest atten-
tion. I presume the direction relative to the transmitting
of my Accounts to the Board of Treasury is intended as
a general one, which method I shall in future pursue, until
I am Ordered to the contrary ; for the present I have taken
the liberty to inclose you them for the Months of Septem--
ber, October & November last, Ballance remaining in my
hands the 30th Ulto as ^ Acco't Curr't Ballance on that
Day One hundred & Twenty seven thousand eight hundred
& twenty eight Pounds 3/6j^, w'ch sum is to the Credit
of the United States in New Account.

I have wrote to the Treasury Board through Mr. Gibson
Auditor Gen'l every thing that occur'd to me or that
appear'd necessary to be explained, relative to them, I am
with great respect,

Sir, Your most Obed't Serv't

Jos. Clay.

119

Savan'h Dec'r 28th 1778.
Joseph Carleton Esq'r Pay Master to the Board of War

& Ordnance
Sir:

^ Mr. Telfair I rec'd Your much esteemd favour of the
14 November last, & this day rec'd ^ the hands of Messrs.
Young Hill & Weatherly 500,000 Dollars for the use of my
Department, some of the Bills on the outside Quires are
little defaced by rubbing, but I am hopefull not so much
so, but that they will pass in payment.

I have given the Escorts a Receipt for the Money,
which they will produce to you on their Arrival. I have
also pd. them by the Order of General Howe who com-
mands in this State as yet, the following sums viz: Mr.
George Hill 240 Dollars, Mr. Jos. Weatherly 240 Dollars,
Mr. Fra's Young 240 Dollars mak'g in the whole the sum
of 720 Dollars herewith you'll receive a Letter directed
to Mr. Nourse which I had wrote him before I had the
pleasure of being informd you were Acting in that Depart-
ment, as it relates intirely to Public concerns I have not
Seal'd it.

I am with respect

Sir, Your most Obed't Serv't

Jos. Clay.

Savannah Dec'r 23d 1778.
Messrs Blakes & Sawyers
Gen:

My last to you was of the 18th Inst. ^ the return of
your express. I was then In hopes that I shoud have been
able to have inform'd you before this that you had obtain'd a
Decree for the salvage of your Schooner & Cargo, as the
Trial was to come on as last Tuesday, but for want of a
Sufficient Number of Jurors appearing at court to make a

120

Jury, the trial was postponed till tomorrow, & yesterday
the Attorneys on behalf of the Captors proposed
adjourning the Trial till next Friday Seven night, Urging
for a Reason that one of their Council (Mr. Walton) was
under the necessity of going to your state on Public Busi-
ness, & woud not return before that time on Considering
of the matter & Consulting w'th Mr. Stephens our Attorney
General who I employed to appear on your behalf, I have
agreed to their proposition, as it appeared to me it might
rather prove to your advantage, by giving you time to
Collect the Best evidence the nature of the case will admit.
I find the Captors intend to push hard to obtain a Decree in
their favour for the whole of the Cargo & Vessel, sinc^
3^our Claim was Entered they have employed another
Lawyer (Mr. Walton) in addition to the one who Libelled
the Vessel, they mean to claim the whole under a pretence
that the Vessel was abandoned at sea, & of course became
a derelict, they also urge that the Vessel was the property
of the Enemy, that she was absolutely infra prosidea, these
Circumstances I have only gathered from hints dropt by
them in Conversation : therefore it is absolutely neces-
sary to use every precaution to prevent their having any
advantage of us if there is such a thing possible as make
her a Derelict which in a Case like this I think their is not,
the present prize Master Evidence will be favourable to
it, being, as I am informd much against Capt. Dillinghams
Conduct, & indeed from what I can learn relative to it he
certainly abandoned a large property of yours, for fear he
shoud loose his own, as its said here that his Boat was
loaded with goods belonging to himself when he came into
our Port from his Vessel, so that however unfortunate you
have been, he in all probability has made a good Voyage
for himself. I have desired Mr. Stephens to write you on
the subject which he has accordingly done. The proving
the property of the Vessel in you is absolutely necessary
in the first place, & the Indentity is another thing neces-
sary had the Trial have came on last Tuesday I believe

121

I shoud have fix'd the latter tollerable well by the Evidence
of one Capt. Smith, who came with Artillery Stores belong'g
to Col'l Roberts, as he said he knew the Vessel to be the
same that Capt. Dillenghams sailed in from your state in
your employ, but he is now on his way to your Town, if you
have any Clerk or other Person who has done Business
for you while Captain Dillengham sailed in the Vessel, by
their coming up here they coud prove both, or if that can't
be done you had best have the highest Evidence you can
procure taken before your Chief Justice & sent up so as
to be here before the day of Trial, the Vessel & Cargo will
sell for a very considerable sum, I dare say upwards of
ilO,000 our Money if the Vessel is tolerably well found &
the Cargo has not been plundered. Capt. Spencer ask'd
me if I knew any thing of a Hhd or two of loaf Sugar &
some Brandy being on board the Schooner as he had beer>
informd there had been such Articles on Board, & if so,
they were missing, I do not learn any thing of the Register.
Capt. Spencer says he never saw it, shoud you obtain the
Salvage which I think will be the Case had you not better
buy in to near the amount of your proportion in Order
to bring about a Speedy Settlement of the Concern, or if you
do not choose that it certainly will be best that you keep
the sales least any advantage shoud be taken, I will bid
for you or get some other person to do it if I shoud by any
Accident be prevented attending the sales myself. I am
w'th respects & Esteem,
Gentlemen

Your most Obed't Serv't
J. Clay.

122

Euhaws 21st January 1778.
Major Rice at Purisbourgh
Sir:

In consequence of General Lincolns recommendation
of you to act for me as Deputy Pay Master General of the
State of Georgia during my absence, I have taken the
liberty of sending you ^ the hands of Mr. Ricli'd Wylly Ten
Quires of Continental Money, containing Eleven thousand
Dollars each, making together in the whole One hundred &
Ten thousand Dollars or 27,500 Georgia Currency for
which Sum I will be obliged to you to send two Rec'ts of
the same tenor & Date to serve as one.

In Order to give you every necessary information in
my power I have extracted from my Books an Account of
the last payment made to any of the Regimental Pay
Masters or others w'ch is as follows Viz :
1st Battalion Paid Jno. Wood Pay Master the 12th Nov'r
last i395..2..2 or 1580 26-60 Dollars being
for Pay & Subsistance Money due s'd Regi-
ment to the 30th Oct'r last ^ Abstract.
2d Battallion Paid Cap't Littleberry Moseby P Master the
27th Oct'r last 1816..3..7>^ being for pay
& subsistance Money due said Batt'n to the
30th Sept'r last ^ Abstract pd Ditto the
5th Ulto in part of pay due said Battalion
he to be accountable ^ Order of General
Howe ilOOO say 4000 Dollars.
3d Battallion Paid Capt. Isaac. Hicks Pay Master 3d
November last i534..7..8 Say 2137 32-60
Dollars being for pay & Subsistance Money
due said Battallion to the 31st Oct'r last
^ Abstract.
4th Battallion Paid Capt. Geo'e Melven Pay Master the
31st October last i629..11..8 being for pay &
Subsistance Money due said Battalion to the
30th Sept'r last ^ Abstracts.
N. B. The 1st Abstract for the 4th Bat-

123

tallion made up since I acted as D. P. M. G.

was from the 15th April last to the 31st July
following & amounted to i2421..8..7 a part
of w'ch only say 659. .5. .5 has been paid to
Capt. Melven the remaining sum of
1762..3..4 Say 7048 2-3 Dollars was detained
in my hands by order of Col'l Elbert the
sum having been paid to a Major Woodruff
(a Militia Officer) who acted as Pay Master
to that Battallion prior to Capt, Melven
whose Rec'ts for that sum were lodged in
my hands by Col'l Elbert, & are now in my
Possession, Dated the 6th & 7th April last
& for which he the s'd Woodruff I believe
has never produced any Vouchers.
Paid Capt. Templeton of the 4th Battalion
^ Order of General Howe 3 Months pay
Say from the 15th Jan'y, 1778 to the 15th
April, 1778 i30, Major Woodruff Pay
Master at that time first certifying the same
was due.

Light Dragoons Paid Lieut Sam'l West Pay Master thej
17th August last 3246. .2., being for pay due
s'd Regiment to the 31st July last ^
Abstract.

Paid Capt. Scott ^ Order of Gen'l Howe
4th Dec'r last 948 Dollars being for pay due
him from the 4th May 1777 to the 1st Nov'r,
1778, & for Subsistance Money from the 1st
Aug't last to the same time.

Artillery Paid Capt. Geo'e Young Pay Masters the 3d
Novr, 1778 being for pay & Subsistance
Money due the 3 Companies to the 31st
Oct'r last ^ Absract 368..15s say 1475 Dol-
lars.

Paid Capt. Dufau ^ Col'l Elberts Order his
pay as Capt. of Artillery from the 3d April

124

1778 to the 3d July following 130 Dollars.
Paid Philip Box, Esq'r Commissary of Hos-
pitals his pay & Subsistance Money to the
31st Ulto ^ Order of Gen'l Howe.
Ditto Capt. Sens, Engineer the 21st of
December ^ Order of Gen'l Howe 3 Months
Pay ending the 31st Inst.
Ditto Samuel Stirk Judge Advocate his pay
to the 21st Ulto ^ Order of General Howe,
Ditto James Rae, Esq'r Deputy Commis-
sary General of Purchases his pay from the
1st August last to the 31st Oct'r following
115 say 460 Dollars ^ Order of Col'l Elbert
Ditto Commodore Bowen ^ Order of Gen'l
Howe his pay to the 30th Nov'r last.
N. B. The Gallies have never rec'd any Pay
through my hands having been hitherto
paid by the State of Georgia except the fore-
going paid Commodore Bowen.
Paid Col'l Elbert the 12th Nov'r, 1778, in
part of pay due him 225 Dollars Capt. Dufau
& Templetons Pay since the time specify'd
in the foregoing to have been paid to them
has been included in their respective Regi-
mental Abstracts.

Col'l Elbert has rec'd no other pay since I

have been Office that I know off except the

sum of 225 Dollars above mentioned.

'The foregoing contains every information that I am

able to furnish you with the paying of the Troops has in

my opinion been conducted hitherto in a very irregular

manner but I make no doubt it will be very soon put upon

a very different footing & am with respect,

Sir, Your most Obed't Serv't,

J. Clay.

125

Euhaws 22d January 1779
Eichard Wylly, Esq'r.

D'r Sir:

Before I left Purisbourg-h Gen'l Lincoln proposed that
Major Rice shoud act for me as D. P. M. G. during my
absence & desired me to put into the Majors hands 100,000
Dollars for that purpose. I have sent ^ my Son Joe 10
Quires containing 110,000 Dollars w'ch woud esteem a
favour if you woud pay the same to Major Rice & take his
Receipt as from me for the same I have wrote him on the
subject & request he woud send me two Receipts of the
same tenor & date to serve as one.

I shoud have sent the money 2 Days ago but the roads
being so excessive bad deterred in hopes 2 or 3 Dry Days
wou'd have made them better. I hope you'll excuse this
trouble & am w'th regard,
D'r Sir,

Your most Obed't Serv't.
J. Clay.

Ashley River 10th March 1779.
John Lewis Gervaies Esq'r
DSir:

By a Letter I rec'd from Mr. Rice two days ago I find
that the Military Chest at Camp runs very low, that he had
paid away the whole of the sum he had received from me
& near the Amo't of what he had rec'd from you of which
I presume you are inform'd. I woud esteem it a favour
if you have not already sent Mr. Rice a suppy from your
Chest, that you woud ^ the same opportunity you may
embrace for that purpose, send him for me fifteen Quire
say One hundred & Sixty five thousand Dollars, for w'ch
he may transmit Duplicate Rec'ts to me or to you in my
Name as Opportunitys may oflfer. I expect to be ready to
proceed for Camp in a few days but least I may be delayed

126

longer than I expect I woud be glad to send the Money-
there as soon as possible, ^ Mrs. Clay (who comes to
Town to see her Daughter & purchase a few Articles) I
have wrote Mr. Hall relative to furnishing you with the
Money provided you can forward it, and if not I have
desired Mrs. Clay to bring it with her, as its more than
probable I shall not be in Town before I proceed to Camp
I will be much oblig'd to you for the Resolves of Congress
if you have done with them, & for any intelligence of con-
sequ'e. We have heard in a general way of Ashs defeat
if it happened in the way its reported here it is a very
shamefull afit'air, & I hope will be Strictly inquired into, a
few Brave Men appear to have been sacrificed to the igno-
rance or neglect (perhaps both) of some persons or other,
the consequences of w'ch may prove fatal to a whole
Country, I am with great regard,
D'r Sir, Yours &c.,

Jos. Clay.

Ashley River the 15th Mar 1779.
Nathaniel Rice, Esq'r at Purisbourgh
D' Sir

I rec'd your several favours of the 28th Jan'y & 2d
Ins't the former covering Duplicate Receipts of the same
tenor & Date for 110,000 Dollars w'ch sum I have Debited
you, & for w'ch you will be Credited at settlement by the
Receipts for Expenditures I am not surprised you have
met with Difficulties in paying the Geo'a Regiments, I
suggested to you formerly the irregularity with which
the pay of that Brigade had heretofore been conducted, &
the impediments that woud probably come in your way,
w'ch induced me to be so particular in giving you a list
of the last payments made, & to furnish the General with
the Abstracts in Order thereby to afford every Assistance
in the Business in my power since I left Camp my time

127

has been principally taken up in travelling in search of a
Place to fix my Family & Negros, I am now employed in
setling them in this place & I hope in 8 or 10 Days to be
able to proceed from this to Camp & to bring you a Suffi-
cient supply of Money to Answer every Demand. I wrote
to Mr, Gervais requesting the favour of him to receive a
Sum for me in Cha's Town & to forward it to you at the
same time that he sent you a supply in Answer to w'ch
he writes me that Yours informing him of your being in
want of Money had not yet come to hand, therefore he
coud not send a farther sum at present, otherways he woud
very chearfully have Comply'd w'th my request I will
endeavour to bring or send you a supply as quick as possi-
ble in the interim any advances you may make from the
Carolina Chest, you may be assured I will enable you to
repay w'th punctuality, my best respects to the General
& am w'th respect.

Sir,

Your most Obed't Serv't

Jos. Clay.

P. S. inclosed is Copies of the several Resolves of
Congress that have come to my hands relative to the pay of
the Army, & which you woud have had before this, but
I had lent the Originals to Mr. Gervais at the time you
wrote me for them.

Euhaw 22d January 1779.
Major General Lincoln
Sir:

I have sent by the bearer Ten Quires of Cont'l Money
containing eleven thousand Dollars each which I have
desired to be delivered to Major Rice taking his Receipt
for the same these Amounts to 110,000 Dollars w'ch is
10 thousand more than you mentioned, but this I appre-

128

hend can make no difference I have wrote Major Rice &
inform'd him particularly so far as in my power the state
of the Troops as to their pay. I have inclosed you for
j'-our perusal & information the last Abstracts for pay due
each of the Regiments & Companies of Continental Troops
that were stationed in the State of Georgia, Viz :
Abstracts for Pay due 1st Battalion to the 31st Oct'r last

395.. 2..2

ditto for do due 2d ditto to 30th Sept'r 846..14..7>4

ditto for do due 3d ditto 31st October ...534,. 7..8

ditto for do due 4th do 30 Sep'r 629..11..8

ditto for do due ditto 31 July 2421.. 8..9

do for do due Artillery to 31st Oct'r 368..15..

do for do due Light Horse 31st July 3346.. 2..

The foregoing are the last Abstracts that have been
presented by any of the Regimental Pay Masters. I was
much at a loss to know in what form to take the Receipts
for sums paid on Abstracts You'll observe I took a special
one by way of obligation for the Sum paid on the Abstract
for the Regiment of Horse, this I did for special Reasons
Of which will inform you when I return If you shou'd
have done w'th the Abstract before the return of my
Son (who is bearer of this) I woud be obliged to you
to return them by him, but if not they may rem'n w'th you
till I return to Camp

I am With great Respect

Sir Your most Obed't Serv't

Jos. Clay..

Ashley River So Carolina,
Messrs. Bright & Pechin
Gentlemen: March 23d 1779.

I wrote you sometime ago informing you with the
Situation of our State, & of the progress of Enemy in it.

129

They are still in possession of all the Sea Coast more than
half of the best part of the state, & for any Force we have at
present they may remain there as long as they please and
shoud they get reinforced before any Troops arrive to our
Assistance from your part of the world, I make no doubt
they will attempt to penetrate into this, & its more than
probable, succeed in it ; & shoud that unfortunately happen,
its consequences to the United States must be very alarming.
If we had rec'd the least support in Georgia, the Enem}%
woud never have got the footing in it they have nor woud
they have kept possession of it till this time, the people
of this State do not seem to possess that Spirit of Enter-
prise & Patriotism I expected, & of which they boasted,
had they been Active the Enemy woud have been drove
out of our Country or at least confind to the Town of Sav-
annah before this, which woud soon have reduced them to
such a situation as to have oblig'd them to have quitted
it or Perish their force of Regular Troops is not consider-
able between 3 & 4000 Men at the uttermost & of our Tories
(the New York Lievies) & what have joined them from
Florida the back parts of this state & of the Georgians,
between 2 & 3000 more, this is the very extent of their
force. If General Lincoln can once have as many regular
Troops under his Comm'd as they have, I have not the
least doubt he woud soon give a very good Account of
them shoud they flush'd with success determine to make
a Summers Campaign with us, & we are tolerably sup-
ported, so as to have it in our power to shut them up in
the Town, & Harrass them & keep them to hard Duty.
I dare say 'twill be the last they will make so far So'therly,
the Climate in the Months of July, August &: September
v/ill in all probability put an end to it with them, with a
Witness.

I have set my Negros to planting in this state about
15 miles from Cha's Town on Ashley River, where I am
with my Family, this I thought the best for the present,
for the Enemy will hardly leave Georgia or be drove out

130

of it, time enough to do any thing there this year, I left
12 or 13 of my best slaves in Georgia, some of w'ch I never
expect to see again, if I do any of them, besides w'ch I left
a Considerable property in goods household furniture, Cattle*
Hogs, Sheep &c not having time to get them off, however
I am in hopes it will be in my power (sooner or later) to
make it up when I get back, out of the property of some of
their loyal friends I find through hurry I left all my
lottery Ticketts behind me, & as some Villian or other may,
attempt by fraud to make a bad use of them I must beg the
favour of you to take such steps as may be necessary to
prevent it Mr. Wereat & myself Act for the Managers
in our state, so that nothing can happen this way, there is
70 of them in the whole that I was concernd in, all of the
first class, some of which I find drew twenty Dollar prizes,
w'ch with some others I have renewed in the second Class,
the Numbers are No. 98,141 a 98,150 and 99,442 a 99,501,-1
mentioned to you in my last that I shoud have no objection
to your sending a Vessel to Charles Town, while the Enemy
are in our Country. I am still of the same opinion &
believe it woud do very well. Flour sells @ 80 to i85 this
Money, equal to 50 a 52 Dollars, Barr Iron in great demand
& very high, as is every other Article, Cruisers have been
very thick on the Coast but the general Embargo has &
will be the means of their quitting it. Vessels Drop in
frequently particularly small ones ; I shoud be glad to hear
frequently from you & when a probability of a Speedy Con-
veyance to get a News Paper or two you may direct under
cover to any friend in Chas. Town, & I shall receive them
immediately. If I knew you were Shipping any thing here,
I believe I could Insure, I am w'th great regard.
Gentlemen,

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

131

Ashley River So. Carolina the 23d March 79.
Joseph Carlenton, Esq'r, Pay Master to the Board of War

& Ordnance
Sir:

I wrote you the 18th Dec'r last acknowledging the
Rec't of Your favour of the 14th Nov'r, also of the sum of
500,000 Dollars for the use of the Army since w'ch time
every thing has been in such State of Confusion & distress
from the Invasions & Progress of the Enemy that it has
not been in my power to forward my Accounts as usual
the principal part of my time since we were drove out of
the State having been employed in procuring a place to fix
my family & removing them to it. I expect to have them
all made up by the end of this Month, inclusive so as to
be ready to transmit them ^ Safe Conveyance. The
demand of the Military Chest have been so considerable
from the situation of Affairs, the very advanced price of
every Article that unless I very shortly receive a supply
I shall very soon be out of Cash I am now sending to head
Quarters ^ Order of the General 200,000 Dollars & I have
some Demand to Discharge which when satisfy'd will not
leave me in Cash exceeding 80 or 90,000 Dollars which will
very soon be expended. I must therefore request you will
lay this matter before the Board for their Information and
am Sir Your most Obed't Serv't,

Jos. Clay.

Ashley River So. Carolina the 3d April 1779.
Joseph Carleton Esq'r
Sir:

I wrote you some days ago advising you that I shoud
very soon be out of Cash, & requesting you woud lay the
same before the proper Board for their Information unfor-
tunately the Case is worse than I then expected & w'ch at

132

that time I was unaquainted with for on Examination I
find that I had little or no Money but of the Emissions of the
11th April 1778 & this Day paid away the whole of the
Money in my hands now in Circulation ; this happen'd by
an unavoidable Accident : owing to the Situation of Affairs
here the Money that was sent to me from the Board of War
before the last, was all of the Emission of the 11th of April
1778 this came as far as Cha's Town, So. Car'a where I then
happen'd to be just at the time that Prevost w'th the Flori-
dians &c made an irruption into the southerd parts of our
State for w'ch reasons I thought it best to lodge the greatest
part of it in Cha's Town Gen'l Howe also recommended
me to do so, a short time after arrived in Georgia 500,000
Dollars of the Emission of the 26th Sept, 1778, which of
course I paid away first in discharge of Drafts as they came
to hand, w'ch occasioned the Money that came before &
w'ch is now out of Circulation to be last on hand, that I
have near 400,000 Dollars by me of the 11th April last (and
no other) I presume I must lodge the whole of this with the
Commissioners of the loan office as directed by the Resolves
of Congress of the 2d Jan'y last publish'd in the Gazettes
of the several States. I must request you will lay this before
the proper Board for their Information. You will receive
all my Accounts in a few days & am w'th respect. Sir,

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

So Carolina 1st May 1779
John Gibson Esq'r Auditor General
Sir:

Inclosed is Account of sums paid by me as D. P. M, G.
for the State of Georgia from the 1st Dec'r to the 30th Ulto
Ball'e then Remaining in my hands the property of the
United States, as ^ Acc't Curr't, One hundred & Eiglit
Thousand Six hundred & Seventy two Pounds, eleven

133

Shill'gs 8>4 Geo'a Curr'y equal to 434,690 1-3 Dollars, the
situation of our state from the Progress of the Enemy in it
having oblig'd me with my Family to quit & take shelter
in this, (untill we can recover & get back into our own
again) has put it out of my power to transmitt my Accounts
so regularly or soon as I woud otherways have done.

I must beg you will inform the Treasury Board that I
am quite out of Circulating Cash, the whole of the Bills
now in my possession (a very small sum excepted) being of
the Emission of the 11th April, 1778, this arose from my
lodging in Charles Town the greatest part of the sum sent
to me in Oct'r last, Prevost from Florida being at the time
of its arrival here penetrating into Georgia, which induced
me for the sake of Security to leave it there, the conse-
quence of w'ch was that the sum sent last & w'ch came
direct to Georgia, was paid away first, & by that means the
Money that came before & w'ch was all Emitted under the
Resolves of Congress passed the 11th April, 1778 remained
to the last. I have already lodged 206,000 Dollars w'th the
Commissioners of loan ofhce for this State, & shall lodge the
Remainder in a Day or two. We are very much at a loss
for want of a pay list for the whole of the Military & Civil
Staff Officers, there has never been a Compleat one sent me,
I do not even know what is allowed to any Deputy I may
appoint under me. I shoud be very glad some mode was
pointed out by W'ch I may have my Acc'ts setled at Short
periods I must request the favour of you to lay my
Accounts & these several matters before the Treasury
Board, & am w'th respect,
Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

Jos. Clay.

134

Ashley River May 4th 1779.
Philotheos Chiffelle Esq'r
D'rSir:

On our arrival at Camp the last time we found such of
the Georgians as were there had met the day we reached
there & had adjourn'd till the 10th Inst., then to meet near
Augusta in consequence of w'ch we again return'd much
sooner than we expected. We propose setting off tomor-
row & tis very possible it will be a considerable time before
we come back as we are inform'd General Lincoln is in
Georgia. I had no Opportunity of Purchasing while 1 was
out or since Rice I understand might be purchas'd low
about Pocataligo but I was apprehensive the Risk in getting
it round from there was great. Mr. Telfair is come down
but he understood there was a probability of Indico rising
& of course declines selling, tho I find on inquiry the great-
est part of his is still up the Country. I am much oblig'd to
you for Liodging my Money & must again trouble you to
Lodge the Remainder, for which purpose I have herewith
Inclosed you Mr. Owens Receipt for 218,143 Dollars but
I must further trouble you to make a payment out of it to
Mr. Dorsius who has two old Warrants on me the one for
3177 2-3 & the other for 9553 1-5 Dollars making 12730 52-80
Dollars. I was in Town the other day on purpose to have
taken them up but Mr. Dorsius's Clerks were not to be
found & he could not get at the Orders however he has sent
me a Copy of the Accounts & Warrants & I have included
them as paid in some Accounts I have transmitted to Con-
gress in consequence of his agreeing to take this Money for
them though called out of Circulation as the Warrants were
of so Old a Date & had not been produced till very late, I
had many doubts about the paying of them however as my
Accounts were open not having ballanced them since I came
from Georgia till now I have included them as paid near the
time if their date, therefore I woud not have the Receipt
Dated as at this time nor is there a necessity for any Date a
Receipt for so much in full of the several Warr's is all that

135

is necessary least it might not occur to you at time of Paying
I have wrote a Rec't on one of the copies Mr. Dorsius sent
me in Order to remind you when you take them on the
Originals after these two sums are paid there will remain
205,412 Dollars & 8-60 to be lodged in the hands of the
Commissioners of the Loan Office unless there shoud have
been any Errors in the counting of it which may very possi-
bly have happend. We are Daily look out for you & Mrs,
Young as its near the time you talk'd of being this way if
any thing Interesting shoud happen during your absence I
shoud be very glad of a line I presume the late incursion
of the Enemy will greatly alarm poor Mrs. Dillon I have
not heard any particulars but from what I can learn the
Enemy meant to surprise that Post or draw Gen'l Lincoln's
attention from Georgia, perhaps both but am hopefull their
intentions will be defeated.
I am w'th regard

D'r Sir Your most Ob't Serv't

J. Clay.

Ashley River May 4th, 1779.
John Lewis Gervais Esq'r.
D'r Sir

Since I had the pleasure of seeing you I rec'd your
several favours of the 29th March & 9th Ulto the former
did not come to hand till I returned from Camp, so that
I had no Opportunity of applying to the Gen'l for a War-
rant for the Ama't of General Howes Receipt those you
gave me before, I apply'd to the General for, who very
readily directed that Warrants shoud be made out for
them, & on my Asking him for them two or three days
after he told me he had Ordered them to be sent you ^ an
Express (that came down if I am not Mistaken to you rela-
tive to Money) I go for the So'ward tomorrow & shall see
the General & will apply to him for a Warrant for the sum

136

you paid General Howe ^ his Receipt & will send it to
you or bring it down w'th me. I shall be glad to learn
the others came safe to hand & were made out as you woud
wish I discounted that all my Money was of Emissions
called out of Circulation the day I sett off for Camp & not
before, its very lucky you rec'd so timely a supply the
General recommended me to lodge it with the Commis-
sioners of the loan Office in consequence of which I was
in Charles Town two days for that purpose but the Com-
missioners were so throng'd with people bringing in sums
of the like Money that I coud not accomplish it, on w'ch
I apply'd to Mr. Owen to let me lodge the Remainder of
my Money in your Chest till I coud get it lodg'd with the
Commissioners, which he was good enough to do & Mr,
Chiffelle was so kind as to promise he woud take an Oppor-
tunity to lodge it with the Commissioners for me.

