therewith to the utmost degree which the finances of these states will admit.

Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report.

JANUARY 1, 1779.

The committee, consisting of Mr. Duane, Mr. Root, Mr. M. Smith, Mr. G. Morris, and Mr. Laurens, appointed to confer with the commander in chief on the operations of the next campaign, having held such conference, beg leave to report,

That the plan proposed by Congress for the emanci pation of Canada, in co-operation with an armament from France, was the principal subject of the said conference.

That impressed with a strong sense of the injury and disgrace which must attend an infraction of the proposed stipulations on the part of these states, your committee have taken a general review of our finances; of the circumstances of our army; of the magazines of clothing, artillery, arms and ammunition; and of the provisions in store, and which can be collected in season. Your committee have also attentively considered the intelligence and observations communicated to them by the commander in chief, respecting the number of troops and strong holds of the enemy in Canada, their naval force, and entire command of the water communication with that country; the difficulties, while they possess so signal an advantage, of penetrating it with an army by land; the obstacles which are to be surmounted in acquiring a naval superiority; the hostile temper of many of the surrounding Indian tribes

towards these states; and, above all, the uncertainty whether the enemy will not persevere in their system of harassing and distressing our seacoast and frontiers by a predatory war.

That, upon the most mature deliberation, your committee cannot find room for a well grounded presumption, that these states will be able to perform their part of the proposed stipulations. That, in a measure of such moment, and calculated to call forth, and divert to a single object, a considerable proportion of the force of our ally, which may otherwise be essentially employed, nothing less than the highest probability of its success could justify Congress in making the proposition.

Your committee are therefore of opinion, that the negotiation in question, however desirable and interesting, should be deferred till circumstances shall render the co-operation of these states more certain, practicable, and effectual.

That the minister plenipotentiary of these states at the court of Versailles, the minister of France in Philadelphia, and the marquis de la Fayette, be respectively informed, that the operations of the next campaign must depend on such a variety of contingencies, to arise as well from our own internal circumstances and distant resources as the projects and motions of the enemy, that time alone can mature and point out the plan which ought to be pursued. That Congress, therefore, cannot, with a degree of confidence answerable to the magnitude of the object, decide on the practicability of their co-operating the next

campaign in an enterprise for the emancipation of Canada.

That every preparation in our power will nevertheless be made for acting with vigour against the common enemy, and every favourable incident be embraced with alacrity to facilitate and hasten the freedom and independence of Canada and her union with these states; events which Congress, from motives of policy with respect to the United States, as well as of affection to their Canadian brethren, have greatly at heart.

Your committee subjoin the draft of a letter to the above purpose to the marquis de la Fayette; and not having completed the whole of the business committed to them, beg leave to sit again.

Resolved, That Congress agree to the said report. The letter to the marquis de la Fayette being read, was agreed to as follows:

SIR,

The Congress have directed me to inform you, that although the emancipation of Canada is a very desirable object, yet considering the exhausted state of their resources, and the derangement of their finances, they conceive it very problematical whether they could make any solid impression in that quarter, even on the uncertain contingency that the troops of Great Britain should evacuate the posts they now hold. More extensive and more accurate information than they formerly possessed have induced a conviction, that some capital movements meditated against that province are utterly impracticable from the nature of the country, the de

fect of supplies, and the impossibility of transporting them thither; to say nothing of the obstacles which a prudent enemy might throw in the way of an assailing army. Under such circumstances, to enter into engagements with their allies appears not only imprudent but unjust.

In any case, a perfect co-operation must depend upon a variety of incidents which human prudence can neither foresee nor provide for. Under the present circumstances it cannot be expected. The consequence then would certainly be, a misapplication, and possibly the destruction, of a part of the force of France; and that every force employed on a less hazardous expedition would equally call forth the attention of Great Britain, equally become the object of her efforts, and consequently give equal aid to the United States. Considering these, and other reasons of the like kind, Congress have determined, however flattering the object, not to risk a breach of the publick faith, or the injury of an ally, to whom they are bound by principles of honour, gratitude, and affection.

I am, &c.

H. L. President.

JANUARY 25, 1779.

Resolved, That the minister plenipotentiary and commissioners of the United States, in Europe, be instructed to obtain copies of the arrangements and forms of conducting the business of the treasury, war office, marine and other offices of government, at the

court of Versailles, and other kingdoms, or republicks, in which they may respectively reside, and also at the court of Great Britain; and that triplicates of such copies be sent to Congress, as soon as may be, together with any useful information relative to their treasuries.

FEBRUARY 17, 1779.

A letter of the 9th, and one of 30th September, one of 19th October, and letters of 4th, 18th and 20th November, from A. Lee, esquire, at Paris, with sundry papers enclosed, were read.

Ordered, that the same, together with the communications of the minister plenipotentiary of France in his memorials of the 9th, and in the private audience on the 15th, be referred to a committee of five.

The members chosen-Mr. G. Morris, Mr. Burke, Mr. Witherspoon, Mr. S. Adams, and Mr. M. Smith,

FEBRUARY 22, 1779.

A letter of the 12th, and one of the 21st September, 1778, from W. Lee, commissioner of the United States to the courts of Vienna and Berlin, both dated at Paris; one of the 15th October from the same, dated at Frankfort on the river Maine, in Germany, were read, enclosing a plan of a treaty of commerce to be entered into between their high mightinesses the seven united provinces of Holland and the thirteen United States of America..