I am very glad you supply'd Col'l Marbury with the
Amount of the Generals Warrant on me, I am sure the
General will furnish a warrant for it as soon as its men-
tioned to him if its not already sent you if you will let
me know I will apply to him for you I have sent you 2 or
3 letters for the N'ward w'ch I will be much oblig'd to
you to forward ^ the safe Conveyances that may offer if
any thing Interesting shoud occur I will be oblig'd to you
for a line Camp further than the Operations of it is very
destitute of Intelligence I am w'th great regard

Ashley River 1st June 1779.
Major Rice
Dear Sir:

Since I saw you last I received a letter from the War
Office (Copy of which you have annexed) relative to a
Sum paid Capt. Hancock directing me to deduct the same
out of his Pay as I have no money at present the General
will of course draw on Mr. Gervais through you for what-

137

ever may be due him, you'll therefore make the proper
deduction as directed by Mr. Carletons letter I have been
& am very unwell still, or shou'd have been at Camp before
this. I am
Sir
Mr. Gervais

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

for the above mentioned Letter see the Original Dated the
15th Dec'r, 1778.

So. Carolina June 9th 1779.
No. 1

Joseph Carleton Esq'r, Pay Master to the Board of War

& Ordnance
Sir:

I rec'd your favour of the 10th Ulto & observe you
had applied to the Board of Treasury relative to the supply-
ing me with a further sum of Money for the purpose of
paying the Troops & defraying the Expences of the Mili-
tary Department, & their Answer thereto, & am much
oblig'd to you for the trouble you have taken therein, the
necessity & propriety of my application they must before
this be well convinced of, as my Letters wrote since the
Date of the one you acknowledge the Receipt of, must
have come to hand before this, by w'ch they will find that
I am intirely out of circulating Cash & have been so for
sometime past the Georgia Troops & Military depart-
ment are now supplied out of the Carolina Chest, which
will undoubtedly create confusion, particularly in the pay-
ing of the Troops, & this will daily increase, more
especially in future, as Numbers of the Inhabitants are
now Embodied in the state, and more are daily going in,
& Troops will probably March there immediately in Order

138

to attempt the driving the Enemy quite out of the State
while they are weak (their remain force being now in this)
of course large sums will be wanted for various purposes.
I rec'd your favour of the 15th Dec'r last only about
8 days, ago however it came in time to Answer the pur-
pose intended, Capt. Hancock had just settled his Account,
& Received a Ballance that was due him from Major Rice,
who Acted as Deputy both to me & Mr. Gervais, & to
whom I transmitted a Copy of your Letters & in conse-
quence of w'ch Mr. Rice immediately apply'd to Capt.
Hancock who he informs me very readily repaid the 500
Dollars w'ch are to the Credit of the United States in
Account with Mr, Gervais ^I hope ere this my Accounts to
the 30th April are come to hand, I inclosed them to a friend
of mine in Charles Town to forward, but do not know when
or by what conveyance he sent them, the situation of
Affairs from the Enemy being in our Country, has pre-
vented my being as regular in transmitting my Accounts
as I coud wish, I am with respect

Sir Your most Obed't Serv't

Jos. Clay.

So. Carolina June 9th 1779.
No. 2.

John Gibson Auditor General
Sir:

I rec'd your favour of the 10th Ulto relative to Money
rec'd by me from the State of Georgia on loan, directing
me to purchase with Continental Money as much Georgia
Currency as will repay the like sum to the State of Georgia,
I imagine the Board of Treasury at the time of Making
this order must not have had a retrospect to the whole
of my Accounts transmitted from time to time, the Receipt
of w'ch have been acknowledged, or they woud have found
that I had nothing like a sufficient sum of circulating Cash
in my hands to enable me to comply with their directions,

139

I have not my Books or papers now with me (having sent
them up the country for safety, least they shoud fall into
the Enemys hands as the chance of War is uncertain) so
that I cannot write with precision on the subject, but if I
recollect right I rec'd from the State of Georgia in Conti-
nental Currency on loan 25,000 Say 100,000 Dollars &
w'ch I expect will in a very short time be demanded of me
in like Money, as I gave a Receipt at the time of Receiving
it promising to repay it in like Money when in Cash, there
was very Considerable sums advanced by the State for.
the Use of the Army before I was appointed Pay Master,
& I believe you will find by my Accounts that I have
received considerably more than 400,000 Dollars in the
Curr'y of the State, so that it will be impossible for me
to comply with their directions till I receive a sufficient
supply of Money, there is no doubt I shall be able to pur-
chase the Georgia Currency much under the Value of
Continental Currency, but notwithstanding, to repay the
100,000 Dollars to supply the Daily wants of the Army,
& to purchase up the Georgia Currency will require a
large sum at present I am quite out, I have lodged with
the Commissioners of the loan Office between 420 and
430,000 Dollars of the Emission of the 11th April, but when
they will be in Cash to reimburse me seems uncertain, as
soon as I am enabled I shall endeavour to carry their
directions into Execution and am with respect
Sir Your most Obed't Serv't

Jos. Clay.

Head Quarters the 22d Sept'r 1779.
No. 3
Gentlemen r

I received yours of the 15th Instant advising me with
your having arrived a Cha's Town w'th 500,000 Dollars
& that you had lodged the same with Mr. Gervais the

140

wants of the Army make it necessary that the whole or
a part of it shoud be brought here immediately You'll
therefore proceed immediately with the whole or such a
part of it as Mr. Gervais may think proper, whatever you
may leave in his hands will be the same as if delivered to
me, & I will give you a Receipt Accordingly, there is no
risque in coming here that I know of at present ; however
prudence will dictate to you to come a long with Caution
& to make inquirys on the road I am Gentlemen

Your most Obed't Serv't
Messrs. Coleman & Jones, Joseph Clay.

Escorts.

Savannah 22d Sept'r 1779.
Head Quarters 2^^ Miles from
No. 4
John Lewis Gervais Esq'r
D'r Sir:

I rec'd a Letter from Mr. Palfrey advising me he had
sent 500,000 Dollars for the Use of my Department, and
by a Letter from the Escorts I received Yesterday I find
it is Arrived in Your Town & lodged in your hands for
me by the directions of Gen'l Moultrie who was of opinion
twas not adviseable to send it here immediately, the
Demands for the Army are so numerous & pressing, & the
sum so small in proportion to the wants, that I must
request the favour of you to direct the Escorts to proceed
with it here directly, to w'ch purpose I have wrote them,
if they woud proceed w'th half the sum & leave the other
with you, twoud be more convenient, & perhaps more pru-
dent, but how this can be managed I am at a loss Every-
thing is preparing for an Attack on the Town, the rainy
Weather has delayed us very much, they only begun this
Day to land the Cannon & Mortars, the Weather appears
now to be cleared up & I hope the Operations will go on

141

with Despatch the Town is invested Count D'Staing
Troops are posted from Brewtons Hill to the Ogeeche
Road, & Gen'l Lincoln Posted from the Ogeeche Road to
McGillivrays, the Enemy have sent us word they are
determined to defend the Town to the last Extremity,
had Maitland have been prevented from getting into the
Town (& w'ch was practicable) they woud have Capitulated
without firing a Gun, there was a few Shot fired last Even-
ing from Our Galleys at the Enemys Vessels near Salters
Island, w'ch was returned by them, two of the French
Vessels also hove in Sight at the same time, the Conse-
quences of which was that the Shipping that were there
made the best of their way up the River, & in the course of
the Night the whole of them, except two got to Town &
these I suppose will probably do the same the next Tide,
the Enemy have now no force on the River from Under
the Cover of their Guns in Town, Except three Galleys
w'ch still remain Opposite to Mr. Brewtons Plantation
near to what is call'd the 5 Fathom Hole, they have Burnt
the General Arnold Privateer & the Lord Geo'e Germaine,
I imagine they were aground & they did it to prevent their
falling into our hands I am w'th regard

D'r Sir Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

State of Georgia
Camp before Savannah the 27ith Sept'r 1779.
Wm. Palfrey Esq'r. No. 5
Sir:

I rec'd your several favours of the 17th June & 10th
Ulto the latter of the 23d Ins't & the former not till this
day under cover of yours of the lOtli Ulto I rec'd your
Instructions relative to my Department, as also an Account
of sums advanced to Officers for different purposes to both
of w^hich you may depend I shall pay the Strictest atten-

142

tion, among these advances is 146 60-90 Doll's paid to
Lieut's Campbell & Clendennin of the 3d N. Carolina
Regiment no part of w'ch Regiment are at present either
in this State or So. Carolina I have ever made it a con-
stant practice to have my Account Made up Monthly &
transmitted as often as Conveyances offerrd except in the
last Instance, u^hen twas not in my power the Invasion of
our Country by the Enemy oblig'd me to quit my Possess-
ion in this State & take Refuge with my family in So. Caro-
lina (Where they still remain) w'ch with the general Con-
fusion naturally arising under such Circumstances pre-
vented my being as regular as usual all my Accounts are
now in Mr. Gibsons Hands or with the Treasury Board a
reference to which & my several Letters transmitted with
them will inform you fully with the State of my depart-
ment.

The Escorts with the last 500,000 Dollars write me
from Cha's Town of that they had by Gen'l Moultries Order
lodged the same in the hands of Mr. Gervais for me, he
(Gen'l Moultrie) being of opinion twas not prudent to
risque the Money to Head Quarters at this juncture, the
fate of the present Expedition being in suspence however
the wants of the Army are so pressing & no Cash in hand
that by General Lincolns request & advise I have wrote
them to proceed here immediately w'th a part of the sum,
& to Guard aga't any Accidents as far as may be, to leave
the remainder w'th Mr. Gervais of whom I have requested
the favour to retain the same in his hands till further
Orders in yours of the 10th Ulto you mention you had
inclosed several resolves of Congress relative to my Depart-
ment w'ch I apprehend you must afterwards have forgot,
as there were no other papers but the above mentioned
inclos'd, under cover of yours 17th June I have those of
the 29th May for want of my being in Cash for some time
past Gen'l Lincoln has been obliged to draw on Mr. Ger-
vais for the sums necessary for the service of our State
of Course I have had no Accounts to transmit during that

143

Period the sum you have now sent will be inadequate to
our wants for any length of time, the very great depre-
ciation of Money makes large sums necessary for the
services of the Army, if you have not Money now on the
way for the Use of this Department over & above the sum
now sent I shall be out of Cash long before any will come
to hand w'ch will occasion great Distress, tis not in my
power to advise what sum may be necessary, for our
future wants & much less to Specify for what purposes
however, I shall advise w'th the Gen'l & take the Earliest
Opportunity of Informing you as near as I can with the
sum necessary for the use of my Department I shoud be
very glad to be furnished w'th a Compleat Pay list for the
Army. I have never yet been supplied with a proper one,
nor have I ever been able to know what is the Salary
allowed the D. P. M. G. I saw a Resolve of Congress lately
by which they Resolve that the D. P. M. G. Salary be
Augmented to 80 Dol's ^ Month if this is meant for the
So'thern Depa:rtment Congress must be very badly
informd of the Value of Money here, or look on the Office
of so little consequence that they do not care who executes
it it is not equal to the Wages given here for the labour
of a common Negro Porter two Years Salary will hardly
purchase a Good Horse a tolerable one now brings from
2 to 3000 Dollars each for my own part I shoud much
rather render them my Services for nothing that accept a
Salary so very inadequate I might add disreputable to the
Service You have doubtless been inform'd before this
with the Arrival of Count D Staing on our Coast w'th his
Fleet & a Number of land Troops, he has landed I believe
about 4000 Men w'ch with I suppose about 2000 or upwards
Americans we are now encamped before the Town of Sav-
annah and are so forward w'th our Approaches as to have
reason to expect we shall be able to carry the place in a
very few Days, the Enemy have in the Town according to
the best Accounts we can obtain between 17 & 1800 Reg-
ular Troops & about 1000 or 1200 New raised corps Torys

144

Seamen & Militia included, they have made two Sallies
in order to impede & destroy our Works but were repulsed
with little loss each time the French have Blocked up the
Port, in w'ch is 2-20 Gun Ships the Rose & Foy* the Vigi-
lant Mounting 20-18 or 24 Pounders some smaller Arm'd
Vessels 3 Galleys & near 80 Sail of Vessels of all sorts,
a Capture of all which if we succeed in (& of which I have
no doubt) will to use the Enemys own language conclude
the Campaign with Brilliant Success, our Militia are daily
increasing General Lincoln is very well and tho' under-
going great fatigue in line Spirits he desires his Com-
plem'ts to you I hope my next will Congratulate you on
the Successful conclusion of this Business, and am w'th
respect

Sir Your most O'bed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

Camp before Savannah

the 28th Septemb'r 1779
John Lewis Gervais Esq'r,
D'rSir:

Your favour of the 14th Ins't came to hand
only yesterday owing to its going round by way of
Augusta I observe you have been under great difficulties
in regard to Money, & the prospect you had of Borrowing
a further sum of the Commissioners loan Offices I have
wrote Mrs. Clay ^ this Conveyance & requested her to
send you ^ the first safe Opportunity the Commissioners
Certificates for the sums paid by me into their Hands, I
do not recollect the exact sum they are for there are three
of them Amounting in the whole to upwards of 400,000
Dollars. If they can be of any service you are welcome
to them I presume your delivering them up the Certificates

Powey.

145

with your Receipt on them will be sufficient, if not what-
ever further may be needfull I will at any time do, one of
them was intended to have been paid to Mr. Dorsius in
full of two Drafts of Gen'l Howes in his favour, I have
carried it twice to Town for that purpose but coud not
effect it ; the last time he was out of Town, & the other
he coud not come at the Drafts, however as I shall have
Cash in hand I shall make a reserve of as much as will take
it up Mr, Palfreys Letter takes no Notice in any of his
Letters of the matter you mentiond to me a Letter from
a Friend at Philadelphia informs me by mention of Col'l
Laurens some alterations in the D, P, M, G. Department
had taken place, but no more, I wrote you some Days ago
relative to the last Money arrived at your Town for me,
&. which was Stopped in your hands requesting the favour
of you to forward a part to me & keep the remainder in
your possession Very little of importance has occurrd
since I wrote you last the Enemy made an Attempt that
Day on the French lines & a very vigorous contest ensued
the French drove the English into their lines w'th consider-
able loss, but the French in their Return to their own lines
sufTerrd near as much from Grape Shott fired from the
Enemies Redoubts, they the British made a second Attempt
last Night but were repulsed with little loss on our side,
what was theirs we are not acquainted Our Approaches
go on very fast, a few days I hope will Compleat the Busi-
ness, but amidst all our hoped for Success, this Country
exhibits a scene of the greatest Distress from the repacity
& I may say Barbarity of her Professed friends & Citizens,
but in reallity greatest Enemies those Who inhabit our Sea
Coasts Friend or Foes I may say without any Exception
have been plundered of every kind of Property in some
instances even the Cloaths on their backs this has been por-
petrated principally by People who came around in Boats
& small Vessels from your State Surely they will not
be Sufiferrd to libel any Property brought away in that
manner, the French Seamen & Soldiers, led by the Example

146

of our own People have, I believe in some places contrib-
uted their Share, tho its contrary to the Express Orders
of their Commander, as also of General Lincoln, the interior
parts of our Country have been equally Distressed, property
of every kind has been taken from its Inhabitants, their
Negros, Horses & Cattle drove & carried away principally
into your State, a Conduct so disgracefull to humanity, &
Civil Society, I make no doubt will meet w'th the utmost
Discouragement from your Government, & that it will also
afford every Assistance to the Unhappy SufTerrers to
enable them to Recover their Property, & bring to punish-
ment & public Shame the Actors of such Barbarity, among
the many Plunderers, one Snipes is mentioned, who tis
said Commands a Party from your State, this Man, to his
Eternal Shame, if what is reported of him is true I am
told Possesses an Affluent Fortune In every View this is
Robbery if taken from the Friends of this State the Height
of Cruelty, and if from the Enemies, they rob the State
because the Property of such can only be forfeited to the
State not to any individual ^I hope my next will Con-
gratulate you on the Reduction of Savannah, And am w'th
best respects to Mrs. Gervais, D'r Sir,

Yours &c

Joseph Clay.

Camp before Savannah Oct'r 1st 1779.
John Lewis Gervais Esq'r.
D'r Sir:

Since I wrote you last I have rec'd a Letter from Mr.
Carleton P. M. to the board of War & Ordnance acquaint-
ing me that he had sent me 500,000 Dollars for the Use of
the State of Geo'a & at same time inclosed me a Resolve
of Congress by which it appears the Money is intended
for the State of Georgia under certain restructures of w'ch
Gen'l Lincoln & myself are to be in some measure the

147

Judges And as under our present Circumstances it woud
be improper to have the Money here the General desired
I woud Endeavour to get it lodged in the Caro'a Treasury
for a short time or at least untill the Reduction of Savan-
nah shall be Compleated w'ch lays me under the necessity
of again troubling you to request that you woud be kind
enough to get the Governors leave to lodge the same in
the Treasury of your State untill I can send for it into
this w'th Safety w'ch I hope will not be long before that
will be the Case We have nothing New since my last I
expect our Batterys will be ready to open in 48 hours at
farthest Our Galleys are Endeavouring to get round the
Island before the Town the Enemy attempt to impede our
Works by Shott & Shells but without effect insomuch that
we now work on them both Day & Night I hope you will
excuse the great trouble I give you & believe me to be
w'th regard

D'r Sir, Yours &c

Joseph Clay.

P. S. Mr, Drayton I presume can Inform where

the Escorts are

Catnp before Savannah Oct'r 4th 1779.
No. 6
Joseph Carleton Esq'r.
Sir:

Your favour of the 1st Ulto came safe to hand inclos-
ing a Resolution of Congress of the 30th Aug't last relative
to the sum of 500,000 Dollars Voted by Congress for the
use of the State of Georgia, w'ch sum is come safe to hand
& has been received by my Friend Mr. Gervais in Cha's
Town, who I have by the advise of General Lincoln desired
to retain the same there till the Reduction of Savannah is

148

Compleated, w'ch I hope will be effected in a very few
Days, and am w'th respect
Sir

Yours &c

Joseph Clay.

P. S. the Escorts have rec'd 3040 Dollars to bear their
Expences back again as ^ Receipts transmitted you, w'ch
you'll please notice Mr. Gervais will also transmitt you a
Rec't for 500,000 Dollars.

Camp before Savannah

5th Oct'r 1779.
Wm. Palfrey Esq'r.
Sir:

Since I wrote you last I rec'd your favour of the 24th
Aug't covering Resolves of Congress relative to the Addi-
tional Subsistance Money to the Officers & Soldiers, w'ch
have been notify'd to the Reg't Pay Master I have given
the Escorts receipts for the 500,000 Dollars w'ch I presume
they will produce to you, they apply'd to me for a sum to
defray their Expences back again but I referrd them to
Col'l Drayton Q M. Gen'l in So. Caro'a to whom Gen'l
Lincoln wrote on the Subject in Consequence of his (Col'l
Drayton) writing him relative to a Horse one of the Escorts
rode w'ch was Claimed in Cha's Town We shall very soon
be out of Money, the Gen'l has already drawn on me for
near 400,000 Dollars, not one farthing of which is for Pay
to the Army, so that unless you have Money on the way
we shall very soon be in a Distressed Situation.

Our Batteries were opened Yesterday w'th what effect
we are not able to Judge, their firing on us has been very
inconsiderable, a few Days I am hopefull will put us in
Possession of Town the Count D'Staing we are informd
took a Frigate & Two Transports (I believe w'th Stores)

149

the Day before Yesterday I have not learnt the Vessels
Name I am w'th respect,

Sir, Yours &c

Joseph Clay.

P. S. I forgot to notice that Coleman has received
from Mr. Gervais (who paid it for me) two hundred
Dollars.

Camp before Savannah

October 5th, 1779.
Jno, Lewis Gervais, Esq'r.
D'r Sir:

Since my last I have rec'd your favour of the 27th
Ulto ^ Messrs. Coleman & Brown of whom I have
rec'd 500,000 Dollars, & a Copy of Escorts receipts who
brought the Money from Mr. Carleton for Three Thousand
& forty Dollars making together 500,000 Dollars I observe
in the Copy of the Receipt you sent me it says only 340
Dollars this I presume is a Mistake the word hund'd being
inserted instead of thousand Your sending the whole sum
instead of the half has proved fortunate Mr. Livingstone
has as you noticed a Draft on me for 200,000 Dollars w'ch
he presented for Payment as soon as the Money arrived
here, so that I have but little more on hand than I at first
Expected, as I have already wrote you relative to the other
shall not add I hope Mrs. Clay has been able to furnish
you w'th the Certificates of the Commissioners of the loan
Office as I acquainted her were to find them, inclosed is a
Receipts for the 500,000 Dollars sent by Mr. Carleton with
which you may take up yours if the Escorts has not left
your Town The Gen'l has this minute acquainted me he
has Drawn a Draft on me for a Considerable sum in favour
of Mr. Drayton w'ch he wish'd to have paid him in Cha's
Town w'ch I promised him I woud beg the favour of you

150

to do for me, I will be oblig'd to you to pay it to him out
of the Money sent by Mr. Carleton Our Batterries were
open'd yesterday Morning with what effect we are not able
to Judge the Enemys fire has been very Weak so much
so, that it cannot be imputed to any thing but a want of
Powder or Shott the Express waits while I write this
therefore can only add that I am w'th great regard,
D'r Sir Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

Ashley River 17th October 1778.*
D'r Sir:

On my reaching Purisbourgh I found (as I before sus-
pected) that Isaac Lagardere had proceeded on w'th my
Negros &c and the Public Money w'ch laid me under the
Necessity of following him immediately I reached here
late last Evening & have been this day making out sundry
papers necessary for your guidance in Executing the Office
of Deputy Pay Master at least so far as will be sufficient
till I see you again, or you can write as you may find
occasion or be in want of further information the follow-
ing are what you will receive herewith Viz

a list of the Pay of the Army agreeable to the latest
Establishment so far as they have came to my hands.

The last Resolves of Congress Allowing a further sum
for Subsistance to Officers & Soldiers passed 18th & 19th
August last.

a list of advances to sundry Officers & Men w'ch must
be Discounted out of their Pay as Opportunitys offer.

a Paper containing a few Instructions for your Direc-
tion in Executing the Office w'ch I must desire you will
attend to as nearly as in your Power You'l observe as
Person but the Commander in Chief of the Department
(Gen'l Lincoln) has any Authority to draw on you nor

1779 (?)

151

must you on any pretence pay any Money to the Order of
any other person the Pay Rolls must be made out fair
by the Regimental Pay Masters every Month as well as
the Abstracts the former must be Signed by the Captain or
Commanding Officer of each Company the latter by the
Col'l or Commanding Officer of the Regiment & by the
Gen 1 or commanding Officer of the Brigade after these
requisites are comply'd with you are to Examine them by
Comparing them with the pay Lists (& Muster Rolls when
you are furnished with them by the Muster Master) to
see that the pay is charg'd agreable to the Estabishment
by Congress to observe that the Officers do not exceed the
Number allowed by said Establishment & to take Care
that the sums are right Cast after which & your certifying
the same they are again to be Examined & Certify'd by the
Auditor which being done the General will give his War-
rant on you for the Amount w'ch you will pay this I believe
is nearly the Channel in regard to the Payment of the
Troops will go through all other matters will be by War-
rant only You will take care to transmit me monthly an
Account of all the sums you pay Specifying particularly
for what purpose they have been paid the Date of the
Warrants ordering the Payment & if for Pay of the Troops
the time for which it was paid & to whom I have here-
with sent you one hundred & Seventy one thousand Dol-
lars for which you will send me ^ the Bearer three
Receipts of the same tenor & Date to serve as one the
Generals Warrants will be your Vouchers for the Expendi-
ture & which I shall take up from time to time as may be
Convenient by giving you my Receipt for the Amount of
them which will be against those you give me.

Capt. Watts of Blands Horse gave me his Pay Rolls
for their Regiment made up to the 1st Instant, I have not
had time to Examine them properly I just run them over
in haste and have made some remarks on the back of the
Instructions in any matters of difficulty you must apply
to the General or Auditor tho the Resolves of Congress

152

must be our surest guide when a Regiment, Company, or
Detachment March from one State to the other they shoud
take with them from the P. M. General of the State they
come from a Certificate certifying the time they were paid
up to in the State they came from I presume Col'l Tem-
pleton or his Pay Master has one to that purpose as they
appear to be tolerably regular & exact in their Pay Rolls
the Abstract is not yet compleated I presume waiting till
the Rolls were Examined as an Error in one will make an
Error in the other Col'l Doolly also gave me his pay Rolls
made up for different Periods I promised him to examine
them but time wond not permit without detaining the
Money longer from you than woud be proper indeed I am
quite at a loss in regard to them that is in what manner
the service shoud be certify'd I think the Executive body
of the State ought to Certify the Services done during their
xistance the General I presume will direct on that head
Pray write me the State of matters at Camp if the Siege is
continued or a Blockade formed I will be with you in a
few days if any thing important is like to take place you
may detain the Bearer a Day or two inclosed is a Letter
for General Lincoln give my Compliments to General
Mcintosh. I am w'th regard
D'r Sir
Major Handley. Your most Obed't Serv't,

Joseph Clay.

P. S. You will take the Receipt for the Money paid on
Warrants &c in my Name as they will be drawn on me.

Ashley River Oct'r 18th 1779.
Major Gen'l Lincoln
Sir:

I mentioned to you before I left Camp that I had sent
the Public Money over the River & that I was apprehensive
the Person I intrusted it to had come on with it w'ch I

153

found to be the Case, this laid me under the necessity of
Proceeding here after it; before I came away I engaged
Capt. Geo'e Handley of the 1st Geo'a Battallion & one of
Gen'l Mclntoshs Aids to Act as my Deputy during my
absence, which I hope will meet with your approbation
to enable him to perform this Duty I have sent him proper
Instructions Conformable to those I have received from
time to time for my own Guidance I have also sent him
171,000 Dollars to enable him to Discharge your Warrants
so far as it will go, this leaves in my Hands less than 29,000
Dollars of the sum that came last, exclusive of the Draft
in favour of Col'l Drayton, w'ch was paid out of the Money
that came for the use of the State of Georgia, & there are
several Small Warrants unpaid that will nearly absorb the
Remainder of the Money in my hands Col'l Doolly deliv-
ered me before I left camp Pay Rolls for his Regiment
Certify'd by himself for Pay due his Officers & Men, him-
self included, for services Performd from the 1st of March
to the 1st Instant Amounting in the whole to upwards of
30,000 Dollars as this is out of the Common Road I am at
a loss how to Act, they are all charged agreable to the rate
of Pay allowed by Congress, but as to the times of service
the Men were actually on Duty (for during that time only
I apprehend they are entitled to Pay) how that is to be
check'd I know not, as there was no Brigadier or Execu-
tive Body in the State during part of the time which will
I apprehend lay us under the necessity of closing them in
the best manner we can the Number of Men included in
them is upwards of 400, & above 25 Officers Capt. Handley
has the Rolls & will shew them to you.
I am with great respect,

Sir Yours &c

Joseph Clay.

154

Charles Town 2d Nov'r 1779.
Mr. Christopher Pechin
D'r Sir:

I have received none of your favours since my last to
you which has rather surprised me & led me to fear least you
have been unwell Our hopes have been lately very much
raised with the Expectation of being able w'th the Assist-
ance of the Count D'Staing to have drove the Enemy
intirely out of Georgia, but tho' in Conjunction w'th our
Allies the French we were strong enough to have effected
it, yet Principally for want of time we failed ; an Attempt
was made to carry the Town by Storm, w'ch did not Suc-
ceed, & time & Circumstances not admitting the Count to
Stay long enough on our Coast to compleat the Reduction
of the Place by a regular Siege we were oblig'd to desist
for the present ; however as we are Daily in expectation of
a Body of Troops from N. Carolina & Virginia we hope
when they arrive to be able to Act on the Offensive again
unless the Enemy shoud be reinforced before that time
these States complain very much & w'th great reason how
much they have been neglected by the N'thern & Eastern
States for though it is well known how weak they are yet
about 300 Horse & Foot from Virginia is all the Assistance
of regular Troops we have ever received, & as to Naval
Force, tho we have been in the greatest need (& we observe
to the Estward) they are forever Cruising & Daily sending
in Prizes) we have never had even a single Vessel to look
into our Ports the Enemy were before we drove them all
into Savannah Principally at Beaufort in this State & at
Savannah in Georgia they had a Small Post at Sunburry
& another at Ebenezer & Acted only on the Defensive but
if they get reinforced there is no doubt they will soon com-
mence Offensive Opperations, repossess themselves of their
former Posts & if possible possess themselves of this Town;
a small Force I believe wont do it its now Strong & they
are Daily adding to its Works I have received one or two
Letters Lately from Polly Bridges complaining much of

155

her Situation, & pressing me to inform her of her Affairs,
desiring to know if her Estate is sold & the Money at
Interest or if Rented w'ch surprised me much I have been
so much about this last 10 Months & taken up with other
Matters that I have hardly once looked into my Books
there is a Ball'e due the Estate I believe of near 80 or
thereabouts and that is all Mr. Farley never paid me a
farthing more than the Tobacco I sent you -The House
Capt. Bridges never paid for & Mr. Butler of whom it was
Bought Sued for the purchase Money levied on the house
& sold it to pay himself I have not my Books in Town or
I woud send you an exact State of the Account, but I will
do it very shortly, the mean while you may advance for me
on Account of Moneys in my hands due said Estate 200
Continental Dollars & as soon as I have ascertaind the
Ball'e she may have the remainder I have wrote her by
this Opportunity my Family are at present about 15
Miles out of Town, but I am about taking a House for them
in Town I now Act as Pay Master General for this State
as well as Georgia which requires my being here so much
that I am under the necessity of doing it Every thing is
very dear Flour 90 Dollars & very scarce Barr Iron & Ship
Bread also very high & in Short, every other Article the
same ^the Produce of this Country is in Proportion Rice 31
Dollars ^ 100ft) Indico 6@7 Dollars ^ ft) Sole Leather not
to be had the Risque on our Coast is not near so great as
it was & if the French & Spaniards keep a Superiority at
Sea & the latter Attack the Florida's as is hourly expected
it will Still be less if you see an opening to Adventure here

1 believe when Produce woud not Answer to Ship I coud
procure good Bills Dry goods are in General from 25 to
40 for one the Sterling Cost, many Articles much more,
Osnabrigs from 7 to 8 Dollars ^ Yd Irish Linnen in the
same proportion, Rum from 20 to 30 Dollars, Coffee l-}4 to

2 Dollars ^ tb Brown Sugar about the same Price as I
shall now I hope soon be a little setled (if the Enemy dont
send a considerable reinforcements this Winter w'ch we

156

are much afraid of) I shoud be very glad to receive our
Accounts & a News Paper now & then I have a Brother
from Europe this last summer who has setled at Williams-
burgh in Virginia & has been tolerably Successfull, if you
shoud have any Commands there you may be assured of his
Punctuality he is well acquainted w'th Business being
Brought up in an English & Dutch House I shall be very
glad to hear from you & am w'th regard, D'r Sir,

Yours &c

Joseph Clay.

Charles Town November 2d 1779.
Mr. James Clay
Dear Brother:

I received yours of the 6th August, w'ch I shoud have
notic'd before this but have been principally travelling, or
in Camp, from whence I had no Opportunity of Conveying
a line to you I am very glad you are likely to Succeed
so well the present times are very hazardous but were
Success is obtained in a tolerable degree great Profits is
commonly the Consequence the principal care you must
have is to Guard against a Depreciating Currency other-
ways you may be deceived, what may appear a great Profit
to Day may from the Depreciation of Money in a very
short Period Sink into nothing; Nay sink both Capital &
Profits too ; I wish you had receiv'd my other Letter in
that I gave you my opinion on this Subject at large at any
Rate you must keep your Money Circulating I did Busi-
ness sometime in 1777 for a Gentleman of Virginia Mr.
John Burnley, who left a Ballance in my hands of I think
about 520, Georgia Currency (reckoning Dollars at 5s
Each) equal to 2080 Dollars which he desired me to lay
out for him in Lands & to inform a Brother of his who
resides in Virginia what I did in the matter, & gave me
his Name & place of Residence, w'ch unfortunately through

157

the confusion of the times & moving about I have lost or
shoud have wrote him before this I think his Name was
Charles Burnley but am not certain but I dare say on
inquiry you may find him out, inclosed is a line for him
the Substance of w'ch you may Copy that in Case the Letter
shoud miscarry & you at any time hereafter shoud see or
hear of the Gentleman, You may be able to give him the
necessary information I am but very lately returned
from Camp before Savannah, which we had every reason
to expect that we shoud in Conjunction with our Allies
the French, have reduced. We made an attempt to carry
the Town by Storm in which we failed & the Count
De Staing not being able to stay ou our Coast w'th his
fleet long enough to carry it by a regular Siege, & we not
having a sufficient Force of our own to carry it on without
his Assistance were oblig'd to give the matter up We
have been much disappointed in the not Arriving of Gen'l
Scots Brigade from your State whom we have been
expecting for some Months past; there not being here in
time may Prove of the most fatal Consequences to these
two States (So, Car'a & Geo'a) in particular, & the con-
tinent in General; had they have been here at this juncture
we coud at least converted the Siege of Savannah into a
Blockade instead of retiring from it the whole Force of
the Enemy in both States had retired into the Town for
Shelter, they did not hold a foot of Land besides, the con-
sequence of w'ch woud have been, they must either have
came out & fought us under every disadvantage, or have
Capitulated The reverse may be that they get Strongly
reinforced from the Northward, penetrate into & Perhaps
reduce one or more of these States for they are but Weak,
& thereby Encourage the Enemy to go on with the War
which in all probability without some Success to Buoy
them up they woud give up the ensuing Winter. I have
not had a line from my Brother Ralph for a very long time
past, nor did I ever learn any thing relative to our Fathers
Death, not even when he did Die I learnt he was Dead &

158

that was all ; I presume the very precarious conveyances
has prevented Letters getting to hand indeed I have from
that Consideration but very rarely wrote since the War
began all the Letters you mention came safe to hand the
one to Mr. Ewen (who is dead) also, the Estate it referred
to is in possession of the Enemy at present, so that nothing
can be done in it; when they are drove out I will obtain
the necessary information. I know the Circumstances of
it in a General way Mr. Beale never came this way it was
Jno. Habersham's Name you must have seen among the
Names of the Prisoners he was a Major in the first Geo'a
Continentai Battallion, & was taken at the time the Enemy
Possessed themselves of Savannah he is Still a Prisoner,
but we expect him to be Exchang'd in a few days his
Brothers are both well Mrs. Joseph Habersham his Wife
& Daughter are now at my house on a Visit he resides at
present about 100 Miles up the Country, tho' both him &
myself have been the Principal part of last Summer in the
upper parts of Georgia I am now about taking a House for
my Family in this Town I at present Act as Pay Master
General for the Army for both these States (So. Car'a &
Geo'a) which will require me to be so much here that with
some other Circumstances induces me to this Step I have
done very little Business since the present War began, the
mode of carrying it on was repugnant to my principles &
what I deemed (& Experience has since proved) to be the
Interest of our Country that I never coud enter into it with
any Spirit I held a part in a Number of Adventures which
turned out but indiflferrent owing to Captures, I did a very
little better than save myself however as I shall have a
good deal of Leisure on my hands I intend to turn myself
that way in future, indeed the great Depreciation of Money
will lay me under the necessity of doing it in my own
defence 'Charles Town is a Place well adopted for it on
every Account, I believe there has been more Business done
here than in any Port on the Continent, Boston excepted,
since the present Contest began I shall have some advan-

159

tage tho' I have fix'd no plan nor Indeed do I intend to
pursue any in particular, but to Act just as Circumstances
may admit, indeed the times will not allow of any fix'd
Plan I am not fond of being- concerned in Shipping unless
it was very fast Sailing small Vessels, or well Armed large
ones, I do not know whether we could do any thing between
here & Virginia I shoud be glad of we could I am not
acquainted with the Prices w'th you so that I cannot Judge,
have you any Insurance Office, a small Vessel inland may
go tolerably safe, Vessels for Sale are exceedingly Scarce
& very dear here. Perhaps we might contrive Voyages
round by the W. Indies, the French Fleet have lately
scoured our Coast indeed they have not yet left it, a Frigate
& two 20 Gun Ships are now in this Port they will sail the
first fair Wind but we expect 3 Frigates from the N'ward
which will be a Security to the Trade, however we also
expect the Enemy will if they can get reinforcements here
give us some Employ this Winter, herewith you will receive
the Prices of many Articles here but they are so fluctuating
that but little Judgement can be formed from them Mrs.
Clay Presents her love from your Aflfectionate Brother
and Friend

Joseph Clay.

Head Quarters Cha's Town

November 2d 1779
No. 8
Sir

We have considered your Letter of the 27th Ult'o to
Mr. Clay relative to the Money granted by Congress for
the Use of the State of Georgia, & are very sorry that
agreable to their Vote granting the same, it is not in our
Power to comply with your request You'll please notice
by the Resolve of Congress they direct "the 500,000 Dol-
"lars which by a Resolution of the 24th Instant That the

160

"five hundred thousand Dollars which by a resolution of
"the 24th Ins't were ordered to be transmitted for the Use
"of the State of Georgia to the Executive Authority thereof
"be sent to Joseph Clay Esq'r Paymaster to the department
"of So. Carolina & Georgia, and that he be directed to
"Pay the same to the Orders of the Governor & Executive
"Council of the Said State of Georgia established agreable
"to the Constitution of the Said State, or in case no such
"establishment Shall have been made, to be otherwise dis-
"posed of as the said J. Clay Esq'r with the advice of Major
"General Lincoln or the Commander of the Services in that
"Department for the time being Shall judge most con-
"ducive to the Service and welfare of the Said State of
"Georgia."

You'll observe Congress are extremely pointed in the
manner of appropriating of this Money, though the present
Executive Authority Established in your State may be the
best, or the only one, that under the present Circumstances
can be Establish'd, yet we dare say Sir, You will concur
wit'h us in opinion when we Say it has not the requi-
sites required by Congress in the first Instance not being
Established agreable to the Constitution of your State to
have brought your Application within the meaning of the
latter part of the Resolve, we are of opinion it shoud have
set forth the particular purpose for which it is wanted in
Order that we might be able to Judge whether the apply-
ing it to that purpose, woud be most Conducive to the
Service & Welfare of your State in which Case only have
we a right to grant. We are w'th respect

Sir Your most O'bed't Serv'ts
Joseph Clay

The Hon'ble John Wereat Esq'r

Benj'n Lincoln

ii

Cha's Town 2d November 1779
No. 9
Will'm Palfrey Esq'r
Sir

I embrace the present opportunity to Urge the neces-
sity of my being supply'd as soon as possible with Money,
the sum you sent last is expended, & we have been under
the necessity of Borrowing as much more to answer the
present exigencies to which is also nearly paid away in a
very few da3'-s I do not expect to have a farthing in hand,
the Quarter Master Commissary & Clothiers Generals &
indeed every other Department is supplied out of the Mili-
tary Chest, these Departments are not furnished with
Money, by their different heads of Course the General
is Compelled to draw on me to enable them to support
their Departments, tis impossible for me to conduct my
Ofllice properly without being regularly Supplied with
Money Accounts become long Standing, Pay Rolls are
extended to many Months, instead of Monthly, Complaints
murmurings & every other disagreable Circumstance nat-
urrally attending such a Situation takes place I shall be
much obliged to you to send me the several Resolves of
Congress relative to my office I am greatly at a loss for
want of them I am now making up my Accounts for last
Month which shall transmit ^ next safe Convey'e & shall
then write you fully nothing but the pressing necessity for
Money induced me to trouble you with this
I am with great respect

Sir Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Qay.

'Savannah 23d April 1783.
Dear Sir

The unfortunate difference which has Subsisted
between Great Britian & America for some years, put a

162

Stop to a correspondence and intercourse which had sub-
sisted between your Father & myself, and between him
& myself & Mr. Joseph Habersham under the firm of
Joseph Clay & Co. & which the present flattering pros-
pect of a permanent peace aiifords an Opportunity of
renewing; during the course of our business we became
indebted to your Father in a very considerable sum, for
Negro's sold on his Acco't, & for Goods ship'd us by him,
which Ballance we shoud have discharged Years ago had
not G. Britain plung'd us forcibly into a War with her how
soon we shall now be able to discharge it, 'tis not in our
power to say, I can only assure you nothing on our part
shall be wanting, but this will not rely on ourselves alone,
it must depend in a great measure on many others who are
largely indebted to us, and who in General have been very
great sufferrers by the War however I am hopefull 'twill
not be long before we may begin to lessen our Debt, tho' I
must own my prospects are not very sanguine at present,
the very heavy expences every one will be at this Year
in repairing old buildings, building new ones, where the
old have been burnt or destroyed, and setling their planta-
tion a new (for by far the larger part of the planters quit
this State w'hen the British Troops came into it) I say
these Circumstances will put it out of their power to do
much towards the discharging of their debts untill the
Crop after the Coming one, & of course but little will be
in our power before that time aware of what might & has
taken place (being drove from our Country for a time) in
March 1778, I pressed your Brother in Law Mr. Ralp
Izard to put us in some way that we might be discharging
the Ballance due your fathers Estate, pointed out to him
what mig'ht be our probable future situation, & how much
it was the Interest of the Estate, to enable us to discharge
our debt by every possible means, proposed to remit the
Money to Carolina, to invest it in Land, or do any thing
else in our power that he cou'd propose, since we got
peccable possession of our Country I have been at him on

163

the same score, proposing to dispose of Lands to him to be
discounted in part of our debt this Country is setling again
with great rapidity and the fertility of the Soil, the many
natural advantages it possesses, will introduce so extensive
a trade as must make Lands valuable if you choose to
invest a sum in this way I coud accommodate you with
two or three Tracts, perhaps more, which woud be doing
you no injury, & putting it in our power to discharge our
debt the sooner Mr. Habersham has not yet returned to
this Country I expect him Daily with his Family. I am
sure twill be his wish to do every thing in his power to dis-
charge our debt as soon as possible I do not know whether
you are concerned or propose to be concerned in a com-
mercial line, if you or any of your friends are, I shou'd
be very happy to execute your or their Commands, Mer-
cantile business has been the employ of my life, & every
kind of business that has heretofore or can be carried on
in this Country I have a thorough knowledge of, which I
mean to avail myself of by every exertion in my power, in
Order to make up for loss time & discharge as quick as
possible all my former Contracts, any services in my power
you may freely command twill afford me pleasure to be
able to render them I am not sure whether I have a State
of our Accounts, if I have, they are with my Books &
papers that I sent to the N'ward for safety while this Coun-
try was the Seat of War, from whence I have not yet
received them I expect them with Mr. Habersham shoud
they not be with them I must trouble you for a Copy of
them I have only to add that I am with respect

DV Sir Your most Obed't
Hon'ble Serv't
Mr. Benjamin Stead J. Clay

London

164

Savannah the 17th Jany 1783

Dear Sir,

I received yours of Yesterdays date informing me that
my resignation as D. P. M. G. to the Southern Army was
accepted in all matters, but the Settlement of my Accounts,
8z that I am desired by the Hon're Robert Morris Esq'r to
repair to Phil'a as soon as possible to bring them to an
Early close, as they cannot be brought to a Settlement
in any other way I have ever been desirous of having my
Accounts setled & have very often complained that no mode
was established by which they might be frequently by Audi-
tor and setled, it has been my constant request for Years
past, as reference to my Letters to the Pay Master General,
Treasury Board, &c will testify, several Months ago Mr.
Pierce wrote me in Answer to one of mine on the Subject
that the Financier had assured him that an Auditor wou'd
very shortly be appointed, for the purpose of setling the
Acco'ts of what he termed the great Departments in the
Southern States with this I rested satisfyed all my
Accounts except those relative to the business, I transacted
when last in No. Car'a & a very few other matters of little
consequence have been transmitted to the Pay Office from
the time I entered in the Office to the Period I just men-
tioned & those since that Period I slioud likewise have
transmitted had not Mr. Pierce have given me reason to
suppose I shou'd soon have it in my Power to setle them
here & of course the transmitting them to Philada wou'd
be needless No one can be more desirous to have their
Acco'ts setled, than I am ^but to be under the necessity
of going to Phil'a for that purpose is a request I can by
no means think reasonable, even if my Expences were
allowed, if when I accepted the appointment I had been
inform'd that 'twou'd be expected that I went to Phil'a
to setle my Accounts, I might have chose whether I wou'd
have taken it, or not, & if under this information I had
accepted it I shou'd not at this time have had any right
to have com'plained of such a requisition as a hardship

165

but so far from it, nothing of the kind was ever hinted, if it
had I shou'd most certainly have declined the Appoint-
ment at present w^ere my inclinations to go to Phil'a ever
so great, I cou'd not accomplish it, the want of Money
alone wou'd be a sufficient Bar, nor in my opinion, can it
with any degree of Justice be expected that the Public
Officers of the United States who reside at so great a distance
from Phil'a as they who live in this part of the Continent
do can be expected under any circumstances to undertake
so long a Journey untill ample Provision is made for them,
both to defray their necessary expences in going there, as
well as a recompence for their trouble & loss of time in so
doing I may not be a competent Judge, but in my opinion,
substantial Justice to the United States may as effectually
be obtained by an Appointment of special Auditors in
these States as by the respective Officers going to Phil'a
& at a far less expence, & much more to the convenience
of the several Officers, many of whom have a right to be
considered in this respect as tis well known their Offices
have not been lucrative ones, & therefore they ought not to
be subjected to any unnecessary hardships on Account of
having Executed them ^I can't help beleiving that when
Mr. Morris comes to reconsider this matter he will see the
hardship this requisition will lay Public Officers under who
reside at so great a distance from Congress, in so strong
a light, as to induce him to appoint proper Auditor to setle
w'th the several Officers in the respective States they
received their Appointments, and I am sure Sir You must
see this matter in such a View, that I need not Say any
thing to Urge the favour of you to Use your Interest that
so reasonable a request may be complied with at least so
far as respects the past and am with very great regard &
esteem Dr Sir

Your most Obed't humbl Serv't
The Hon'le Nath'l Greene Esq'r J. C.

Major General

166

Savannah the 24th Jany 1783
John Wright Stanley Esq'r
Dear Sir

Your favour of the 22nd Ulto I duly rec'd a few days
ago, covering a copy of Commodore Gillons letter of agency
to you, relative to the Ship of War S. Carolina Cap't John
Joyner, also a power from you to me relative to said vessel,
empowering me to act in your stead, shou'd that Ship send
any Prizes into this State (& Mr. J, S. Cripps not be within
the same) & have only to assure you should Capt. Joyner
send any of his prizes in here you may depend on my doing
the needful & on the terms you propose. I shall also take
care to give you the earliest notice of any matter relative to
said concern worthy of your attention, as yet we have not
heard anything of her.

In regard to our Trade particularly our W. India trade,
our situation gives us every natural advantage, the many
convenient ports for shipping, their contiguity to all the
Islands, & the many valuable articles afforded by this
Country, all bespeak that branch of trade as one that must
be profitable to adventurers & greatly beneficial to the
State ; at present it is not in our power to avail ourselves
of them to so much advantage as we might wish, the rav-
aged situation we found our Country in the absence of many
of our most valuable inhabitants & their slaves, the as
yet convulsed state of our Government, all have & still do
operate in some measure against us, but our prospects are
brightening every day our old inhabitants are daily coming
in & new ones increase very fast, & I expect this Session
of Assembly we shall open our Land office, which will
bring vast numbers of Settlers into our back Country add
to which we are hopefull of obtaining a large cession from
the Indians of very valuable land on the Okonees & Okmul-
gees : a Congress is proposed with them for the purpose of
opening the business in March next.

We have already commenced a Trade to the Havanna, I
am now concerned in trading two armed vessels for that Port

167

belonging to Messrs Coppinger & Seagrove & one of them
I believe partly to Mr. Constable of Philadelphia, they will
both sail in consort in five or six days loaded with Rice,
Tallow, Butter &c Beef & Pork particularly the latter will
be a considerable article with us, but our Stocks are at
present so much diminished by the long continuance of the
enemy in our Country, that little can be expected before
another Crop comes round, The consumption of W. India
Produce is even at present considering our situation consid-
erable, but in future we may expect it greatly to increase
at present our markett is tolerably supplyed tho' should not
any quantity drop in shortly it will very soon be otherways
we have a large quantity of sugar on hand & no inconsid-
erable one of rum, this last article is in demand & I expect
as is usual after a Glut the former one will be so very soon,
the price is better with us at present than in Cha's town,
we have as yet no duties imposed on any commodities, but
I expect before the house breaks up that the duties recom-
mended by Congress & perhaps a small transient duty may
be imposed, both of these are very contrary to the Ideas of
many among us, but the necessity of supporting the Union
& enabling Congress to maintain their & our consequence
impel us to submit. Has your State acceded to this recom-
mendation.

You desire me to lay out the money you lent our State
in a confiscated estate, but before I can well do that I
would wish to know your Ideas on that business generally,
that is, whether you would wish to have a settled or an
unsettled tract of land, or a tract on the Sea Coast, or
rather in the low country, or back parts of the State.
Possibly I might succeed in either of these plans, if I knew
which you would prefer. A very large proportion of these
estates are sold, but there are man}^ of the purchasers
willing to dispose of them again. I believe there were not
a few, who had an idea when they purchased, that some
kind of paper currency would have been emitted on the
faith of these estates, & looked forward to a depreciation

168

to enable them to pay for them, they now begin to loose
all hopes of any such measure being adopted, and there-
fore many of them are desirous of getting rid of their pur-
chases. If you have no idea of settling any tract that
might be purchased immediately, an unsettled tract would
suit you better than a settled one, because any improve-
ments that might be on them would only enhance the
value without any advantage to you, as the improvements
would be totally lost or destroyed before you could make
any use of them. Our tide swamps that were improved
have sold as high i22..0..0 sterling ^ acre and hardly any
lower than 12 & 16 & some unimproved tracts have sold
upwards of 12. I could procure you just now a tract to
the S'ward (say about 40 miles) in a good settlement
adjoining a very valuable settlement of one Robt. Baillie
(lately dead) at not exceeding 60s ^ acre which from the
description I have heard of it is a very valuable one &
would most undoubtedly realize your money with a great
prospect of gain. I know also of some very rich Indico
lands on or near the Salts, which could be purchased tole-
rably reasonable. The tract adjoining Mr. Baillie's con-
tains 700 acres and is reckoned as good as any of his which
was always rated at 90s ^ acre in peaceable times, 'tis
principally rice land & at the head of the swamp. Our
assembly have not as yet taken up the making provisions
for any loans to the State, but probably before we break
up it will be done, tho' we have so many matters to attend
to that we hardly know which to take up first, but I have
no doubt that the loan certificates will all be received in
payment for confiscated property, allowing for the depre-
ciation of the money at the time the several sums were
respectively paid into the Treasury, so as to make them
equal to specie ^At foot of this you have the prices cur-
rent If Danish bottoms or any neutral ones could be
obtained, they would give very fair prospects of great voy-
ages from this to the Islands ; I should suppose it very
practicable; Lumber, rice & naval stores may be procured

169

in any quantities Spars & masts of all sorts, some flour
& tobacco : the former will be scarce & too dear for expor-
tation, & the latter I presume would not yield a great profit.
My best respects to Mr. & Mrs. Cogdell & family, your
brother & lady & my Newbern friends in general & believe
me to be with great regard
D'r Sir

Your most obed't serv't

Joseph Qay.

An idea of peace taking place this Spring prevails with
many & in some degree fetters our Commercial plans.
What is your opinion on this business.

Jno, Wright Stanley Esq'r

Savannah 20th Jan'y 1783.
Mr James Green, Newbern
Dear Sir,

Since my last to you I rec'd a triplicate of yours 7th
October last. During the time I was gone from this to
bring my family from Camden, Capt. Kelly sent a prize in
here & the Prize-master being informed I was not here
deliv'd his letters to the Gentlemen I am connected with
in some business, who on Mr. Ogden's application to them
& informing them he was a part-owner of the privateer,
they gave them up to him & he did the necessary business
I dare say full as much to your advantage as I cou'd have
done.

Capt. Kelly was in this Port when I returned, I was
much hurried just then, getting my family settled & withal
very unwell, or I should have wrote you by him We
have nothing new here of any consequence. Our Assembly
is now sitting & deeply engaged in many important mat-
ters. The long time the enemy were in this country so
deranged our Police, that we have every thing to settle

170

anew. My best respects to Mrs. Green, your brother &
lady, to all of whom Mrs. Clay desires to join me ^ this
conveyance I shall write your Mr. J. W. Stanley fully in
answer to one of his of the 22nd Ulto & have only to assure
that I am with great regard
D'r Sir

Your most obed't serv't

Joseph Clay.

Savannah Feb'y 8th 1783.
Mr Cornelius Coppinger, Havannah
Dear Sir

You will be surprized to notice the date of my letter
to find your Brigs still here, but a variety of circumstances
have occurred to detain them. Poole has been loaded
upwards of three weeks & Gifford some Days but the want
of hands contrary winds &c, has kept them both here. We
were exceedingly put to it to supply them with cash, their
wants for sailors & provisions being beyond our expecta-
tions. However we rubb'd through tolerably well. The
Brig Nancy will follow directly, she has had her cargo as
fast as she cou'd take it, I believe they have not had an
idle moment since the Capt . & people went on board : her
cargo will be very near your directions. The next oppor-
tunity will give you the particulars, she will stow away
as much as we expected By the time Hog's schooner
returned from Carolina we had the remainder of the two
Brigs cargo on board or on the wharf. Banks's brig &
cargo were condemned ; we got of that cargo above 200
barrels which gave us a great push. We sent Sheftal's
sloop to Carolina where she loaded & on her return here
was chased into a creek on St. Helena island, by some of
the Enemy's boats, where she still remains. However
we hope to be on a better footing. We have one Galley
that carrys 4, 9 pound cannonades, some swivels, two Prow
guns (not so large as we could wish) & soon hope to have

171

another, and our Assembly which is still sitting have
directed a fort to be built immediately on Cockspur & a
proper command to be kept there. This will be a security
to our trade.

Dr. Lyman Hall whom you have heard Mr. Howley
speak of was chosen our Governor. A Mr. Telfair was in
opposition to him but the majority was large in favor of
the former, he is a New Englander by birth & a firm Whig
& I believe will suit our present situation. Flags are not
so common as they used to be & I believe will still decline.
He proposes writing your Governor & I beleive you also
relative to a supply of cannon & ammunition & we have
promised him to get you to ship on our account 2 or 4
eighteen or 24 pound cannon & one of Ton of Gun powder
also some shott to suit the guns. I beleive he may proba-
bly write the Gov'r relative to our neighbours, they are
at present very quiet but I am apprehensive if a peace
should not be agreed on this Spring that either Ave must
cut them out work, or they will us. We had very violent
struggles in the present house of Asembly but they have
all preponderated as we would wish, so far as our circum-
stances permitted. The seats of 4 or 5 men who had taken
protection under the British Gov't were declared vacant
from their not having been long enough under an American
Gov't to make them eligible to so important a trust.* Tho'

An explanation of this hastily made statement will help the reader
to a proper understanding of the matter. The constitution of 1777 required
that no one could serve as a member of the Legislature who had not resided
in the State twelve months and in his County three months. Certain persons
had been elected to that term of the Legislature who had, for various reasons,
been within the British lint-s until shortly before it met. AmonK them were
William Maxwell, Thomas Netherclift, Nathaniel Adams and William Bryan.
A question arose as to whether they were eligible, as they had resided within
the lines of the enemy. Mr. Adams resigned, but the others were, by a vote
of 19 to 12, declared ineligible on the ground only that they had been outside
of the American lines. The facts in regard to three of those gentlemen are
not known, but the case of Mr. Maxwell may be fully explained. He had
been active in opposition to the British; had been one of the "Trustees for
taking into their custody and management the British forfeited estates," and
a privateersman commanding his own armed vessel, recovering property
taken by the British, and attacking parties of the enemy engaged in collecting
forage and provisions for the royal troops in Savannah. He was arrested
by the British, taken to Savannah, tried for "treasonable practices" and
convicted, in 17S0, fined 300 and put under bond to keep the peace, being
forced to remain in the enemy's lines until the evacuation of Savannah,
July 11, 17S2. He considered the decision of the Legislature very arbitrarj',
and, on his election again at the next session as a member of that body.

Sir James Wright is authority for the statement of the arrest and fining
of William Maxwell.

172

I gave the Collector directions relative to the naming of
Gifford's brig as did Maj'r Cuthbert (who returned the
day after you left Savannah) yet Capt. Gifford got his
commission sale the other papers through in the name of
the Blacksloves & we did not know whether the expence
of new papers would be material for the sake of altering
the name, & Gifford's inclination was very strong in favour
of the present one which he says Mr, Seagrove had con-
sented to before he left the Havanna the Cannon and
Ammunition mentioned in the foregoing is only to be
Shipped under Circumstances of which shall write par-
ticularly ^^herewith you'll receive a Letter from Mr. J.
McQueen w'ch reached this a few Days after you left this I
hope will find you w'th your family & that they are all
well Mrs. Clay & Family all desire to be very kindly
remembered to you as well as to your Lady (tho' unknown
I am w'th great respect

D'r Sir Your M't Ob't & humble S't

J. C.

Mr, Howley writes you ^ this Opportunity all the
Gentlemen of your acquaintance present their Compli-
ments to you. Capt. Poole is every thing you describe him
to be & I am sure Gififord is an Active brave Fellow^ tho
during the War he will probably always be fonder of Cruis-
ing after the Enemy than being in the Merchant Service.
18th Feb'y extreme bad Weather & head Winds still detains
the Brigs we have had a long spell of unsetled dirty
Weather they are over all the Banks & past the
Wrecks without touching the Ground & only wait
a Gale to Waft them to their Desired Port ^our
House of Asembly breaks up to Day it has confined
me so close that I write this at 4 in the Morning
nothing new J. C.

173

Savannah Feb'y 17th 1783
Mr, James Seagrove Merit Havanna
D'r Sir

Contrary winds & bad weather has detained the Brigs.
I have this day been conversing with our Gov'r relative
to some public matters he was writing to your Gov'r on
among others respecting some cannon & ammunition ; he
has an idea that probably some of these may be ordered
out of your public stores to be sent here; but to guard
against any failure he has requested me to write to you
on the business that is if you find there is no probability
of obtaining any in that way, that you will send four good
iron cannon 15 or 24 pounders & one ton of gun-powder;
% Ton of which to be cannon & ^ Ton muskett powder.
The heaviest metal will suit best. If all four cannot be
sent at one time, let 2 come ^ the first conveyance & 2
^ the next that offers: more ammunition will be wanted,
but the quantity now ordered is as much as he would
choose to have in one bottom, He has wrote Mr. Coppinger
pretty fully, so that if he is returned you will receive the
necessary information through him, but if that should not
be the case I must request your attention to the matter
so that we may receive the cannon & Gun-powder from
you should the channel I mentioned fail which I am of
opinion it will & more especially if Mr. Coppinger should
not be returned. I have wrote Mr. Coppinger a line on
the same subject I shall hold myself accountable to you
for the Cannon & Gun Powder & all Expences attending
the same and am with regard D'r Sir Yrs

Feb'y 5th 1783.
Mr. James Seagrove
Dr Sir

Your favour of the 1st Nov'r last ^ Capt. Gifford &
Poole afforded me great Satisfaction a return to our own

174

Country was the utmost of our Wishes & though 'twas
to a desolated & ruin'd one yet the Idea of having so far
prevailed against an Enemy that had been by every means
in her power trying to crush us overbalances every other
Consideration a Country like ours will very soon recover
& far exceed her former Situation her natural advantages
w'th respect to Agriculture & Commerce are so great that
her increase & rise will be rapid Our Old Inhabitants are
daily dropping in & New ones are coming in from all Quar-
ters we have just opened our Land Office w'th a view to
catch & Nurse the present flame & thirst for imigrating to
this Country a Col'l Geo'e Matthews, Col'l Roote, Mr. Cobb
Col'l Lewis & one or two others (w'th some of whom you
are probably acquainted) have just obtain'd a Reserve of
Land on purchase on purpose to remove in the coming
Winter w'th a sufficient Number of Families to make
respective separate Settlem'ts the No. & So. Car'a are like-
wise Endeavouring to push in among us, all these things
present to us the most pleasing future prospects nothing
but another invasion (w'ch I am of opinion we need not
be very apprehensive of) can damp them.

Our S. J. C & Co. have been particular w'th you rela-
tive to our Commercial matters to whom must refer you
Mr. Coppenger I hope is with you before this he will
advise you with the mode he arranged his & your concerns
here the information you had received w'th respect to the
Prices of Negro's here was by no means the Case governm
in So. Car'a in the Year 1782 sold a few of the Confiscated
Negro's for Cash to supply immediate wants who from the
Scarcity of Cash sold exceeding low the Vast Number
lost in these two States by the War & carried out of them
have made them exceeding scarce & in demand, from
70 to 100 G's is a very common Price ; unless it is by now
& then purchasing 2 or 3 from some or others whose neces-
sitys oblige them to sell they are not to be met w'th on any
terms those whose Propertys were Confiscated in gen-
eral took their Slaves away w'th them ; one or two small

175

parcels were Captured & brought in here before your
Letters came to hand, w'ch might have been purchased
reasonable, but such Circumstances may not happen again
during the War

An Agent for the purposes of protecting & executing
our business at foreign Ports has not as yet been taken
into consideration, indeed so many matters of present
necessity 'have continually pressed our House that their
attention has been constantly drawn to other matters this
business will in my opinion soon naturally force itself &
you may be assured when this happens we shall attend
to it the Brig Mr. Coppenger gave directions about 2-3
loaded & the remainder of her Cargo is along side or on
the Wharf she may Sail in about 10 Day's (Wind &
Weather Permitting) at farthest

You have ^ this Conveyance the Prices of Lumber
here & the mode of Measuring compared w'th the W.
India Measurement this will be a very profitable branch
of business in conjunction w'th Provisions & Stock &c
you may not Probably heard of the Arrangement for this
Year in So. Car'a the following is in part Mr. Benj.
Guerard Gov'r our old Friend Beresford Lieut Gov'r Mr.
J. S. Dart Clerk of the Assembly Hugh Rutledge Speaker
& Jno Vanderhorst Secretary the other Officers I have
not yet learnt Parties run very high there the back Country
Interest prevails, the Rutledges & Gadsden oppose each
other God grant a Coalition soon take place & the only
strife be who shall serve their Country We have nothing
New your part of the World 'tis thought will be the
theatre of War this Year & Jamaica the grand object
shoud you send any Vessel this way immediately a load
or two of Rice may be o'btained w'th dispatch ^we shall
in all probability have a considerable Quantity in Stock
looking forward to such an Event I have only to assure

you that I am w'th great regards

D'r Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

176

Savannah Feb'y 19th 1783,
(To Col'l Gremke)
Dear Sir

We have very little news, From Augustine a flag
brings an account that some persons had arrived there
from a port abroad, I believe Teneriffe, who says they had
an acco't there from London of the 6th & 7th of
last Dec'r that preliminaries for a general peace was con-
cluded on. How far this may be true can only be con-
jectured. I am with regard
D Sir

Your most obed't serv't

Joseph Qay

Savannah 23d Feb'y 1783,
Dear Sir

^ Major Habersham I received your of the 1st Inst,
relative to a debt due to your brother from Mr. Graham's
estate, which is as you observe confiscated. I have agre-
able to your desire entered your claim with the Commis-^
sioners, but the most speedy way of obtaining payment
would be by commencing a suit against the State as that
will bring it to an issue at once. To enable me to do this
for you it would be necessary that you send a power of
attorney or at least the bond our Law has not made any
particular provision for the discharge of debts due from the
estates confiscated to individuals, but only generally made
them liable. The estates have been sold on a long credit
the real estate 7 years, the personal four years, paying
interest annually. Very little personal estate was left in
the country belonging to those persons. Those who pur-
chased at the Sales can discount, but those who have no,
the Legislature have not as yet made any provision for^
but I presume at their next meeting they will.

177

I have only to assure you any services in my power
you may freely command & am vvrith respect
D'r Sir

Your most obed't serv't

Joseph Clay
Wm. Blake Esq'r

Savannah the 28th Feb'y 1783.
Dear Sir

I receiv'd your favour of the 6th Inst too late to pre-
vent the sale of the lands, however I am hopeful no material
injury will accrue as I think our Assembly will not
countenance the disposal of young Mr. Stead's part of
the land & as to yours & Miss Stead's they are out of the
question, yours as a Citizen of the United States & Miss
Stead's as a lady & consequently no party in the present
war Our Assembly meet next May at Augusta, by which
time you had best have a memorial ready, which I will take
care to get presented, & I have no doubt it will terminate
to your satisfaction. It should be on behalf of all the
claimants & setting forth young Mr. Stead's minority during
greater part of this war & the difficulties that have pre-
vented his coming to his native country America,
as well as his Fathers (during his life) well known
attachment to our cause. Or you might go on another
ground. That is, as you are intitled to such a proportion
of the real & personal estate of Mr. Stead, the confiscating
any of it in America will only injure you, as 'tis more than
probable as a large property belonging to the estate is in
Great Britain, so much of it as may be equal to the property
confiscated here may be by way of compensation retained
there. If I had been in the way when the land was sold
I would have bought it, but I knew nothing of it till after
the sale. The land will be planted this year or a consid-
erable part of it which will be no injury & the buildings

178

that are left will be preserved. I have spoke to the person
who has it in possession & informed him of the circum-
stances relative to it & proposed the giving the purchase
up to me, which I rather think would have been done, if
it had not been the desire of planting it this year, it is in
a secure place from marauders or robbers by sea or land,
which in these times is a very desirable situation In a
former letter you desire me to inform you the situation of
Mr. Stead's concerns in this State. .This is a matter not
in my power. Rae & Sommerville were largely indebted
to Mr. Stead against whom I commenced a suit & obtained
a verdict for him in April 1775 for i4528..0..0 our money,
no part of which was ever received, owing to the present
war so immediately succeeding. The House of Rae, Ebert
& Grham I beleive are indebted largely. This House has
been greatly ruined by the present war, but I should sup-
pose in time they will be able to pay all their debts. But it
will take time to recover & work hard too, before those
who have been in trade in this State can get the least
a-head. A Mr. Graham partner of R. E. & G. went off from
the Indian nation with a large property belonging to that
House for Pensacola early in 1776, where he traded for sev-
eral years as I have been inform'd with great success,
whether he has paid any part of the Company's debts you
may perhaps be informed, but if he did I rather think it was
to Telfair's House to whom the house of R. E, & G. were
also indebted. Our House is also very largely indebted
to Mr. Stead's estate & which it is not our faults that is
was not greatly lessened long ago, as I early in the present
war made you a proposition to that purpose predicting
at that time what has really happened, drove out of our
country, our property wasted & ourselves thereby ren-
dered unable to discharge our debts. Both Mr. Habersham
& myself have been unfortunate in this respect to a great
degree. He is not yet returned to this State I expect he
will be here in about two months at farthest. I am doing
every thing in my power to retrieve my circumstances &

179

putt myself in a condition to do justice to every one,
whether I shall even have it in my power fully to do so,
time only can shew. If peace takes place soon & I have
health & success I hope I shall. I can only say nothing on
my part shall be wanting. To shew you how desirous I
am to make a beginning towards this business, I mean
now to make you another offer & that the only one that is
now or can be in my power for a considerable time to come
that is to sell you some land, I ^have a number of tracts
which I mean to appropriate to that purpose & I think
without any view to my own interest I could as a friend
recommend as a measure that would promote the interests
of Mr. Stead's House. All British debts are sequestered
under a law passed in this State last May, it has not yet
been carried into execution & I trust if the war does not
continue long it never will. But to guard against this I
should expect that you would secure me against any dam-
age that should or may arise on that score. The following
are tracts I would dispose of.

Nine hundred acres in three tracts adjoining each
other; rice & provision lands, in St. Andrew's parish
(adjoining St. John's the parish Mr. Stead's land is in)
about 35 or 40 miles from Savannah, about 8 miles from
a good landing. Part of this land was run in 1759. All
of it belonged to a Mr. Andrew an old inhabitant of this
country & of whom I bought it some years ago, this is
worth 50s ^ acre. 500 acres on the confluence of great
Ogeeche & Canooche rivers in tide way, about 300 acres
of which is tide swamps adjoining Gov'r Wright's planta-
tions. This I have been offered near 10 G's ^ Acre for on
a long credit & paying interest. If you choose to have
it I will be as reasonable with you as possible from a desire
to lessen my debts. I have also two tracts of 500 acres
each, on great Ogeeche river the So. side about 40 miles
from Savannah very valuable ones which I would dispose
of to you for under their value. I would let them go at
Yi G's ^ acre. I have two tracts near Augusta one of

180

500 & the other of 300 acres. The former is a very good
one about three miles from the river on what is called the
Keokas & about 16 miles from Augusta in a well settled
part of the country. I have some other tracts which I would
sell from no other cause but an anxiety to discharge my
debts as fast as possible. I should be very glad to know
your ideas on this business if they meet mine I will do
every thing in my power to throw as large a property into
5^our hands as in my power & on as equitable conditions
as you can expect & I have no doubt Mr. Habersham will
do the same as far as his circumstances will permit. You
will please notice we have not nor can have any other mode
of paying for a very considerable time to come. No debts
due from a citizen of this State can be sued for in less than
two years from this : Our legislature considering & that
very properly that men drove from their country for
several years, their estates ruined & every kind of distress
befell them, were in no condition to pay debts however
willing they might be, & if the law was left to operate
against them it could answer no other purpose but lay
them open to be completely ruined & thereby become a
burthen to their country. All the property of the dis-
affected that has been sold (many of whom are largely
indebted to the merchant) is on seven years credit so that
nothing can be expected from that quarter in any reason-
able time, so that the mode I have proposed is the only
one that can exist for some time & it is in my opinion a very
eligible one. The vast increase of inhabitants now daily
taking place in this country, the valuableness of our lands,
its many natural advantages, all bespeak it is a very
rising country & of course landed property must & will
be an increasing one. I have only to assure you any ser-
vices in my power, you may freely command I am
Dr Sir

Your most obed't serv't

Joseph Clay.

181

Savannah March the 29th 1783
Dear Sir

Thoug-h unknown to 3''ou yet from a knowledge of
your character I have taken the liberty to send my son
(who I expect will be the bearer of this) to your colledge,
in hopes of your admitting him there & of his participating
in those advantages which your instructions must afford to
any youth who is desirous of & willing to avail himself of
them. Tho' partiality to the one in question as my son
naturally leads me to a byas in his favor, yet I flatter myself
I do not say an untruth when I assure you I beleive you will
find that this is his disposition, and that he wishes to inform
himself by every means in his power, with every thing that
may tend to promote his future interest, or make him a
useful member of society. It was my intention to have
sent him to you 3 or 4 years ago, but the distresses of war
have prevented. When the enemy quitted this country
& restored it thereby to its proper owners, I had been an
exile, or rather refugee, from it with my family & that
a large one, near four years. This situation so deranged
my affairs & Straitened my circumstances, as well as kept
my mind in such a perturbed state, as to preclude every
thing that tended to domestic concerns, or to do that to
promote the education & future benefit of my children
that I wished.

My son was part of the year 1780 & 1781 with Mr.
Smith of Virginia, Brother I believe to your son in Law,
to this gentleman I owe the greatest obligation for his
very tender & polite behaviour towards him. Since that
time he has been principally to the S'ward & with out any
opportunity of improving himself. His inclination as he
informs me leads him to the study of the law, to which
end as he is so far advanced in years I have prevailed on a
friend to article him as a clerk before he left this, that in
case he may choose, or it may become necessary for him
in order to support himself, which idea I would wish to
inculcate, he may not be under the necessity of throwing

182

away 5 Years of the prime of his life, the term prepos-
terously prescribed by law, to serve in that character before
they can be admitted to the bar. This I obtained as a
favour from a friend & from a knowledge that his situation
at present was not from choice but from necessity. I have
been so much separated from him latterly that I am but
imperfectly acquainted with the progress he has made in
his education. I beleive you will find he has a tolerable
knowledge of the Latin, some idea of Greek, & has paid
some little attention to the mathematics & natural phil-
osophy. The great loss of time he has suffered makes it
necessary for him to exert himself & to retrieve it by every
means in his power. I have no doubt you will from the
same consideration put him in such a course as will best
enable him to attain that end. I care not how learned
he is, but the great object I would wish his education to
point to, is the making a useful member of society either
in a private or public station ; in Republics it may be every
man's lot to be called to the latter and it therefore becomes
now our indispensable duty to bring up our youth undep
those ideas. I have relying on his prudence made him
master of his finances, I have frequently had occasion to
try him & I think shall not have reason to repent it, indeed
they are too scanty for him to be extravagant, tho' I hope
sufficient to answer all necessary purposes and I shall take
care to remit him as regularly as the situation of the times
will permit. I do not mean or wish to hurry him in his
studies more than his advanced years make necessary. My
present intentions are for him to remain at colledge as
long as you may judge necessary & his inclination may
accord.

As he is an entire stranger in your part of the country
& will on that account be deprived of the advantage a
friend might be to him, in directing him in his connections
& superintending his morals when abroad, I must take a
liberty I have no right to assume, that is to request the
favour of you to give him your countenance & advice gen-

m

erally, I mean in all such matters as may not properly belong
to his education, but at the same time be absolutely neces-
sary for his welfare. I will not urge you on this head, as
perhaps your necessary close attention to business may
put it out of your power if so possibly you can prevail on
some of the Gentlemen under you perhaps Mr, Smith, the
anxiety you can easily suppose I have on this head I am
sure will plead my excuse with you for taking this liberty.
I shall wait anxiously to hear of his having reached you
& I hope at the same time to learn he has met with your
countenance, and am

with great respect
Dr Sir

Your most obed't hble serv't

Joseph Clay
Dr. David Witherspoon

Savannah April 16. . 1783
D'r Sir

I presume before this will get to your hands a general
peace will have taken place, an event very desireable and
one that I hope will tend to repair many Breaches which
the late unhappy War has occasioned, & as such gives me
leave very sincerely to congratulate you on it we have
not rec'd here any Official Accounts in regard to the Busi-
ness but private Accounts Via New York, Philadelphia
St Augustine &c all so generally concur in the matter that
no doubt remains of the fact Your friends here are in gen-
eral well Your Mother enjoys but a very poor State o
health I believe the Situation of her Mind tends greatly to
disturb it this is a very natural supposition and I hope,
under that Idea, that the alteration in the times will tend
greatly to relieve & of course mend her Health ^Mr.
Will'm Gibbons Sen'r plants this Year at Morton Hall,

184

with some of his own & I believe the Estate's Hands his
Wife is near laying in & on that Account stays with her
Mother at present, I brought my family about 4 Months
ago since which Mrs. Clay has enjoyed but a very indif-
ferent State of health, the fatigue of travelling and the
very great alteration in situation in every respect all con-
currd to injure it Mr. & Mrs. Habershams have not yet
reached this but are hourly expected.

The very great loss of time together with the great
destruction as well as loss of property will oblige many
of us, as it were to begin the World again this will in some
Measure be my Case for though Idleness cou'd never be
attributed to me, yet to enable me to discharge all my con-
tracts, & preserve & increase my fortune, 'twill be neces-
sary for me to exert myself much more than I once thought,
I ever shoud have occasion to do again & I am very thank-
full that I enjoy a degree of health & Spirits sufficient to
this purpose I dont know what may be your future plans,
but if a continuance in Jamacia & commerce shoud be apart
of it, a very great opening to do business between that
Island and this Country in my opinion presents itself this
I dare say strikes you as forcibly as myself, shou'd you be
of the same opinion with me, & also have an Idea to com-
merce from that part of the World, I shou'd be very glad
to concur in promoting a plan of that kind here, either in
the Commission way or on our joint Account, tho' I shou'd
prefer the former. I shall lay myself out for that line, &
my situation here will put it much in my power; shoud you
not incline to a plan of this kind, if any of your friends
shoud propose any business here I wou'd be obliged to
you for your recommendation on my coming here I was
concerned w'th Major Cuthbert & Mr. OBryen in pur-
chasing out Messrs Crookshanks & Spears, & one or two
large parcels of Goods, w'ch with some other concerns
turn'd out to advantage but my concern that way was only
temporary and on the Spurr of the occasion just suited to
the times Peace will require more steady pursuits what

185

they may be exactly on my own part I have not come to
any conclusion further than generally to pursue business
by every means in my power that presents itself on a
rational plan people are flocking into this Country to Settle
beyond every Idea the War has opened a knowledge of
the Advantages that the So Countries afiford hereafter not
believed Major Habersham was married about three
"w^eeks ago to Miss Nancy Camber a very amiable Young
Lady Mrs. Clay & all our family desire very kindly to
be remembered to Mrs. Hall to whom please make my
best respects acceptable, and believe me to be with regard
Dr Sir Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay,
Nathaniel Hall Esq'r

Savannah 15th April 1783
Gentlemen

The very agreable prospect of peace taking a place
directly has induced me to address you, hoping thereby
to renew a correspondence which the war has so long
interrupted & I shoud also by this Conveyance have sent
you your Acc't Curr't & Sales of Rum ^ the Schooner
Elizabeth Capt. Caldwell had it been in my power but as
soon as our House found that this Country was likely to
become the seat of War we sent our Books as far No'therly
as Maryland, from whence I expect them every day as
soon after they come to Hand as any safe Conveyance
ofifers you may expect to receive them & we hope twill
not be a very long time before we shall be able to remit
you the Ballance of your account the ravages & distresses
natural to a country that has been the Seat of War, & in
which we have bore our full proportion will keep us back-
ward a little time but I hope not long I am engaged in
business again as usual and shall be very happy to receive
you and any of your friends Command's soon as Trade

m

can take place again without interruption which I dare
Say will be the fall before this will get to your Hands the
many Articles of product raised in this Country together
w'th the great Quantities of Naval Stores & Lumber made
here will very naturall}'- open a very lucrative & beneficial
Trade between your Island and this Country the produce
of your Island will always bring reasonable prices but
Negro's in my opinion will yield a great profit I shoud
have no doubt of getting 60 a 70 for good Windward Coast
Negro Men & for Women or leeward Coast Negr'o in
proportion & perhaps more provision Articles will be
scarce before the next crop comes in which will not be till
late in the fall, Rice may be to be purchased but I expect
twill be very high all the summer 12/6 Sterl'g ^ 100 lb is
the present price but I think tis probable it will be higher
not knowing whether your House subsisted under the old
form I have directed to them or either of them Peace has
not yet been proclaimed here but from the Accounts we
have received from almost every Quarter we expect hourly
to receive Official Accounts relative thereto I have only to
tender you any services in my power and am with respect.
Gentlemen

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.
Messrs Scott Dover Taylor & Bell

Copy Savannah the 22d April 1783

Original Via Cha's Town
Dear Sir

Copy of yours of the 14 February came to hand yester-
day the Original nor the one of the 4th then Current have
not yet come to hand, so soon as they doo I shall pay every
attention necessary ^^Mr. Wereat is not here at present I
expect he will be in Town in a few days when I will
endeavour to do the needfull with him I am much sur-

187

prised at his neglect of you while in your City his Character
here (where he has resided many years) being that of a
very honest man & punctual in his dealings his inability to
pay coud have been no excuse for not giving you every
information in his power Mr. Parleys debt I believe you
must give up as lost unless you can find any property
belonging to him in Antigua he quit this Country on
Acco't of his Attachment to the British Government I
think in 1776 & returned here again when their Troops
got possession of this State & died I believe sometime in
1780, & left no visible property he owed me upwards of
iSOO Sterling for a debt contracted 13 or 14 Years ago of
which I never received any part, & tho he confessed a
Judgement for the debt I never found any property that I
coud levy on, the Gentleman who did your business, Mr.
Young, is also dead Peace has not yet been announced
here Officially but from the several Acco'ts we have from
different Quarters we expect Daily we shall be enabled to
do it this Circumstance I hope will produce the most
happy effect to all the continent & more especially to these
Southern I may add Young rising States this is already
hourly feeling the benefits of it the Old Inhabitants are
constantly coming back & new ones daily adding to our
Numbers & the many valuable Articles it produces must
make Trade increase & flourish among us the West India
Trade must be a great branch, Negro's will also be in
great demand here

Dr Sir Your most Obed't Serv't

J. Clay.
Geo'e Meade Esq'r

Savannah 22d April 1783.
Dear Sir

I received a line from Mr. Seagrove yesterday in
which he mentioned you had wrote if so yours must have
miscarried as I have not had the pleasure of receiving it

188

give me leave to congratulate you on the approaching
general peace it has come on us of a sudden & rather
deranged our Commercial concerns for the present a
considerable part of the Pattys Sugars are on hand we used
every means in our pow^er to push them off East florida
I find is to be returned to Spain this being the Case a
Garrison will of course be sent to Augustine, & who must
be supplied with provisions from some part of this Con-
tinent this I presume will be by contract which very proba-
bly you may think worth your attention I coud assist in
fullfilling of it and shoud have no objection to being con-
cerned in it with you we could procure Cattle from this
State & as twill not be long before I shall have a concern
in a Vessel to and from Philadelphia I shoud be enabled
to send Flour there on reasonable terms and as to rum
I have no doubt it might always be bought here very
reasonable I only mention these matters as a hint & for
your information shoud it be necessary dry goods will be
very low here in three or four Months great Quantitys are
coming to America & one or two very large Cargoes are
expected here I hope you have heard of the Brig Nancy's
arrival & to a good Markett she carried a most excellent
assorted Cargo Copys of all her Acco'ts are making out
to send you Via Cha's Town & will if ready in time go ^
this Conveyance Mr. Howley is very well but he has had
the misfortune to loose his Youngest child a few days past
Major Habersham has taken to himself a Wife about a
Month ago a Miss Camber who I believe came in from the
No Ward since you left us we look hourly for his Brother
James & Joseph both their and his & my Negro's are come
in and are all employed in planting I hope when the next
Crop comes in we shall cut a very different figure & the
Year after that a few more respectable one Mrs. Clay and
family all join in presenting their respects to you I am
with great regard and respect

Dear Sir Your most Obed't Serv't
Cornelius Coppinger Esq'r J. Clay.

189

Savannah 23d April 1783
Orig-inal Via Augustine

Copy Via ^Charles Town

Mr. Joachim Noel Famming-
Dear Sir

The long interruption to our Correspondence by the
late unhappy War though gloriously ended on the part
of America I hope is no more and that everything is paving
the way for mutual communications & friendly
intercourses since we saw one another I have gone
through various scenes the Camp and martial sounds took
place of every thing else when the Enemy got possession
of this Country I quit it & was never in it again untill
American Govern't took place, except in Arms this I was
frequently as soon as the British Troops quit this Town
I came into it & in a very short time after entered
into business again & have been concerned to a considerable
Amount, & with Success and I have now all my Family
with me here once more enjoying Domestic ease which
had been many years a Stranger to me a Blessing I am
very thankfull for to that providence who has so wonder-
fully carried us through this contest as soon as this
Country became the seat of War I sent my principall
Books & papers as far No'therly as Maryland for safety
from whence I have not yet got them back therefore can-
not send you a State of your concerns I expect Mr. Wm.
Mcintosh will be very pressing in a little time he has been
a great sufferer by the War, & of course will be necessiated
however I have his Brother the Generals Bond for a very
considerable Amount which I may probably be able to get
discounted or at least have every matter Stop'd untill I can
have your instructions on the Business I cannot advise
you what woud best promote your intrest these lands
will be very valuable, more especially as this Country will
setle in Amazing rapidity tis beyond conception the eager-
ness the people on this Continent discover to setle in

190

Georgia, the amazing fertility of our Lands invite
all who know them, & the War has been the means of
spreading a very general knowledge of them from having
Troops continually operating in every part of them upwards
of 500 Families have come to settle among us in the back
Country within this 6 months past ^Trade will expand here
beyond conception Negro's will be in great demand & will
bring high prices the best way for you to place your money
here will be by Commerce as you may thereby do it with
some profit if you choose this mode I will be concern'd
with you in any way you please either to dispose of any
thing you may choose to consign to me on your own
Account on Commission, or to take a part with you in the
concern as you may think proper Dry Goods will answer
very well Negro's from Africa will do far better, & some-
thing may be done from the W. Indies particularly the
french Islands, though I am of opinion more Money may
be made on Cargo's from here to the Islands, than from
the Islands as I am apprehensive the Imports from there
will far exceed our Consumption however this is only con-
jecture the increase of Inhabitants may occasion an
Expenditure of W. India Commodities I am a Stranger to
I only mention these matters for your information as I
conclude you must be anxious to know our Situation here
its said large Quantitys of goods are coming to America
particularly So'therly under an Idea of making great profits
on them if so they will be mistaken & many will be ruined
Goods except of particular kinds are by no means scarce
the War made them obtain high prices the importations
into the British Garrisons were very considerable most of
which remained in this Country I think the very heavy
Exports made to America must ruin many of the So'thern
Merchants folly and ignorance mark'd many of their Steps,
Strangers who come out now with large Cargo's must
suffer they shoud consider how long this Country has
been the seat of War how much it has been desolated and
laid Waste & that its Inhabitants are in as it were setting

1^1

again & beginning the World anew & that very large sums
are due to the Old Merchants which must be paid as soon
as possible all these circumstances in my opinion will
operate most powerfully against Strangers unacquainted
with the Country shoud you be inclined to send goods to
this Country let me advise you to be very cautious in the
business, avoid fine Goods of every kind the following
Articles there will be a vast demand for, and as they are
always consuming there will be no great risque of them
sooner or later Negro Cloth from 12 a 15 ^ Yd Osnabrigs,
:oarse linnens Nails a larger Quantity particularly 20d & 5d
Hoes w'th round Crests & Welded Eyes 18 a 20/ ^ doz
good felling Axes a 30/ to 32/ ^ doz hooks & Hinges of
all Sizes most of those fit for Windows all kinds of Plan-
tation Tools, Carpenters & Coopers Tools Callicoes of a
midling Quality handsome Figures Say from 12/ a 25/ or
30/ ^ Piece printed Linnens and Cottens from 18 to 2/6 ^
Yard some Hosiery principally Cotten & thread Hatts
14/ a 40/ ^ doz some higher but less in Quantity Blan-
ketts will be in great demand if large Quantities shoud not
come out Manchester goods for summer ware Medicines
of the Common Plantation kind some Broad Cloths par-
ticularly 6/4 Yorkshire Cloths cost a 4/ to 7/ or 8/ ^ Yd
& a few fine Cloths say 12/ to 16/ a few fine Goods may
do but not too many, care must be taking in Shipping, that
the Articles are not such as Foreigners can afford to Ship
at a Cheaper rate for Great Britain must remember that
she will have a great many competitors in her Trade & who
will be very cordially received in America the french in
particular will meet (and very deservedly) vv^ith a very
great partiality in their favour from the Americans I
have only mentioned the foregoing as Articles that will
suit best not as the only ones wanted but as those that
will probably command the first sale every thing that is
daily consumed or wanted for Artificers or planters must
have their day since I came into this country now I have
had some concerns with two or three Gentlemen here

192

merely for the sake of dividing risques but that was intirely
temporary while the War lasted tis more than probable I
shall be intirely alone in future I find few Men who like
business as well as myself or that are willing to pay so
close an application to it & I am not of a disposition at this
time of life to divide the profits of my labours with any
one who will not contribute their full proportion also
neither of the Mr. Habershams have yet come in with their
Families their Negro's are Here and they are daily
expected possibly my old Partner Mr, Joseph Habersham
& myself may do something together as we have some large
Debts to work out, and Collect in which must be a work
of time as the planters must have a little time to get forward
again before much can be expected from them Mr. John
Habersham (now a Major in the Continental Army) is here
& was lately married to a Miss Camber who must have
been too Young for you to remember I have just dropt
you this letter for your information my situation heretofore
and that of the times prevented my being able to write you
any thing Satisfactory do let me hear from you relative
to your Land as soon as possible in the intermin shoud:
you or any of your friends have any commands here in the
Mercantile line or other ways you may freely command'
my services.

I am &c

J. Clay

Bethesda Matters I received the Rice mentioned is new as.
well as a further Quantity, I shall write her Ladyship very
fully by a Vessel that sails from this in a few days have you
any directions relative to the Orphan House they suffer
much for want of more attention to them I have (as a Vol-
unteer) made Advances, Employed an overseer to take Care
of the planting business & done every thing in my power
to keep things together, expecting every day some Person

193

wou'd be sent out to take the management of them intirely,
as neither my business (nor Mr. Jas Habershams who has
also assisted) will permit either of us to pay the attention
to them they stand in need of during the time the British
Troops were in possession of this Country as far as I can
learn they made nothing since they left it they have done
very little more the plantation was in exceeding bad
Order, this year they have made only 50 Barrels Rice, there
is about 20 hands on the plantation many of which are very
ordinary I have a power of Attorney from Mr. Glen who
had one from Lady Huntingdon but I only wish'd to keep
things togethei- untill some other person was appointed
I shall only add that I am with respect
Sir

Your most Obed't Serv't

Jos. Clay.

Savannah 16th February 1784
James Jackson Esq'r N5 Igleon Street London

I rec'd your favour of the 7th Nov. last ^ the Tartar
Capt. Coates, & note the contents ; I have as you have been
informed entered into Copartnership with the Gentlemen
ment'd in yours, & hold myself responsible in common with
them, for all contracts made under our respective firms,
and I have only to assure you, while I hold any Connection
in the business, nothing on my part shall be neglected
that can render it mutually beneficial to both you and us
as to the Indian Trade, I am but little versed in it, but
\ flatter myself the Gentlemen who are will pay the
strictest attention to it every other business, natural
to this Country I hold myself competent to, &
I think from the extension of our Trade, the great
increase of our Inhabitants, & the natural advantages of
our Climate the most flattering prospects are before us
the Negro business is a great object with us, both with

194

a View to our Interest individually, & the general pros-
perity of this State & its commerce, it is to the Trade of
this Country, as the Soul to the Body, & without it no
House can gain a proper Stability, the Planter will as far
as in his power sacrifice every thing to attain Negroes,
& those who have the disposal of them, will always com-
mand their Crops, which is every thing to a Merchant;
the prices with us are tempting to the adventurer, until
importation takes place immediately from the Coast, many
will be sent in from the W. I. Islands, we have a small
Cargo on hand from there at this time, but this is not the
Channell we woud wish to attain them through tis from
the Coast only we wish to receive them, & we must
request your exertions to gain us a share of that business
it will tend to promote your interest as well as ours.

Our C. T & Co. write you so fully ^ this Conveyance,
that I have little to add except to confirm theirs they
inclose you a Letter from Messrs Roebuck & Herckle, the
intention of which is to countermand an Insurance on a Ves-
sel & Cargo from Jamaica to our port, & to our Address, &
which is arrived safe therefore the sooner it gets to hand
the better the reason for inclosing it to you, is the Letter
directing the business, & giving us the Address of those
Gentlemen is in so blind a hand, that we have our doubts
whether we have directed it properly, particularly whether
the Name of Herckle, ought not to be Merckle the Gentle-
men who write us are Mess. Jno. & Wm. Coppell of
Jamaica, & one of the concerned is a Mr. A. Peate of
London, by this Clue, if we have directed it wrong, you
may possibly find it out I have only to add that I am
w'th respect

D'r Sir Your most Obed't Serv't

J. Clay.

195

Savannah 16th Feb'y 1784
Lady Huntington
Madam

I rec'd yours of the 19th Oct'r last under cover from
Mr. Roger Smith of Charleston together with an Applica-
tion from him for Moneys due by me to your Ladyship, all
of which to me is a Mystery I received the 102 Blls Rice
mention'd in yours and upwards of 40 more since my last
settlement with Mr. Piercy, but so far from any thing being
due from me, I am very largely in Advance, Joseph Clay &
Co. (Say Joseph Habersham and myself) furnish'd Mr.
Piercy with supplies for the use of the Colledge & Orphan
House, to the Am't of upwards of 200 Sterling, and they
have paid him in Cash at different times in payment for
Rice & for the use of the Colledge & Orphan House
upwards of Five Hundred Pounds, the far larger part of
which before our Money suffered any depreciation the
last Rice rec'd was after our Money depreciated, (it was
in March 1777 from 123 to 134 for 100,) the Price was in
that Money 6/ ^ 100, there was little or no export at that
time owing to the War, which rendered it of little Value,
to the best of my knowledge there are no other Credits
due to the Colledge or Orphan House, from me or Partners,
& as to the Amount of Debits they exceed the sum men-
tion'd by me, time wou'd not permit me to have a State
of the Accounts made out by this Conveyance, nor indeed
shoud I wish to close them untill I hear from Mr. Piercy,
for fear of any omission it was upwards of seven Years
that little or no attention coud be given to Accounts, during
a very large part of which time myself & Family were
drove about as the operations of the War progressed,
many of my Books & Papers lost such as I preserved were
sent above 700 Miles from this Country for safety, under
such Circumstances it may be possible that I may be mis-
taken, & therefore on that Account & the very misterious
appearance of these matters, I woud wish to hear from
him whether any thing has by any means escaped us that

196

ought to have been carried to the Credit of the institution,
to which end I herewith inclose a Letter for him on the
subject, which I have left open for your perusal before its
forwarded to him, as I have no secrets in the business nor
do I choose that there shou'd be even the appearance of
any.

When the British Troops quit possession of this
Country, it did not appear that any person had the man-
agement of the Orphan House or Colledge property, there
was a White Man on the plantation, but not in the Char-
acter of an Overseer, nor was he capable, as he did not
understand any thing of Planting, finding it in this Situa-
tion, Mr. James Hab'^rsham & myself, from a regard to
the Institutions & w'th a wish to promote its Welfare,
intefered in the business & placed an Overseer over the
people, 'twas too late to do much in the planting way,
there was a Crop sowed, but it had been so neglected &
over run with Grass, that nothing cou'd be expected from it,
12 Barrels Rice was all that was made for sale, which I
disposed of they had not sufficient provision for the year,
part of the Rice was consumed in that way, & I also
bought Corn for them, as the Cheapest mode of supplying
them, this Year they have made sufficient to serve them-
selves, & near 50 Barrels Rice for Markett, tis not all
clean'd out therefore can't say w'th certainty the exact
Number, this after paying the Overseer, Cloathing the
People, furnishing them with Tools &c will leave a Ballance
in favour of the Plantation, but by no means what ought
to have been made this Year they may perhaps do better,
as the Plantation is in better Order for Planting, but unless
the whole business is in the hands of some persons who
can devote their time to the undertaking generally, little
can be expected; for my own part, if I had thought that no
person woud have appeared before this properly Author-
ized to take on them the management of the business, I
shoud hardly have ventured to have interfered at all, as my
situation in life does not allow me to devote so much time

197

to the concern as it requires, nor I believe can Mr. Haber-
sham, all we attempted was to keep the property together,
& to as much advantage as possible, until your Ladyship
shou'd send out some person to manage for you, which we
apprehended wou'd be the Case, as soon as you were
informed your former Attorneys had left this Country, &
under this expectation we defferred writing to you I wrote
Mr. Piercy sometime ago informing how matters were
situated which I presume he communicated to your Lady-
ship Inclosed is a list of the Negroes now on the plantation
Si at the Orphan House, many of them are Elderly & in
general from what I can learn, they are but a very indif-
ferrent set of hands for labour & they are too few to be
profitable, the expences of a plantation with that Number
of hands being nearly equal to one with twice as many
soon after we got possession of this Country a Privateer
intercepted a Vessel bound to St. Augustine, with a Num-
ber of Negroes on board, which some Persons had decoyed
from this State, and were carrying them, among whom was
a Wench & two Children belonging to the Orphan House,
which I claimed & recovered on paying near 16 Sterling
as a Salvage in regard to the Debts in the list inclosed me,
I can say but little 'Mr. Read left this Country with the
British Troops, Mrs, Crooke died before we returned, Mr.
Hathaway I do not know when I see him, but I believe
he may be somewhere about the Country, Mr. Netherclift
I have not had an Opportunity of inquiring of, but there
can be no doubt the Money is due there are also some
Moneys due for lands rented by Mr. Tatnall or Mr, Glen,
but we have no Account from them relative to it, there-
fore can't say to what Amount I shoud suppose Mr,
Tatnall must owe something for the labour of the Negroes,
as they say they were employed sometime by him on hi'^
own land making Staves there have been three or four
persons applyed to me for debts due them by the Orphan
House among whom is one Miller, & a Mr. S'axe also Mrs.
Floyd, who has lived many Years at the Orphan House.

198

and Says there is a considerable sum due to her I have
put every one off who have applyed to me, with an expec-
tation of some person coming out to setle the concerns,
not being competent or sufficiently informed to enter on a
liquidation of these Acct's myself; Mr. Habersham has
also a very considerable demand on the Institution the
late War has been very unfortunate for every one con-
cerned in this country the Stoppage of Commerce, the
wanton waste & destruction of property, all operated to
bring on very heavy losses on all who were interested in
it but God be praised those times are past away and better
prospects are before us, may we 'be gratefull for them &
improve them in such a manner as may shew we are sensi-
ble we owe them to his goodness only I have as far as in
my power giveing you a detail of such facts as have come
within my knowledge relative to Bethesda I shall always
be happy to promote its prosperity or render your Lady-
ship, who I know has its welfare much at heart, every
service in my power ; it is absolutely necessary that some
Person shou'd have the Sole direction of this business, &
be as a head to it, in its present situation its an unprofit-
able property Mr. Habersham or myself may barely keep
it together, untill you direct otherwise, but neither of us
can give that attention to it that it requires we may advise
or direct or furnish them with necessaries but this is not
sufficient some person shoud reside on the spot but in
that case, to put it in a Situation to repay the Expence the
hands must be increased or otherways twoud be better
to drop it altogether I shall only add that I am, with
great respect

Your Ladyships most Obed't Humble Serv't

J. Clay.

m

Savannah 16th Feb'y 1784.
Rev. Mr. Wm. Piercy
Dear Sir

A few days ago I received a letter from the Countess of
Huntingdon of the 19th Oct'r last, under cover from Mr.
Roger Smith, who requests me as her Ladyships Attorney,
to pay him the Monies that may be due to her for Rice
received from her Plantation, this you may be assured sur-
rized me not a little her Ladyship writes me on the same
subject & requests me to give her every information in my
power, & observes that you in your Accounts have left me
so large a De'btor to her, that she wishes to know the
various particulars or the Justness of her demands to me
this is all darkness I have wrote her Ladyship as fully as
in my power I have not sent her the particulars of my
Accounts, nor an exact State of them for fear I shou'd
omit any thing to the Credit of them, the little attention
that have paid to Accounts for some Years past, the
Various Situations I have been in, the loss of many of my
Books & Papers all may have operated to make such a
thing possible & therefore I wou'd wish you to see them
as they stand in my Books I think the Quantity of Rice
Credited in 1776, is more than I received, to the best of
my remembrance all we received from the Orphan House
was ship'd on board the Georgia Planter, which was
33 Blls this Vessel was detained here & her Cargo land5d
again in July following I find we sold 12 Blls Rice
received from the Orphan House, which I have added to
the 32, but on recollection I am in some degree perswaded
in my own mind, they were a part of those relanded from
the Geo'a Planter you will be able to inform me the
Amount of Debits are just as they stand in our Books,
by far the larger part of w'ch youll notice is Cash I shall
be very uneasy untill I hear from you and this business
is properly explained what I am to think on the matter,
even conjectures fail me for any probable reasons to sat-
isfy myself, you only can afford me any light these

200

Advances fall very heavy on me, the various losses sus-
tained by the War make a reimbursement very necessary,
& if it can be accomplished in England, it will afford me
some compensation for the great length of time I have lain
out of my Money, & I must rely on to press this matter
with the Countess ; I am sure if the business is properly
Stated to her, she will see so much equity in it on our part
as to induce her to Order an immediate payment I have
been long in expectation that some person woud be sent
out to take charge of Bethesda Affairs, I have paid what
attention 1 coud to them, but the various concerns I have
to attend to puts it out of my power to render them Essential
services, they suffer much for want of being properly
look'd after tho' the hands are too few to do much in the
planting way Pray let me hear from you as soon as possi-
ble Mrs. Clay & Family are all well & join me in best res-
pects to Mrs. Piercy having rec'd none of your favours
since my last to you I have only to add, that I am with
Respect,

D'rSir

Your most Ob't Ser't

J. Clay.

Savannah the 17th Feb'y, 1784.
Mr. John Wright, Dorset Street

Dublin
Dear Sir

Since my last to you I have rec'd yours of the 1st
August last I now enclose you a Copy of Capt. Deanes
Will for your information ^Mr. Habersham & myself have
since then sold all the Negroes in our possession belonging
to Capt. Deane, except two, one of which is a small Girl
that Capt. Deane left with Polly Kest when he bound her
out, & as she seem'd to look on her as her property I
deferred selling of her for the present, as twas not absolutely

201

necessary the final determination in regard to her must
rest with you, nothing is said about her in the Will the
other is a Man, a great Villain, who remain'd in Georgia
I found him here & took him into possession, but he was
soon detected with some others in a Robbery in this Town,
tried & Condemned to be hanged, & while under Sentence
of Death broke Jaol, what may be the end of him time only
can shew the whole Number sold is Eleven & a Sucking
Child the Gross Amount of Sales is upwards of 800 Sterl-
ing the Vendue Commissions &c will reduce the Net pro-
ceeds perhaps near 15 but of these Eleven Negroes Six
of the primest of them were part of those sold by Capt.
Deane to Dr. Clitheral the Day of Sale we received a
Letter from him Dated in St. Augustine claiming these
Negroes and forbidding the Sale of them however we had
them appraised & sold as Creditors in possession we
thought we had a right to do so they sold high as we
gave Credit for a considerable part of the whole Sales untill
next Crop this though very inconvenient we did rather than
sink the Value of the property by selling for prompt pay-
ment which it woud have done at least one half the bal-
lance due on the Bond we have laid in our Claim For in
So Car'a but I cant learn we have any prospect of receiving
any part of it for a considerable time to come as far as
as I have been able to Collect as yet the Demands on
Capt. Deanes Estate for Debts, will exceed 800 Sterling,
if no more appear than has We have advertized for them
to be brought in of some time the Legacys the Will will
shew the Amt of ^I have never inquired for David Laurence
nor informed him of his Legacy indeed not being able to
discharge it 'twas not necessary perhaps it may be con-
venient for you to advise his Guardian therewith the
Amount of the Legacy will depend on the contsruction
of the Will if the Current Money of So. Caro'a shou'd be
deemed the usual Currt Money before the War they will
be 1000 Sterling if according to the depreciated Value of
it when the Will was made it so small a sum that no person

202

will presume Capt, Deane coud possibly mean to leave
them so small a sum I believe by the Scale of depreciation
I believe they woud not A'mount to i35 Each & on the
other hand ilOOO Sterl'g each was more than the Value of
Capt. Deanes Estate I never heard him speak on the
Subject he had but a very short illness before he died
& I was many Miles from him at the time so that I had no
Opportunity of conversing- with him Polly Kest is now in
my Family & Joe I board out in the Town & have put him
to School the Boy has lost one foot occasioned by the
bite of a Snake some Years before his Father's Death he
is about 12 or 13 Years of Age a good tempered well dis-
posed Boy he writes and Cyphers tolerably the Girl
was bound to a Mantua Maker whom I gave leave to take
her out of Charleston, into the Country when the City was
likely to be Besieged they returned soon after twas taken,
& when the British left the place she went from thence to
Augustine, from what I can learn inveighled away by a
Young Fellow however I sent for her here and she has
now been with me some Months, behaves very well & is
of an exceeding good disposition, she is about 17 years
of Age these young Folks are very unfortunately situ-
ated in this Country their descent places them in the most
disadvantageous situation, as Free persons the Laws pro-
tects them ^but they gain no rank in Life White Persons
do not commonly associate with them on a footing of
equality so many of their own Colour (say the mixt
breed) being Slaves, they too naturally fall in with them,
and even the Negro Slaves claim a right to their acquain-
tance & Society thus a little reflection will present to
you what their future Prospects here must be neglected
by the most respectable Class of Society, are forced to inter-
mix with the lowest, & in what that must end we woud
wish to draw a Veil all the Care that can be taken of
them cant prevent it, it arrises from our peculiar situation
in regard to these people the most eligible plan that I can
recommend is that they be sent to Europe this alone can

203

save them if you woud consent to receive them as your
Wards, I think they might both be made usefull Members
of Society no such distinctions interfere with their happi-
ness on 3^our side the Water the Boy might be Bound
to some business, which he might be able to pursue for his
Maintenance, and the Girl might make a very good Wife
to some honest Tradesman, who woud be glad to take her
with such a sum as she might be intitled to from the Estate
Mr. Habersham accords with me fully in this Idea, and
Mr. Hamilton who was here sometime past, & with whom
I conversed freely on the subject, recommended the same
thing & promised me to write you fully on the business,
shoud this be your opinion I woud send them to you ^
the first safe Conveyance to London, from whence they
might be sent over to you I mention London because Oppor-
tunitys direct to Ireland very seldom present themselves
shoud a direct Conveyance offer twoud be preferable I
shall be glad to hear from you on this business as quick
as possible shoud you concur in opinion with me Our
Executorship might soon be closed we might settle all
the Debts, receive a Security from you to save us from all
claims for Legacys &c due from the Estate, & then places
the whole residue of the Estate in your own possession by
which mode every thing might be soon closed Mr.
Hamilton when he was here went to view the 1000 Acre
Tract of Land at my particular request that he might
write you his opinion of it, mine is the same as when I
wrote you last if the mode I propose of setling matters
shou'd be agreable to you you may command any services
in my power as before the Person who rented the land last
Year, quits it this, nor have I any prospect at present of get-
ting any person to take it this indeed I wish to meet with
any person who will take charge of it Gratis in Order to pre-
serve the buildings, unless you improve these Lands I
cant think you will gain much by keeping them few Per-
sons in this Country rent lands a freehold is so easily
obtained by those who possess any kind of property that

204

hireing places to plant on is rarely thought of I think you
are now possessed of every information necessary for you
to enable yourself to decide finally when I can compleat
a full liquidation of all the Accounts you shall have Copies
of them but you may Calculate on the outlines as I have
given them to you with certainty I suppose the Girl & Boy
will cost including boarding Schooling &c between 80 &
90 Guineas ^ Annum I give 30 G. ^ Ann for boarding &
washing Joe and the person who has him complains
that she cant afford to keep him at that. Polly at her own
request lives intirely with me but how long it may be con-
venient for her to stay with me (as my Family is large)
may be uncertain the Will will afford you every other
necessary information shall therefore only add that I am
with best respects to Mrs. Wright

DSir your most Ob't Amb't Serv.

J. Clay.

Savannah 15th March 1784.
The Hono'ble Henry Laurens Esq
Dear Sir

I had the honor of receiving your esteemed favour 30th
August last but a short time past, the one of the 16th same
Month referred to never came to hand I also at same time
rec'd from Messieurs Poisons a Letter covering the power
of Attorney mentioned in yours the Father of these Gen-
tlemen was included in our Act of confiscation & banish-
ment & their lands advertised for Sale to take place a few
days after I received their power thus situated I was at a
loss what to determine, the time being so short & not
being sufficiently acquainted with the particular merits of
the business when Old Mr. Poison Died, or what had been
the motives that induced the legislature to include him in
our Act; under these Circumstances I determined to pur-
chase the whole of their Lands myself, for their Account

205

expecting one of two things wou'd happen, that is either
that I shou'd by being enabled to lay some favourable cir-
cumstances before the Legislature or by the treaty of peace
being in their favour, obtain a full restitution of their
property, or that if I shou'd fail in this, that from its
being known that I purchased for the heirs, I shoud buy
them in so low as to put it in the power of Messrs Poison
to dispose of them again to advantage & to this end, I
empowered our friend Mr. LeConte, who was to attend the
Sale to buy them in whether Messrs Poisons wou'd have
approved of my conduct I dont know I meant it for that
best however by accident we were fortunate enough to
have the Sale suspended, Mr. William Houstoun who was
at the Sale took, on him as an Attorney, to forbid the Sale
of Mr. Poisons lands among some others of his acquaint-
ances absentees, & the Commissioners agreed to postpone
them untill the Assembly met; they have since met, but
did not come to any determination respecting Mr, Poisons
Land Mr. Houstoun, though he forbid the Sale had noth-
ing particular to Offer being as much unacquainted with
the Circumstances as myself however as no further Sale was
Ordered, & the effects of the War are daily decreasing, I
am of opinion nothing further will be urged on the busi-
ness, but how far Mr. Poisons selling at this juncture may
be prudent, I can't say, untill so much of the Act as relates
to these Lands is repealed, or it appears some clause in
the Treaty secures them they cant give sufficient titles

Our State is setling again very fast, especially the back
Country a large Cession of Land as far So'therly as the
Oconees has lately been agreed to by the Creek Indians
which will be setled immediately some valuable setlers
have and are coming in from East Florida our Ports has
been tolerably filled this Winter and though individuals
will feel the effects of the War for many years, I may Say
all, their lives, yet the Country at large will soon recover
Nothing is wanting but hands to cultivate the earth I have
entered into business again with a hope by my Industry

206

to retrieve past losses and with an expectation of being
by that means more in the way of collecting my Old Debts;
how far it may answer either of those purposes, time only
can shew, nothing on my part so far as my knowledge &
ability reaches shall, be wanting to effect it I have only to
assure you ^I am with great respect, & regard
D'r Sir

Your most Hum'Ie Serv't

Joseph Clay.

Savannah 3d April 1784.
Mr. Joachim Noel Famin
Dear Sir

I rec'd yours of the 31st October last ^ Capt. Russell
who arrived here three days ago Your information from
Car'a & Georgia in my opinion is in no respect well founded
every thing in both States being in general in a thriving
way, many of the British may possibly complain ; they have
been so used to be Masters in this Country, that it gives
them pain to find we can in every respect do without them,
and some of them who find themselves obnoxious to the
generality of the Citizens of this Country I trust are the
writers of such unfavourable reports however even at
this Day they have too many Friends in the Towns ^Goods
'tis true have sometimes been brought in by Strangers &
sold low, & just as peace took place large quantities were
pushed in, & glutted the Markett for sometime, but that
is over & things are nearly in their Old Channell if I
meet with a purchaser for your Land so as to answer the
purpose of setling every thing as you propose, I will dis-
pose of them, as population increases that may be effected
I cant well say what Goods woud bring the most profit but
I shoud suppose coarse & midling linnens hardware Calli-
coes & printed linnens &c woud do as well as any thing
for Cash any thing is difficult to part with, owing to the

207

Scarcity of Specie, on Credit they sell as usually your
friend in East Florida has nothing to apprehend on account
of his bearing Arms during the War; as a British subject
he had a right to do so; if he owed no Allegiance to the
United States, or took the Oaths to any of them, or is
included in any of the Acts of Treason of the several
States, he has nothing to fear he will find protection & pre-
fect security for his person & property come when & from
where he will no Army will kept in our State, our Inhab-
itants hold themselves competent to their own defence, as
to the Indians they are looked on as too contemptible an
Enemy to create the smallest uneasiness, nor is their any
thing to apprehend from them in regard to Lumber it
woud be very tedious to mention the mode of measuring,
prices, &c, probably you may have an Account of the
former, as it is the same as before the War, as are the
prices in general, at foot is the present Curr't prices I have
only to assure you that I am with regard
D'Sir
Your most Obed't humble Ser't

Joseph Clay.

Savannah 3d April 1784.
Messrs John & Hugh Poison
Gentlemen

I received your favour of the 23d August & shoud have
reply'd sometime past had not indisposition prevented
your Power of Attorney to me and Col'l Laurens & his son
also came to hand at the same time accompanied with a
Letter from the former the Lands you mention were in
such a situation that it was not, nor has not been in my
power to do any thing with them as to Sale they were
unfortunately included in our Act of Confiscation, either a
British property or the property of your favour as an

208

Inhabitant of this State, I do not know which they were
advertized for Sale to take place in 3 or 4 days after yours
came to hand the time was then too short to take any
Steps in the business nor was I sufficiently acquainted with
the Circumstances to know how to act I concluded to buy
such of them in as should be sold (the whole not being
advertised) on your Accounts, expecting that we might be
able to lay matters before the Legislature in such a light
as to induce them to order a full restitution of the property,
or that the Treaty of Peace between G. B. & the U. S.
woud by some Articles or other secure them to you; to
this end I empowered a Friend who proposed to attend
the Sales (they being held at Sunburry) to purchase them
in; fortunately Mr, William Houstoun who is well
acquainted with you was present at the Sale & by some
means prevailed on on the Commissioners to postpone the
Sale of your Lands with some others untill the Legisla-
ture met they have since met but did nothing in the
business neither for or against he (Mr. Houstoun) was
not any more acquainted with particulars relative to this
property than myself however I do not think the State will
interfere further in the matter, but untill so much of the
Law as includes this Land in the Act of Confiscation is
repealed, you can't give legal titles to any one who might
be desirous of purchasing it it woud be proper that we
shoud be informed when your Father Died if it was before
the War I apprehend our Act woud not reach his property
tis my belief the Public will not make any claim in future
but at present matters do not stand on such a footing as to
make it prudent to proceed to sell nor will the land in my
opinion bring near so much as it may at some future day
as the Inhabitants increase, and which they are no^'^ doing
very fast Lands must rise in Value I do not learn that
your Lands are so valuable for the richness of their Soil
as the pleasantness of their situation, which as yet is not
so much attended to with us as the Quality Mr. Mossman
will pay the Amount of your draft & shoud no Expen-

209

ditures be necessary on your behalf I will remit the Amount
no Taxes has been paid I presume for some time 'twill
be proper in my opinion in future to pay them as they
become due least a failure shoud give rise to any unfavour-
able measures I have only to assure you of any services
in my power and am with respect
Gentlemen

Your most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay.

Savannah 17th April 1784.
George Meade Esq.
Dear Sir

I hope we shall very shortly Say at least that the pro-
duce of America shall not be Ship'd from her Ports to the
British Islands but in American Bottoms, & by American
Merchants only, or some other mode operating to that
effect tis an Insult to the feelings of Men, and a great
indignity to the States, that the Subjects of a Nation who
have for many Years being laying Waste our Country, &
deluging it with the blood of its Inhabitants, shoud at so
early a period attempt to Monopolize so large a branch of
our Trade as the one they are now aiming at.

I am with great respect

D'Sir your most Ob't Serv't

J. C.

Savannah the 22d April 1784.
Mr. John Wilcock
Dear Sir

Since my last to you I have rec'd your several favours
of the 11th Nov'r 24th Dec'r & 16th Ulto I observe you have
altered the destination of the Pallas I very sincerely wish
she may make a profitable Voyage, such a one as may
compensate for the many disappointments & expences, you

210

have been put to on her Account this last Winter I cant
say whether tis for your advantage that you could not prose-
cute your Voyage here had you been permitted to have car-
ried it into execution, nothing in my power shou'd have been
wanting that coud have in the least degree promoted your
Interest.

The very great losses this State has sustained by the
War in Slaves, and property of every kind the great dis-
persion of her Inhabitants when the British Troops got
possession of it, & the many evils the natural consequences
in any Country that becomes the Seat of War, have all con-
tributed to throw her greatly behind hand the last may
be said to be the first Crop that has been planted since the
year 1776 & it was very far short of what it used formerly
to be, & very inadequate to our wants & very dispropor-
tionate to the Amount of our Imports however our pros-
pects are greatly brightening most of our Old Inhabi4:ants
are returned with their property, & amazing Numbers of
New Setlers have come in within the last twelve Months,
it is supposed there will be near three times the land planted
this year that there was last, this must tend greatly to ease
cur Trade, & to remove many difficulties it has been labour-
ing under for some Years past, & there can be no doubt
but that this State must become in point of Commerce, in
a very few Years, one of the first States in the Union.

Our Vessels lay here in fresh Water no worms ever
touch them, if they lay below, Say at Cockspurr in the
Summer they might suffer, we bring near 24 a 25 feet
Water to Cockspurr, which is a very safe Harbour, about
7 Miles from the Barr, & 11 from Town we bring 12 feet
up to Town, & Vessels that exceed that Draught may com-
pleat their lading to 14 or 14^ feet about 3>< Miles below
the Town.

Very respectfully
D'r Sir

Your most Obed. Serv.
Jos. Clay.

211

Savannah the 24th April 1784.
Mr. Rabert Dillon

When Capt. Saltus arrived with us I immediately
applied to Major Washington to furnish me with Lumber
to Ship by him, or to provide a Quantity ^ the next Trip,
to both of which requisitions I rcc'd so evasive an answer
that I wrote him desiring him to write you himself on the
subject these kind of people without knowledge or Expe-
rience, have been purchasing & Speculating on every thing
they can lay their hands, the generality of them knowing,
one thing, & that was, that they cou'd not be worsted,
having nothing to loose, in this way they have laid them-
selves under so many obligations, that they comply with
none of them, but on the contrary, deceive and disappoint
every one who have any thing to do with them Washington
tis said has realized a handsome fortune, at least this is
the general opinion, for my part the winding up only in my
opinion can ascertain that if we were to Sue him he woud,
or at least he might, traverse the matter at Court so as to
Spin out twelve Months before you coud obtain Judgement,
were this not the Case I woud recommend that mode.

In regard to Deane's Wench the keeping her at hire
will not answer and is a trouble I never can think of suffer-
ring you to remain subject to, woud she not sell payable
in the Crop, if she was fit for a family, I woud have no
objection to send for her here I know she is capable, but I
presume has been so long her own Mistress, & so attached
to Caro'a that, she woud with great reluctance come here
I am told you have great uneasiness in your State relative
to the Tories tis hard that Peace or War they shoud inter-
rupt our Gover't your Assembly in the opinion ; even, of
moderate Men, certainly went too far Your Legislature
and ours are the only ones on the continent that have given
themselves, any trouble, about them, remember me to all
with you, & believe me to be with great regard D'r Sir

Your most Ob't Serv.

J. C.

212

Savannah June 1st 1784.
Mr. J. Wilson, Esq'r
Dear Sir

I received your favour of the 5th Ulto covering fifteen
Treasury Certificates Amounting to Nine thousand seven
hundred & fifty one pounds 9/ ^I observe the Certificate
for 396.. 6/ of the 20th May 1777 has been in part paid in
Continental Money as ^ Endorsements on the back of it.

Our legislature have taken no Steps as yet either for
paying, or funding them ; they directed an Account of them
to be rendered in, that they might know the Amount, and
which has been done by most of the holders Our Treas-
urers Books were lost w'hich rendered this Step necessary
this is all I can do with yours at present which I will do &
return them to you as you desire, might the recording of
them in our Secretarys Office be proper to guard against
any future Accidents Our Assembly meet the first of next
Month, 'tis very probable they may come to some rule for
providing for them Audited Certificates pay for Confis-
cated property sell from 3 to 4 for 1 ^but loan Certificates
untill the Assembly make a provision for them, will not
be in demand, & am with regard
D'r Sir

Your most Obed. Serv.

Joseph Clay.

Savannah June 8th 1789.
D'r Sir

If we are to believe the reports from the Indian Coun-
try they were just about leting loose their Vengeance upon
us what wou'd have been the consequence in our unpre-
pared situation may be more easily conceived than des-
cribed.

I have only time to add that I am in regard
D'r Sir

Yours

J.C.
213

Savannah 27th June 1789.
Abraham Baldwin Esq'r

We have nothing new no advices from above
respecting the treaty ^I am told Gov'r & Council are
adjourned to the Oconee's at whose charge or for what
purpose none I have met with can inform me I auger very-
ill of this business my Idea is the avidity we have for
land will prevent a treaty on reciprocal ground the utmost
I expect is that something may be patched up by w'ch we
may gain time we have not the smallest means to go
to war with & the Indians will be cautious how they drawn
down the force of the Union were it not for that I am
convinced they have so indifferrent an opinion of our
ability (as a State) to hurt them that they wou'd risque a
war directly I am with regard Dear Sir

Yours &c

J. Clay.

Jonah Horry Esq'r
Dear Sir

I received your several favours of the & 1st

Inst respecting a negro of Mr. Blakes in our Jaol I had
some expectations of sending him to you by Mr. Elliott he
gave me reason to believe he cou'd make it convenient to
take him unfortunately I was not in town or did not know
when he sett off for Beaufort by which means I was
deprived of opportunity writing you.

I have this day put Caesar on board Capt. Godett &
drawn on Mr. Gadsden's for il5..12..11 Sterling the amount
of Jaol fees, taking up Mileage advertising and a small
Doctors bill and which I was obliged to pay when I took
him out I am surprised it was not known sooner that the
fellow was here and the more so as I find he was very
regularly advertised

I hope your residence at Beaufort will have the affect

214

of preserving you and Mrs. Horry from the fall fever Mrs.
Clay and our family are well and join me in best respects
to Mrs, Horry and am with regard and respect
D'r Sir

Your most Obed Serv

Joseph Clay.

Savannah 9th August 1789
Dear Sir *

^ Capt, Burnham I received yours of the Instant

the appointment of the Custom house Officers, in general
gave tolerable satisfaction in this part of the Country the
Collectors I believe almost universally, and I am very sure
the United States will never have occasion to regret it,
either for want of attention, capacity or integrity; how
Collins's appointment may operate I dont know tis said
on the late investigation he discovered either a want of
ability or attention perhaps both a small Port so near
a large one, and where a single Officer presides a great
door may be opened for smuggling, unless their shou'd be
very great integrity in the Officer who presides, when goods
are landed so near Markett, and where the conveying them
either by the inland water carriage, or by land, is so easy,
the temptation will naturally present itself if the Coast
trade, as well within each State, as from State to State,
is not under very severe regulations, and them well
attended to, the revenue will be defrauded frequenly for-
eigners will embrace every opening, and too many of our
own citizen's may be found too prone to assist them in
their attempts, and not a few of them also may be as willing
to take advantages of that kind where they present them-
selves as foreigners

I am very glad to find Indian matters are attended to
by Congress I had no Idea of any thing I wrote on the

Probably to the Hon. Henry Laurens.

215

subject being used in a Public way, or I shou'd probably
have wrote with more attention, if any loose hints I may
have drop'd on the subject have been of any service I shall
be very happy if once the business is fairly in the hands
of Congress, so that both we and the Indians feel the
restraining and Protecting Power of the Union, we shall
do well posts must be established to carry this into effect
many talk of Strong forts and large Garrisons to me they
appear totally unnecessary I do not consider them as
Places of defence, but for the purpose of restraining those-
either White or Red who shall infract the treatys sub-
sisting between us, the laws of the land, or regulations of
trade, so as to bring the perpetrator to account whenever
they happen, and which in my openion will be ver}^ Seldom,
when once the law less know they can't do any of these
things with impunity as to what may be necessary between
us an the Spaniards we being in that respect a barrier
country the forts and Garrisons or Vessels must bear
a proportion to those they keep up, or they will not answer
the purpose intended tho I shou'd presume when they find
our Government rising into respect and power they will
for their own interest place things on such a footing as will
remove the complaints we have had occasion so justly to
make against them latterly I wish our People to the
Westward may not in part ballance this account, by give-
ing the Spaniards like cause of complaints against them.

I have been put to a great deal of trouble in a piece of
business which originated when I was pay Master to the
Southern Army and that principally from the neglect of
the treasury board or their Officers, and which after every
difficulty is nearly over is still kept pending for want of
information from them, at least as I am informed and
which I wou'd be obliged to you if you shou'd have time,
before you leave New York to make some enquiry so as to
Push the business on to a conclusion ^but to make you
informed therewith, 'twill be necessary for me to detail
a few circumstances in order to give you an Idea of the

216

business in June 1781 while our Army was encamped
before 96 in St Carolina Gen'l Greene proposed to me to
go from there to Augusta, to endeavour to get the People
together, encourage them and endeavour to form some
System of Government suitable to the present Situation
of the Country and some other business respecting the
safety there securing Public Stores &c, all of which I
effected as far as the circumstances of the time wou'd per-
mit while I was absent a sum of paper Money came on
for the Use of the Army as far as Charlotte in No. Car'a
theCountry at that time being very insecure, the Escorts
wou'd not come any further and the Money being of no
use not haveing any circulation, or being of any service
either as Pay or for the purchase of supplies the sending
for it was no object the General wrote me from the Army
while I was in Georgia, that the Money was at Charlotte,
and that as the Escorts were uneasy to be gone, he shou'd
direct it to be left there, which was done, some time after
I returned to Camp, and after a while had occasion to go
to No. Car'a, I applyed to the General to know if I shou'd
have the Money brought from there he said there was
no occasion, that it was of no use, and as we had no fixed
station at that time, and our remaining there must depend
on who had the longest sword the enemy or us it was not
necessary or words to that purpose, When I went to Char-
lotte I found it in the hands of a Mr. Alexander, with
whom it had been left by the Escorts, to whom he had
given a receipt for it he was a Quarter Master to the
Continental Troops, while they remained in that part of
the Country, and so long as a Post was kept at Charlotte
I found on inquiry he was a man of family there, and of
good Character he now resides there and in repute when
we got possession of Georgia I resigned my Office which
was in July 1782 and wrote to this Alexander to send
the Money to a Col Kershaw at Camden, I also made a
return of all the Moneys, bills &c in my hands, and of this
in Alexanders, and wanted Gen'l Greene to appoint a per-

217

son to receive them from me, but he declined it when
Major Pierce came on to the So'ward he received all my
Vouchers Money &c every thing respecting them, took a
power of attorney from me and promised to get all my
accounts setled, and which was done and a considerable
sum is now due me for Pay the Money left in Alexander's
hands, I returned stating the ballance exactly as it was,
and which was received and no hint ever thrown out that
I was held Accountable for it, nor until three Years after-
wards When Major Pierce was here, I informed him fully
of the business, and he advised me to return the fact as
it was, he was well acquainted with all the circumstances
as all my accounts and correspondences during the War
(after Mr. Palfreys resignation) being through here at
this time, say when he was in Georgia, I had never heard
from Alexander, soon after he went to the No'ward he
Alexander wrote me that he had delivered it to one Russell
who was then in business in Charleston and that he had
desired him to deliver it to me I then wrote to Russell
who some time after informed me he had the Mony that
he offered it to General Greene Col'l Carrington but none
of them wou'd receive it from him, and that it was ready
to be delivered at any time I then wrote Mr, Pierce (in
Dec 1785) where the Money was, and inform'd him as I
presumed it must go No'therly had given no directions
relative to it in May 1786 I again wrote Mr. Pierce as
follows I wish the Money in Mr. Russell's hands was
ordered into some Officer of the United States, for tho I
do not hold myself responsible for it, I shou'd wish it to
be placed in such hands as wou'd take even the most distant
charge of it from me notwithstanding this it was March
1787 before any step was taken in the business when he
wrote me of the 23d of that Month that the Treasury
board had directed him to send for the Money in Mr.Russells
hands, and that he had drawn an Order on him for it in
favour of Mr. Neufville, when Mr. Neufville got the order
Mr. Russell cou'd not be found, he had with drawn himself

218

as afterwards came to light into Wilkes County (where
he now resides in business and makeing Money very fast
as I am informed soon after about half the Money (the
whole was 57,600 dollars new Emission) was brought to
Mr. Neufville in Charleston as from Mr. Russell but no
information of Mr. Russell ^but that he had used the
Money, that so soon as he was able, every farthing shoud
be repaid but so soon as the treasury board found the
Money was in Jeopardy they fastened on me, and directed
that I shou'd be sued for the amount, they did this before I
presumed they knew Mr. Neufville had received a part of
it from Mr. Russell a suit was accordingly commenced and
is now pending the event of it to me at present on many
scores is of very little consequence further than that I
Avou'd not wish there was even a surmise that I ever had
used the property of the United States, or any other, or
that I directly or indirectly withheld any of their Monies
the fact is the very reverse I served them faithfully upward
of 5 Years during all of w'ch time while I was in Georgia
I was in advance for them from il500 to 8 or 9000 at a
time as my Accounts by being referred to will shew when
we were drove out of our Country I had it not in my
power to advance however to return to my Story Russell
since the suit was pending has sent upward of 10,000
Dollars more of the money lodged in his hands which he
had as he says through his necessities been induced to
pledge as a Security for goods he purchased in Charleston
and w'th which he set up Store in Wilkes where I under-
stand he carrys on a very profitable business I never to
my knowledge saw him tho' he also was a Quarter Master
in the Army he has wrote me two or three letters taking
the whole business on himself & assuring me that I never
shall suffer in the least for I wrote him that I was sued in
order to spur him as well as from a Wish to get the U.
States secured his last letters are advising that he is ready
to pay the ballance whenever he knows what money will
be received for it or at what rate Specie will be received

219

neither myself nor Major Pendleton cou'd inform him but
Major Pendleton in consequence thereof suspended the
operation of the suit against me, & has as he informs me
wrote for Instructions as to what money he may receive
but can get no answer he suggested to me the requesting you
to Urge it to me the present situation is very injurious
I am kept out of a large balance due me by the United
States & which I can with truth Say I diligently & faith-
fully earned, & am hung up as the ostensible person in a
business that their neglect only has been the cause of the
Money was Maryland & Virginia New Omission issued
at 40 for 1, I suggested to Russell who by his letters
appears anxious to pay the balance, that Old Continental
Money at 40 for 1 C. loan Office Certificates wou'd probably
answer, but as neither Major Pendleton or myself cou'd
say any thing w'th certainty the business remains where
it was tis more than probable he could help out to defray
the Indian treaty either by furnishing Tobacco or some
other means if its put on any tolerable generous footing so
that he has it in his power to comply The money when it
came from the No'ward was worth nothing nor I believe
until near the time Russell pledged & sold it nor can the
U. States be chargeable (if they were ever chargeagle at
all) by the States who were & have been bound for its
redemption for more than its Specie Value when they
received it the indifference of Congress or the treasury
board respecting it for 5 Years is Proof of how little value
it was, they were too much in want themselves to have
let it lay idle so long if it cou'd have been of any Use the
ballance unpaid is 19700 dollars, the other paid he has repaid
in like money probably as the business has been so long
dormant it may come suddenly on Law, in w'ch Case the U.
States being well secured & receiving Interest it wou'd be
no Inconvenience to them to give time for payment Mr.
Pierces death was very unfortunate for me he took a
great deal of pains to have all my matters setled & had
near brought every thing to a close when this matter

220

turn'd up the want of means only prevented my being
paid & discharged I was at one time to have had an order
on the Treasury of So. Car'a for the ball'e of my pay
however when the money business is brought to Issue I
hope there will be no further hindrance from the Acco't
I have of Russell I shall have no objection to receive an
order on him for my ballance provided it can be so managed
that he will not have it in his power to pay me in our paper
mone}^ how this money will be charged I don't know, but
when it came to the So'ward & for Years afterwards the
ballance due from him was not worth half the ballance due
me by the U. States I hope you will excuse this trouble &
the long epistle on such uninteresting matter except to
myself & more especially as the whole of it comes to this
one point how much is now to pay I presum'd without
your understanding the progress of the Business through-
out you wou'd be unprepared to urge it I am just now
much engaged w'ch makes it come rougher to you than if
I had more leisure I have only to assure you of any
Services in my Power here and am

D'r Sir Yours m ob Serv

J. c.

P. S. Mr. Neufville says in a letter he wrote me the
22d Oct'r 1787 that he had found out that Russell had
pledged to Snowden, Lothrop and Forrest of Charleston
19,700 dollars as a security for goods purchased of them to
the amount of 235 Stg. so much for its Value then he in
the same letter mentions that he heard Russell was in
Wilkes County wishes me to preserve his (Russell's)
letter acknowledging the receipt of the money in case
he shou'd be obliged to account in this State & doubts not
of my readiness to assist in the recovery if he shall be
found in our State at the time you see they did not hold
me responsible When Mr. Pierce left this I promised
to do every thing in my power to find Alexander & recover
the money which I did & advised him accordingly I have

221

both their letters Say A and R acknowledging the Receipt
of this Money however I have no doubt from Russell's
3 Letters & the character I hear of him that he will end
the business by paying or securing to be paid so soon as
its Value is fixed, w'ch I hope will be on reasonable Terms

& by w'ch terms at loss more than the real Value

of any Curr'y not the nominal one.

Savannah the 30th Dec'r 1789.
Alex Hamilton Sec of the Treasury the United States
Sir

I received your very obliging favour of the 2d Oct'r
last respecting a claim of the United States on me for a
sum of money of the new emission & tho under the
peculiar circumstances of this business I can't think myself
responsible yet 'tis my wish to see the United States
secured in the same as soon as possible & shall do every
thing in my power for that purpose the person who received
the money and appropriated it to his own use (as he says
prompted by penury & want) is I am told at this time in
very good circumstances & writes that he only waits to
know what money will be received in payment & at what
rate he has already sent to Savannah 10,100 dollars of that
emission over & above what he paid to Mr. Neufville in
Charleston So. Car'a he offered a very considerable sum
in Public securities of So. Car'a provided they wou'd be
received, but neither Major Pendleton nor myself cou'd
venture to receive them not knowing whether they wou'd
be accepted nor what was the value of them when I first
inform'd Mr. Pierce that that money was in the hands of
this Mr. Russell he was in possession of it & resided in
Charleston and tho' I mentioned the matter repeatedly to
him no order came on to receive it & until upwards of 12
months afterwards during which time he, Russell, as he
says made use of it he has been pressing for a considerable

222

time past to know what will be rec'd for the ball'e his
circumstances may again decline, tho I have no reason for
saying so, or suspect it, yet as it has once happened it may
again & therefore shou'd as far as possible be guarded
against he says 'tis not in his power to procure the same
emission 'tis probable he might procure old Continental
money or Continental loan office Certificates.

I hope you will excuse my troubling you on this
subject I know your time must be always engaged in
much more important business the desire & anxiety I
have to see it brought to a conclusion & the U. States
secured & myself intirely rid of it moves me to urges it.
I am

Savannah 24th April 1790.
Mr. James Thomson Jun'r Sterling
Dear Sir

The last I received from you proposed the Sale of
the lands belonging to Burn's Estate, but where you
acquainted with the situation of our Country you
wou'd not push such a measure because 'twoud not be for
the Interest of the Proprietors, on the contrary tend much
to their injury the Principal tract Say the 750 acre tract
is situated in a part of the Country that has hitherto been
thought a very unsafe one, as on the one hand from the
very few setlers near it 'tis exceedingly exposed to the
ravages of the Indians (who have very frequently com-
mitted ravages in that part of the Country this three or
four Years past) and from its vicinity to the Spanish setle-
ments. Slaves are apt to quit their Masters & run into their
lines, where they are too frequently countenanced ; these
circumstances efifect lands in that part of the State very
much, & lessen their Value, & of course the demand for
these Lands in general are low, the very heavy losses many

223

of our Inhabitants Sustained during the late War has
obliged many who possess lands (which was a kind of
Property they cou'd not lose) to offer them for Sale the
great loss of Slaves during the War has also effected the
Value of Land, as their cultivation depends much on them,
particularly in our low Country, the excessive heat & situ-
ation of our best Say our Rice Lands, being such that
White People can't labour in them We have also had a
very large tract of Country ceded to us by the Indians
since the War, which have been granted out or sold on
such very easy terms by Government as to operate much
to keep down the Value of those for Sale by individuals,
& the last are in the upper Country, & fine healthy Climate,
fertile Soil, & where the Culture of farming is nearly the
same as in Europe & holds fourth such temptations as
draw great numbers of emigrants & Setlers into them
from all these circumstances you will naturally suppose
the Sale of Lands will be impeded, notwithstanding all
the disadvantages the Value of Lands must increase, &
soon be in more demand than the}^ have been for some
time past this State is flourishing with rapidity &
increasing in its Commerce and Population the establish-
ment of our new federal Constitution Produces the most
happy effects, & gives energy to our laws, and the utmost
security to our Property, & of course must tend to bring
an increase in its Value if you propose to sell & do it
for Cash, the land will bring a very trifling Value indeed
on a Credit by installment, giveing Security for the pay-
ment wou'd tend to Promote the Value & enhance the
Price, but to do this, both the heirs must agree to the
measure, or it can't be done you on the part of Mr. Gait,
& Mr. Alex Burn by himself or his Attorney, the last letter
I had from them on the subject was desireing me on no
Acco' to sell the lands, but it is now upwards of two Years
since I heard from them tho' they do reside above 200
Miles if so much from this I have been thus Prolix for
your information that you may be able as far as possible

224

to Judge for yourself One of the Tracts say the one we
purchased is only ten Miles from the Town, & near a good
landing, it will be much easier disposed of than the other
which is in an uninhabited part of the Country at this
time Troops are expected to be Stationed to the So'ward
of the latter & on the back of that part of the Country
immediately, which will probably give such security to
the Setlers, as to induce many of the Proprietors to setle
& to setle again on these lands & of course soon brings
them into Value again I have had the Acco'ts of the
Estate made out & laying by me this two Years past &
nearly compleated to send you for your information, &
only waited for a Settlement w'th one of the heirs,
of Mr. Gibbons (late one of the Excrs of the
Estate & Doctor Jones on whose lands the Negros
planted five years under the management of Mr, Gibbons,
for until after the Death of Mr. Gibbons, I never had any
thing to do w'th the planting business it being intirely
out of my way being in business & always closely con-
fined to it ! have not yet been able to get these matters
closed as I know the matters unsetled, at least I think
so, can't make any very great alteration in the general
Statement of the Estates affairs I have here with sent you
a Copy of them to the 29th Dec'r 1778 ballance in favour
of the Extrs 118, .2. .8 Sterling at which times the Country
became the Seat of War & I left it & did not return till
after Savannah was evacuated by the British Troops
soon after I left the State the late Mr. Hugh Burns brother
came into it, got possession of the Estate under some
pretence or other (for I left an Overseer on the plantation,
and supposed as the property belonged to Minor, & all
that time British Subjects it wou'd have been unmolested,
as the property of Minors & Widows, was always held
Sacred by all Nations even at War) what was done w'th
the property in that time, which was near four Years, I
don't know, Mr. Burn went away with the British Troops
& took such of the Negro's away with him as wou'd go

225

with him, & w'ch he wou'd have done with the whole of
them if they had been willing to go, at least I am informed
so the plantation when I left the State had a good dwell-
ing house on it a Barn, sufficient houses for the Negro's
& all other necessary Out buildings, was well fenced, had
a very considerable quantity of Rice on it both cleaned
out in the Rough, & in the Stack (it being of no Value
at that time nor cou'd we dispose of it for any thing after
the Year 1775 all Commerce & Trade almost ceasing in
this Country after the War began) there was also a
small Stock, some Horses & necessary Carriages when
we returned not a vestige of any thing was left every
building was destroyed, not any fence or the least traces
of any kind of Stock or property whatever all was deso-
late how the whole of the 'buildings came to be destroyed
was 8c is very uncertain Old Mr. Burn lived there until
the Evacuation of Savannah, & the last that were destroyed
the neighbours say was done a few hours after he left it, &
they charge him with it he was much addicted to liquor
& with all of a bad natural disposition, in such a situation
he might have ordered some of the Negro's to have set
fire to them, but I never cou'd find any thing to ascertain
the fact in that or any other way When Mr. H. Burn died
he possessed twenty Negro's Valued at 575 our Money,
dollars 1 less 5/ & half Johanico 40/ many of them were
small Negro's 8 of them were boys and Girls Valued
from ilO to 20 each one of them a Man afflicted with the
leprosy Appraised at 10 & who died soon after 8 other
Men & 3 Women we added to the Number by purchases
as the Accounts will shew there never was any children
raised to grow up that I know of of the above one was
killed by the fall of a tree, one by Lightening (a woman
who had a fine Child that died soon after) six or seven
others by natural deaths at difT't Periods including the
man above mentioned with the leprosy the whole
amount of Mr. Burns personal property including his
Negro's were appraised at 639 he was very considerably

226

in debt when he died, partly from being Security for
others, all of which we were obliged to pay, some of them
we secured again in part, & part of them we could not &
had we not become answerable until we could sell & make
the most of matters his estate wou'd have been intirely
sunk, for if we had not interfered but let suits at law have
been commenced, it must have been sunk with the charges
& the losses that wou'd have been sustained by selling
property under Execution he was considerably indebted
to a Mr. Brewton with whom he was in America at that
time after his Death made a purchase oi some Negro's
in Carolina & his brother joined him in the bond & after-
wards got him arrested for the sum & had not Mr Brew-
ton became his security he wou'd have ruined him Mr.
Brewton afterwards paid the money & we repaid him, he
also owes Mr. Jn Graham a considerable sum for Negro's
purchased of him and other matters he also owed myself
and partners a considerable sum for Negro's & other
Articles sold him so that it was a considerable time before
we could get his affairs so extricated as to be able to look
forward much he was a very thriving Young Man, a good
Planter, & had it pleased God to have spared him, wou'd
with his management & economy & Industry have made
a fortune Credit at that time was very extensive, espec-
ially to industrious men of good Character, & he woud
have availed himself of it with advantage, notwithstanding
the small number of his Hands & our being unfortunate
in planting yet Sir You will observe in 1775 we had pur-
chased a Snug Plantation, paid for it & increased his lands,
furnished the plantation w'th every necessary, paid all the
Debts of the Estate & must from that period have made
money fast if the late unhappy contest had not taken place
w'ch subjected the Estate in common w'th all others to
very heavy losses & almost total ruin his brothers con-
duct contributed much to injure it & indeed he had always
been inimical to its Interests his brother Hugh was so
much afarid of his brothers ill conduct and disposition, that

227

added to his Will 'twas his last request to me that we
wou'd Act for him, & not let his brother on any Account
have the possession or management of his property who
he said wou'd soon destroy it notwithstanding his own
'Son was equally Interested with his Sisters son in the
proceeds of it we never had a suit brought against
the Estate but by Alex'r Burn, who tho' his ballance was
small wou'd not wait as all the other Creditors did until
we cou'd pay him without distressing the Estate the
ballances appear sometimes for & sometimes against the
Estate every thing was done on Credit here formerly
I don't suppose there was ilOO passed through our hands
in money from the day of Mr. Burns death to this time
all was barter, assumptions, discounts & transfers, so that
many sums & debts assumed by us did not come to Account
sometimes until the final adjustment of the ballancing took
place I hope I may have time to send you a further
Statement up to this time, if this Vessel stays a day or
two longer as I expect I shall be able to accomplish it,
& if not, ^ the next Opportunity there is the hire of the
Negro's since the War until divided to go to the Credit
of the Estate there is also a proportion of Overseers

wages while they were at Doctr's Jones's

Mr. Burns

join'd him in the bond for the purchase money w'ch was
i250 Anderson run away after paying a part of the money,
& Mr. Burns Estate was liable for the remainder, which
we paid & I believe is not brought to Acco't in these ren-
dered there is also an account of Doc. Jones for Medicines
rendered long since the ballances were struck, amount
upwards of i25 Sterling this is also not included in these
Accounts so that the ballance I think will remain ulti-
mately as it now does, against the Estate I have only to
add that I am w'th regard

D'r Sir Your most Obed Ser

J. C.

228

Savannah the 31st March 1790.
Dear Sir

The first of Mr. Herberts bills went P a Ship in March
1776 on board of whom Mr. Graham, Mr. Stokes the then
Chief Justice, and several others went passengers who all
arrived safe which affords a very reasonable presumption
that the bills got to hand also and of course they must either
have been paid or protested.
And are with respect
D'r Sir

Your Most Obed't Serv't

Joseph Clay & Co.

Savannah 10th May 1790.
Lady Huntington
Madam

By Mr Philips you will receive mine & Joseph Clay &
Co's Acco't against Bethesda College stated to the 1 Feb
1789 ballance thus due me & Jos'h Habersham under
the firm of J. C & Co. 277,1.1>^ Sterling there is the
Interest from that period until paid to be added the
Interest charge is the legal Interest of the Country you'll
observe there is none charged from the 29th Dec'r 1778
to the 12th July 1782 this is agreably to a law of our State
and commences the between the time the Day the
British Troops captured Savannah & ends the day they
evacuated it the Acco's since the War are closed annually,
and the ballances remaining after paying the expences of
each Year are carried to the Credit of the Acco't for
advances of supplies for the Institution before the War
Your Ladyship from these will be fully inform'd of the
Annual income & Expenditures since the War to the time
of Mr. Philip's arrival since w'ch I am totally unacquainted
with all the affairs there Were I to Judge from his
behaviour I shou'd have supposed that he believed that

229

instead of my having given every support to Bethesda and
to advancing my money & property to afford it support
when it was all together unable to support itself (as was
the Case w'th all Rice Estates in this State during the
War the Crops of us and of whose are ruined & the gener-
ality of them reduced thereby that few of them can
expect to live long enough to see them recover their former
Situation) that I had been acting a very contrary part on
his arrival he entered on the plantation in a very different
m.anner from what he might have done the more so
as he knew or might have known 'twas in my possession
contrary to my desire & that only in daily expectation
that your Ladyship wou'd send some person to take charge
of it was I induced to pay any attention to it, & that what
I did was without fee or reward or expectation or desire
of any in a very short time after his arrival he turn'd off
the Overseer a Son of a very old Servant of the House (&
whom I had employed for the Year) & though he had all
the property in his hands directed him to me for payment
yet so strong was his then, or his present Conduct in that
business, that he has placed the same Man (Cha's Boyd) in
charge of the plantation & Negro's during his present
absence this is at least a proof that he is at this time of
opinion that he was & is a proper person to be intrusted
w'th such a charge. I only mention these matters, least
your Ladyship shou'd suppose I had been intentionally
inattentive or inimical to the foundation and not as matter
of complaint, very far from it Mr. Philips I believe knows
by this time that his frowns or smiles are equally import-
ant to me &: alike engage fny attention, & that so far from
it were he at any time to want any assistance in any thing
that would further the Interest of the institution I would
most chearfully render it Your Ladyship will observe the
Acco's are ballanced to the 1st Feb'y 1789 Mr. Philips
about that time talked about a settlement, & they were
then ballanced for that purpose & I did not think it neces-
sary to make any alteration until a final one took place in

230

which I hope your Ladyship will find it convenient to
direct in a short time and am w'th great respect

Your Ladyship &c &c &c

Savannah the ^July 1790.

Nicholas Eveleigh, Comptroller of the Treasury
Sir

Yours of the 4th May last came to hand a few days ago
unsealed containing a statement of my accounts with the
United States which so far as I admit the charges are
nearly right By my general Account rendered to Major
Jno Pierce, there was a ballance due the United States
exclusive of my pay and Rations from the 6th August
1777 to the 6th August 1782 and which was expended
by me when the depreciation was from 5 to 1200 for one

& upward Say in the Old Emission 196.262 46-90

There appeared on the examination of my
Accounts the following Errors to the prejudice
of the United States, on a Warrant in favour

of Col'l Drayton 5.000

on a do in favour of Wm. Prendergast in

No. Car'a Curr'y 4.000

on a do in favour of Doct'r James Haig

April 1781 8.155 30-90

213,417 76-90

making together two hundred & thirteen thousand four
hundred & Seventeen Dollars and 76-90 due by me in that
Emission the Last mentioned Error, was in fact not one
Major Habersham who acted for me during the Siege of
Charleston had no more money by him when Doct'r Haig
produced his Warrant then its the sum he payd him but
expected to receive more & pay the ballance as above in a
day or two, & which he was ready to do, but the Doct'r

231

never called for it and I believe the real truth was that
its value was so trifling that he was indifferent about
the War while it had any circulation, not less than two
for one Continental, so that the specie Value of the 4000
dollars was very trifling at that time my getting in debt
to the United States was altogether latterly after that

Period means in my power & in

general did not stand in need of having money of my
own sufficient to answer every purpose, in the Acco't
I stated the Credit of the Old money at 700 for 1 & which
I believe was more value than I received for it, & was
what Mr. Pierce thought reasonable in No. Carolina &
Virginia and where the Public business called you at
that time but principally the latter the real depreciation
was intolerable in travelling, which tis more than probable
you may have experienced, before I left Georgia the
United States were generally in My debt as My Acco'ts
will shew, during the whole time I was in the Service
when I was Obliged to travel or be with the Army, I
always found my own Horses & Servant, & therewith
transported my book paper's & Money, never having put
the United States to the Expence of Tent or Waggon &
team and scarcely ever drew any Rations, & unless when
in Camp or at Posts any Forage, and which was the
smallest part of my time, being generally moving about
on Public business, I observe 1650 dollars discount from
my ballance as My nominal pay, & Mr. Pierce wrote me
it was said I ought to have drawn it there were two
reasons why I did or cou'd not, the one was not knowing
what my pay was, & the other that a considerable part of
the time it was not in my power & if it had 75 depreciated
dollars at that time was too trifling a sum to pay any
attention to on the Score of pay I observe by the sum
you mention as due from me in Old money that a Warrant
for 129,100 dollars is still kept to my debt, this business
I have fully explained before, & must Say that I am
Surprised at the charge as there is no just foundation for

232

it the parties on whom twas drawn, the Commissioners
of the C. loan Office in So. Car'a haveing never paid me
or any person for me any part of it, nor have they charged
the United States one farthing as paid in part of that
Warr't & is the reason I say that I am surprised at the
charge I have never returned the Warr't tis true, & in
times of tranquility & Order I grant I ought to have done
so, but will any person say it was even possible for every
person in Office to transact their business according to
strict rule & for me during the different periods of distress
and confusion in the several States in the late War it was
ever my study as far as was in my power to pay the strictest
attention to the Interest of the Public ^Mr, Pierce was
kind enough to say when I delivered up my Vouchers, that
very few who had done business for the U. States to the
extent I had, had secured them in their property better
than I had done the Warr't in question was drawn in
favour of Mr. Gervais who indorsed it to me for so much
Public Money I had left in his hands & for which I was
responsible & that he had made use of as pay Master for
the State on my receiving it I waited on the Commissioners
for payment they told me they had not money to take
it up at that time on which I left it with them in confidence
and for Safety and which I had frequently done before
with other Warr'ts both on them and the Treasurers this
was just before the Siege of Charleston after calling once
or twice & they not being able to pay me I ask'd Mr. Blake
(who happened to be in the Office at that time) to return
it to me on which he told me it was not in his power as
they had already packed it up & if I remember right sent
it away with their own papers I was no ways uneasy at
his information relying on their integrity & knowing that
as they cou'd have no Credit by me for it with the U. S.
having paid no part of it to me, & that of course the
U. S. wou'd have no Voucher to make any charge against
me for any part I gave myself no trouble concerning it
I was about carrying my family out of Town at that time,

233

and wanted to g-ive the Warrant to Major Habersham who
was there and Acted for me during my absence otherways
I shoud not have called on them for it then after I was
informed that the Warrant remained to my debt altho
I had acquainted the Treasury board with all the cir-
cumstances relative to it I wrote to Mr. Blake reminding
him of the business & requesting him either to send me
the Warrant or a Certificate certifying that I had
received no part of it after some time he replyed to mine
that he had searched their book carefully & cou'd not find
any charge against me nor was there any, & that there cou'd
none be made against me by the U. States, and acknowl-
edged also that he remembered to have had the Warrant
this letter I inclosed to Mr. Pierce the 28th April 1787 and
at the same time inclosed him 12 Setts bills Exchange
amounting to 2800 dollars which Mr. Pierce by his letter
to me of the 12 Sept'r following acknowledged the Receipt
of I am surprised that they shou'd still remain to my
debt and the more so as it must be known that I had not,
nor cou'd not receive any thing for them ^I tendered them
to General Green when I resigned my Office and again
to Mr. Pierce when he received my Vouchers, but they
both declined receiving them, expecting I believe that I
might be able to negotiate them in part of the pay due
me by the U. S.

The ballance by my Account due the U. States in
Specie was 291. .L.l^/^ No. Car'a Curr'y dollar's at 8/ but
their appeared to be a short addition of 8 which brought
it to i299..1..1>4 equal to 747 58-90 as ^ your statement-
there was also a ballance of 35-90 Specie of the new
Emission these are all the sums due by me to the United
States against which their is 5 Years Salary due me &
Rations, Mr. Pierce informed me I was intitled to 75 dol-
lars Specie ^ month & 6 Rations ^ day but in the Account
delivered in I charged only 5 in order to make all allowance
for what I had casually drawn which I am tolerably certain
wou'd be far short of that allowance ^I charged the rations

234

a 10-90 inclosed is a statement of My Account with
his as well as the stating of my Account as to pay I did by
Mr. Pierces directions United States ballance due me
thereby exclusive of interest 4460 88-90 and with
the interest thereon to this day a 6 ^ Cent
2141 22-90 is 6602 20-90 this I hope will be
allowed me it is no more than equity especially to such of
us in this State who have suffered very heavy losses by
the War and of course owe considerable sums of money
& for which by the laws of our State are obliged to pay
8 ^ Cent ^ Annum this is my case and every farthing
of this ballance has cost me that because if when, or as it
became due I wou'd have paid it to those I am indebted
to, and thereby saved that Amount in Interest there was
also a charge of i300 said to be over added in My Acco't
for October 1778 No 7 this Acco't I transmitted in Decem-
ber 1778 & it got to hand no notice was taken of any
Error in it that came to my knowledge until 1788 near ten
Years after the occurrences relative to it had passed away
I have looked over my book carefully, and cant find no
such Error that I am rather of opinion it must be some
Error in the figures. I have inclosed you an Extract
of the debits & Credits as they stand in my books, which
will enable you to point out where the Errors lays or to
shew that there is none, & will be much Obliged for you
to examine that Months Account and advise me and am
with respect

Savannah Sep'r 11th 1790.
His Excellency Charles Pinckney Esq'r
Dear Sir

I received yours ^ General Jackson & two other of
your favours prior to that to which shou'd have replyed
sooner but have been a principal part of my time in the
Country & much engaged when in Town that I had not

235

an opportunity of making the necessary enquiries of the
Collector of Taxes respecting the Tax Account you sent
me & part of the time he has been out of the State which
also occasioned some delay. my Son went about 2 Months
ago to the No'ward for his health from whence I expect
he will return in Six or Seven Weeks not sooner at present
it makes no differrence in respect to suits because no suits
have yet been commenced in the federal Court within this
State nor is the Seal of the Court yet arrived at this time
the district Judge and Attorney General of that Court
are both to the No'ward shou'd business commence in
that Court sooner than my Sons return, I will advise you,
that you may direct some other Gentlm of the Bar to bring
the Suits.

J. Clay.

Savannah 5th Nov'r 1790.
The Honble Wm. Few Esq'r
Dear Sir

Expecting that the late treaty with the Creek Indians
wou'd at least afford us more Security than we have
enjoyed in the low Country for sometime past, & knowing
hew much more agreable, as well as convenient it will be
to the Indian Traders to carry their Skins to, & trade at
Beards Bluff, than to Augusta, we have been induced to
move our Indian goods again to that place, & which we
are now doing at a very heavy expence as all the builidngs
we formerly erected there are either destroyed or ruined
during the late disturbances with the Creeks.

We have heard much of an exclusive trade being
granted to Mr, McGillivray, but we see nothing of it in the
treaty, and as the Constitution of the U. States is so
pointedly against Monopolies, we conclude nothing of the
kind has been attempted indeed if he is to trade at all,
he is a very improper person for a Superintendent, under

236

the British Government tho Superintendent of all the
Southern Indians & his Deputies, were all strictly forbid
carrying on any trade with them and very properly, because
their business & Duty was to see equal Justice done
between the traders, & the Indians, & the Indians & Traders
as well as to support the dignity of the Nation, they repre-
sented nothing wou'd have proved more injurious, than to
have allowed them to be in a situation than on any occa-
sion they might be Parties, instead of Arbiters

By the Act for regulating the trade & intercourse with
the Indians, we observe no person is to trade or hold inter-
course with the Indians without having a license from
the President or Superintendent or some Person author-
ized by the President for that purpose, which I think may
be right enough Our business is always with the Traders,
who bring their Skins & purchase goods, & where we have
any faith in them they some times have them on a Credit
but laterly many Indians and half breeds have become
Factors, and some of them are very respectable as such,
and are possessed of very considerable property trading
with such persons might subject us to the letter tho' not
to the Spirit of the law, if we have no license and it may
sometimes happen that Indians may come to the landing
with Skins for Sale, which you must either purchase, or
send them away discontented w'ch is always disagreable
and might prove injurious to our House and it might also
subject us to censure from envious individuals, to avoid
which 'tis our desire to take out a license it does not appear
that Mr. McGillivray is as yet impowered to give Licenses
to trade under the British Government the Superinten-
dants never granted nor any persons but the Governors
he gave temporary Permits which answered the purpose
until! they came down & renewed their licenses and gave
bond anew if Mr. McGillivray is empowered to grant
licenses the distance we are from here so great & the com-
munication so seldom that it may be a long time before
we may have an opportunity of applying to him & if he

237

does now or intends to carry on trade on his own Account
'tis reasonable to conjecture if any obstacles or delays
can be thrown in the way of those who wish to trade in

the same way that will happen if he his

no other person in this State is that we know of for w'ch
reason we must take the liberty of requesting the favour
of you to obtain a license for us in the name of William
Clark & Co. as he might not always be at the Store by
being in the name of the Comp'y the Clerks of the House
wou'd be authorized to Act under it any Expences attend-
ing it we will remit you as soon as known under the
British Government the Price of a license was from about
30/ to 60/ they were then only for a Year by the Law
of the U. States they may be granted for two Years which
we shou'd prefer to one Security for 1000 Dollars is
required we wou'd also esteem it a favour if you wou'd
do us the favour to be ours I trust we shall put you to no
inconvenience by so doing our line in that business is
quite out of the way of irregularities nor was, it ever
required, nor was it usual for mercantile houses supplying
Traders to take out licences but as Indians are many of
them of late Years become factors, our Store being in the
line of the Indian hunting grounds, they may individually
sometimes straggle in & we wish as far as in our power
to avoid censure & to comply with the law in its strictest
sense I am inform'd that formerly those who took out
licences had always the Names of their Pack Horse Man
& all the white Persons employed by them indorsed on the
back of the that may be necessary, & if so the fol-
lowing are the Names of the White Persons that will be
employed about our House as Clerks, Hose Keepers, &
Patroons, George Irvine Hull, Jas. Barnard, Isaac Lagar-
dere, Thomas Morgan, William Cousin & John Anderson
The Indian treaty makes much noise amogst us, & peo-
ple have various opinions about it, I scarcely ever knew
any matter so generally objected to, & yet, in which the
people disagree so much in their objections Our legislature

238

I expect at their present sitting will take the business up
and I hope and believe they will do it decently & firmly
tho' we have heard nothing from them as yet, and therefore
tis rather difficult to form an opinion of the Temper of the
house some are very violent but my Idea is that a Majority
will be temperate for my own part I think the treaty
will do the State more good than harm, but if reports are
true, I think the State has been treated very indelicately
in the mode of concluding it I always looked on the
Cession claimed by us from the Indians, as on a very weak
foundation, because I was allways well inform'd 'twas only
a part of the Nation, & that the Minors who agreed to
the Cession, and therefore I concluded if ever a fair inves-
tigation took place, the claim of the State was never fairly
investigated but Mr. McGillivrays assertion was admitted
without the State being heard or her Senators or Repre-
sentatives being either consulted with or enquired of this
can't be justified, we were in the full possession, & there-
fore ought not to have been dispossed without being heard
the meanest Wretch in the U. States is intitled to a hearing
much less a State the Next Question is the right of
territory as actually sup-
posed to be the boundary of the Province when we confed-
erated infringed on it is it not we gave no part of our
territory away, occupied or unoccupied, when we asso-
ciated the Congress of the U. States, can claim nothing
either rationally or legally, on any other ground is our
right preserved by that clause that relates to pre Emption,
or is it not these are the principal matters of objection;
their are several others for my own part we entered into
the Union to preserve our rights & privileges & tho' I
shou'd be assured any attempt to preserve them wou'd be
fruitless, I wou'd make the attempt tho I shou'd be assured
of Perishing in the so doing I consider that every thing
we gave by the Constitution to Congress, they may freely
exercise and no more what we did not give remains where
it was before the Constitution took place, however for

239

my own part I am for preserving Government & order
let every step be taken to preserve Temper decency and
extremes of any kind, & at same time let moderation and
every thing that good sense & a due respect for the federal
Government take place and be predominant before any ill
tempered or Passionate dispositions are sulferred to have
any weight I am with regard & respect
Dear Sir

Yours &c

J. Clay.

Savannah the 5th Nov'r -1790.
General Cotesworth Pinckney
Dear Sir

I wrote you in August 1789 respecting our debt to Mr.
Stead I have also wrote Mr. Stead two or three times
respecting that & some bills exchange which were unac-
counted for but never had the pleasure of recieving a
line from you or him on the subject this has given both
Col'l Habersham & myself uneasiness as well as placed
us in a very disagreable situation & the more so as twas
both our wishes to communicate freely with you or him on
the subject & if any eligible mode had Pointed out to have
exerted ourselves to have reduced our debt by every means
in our power as soon as possible.

A short time past Mr. Saunders call'd on me with a
Message from you that you had heard we intended to
pay our debt to the Public of Georgia, that if we did you
wou'd put our bonds in suit & make us pay you over
again or nearl}'- to that purpose for I must own I was so
much surprised at the Circumstance that I did not attend
very minutely to what he said nor cou'd I but feel it as
very indelicate treatment & the more so as we had but a
very short time before given the most unequivocal demon-
stration in our Power of our determination to do every

240

thing that we cou'd to avoid having any thing to do with

the Public respecting the business & to

a Citizen of the United States we had been

cited by Public notice & after that Supposed by the
Auditor to render an Account of all moneys due by us or
in our possession that we owed to any of the subjects of
Great Britian on the 10 April 1790 Our connection w'th
Old Mr. Stead was a maker of notoriety here & perfectly
within the Auditors own knowledge & which he hinted to
us, & we inform'd him that we had liquidated our Debt
w'th Young Mr. Stead who we believed was an acknowl-
edged Citizen of the States & that therefore we shou'd not
consider our debt to him as within the law alluded to
there the matter now stands and I believe it remains v/'th
the Legislature at their present sitting to determine what
iurther steps shall be taken in the business as tis generally
supposed tis a subject that will be brought before them
before their consideration Mr. Pendleton from whom we
are intitled to receive a large sum for moneys due myself
& Co. produced to us a Receipt from you for sundry obli-
gations promising to become them in part of our bond>'
to Mr. Stead this was brought about at our instigation as
3'ou cou'd but know & might have served to convince you
that we cou'd not have any desire to pay the Public, because
we cou'd not be supposed to set so little a Value on our
property as to be desirous of paying you and the Public
also or that we cou'd ever have it in our power We have
Judgements against Mr. LeContes Estate for near 2500
Sterling & which by private agreement we consented tO'
wait four Years for Mr. Pendleton mentioned to us he
expected to have Property in your State shortly which he
wou'd apply in payment of these demands if we cou'd make
them ansv/er our purpose in which we inform'd him that
if he cou'd negotiate the business w'th you so as to obtain
us a Credit in part of our bond to Mr. Stead 'twou'd be the
most agreable payment to us we cou'd say no further
on the subject because we did not know that you wou'd

241

receive bond or Notes or what else you wou'd receive in
payment never having received a line from you on that
subject I don't know on what terms you received those
papers but if you take them at par I presume he has the
advantage however what is agreable to you we are satis-
fied with When Mr. Pendleton came from Caro he deter-
mined on going to the No'ward immediately & he also
informed us that since he had lodged those papers with you,
he had entered into some further engagements by which
means he expected to have a further sum in your hands,
or that he cou'd place there, & that if we cou'd pay some
Moneys for Mr. LeContes Estate he wou'd take to setle as
much with you for us, to w'ch we agreed if in our pov/er
but I am afraid we shall not be able to do much that way
as he confin'd us to two Persons only the one a Resident
in Car'a (where if we had money we cou'd as easily pay
it to you) & the other here & who has also a Judgement
against the Estate if we had been at liberty to have setled
every sums among the Creditors at large, we might have
by discounts brought several sums round, if we can accom-
plish any thing further we shall certainly do it during
the existence of our paper Money twas not in our power
either to collect or make setlements that being now done
away, it is a business we shall pursue as fast as Possible,
but such is the situation of the People of this State & more
especially those who resided in it before the War that vig-
orous measures will frequently be very imprudent & often
tend, to occasion the loss of a Debt, as 'twill drive some
to get rid of their property by making it over, selling, con-
fessing Judgements to cover, & various other measures
to keep ofif their Creditors, where this is to be apprehended
we are endeavouring rather to induce those who are
indebted to us, to give us security for the Amount & allow
them such time as they think they can pay in, & even with
those who we have the utmost confidence in. I know our
Debits to be as secure as possible, we shall be oblig'd to
allow them time & to receive partial payments others we

242

are oblig'd to receive lands from, some that have been culti-
vated & others that have not we have now two or three
that have considerable improvements on them, that are
not more than 10 or 12 Miles from this Town on Little
Ogechee, besides two or three tracts Souherly unsetled
that we have been oblig'd to receive in Payment, those
are circumstances unavoidable, and such as have naturally
arose in this State from its peculiar unfortunate situation
during the War, & such as the most prudent and Indus-
trious Men cou'd not escape it has been a Public cala-
mity & as such every one who has an Interest or rather
who had an Interest among us in those times have par-
taken on this Ground it is that we wou'd again Urge you
or Mr. Stead to receive part of your payments in such lands
as we are oblig'd to receive & that only on such terms
as shou'd be thought perfectly reasonable, in many instances
this has been done in the payment of Old Debts & in some
intire payments have been made in that way the property
is growing more secure every day & will become valuable
and more especially in the part of our State, which has
scarcely had any security since the War until lately We
cou'd offer many equitable reasons in support of this
Proposition wou'd the usual limits of a letter admit of it
& twou'd probably be in the end rather a debt discharged
than an inquiry wou'd assure you tis our desire to get
out of debt that prompted us to prefer this mode, if our
circumstances wou'd admit us to Keep all our lands, without
injury to others we shou'd not feel their were any burthen
on his lands at any rate you wou'd suffer far, very far
short of what we have and shall do even if our most san-
guine present expectations are answered in regard to our
Debts we presume from your receiving these obligations
from Mr. Pendleton, that you will be as willing to receive
others from us, but we shou'd wish to be inform'd from
yourself ^we shall not desire you to receive any that are
doubtfull ^by giveing indulgence in point of time as to
Payment on their paying Interest we have no doubt 'twou'd

243

not be long before we shou'd be enabled to make you
very considerable payments & of which we shou'd always
advise you before hand for your approbation we hope to
have your concurrence to our propositions as we think
taking every thing into consideration they are not unreas-
onable, admitting that in this way some property might
for time lay dead, yet there is a probability of an increased
Price when a Sale takes place, & if not it is not unreason-
able to expect, that between Debtor & Creditor for debts
contracted before the War difficulties & losses shou'd be
shared the determination of the Legislature respecting
these matters we suppose will be known in a few days,
if the subject is (as tis said 'twill be), agitated by them,
shou'd that be the Case and they shou'd determine on any
steps against us respecting Mr. Steads Debts we shall
advise you Mr. Pendleton has promised a discount between
5 & 600 more than the amount lodged in your hands, &
which wou'd have been setled before this had I not been
unwell, the principal part of the time since he returned,
8z Col'l Habersham generally at his plantation We have
near 200 Sterling if not more due us by one Wm. McGowen

on his own account & in the Josephs who

has removed from our State to yours somewhere on Santee
near Nelsons Ferry, tho' I have heard that he had got to
Pedee I received a letter from him sometime ago but
it was not dated from any Place, he made very fair
Promises of payment & offered us as he says a very valu-
able tract of land on North Newport Swamp, & if I am
not mistaken lays directly in front of Mr. Steads land
there, & which Old Mr. Stead empowered me to buy for
him, but they wou'd not accept the Price he was willing
to give & the matter dropt if you can learn where he
resides, woud be obligd to you to inform us we wish to put

244

his & his brothers Obligations in suit and if agreable to
you wou'd send them to you for that purpose We are also
inquiring as we have Opportunity We have every reason
to believe he is able to pay his own & brother Joseph's
Debt as we understand they have several Negro's among
them I am w'th respect
D'r Sir

Your most Obed Serv
Joseph Clay.
General Pickney

Savannah the 13 Nov'r 1790.
W. Wm. Cowper
D'r Sir

I wrote you a short time past respecting your State
and loan office certificates since w'ch our Commissioner
of loans has received orders from the Treasury to receive
all loan Office Certificates and to transmit them to that
Office giveing to the Parties who deliver them a Certifi-
cate describing particularly the Certificate paid in their
sums, dates &c the proper Cheques being lost they give
as one reason for this mode to prevent imposition and tis
presumed that so soon as they have undergone examina-
tion some provision will be made for them I therefore
thought it proper to give you this information, that if
you desire it I may return yours & take the Commis-
sioners certificate for them in order that the originals
may be transmitted to the Treasury for Examination you
will therefore direct as you think proper and am w'th
respect

D'r Sir

Your most Obed Serv

J. C.

245

'Savannah the 13th Nov'r 1790.
Mr James Ryan
Dear Sir

I received two of your favours since my last also as
many from Mrs Sharp were I capable of withholding Mrs
Sharps ballance & at same time have it in my power to
discharge it with the least degree of convenience to myself
I shou'd undoubtedly be blameable but be assured Sir
that is not the Case few Men before the War had more
resources at their command in proportion to my property
& Trade than myself & wou'd be the Case even at this
time if I cou'd command my debts, in w'ch my Resources
principally lay and w'ch from a depreciatted Paper Cur-
rency w'ch has been in circulation and a trader in law this
five Years past they have been in a manner lockd up it
has been done away about two months and I am in hopes
shall in a short time do better but so much have I been
injured from not being able to collect my debts that I have
been obligd to decline all business this four Years past for
no other cause & if I had not a Plantation I cou'd not have
supported my family tho I have at least due myself and
partners thirty thousand Pounds Sterling for debts con-
tracted before & since the War however all this is nothing
to the present business if I had not failed in water to
beat out my last Years Crop Mrs. Sharp wou'd have received
her full ball'e What was sent I don't know that I saw one
barrel of it opened it was out of a large Parcel none of
w'ch I ever heard either before or since was found fault
with I expect to begin to beat out in a few days & it has
been my full intention to Remit this ballance out of the
first Property I cou'd command for that Purpose if oppor-
tunity offers and I can by any means make it out I shall
try to remit it so as to be with you before the River closes
and am w' respect &c

Yours J. C.

246

Savannah 19th Nov'r 1790,
Mr Nalbro Frazier
Dear Sir

When Cap Burroughs sailed from this for your Port I
was so much indisposed that I cou'd only inclose you a
duplicate of our Aff'd and respecting the bill of Exchange
or I shou'd have given you some information respecting

the bills purchased by

to them for them I feel no uneasiness on this subject

Bunner sailed on & our employ in a Brig called

the Georgia Packett w'ch said Brig and conjoint property
as well as the Cargo on board just as she entered in our
River I believe in Feb'y or March 1776 she was taken by a
British Man of War & detained some time at Tybee When
I understood they were about going away having every
reason to believe that Capt. Bunner was destitute of money
or at least in great want of it & that probably for want
of resources he might not be able to claim the Vessel &
Cargo w'ch I had desired him to do whenever he got to a
Port where the Vessel shou'd be libelled (the same being
regularly cleared out from New Castle in Delaware to Sav-
annah these Ports being excepted in the Act of parliament
w'ch prohibited Commerce from any other of the Colonies
now States) twas not in our power to send him Specie &
therefore under this consideration I wrote to Capt. of a
Merchantman for whom we had disbursed a considerable
sum & who then lay at Tybee requesting him to draw a
bill on his owner for 50 in favour of Bunner not choosing
to draw myself at that time if I cou'd help it w'ch he
readily complied with & gave Bunner a Sett of bills for
that sum the Scarborough M of War & our Brig & I
believe one or two more proceeded from Tybee for Halifax
on their way our Brig was retaken by the Rhode Island
Gallies & carr'd up to Providence where C: P: went claimed
& bought her in again as our Acc't will shew Bunner soon
made his escape & got back to your City.

D'r Sir Your most Obed Serv J. C.

247

Savannah 29th Dec'r 1790.
Mr, Nalbro Frazier
D'r Sir

Your favour of the 15th Ulto came to hand a few days
ago advising me that the referrees between us and Mr.
Bright had finally adjusted that business, & found a bal-

lance in favour of Jos Clay & Co. of 398. .11. .5

and of me 283..17..8

682.. 9..1
and you wish me to advise you as early as possible, wether
we will abide by their determination or attempt to set it
aside tho' the ballance awarded is far short of my expecta-
tions, yet I have no doubt the Referees thought it the full
sum we were intitled to, & we must hold ourselves under
obligations to them for the great trouble they have taken in
the business the delay has been particularly unfortunate
for us, as I shou'd suppose there is no Interest allowed us
on these ballances, while we have been paying an Interest
of 8 ^ Ct ^ Annum (the legal Interest here) for that
Amount, for want of it to discharge ballances we owe, while
Mr. Bright has had the use of our Money without any
compensation not having any Statement of the business
we can form no opinion or have any Idea on what princi-
ples the Arbitrators setled the ballances, or wether they
are awarded, as the whole ballances to be paid us by Mr.
Bright, or are exclusive of the ballances acknowledged and
charged by him ^ his Acco't Curr't rendered before our
dispute was submitted to a referrence if the latter is not
the Case, the ballances awarded to me is very unaccount-
able, by his Account rendered to the 20th March 1784 he
acknowledges a ballance due me of 536. .13. .83/2 your Cur-
rency my Son received from him about 100 and I don't
lecollect wether your E. & F. received any thing from him
on my Account (and my books are not at hand just now
to refer to) I never understood he pretended any claim
against me on my piivate Aco'ts I am sure I have not been

248

furnish'd with or inform'd of any, nor has he any in law
or equity I made several claims on him, & such as in my
opinion were very just ones, if they were disallowed my
ballance shou'd not be lessened, even without any Interest
being allowed me but that he shou'd be allowed to keep
my money so many years without any compensation does
not appear to be very equitable I shou'd have drawn the
whole of it into your late house (C & F) hands, seven
Years ago, & have had the Use of it since that period if he
had not refused to Pay it, as your late J. C. or C & F (I
don't recollect which) wrote me, & at same time informing
them that as I disputed his (Mr. Brights) Accounts he
was advised by his Attorney not to pay me any furthec
sum of the balance he had acknowledged to be due me ^
Acco't Curr't rendered by him I will be much obliged to
you to obtain for us a Copy of the Accounts as setled
by the Arbitrators as to endeavouring to obtain further
redress : unless any thing shou'd appear in the Statement
of the Acco'ts to excite us to such a measure it is not the
present intention of Col'l Habersham or myself Mr. Bright
has had the Use of our Money 12 or 13 Years and tis uncer-
tain wether we cou'd obtain any advantage from it unless
the one or the other of us cou'd be on the spot to support
& give the necessary proofs as they might be wanting to
inforce our demands 'twou'd probably not avail, & if any
great delay shou'd take place in bringing it to a close again
our being kept out of our Money and the additional
trouble & expence cou'd not be compensated by any small
difference

We do not mean by these observations to insinuate
that we are in the least dissatisfied with the referees or
that any attention has been wanting in any or every part
of this business very far from it, we dare say they have to
the best of their Judgement & information endeavoured
to do impartial Justice, & if we have failed in what we
thought so, we attribute it to our not being in the way to
illucidate & give every information, while our adversary

249

was on the spot for tho' we endeavoured as far as by letter
we cou'd to State every thing clearly, yet its hardly possi-
ble to explain matters so clearly & forcibly in that mode,
as by an immediate communication I assure you it has
always given me pain when I reflected on the great trouble
you have had In this business & for which we return you
our sincere thanks & am with regard & respect
D'r Sir

Yours &c

Mr. Nalbro Frazier

Savannah 20th May 1795.
Mr. Peter Schermerhorn
Dear Sir

The want of proper Schools & seminaries for the educa-
tion of youth in our State lays us under the necessity of
sending them abroad, for that purpose ^ your brother
Capt. C. Schermerhorn, I have sent my Youngest Son who
has taken him under his charge during the Voyage, & I
have to request the favour of you to receive him on his.
arrival untill he can be placed at School at Erasmus Hall
on Long Island, & I shall hold myself under very great
obligations if you will be good enough to inquire from
time to time as opportunitys offer into his situation, health
& general conduct, my son mentioned to Mr. Todd when
he was with you last Summer, the probability of my send-
ing Ralph to him this Spring, & he writes him ^ this
Conveyance=he (Ralph) has a Cousin (Alex'r Habersham)
with Mr. Todd I apprehend he woud wish to board with
him unless he shou'd board with Mr. Todd I understand
the Person who boards Alex, has no more, & Mr. Todd
I presume has several, & if so his being with his Cousin
wou'd be the most eligible, as well as the most agreable
to him difiference of expence between one place & another
wou'd be no object with me where they will be best

250

attended to, & well taken care of in case of indisposition,
& where their Morals will be attended to, or at least where
they will not suffer from bad example are material
objects with me I hope you'll excuse my freedom in
this business the anxiety for the Welfare & desire for
the improvement of a Child can be more easily conceived
than expressed, & I hope will plead my excuse your
brother will pay you one hundred dollars for the purpose
of defraying his expences, Schooling &c & you may rely
on my taking care to lodge further sums in time to defray
all future expences, but shou'd it by any accident hap-
pen otherways, you may allways rely on a speedy reim-
bursement of any advances that may be made on my
Account he may some time hence have occasion for a
little pockett Money I wou'd allways wish lads according
to their Years to have enough to keep them from the
most distant temptation to meanness & at same time not
enough to encourage them in folly or dissipation I do not
believe my son has a propensity to one or the other his
opportunitys for improvement have been very trifling, but
his Morals are good & he is of a tolerable good disposition
& orderly I have only to request that you will excuse
the freedom I have taken in troubling you with this busi-
ness respecting my Son and am, with regards
D'r Sir

Your mo : Ob, Serv

J. Clay.

Savannah the 7th Feb'y 1792.
His Excellency Edward Telfair Esq'r
Dear Sir

You have doubtless heard long before this of Mrs.
Elberts death I have been employ'd this two or three days
in arranging and Stating the several Accounts against the
Estate in which we are interested or concerned in his life

251

time he furnished me with an Account against the Owner
of Capt. Raines for 1/15 of the Sloop General Gates bo't
by him of Capt. Lapena I remember something of his
pressing us to take a part of his share in her & something
of our agreeing to it tho' imperfectly however as no fur-
ther information can be had or inquiry made I have stated
the Acco't & credited the Estate with my fourth & yours
Amount with Interest to the 1st February say Ins'e
63.. 19. .7^ Sterling each Share that is so much by you &
the same sum by me together 127. .19. .2^ I presume this
will meet your approbation inclosed you have a Copy of
the Statement & I shall be glad to have your opinion
respecting the business as soon as convenient in examining
these matters I came across a statement of the Voyage of
the Sophia & Friendship in the hand writing of some of
your Clerks which fully illucidates the business of Bugg &
Walton a Copy of which you have herewith, as also of
Bugg and Walton's Acco' Curr't with Owners which I
found in my own hand writing by which a ballance of
149. .6. .9^ is stated as due them & by the Statement of
your Acco't with Owners it appears you assumed that
ballance & you are credited therewith accordingly say the
sum of 14.. 6.. 9 as paid or to be paid by you to Jno Walton
this Will enable you to clear up finally to Mr. Watkins
that business & remove all his objections to setling C. T
^ Co. Acco. with that Estate which will be obliged to you
to do as soon as possible.

I am endeavouring to get Marburrys Judgement into
my hands if 'twill require a considerable advance to do it,
however if I can accomplish it 'twill enable me to proceed
with ease two or three days will bring things round so as
to fix on some mode or other Mr. Burke claims 27 Negroes
as the property of his Wife's & Betsey & some of the lands
the two Boys appears to be without the smallest pro-
vision I wish any thing may be saved for them if no
other mode presents I woud propose that we each make
some small sacrifice towards establishing a small fund for

252

them however at present nothing can be agreed on with
any certainty I am with regards & respect

D'r Sir Yrs &c

Jos. Clay.

Savannah 25th Sep'r 1792.
His Excellency Ed: Telfair Esq'r
Dear Sir

By Mr. Hulls Account it appears the Citizens of the
United States are almost outlawed in the Creek Nation^
and that were it not for the influence of some individuals
among & with the Indians, 'twou'd hardly be safe to go
among them in the way of trade the Spaniards who we
suppose & say are far behind the Neighbouring nations in
policy & commerce act much wiser than we do, at least in
Indian affairs they fix a superintendent of Commissary
among the Indians in their Nation, where he ought to be
he talks of his Catholic Majestys subjects, and that he must
protect them & this I believe within our own territory, &
if Mr. Hulls information is good, & he speaks very posi-
tively, he is not backward in doing us as a Nation, and this
State in particular, every ill office and he says further
that its said this very Man has been not long past stirring
up the Northern tribes against us I shou'd suppose the
necessity of our having a proper representative in the
Nation, must soon impress every part of our government,
We have nothing new, our town is healthier than usual
at this Season, & tho' we have had more shipping than
common at this time of the year the Sailors have not as
yet sufferred so much as they often do however we are
as yet only over a part of the sickly season our harvesting
has gone on tolerably for some days & still continues, at
the beginning 'twas very unfavourable for the early
planters I am with respect

D'r Sir &c &c

J.C.

253

Savannah 24th Oct'r 1792.
Jacob Waldburgher Esq'r
Sir-
Inclosed are our several Accounts against the Estate
of the Rev'd Mr. Zouberbuhler from the time they were
laid before the Executive by orders of the legislature, and
examined by the Auditor to the 15th Ins. ballance then due
il817.1.0 the Interest makes a considerable addition to
the former ballance and will continue to do so untill dis-
charg'd we woud wish to have the Accounts closed &
placed on some certain footing so as to remove all diffi-
culties in future to which end we shall be ready to concur
in any reasonable plan that may be proposed for that
purpose, and am.

Sir Your mo: Obed't Serv't

Jos. Clay.

Savannah the ^March 1793.

The Hon'ble Anth'y Stokes Esq.
D'r Sir

I received your obliging favour of the 12th May 1791
inclosing Dr. Irvines of the 25th June I have not the least
doubt but that all the facts there stated are strictly true but
unfortunately they do not afford me the smallest prospect
of redress on this side so far from it, that added to the large
sum I lay out of I am threatened with a suit by Mrs. Vandyke,
for an overplus which she says their land sold for more than
the debt they were sued for, this is very unpleasant tho'
I am not apprehensive of any ill consequences arising from
such a Suit, and I am of opinion she will not bring it, because
I do not believe she can give a very satisfactory Acco't how
she came by the bond, at least she never wou'd afford me
any when I applied to her from the Survivors of Wood
or any one Else I can't obtain any intelligence that leads to

254

any advantage, & I have not been sparing in my researches
for that purpose Altho' Mr. Wood used my Name in that
business I never considered him as my Attorney, or under
my direction, but though you, nor did he ever do any busi-
ness for me that I recollect Mr. Young you may remember
was my attorney, and did all my business, and probably
'tw^oud have been fortunate for both of us if he had con-
ducted this Mr. Wood was a Young man you appeared to
have a predeliction for, & you put the business into his
hands, and as I did not consider myself in any way respon-
sible, I never interfered, presuming that you alone was liable
for any consequences, my Name being only used at your
particular request and which your letters fully express &
therefore I suffered you to conduct all matters respecting
it as you thought most for your Interest & Security my
personal regard for you wou'd always induce me to do every
thing that wou'd promote your Interest and avoid every
thing that wou'd injure it or even hurt y'r feelings but my
losses have been so exceeding heavy in consequence of the
Revolution join'd to the many obligations which as a Mer-
chant I was liable to, & which as far as in my power I must
& will fulfill, compel me to look for every resource I am
intitled to, to enable me to do so this among many others
I conceive to be one that I am in justice intitled to and that
if I can't obtain it by any other means that you in honour
& law are bound to bear me harmless 'twas no matter of
mine or had I any interest therein I entered into it at yr
request & under y'r indemnification & to oblige you & which
as I before observed is very fully stated by yrself 'I have
sought for every resource or information in this Country
without effect, which obliges me to apply to you for reim-
bursement at foot is a Statement of the bond, & inclosed is
one of the bona fide debt due to me without any charges,
being thereby 211. .8.. 6 Sterlg I hope you will be able to
point out some mode by which I may without ill convenience
be reimbursed, or if I can't be immediately paid, that I may

255

have it secured to be paid in some future reasonable time^
and am with great regard & respect
D'r Sir

Yr mo: Obed Humbl Serv't

Jos. Clay.

Bond dated 16th May 1771 for Int. . . .il83..19..8
Int. on do deducting 3>4 Years

to the 1st March 1793 268..12..1 452..11..9

I suppose the above must have included
Exchanges law fees &c

Savannah 1st Feb'y 1793.
The Honb'le Charles Cotesworth Pinckney Esq'r
Dear Sir

A short time past Mr. Young delivered me your favour
of the 5th Oct'r last I have made every search for papers
respecting the debts of Rae & Somerville, but have found
none I know that I had them, but I believe must have
delivered them to Mr Wm. Young deceased, who with
Mr. Jno Houstoun prosecuted the suit against that concern
to Judgements ; or I must have left them in Georgia when
the British drove us out of it, as I did a great number of
my own papers & books, all of which were destroyed or
lost unfortunately the most of Mr. Youngs papers shared
the same fate, his were moved out of the Town to a plan-
tation at some distance, but that did not save them. I
believe sufficient proof of the Judgement then obtained can
be found, so as to establish the debt Mr. Young thinks,
at least he says so, that he shall not suffer for the want of
those papers, having ample proofs in his possession with-
out those I am very sorry our prospects with the
McGowen's is so indifferrent they were generally supposed

256

responsible people formerly some valueable land of theirs
have been attached in this State a short time past

We are very sensible you and the other heirs of Mr,
Stead have not been pressing hitherto and 'tis more than
probable, it has been full as beneficial to you and them, as to
us, as your security for payment has thereby been increased
and that intirely from our exertions & Industry since the
War our losses in various ways during that period, and
from the consequences thereof, exceeded the sum we owed
Mr. Steads Estate ^the property we remained possessed
of at the end of it, was principally inactive, and outstanding
debts, the latter which were very considerable, have dimin-
ished far beyond our hopes & expectations, many of the
parties indebted to us from the same causes, say from the
general one, the War, have been rendered unable to pay
us, some altogether, others in part, & from others we have
been obliged to receive inactive property, say lands or get
nothing, & several are dead & others gone intirely off
these circumstances places the burden very unequal, and
that arising not from any failure neglect or extravagance,
but from a public calamity w'ch neither prudence or exer-
tion cou'd foresee or prevent certainly debtor & Creditor
as far as reasonable, shou'd share those ill conveniences
between them if compensation for losses, had been afforded
to American Citizens, as has been allowed by the British
to their Loyalists, the case wou'd be altered but as the
matter now stands, it may be said without deviating from
the truth, that a large part of the losses of individuals in the
Southern States have fell upon the Merchants who traded
to Great Britain before the Warr, there is no doubt but
many other individuals have also sustained very heavy
losses, but none in so great a proportion as they very gen-
erally have, 'tis equally true and must be allowed that the
British Creditors have also sufferred considerably from
their debtors being unable to pay them, but that does not
lessen the weight of those who suffer on this Side for my
own part I had been several years carrying on business

257

with success before I had any connection with Mr. Stead
of consequence, & that for several Years with equal success,
say untill the War put a Stop to our Commerce, and I am
now, & have been for upwards of Ten Years past, toiling
& exerting myself (& that I may say in my latter days &
with a large family) for no other purpose but to make up
the losses of others as well as our own, & to enable our-
selves to discharge those obligations we contracted before
the Revolution I mention these Circumstances as the
causes that have prevented our progressing so much in the
discharge of our debts to Mr. Steads Estate as his heirs
cou'd have wished or we have most ardently desired If
landed property had not have been of so little value among
us since the War, or it had been so that we cou'd have
disposed of it for moderate prices, or that we cou'd have
received it in payment & paid it, or only a part of it away
in the same manner 'twoud have enabled us to have less-
ened our debt before this but it has beei) otherways, the
great cessions of territory our State has obtained since the
Peace the very considerable diminution of Slaves to culti-
vate our lands in the low Country frequent Alarms from
the Indians, & many other circumstances have tended to
keep it down things begin to look up a little, but 'twill
be sometime before they come to their old standards.

Under all these advantages both Col'l Habersham &
myself have been constantly engaged in measures to
increase our ability to make payments to you, &
though we have not been so successfull as vv-e cou'd wish,
we hope we have been & still are endeavouring to lay such
a foundation as will carry us through & enable us to do
Justice to you & all who have a right to expect it from
us Major Pendleton had promised to make a further pay-
ment to you for us of about 2000 this last Summer, & he
still flatters us he shall bring it about, & we have actually
entered into some engagements here for the purpose of
making payments on his Account to that Amount We
also had a draft on Mr. Roger Saunders of your State for

258

between 2 & 300 which we were hopefull wou'd have also
fell into your hands, but of this last we have no Idea of
its being accomplished at this time, & have in consequence
thereof recurred to the drawer it is impossible for us to
bring payments about but by these kind of modes, our
property both in debts or otherways is scattered over the
Country, and we must draw it in by every means in our
power we consider it as unfortunate that we have had so
little communication with Mr. Steads representatives, as
we presume 'tis more than probable things might have
come forward or have been brought about, that wou'd have
been beneficial to them & us without injury to either, but
that not being the Case we have been restrained in our
vcfiforts more than tis possible were for either of our
Interests We observe your hint as to doing as others do
we believe there are very few who woud wish to oppress
others without a cause, & we have always had that con-
fidence in Mr. Steads representatives & it has been the
spur to our exertions relying that they wou'd meet with no
interruption **********

259