Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia, to Governor Harrison, 1782 Sept. [ca. 17].

Enclosing copies of Congressional resolutions to inform him "of the necessity they have been under of enlarging their requisitions on the States. This necessity has resulted in part from the perseverance of Rhode Island in declining to accede to the 5 perCt impost;" relating that a ship has arrived from Holland "with a supply of goods for the army" and dispatches containing "official notification of the reception of Mr. Adams by the States General in quality of Minister Plenipotentiary from the U. States. They also inform Congress that some progress had been made towards a Treaty of Amity and commerce between the two Republics; and that in consequen[ce] of a contract entered into by Mr. Adams with a mercantile House for the negociation of a loan of 5,000,000 of Guilders, upwards of 1 million & a half had been subscribed, and upwards of 1 million actually paid in. It was uncertain how ever to what amount the subscriptions would be continued;" reporting that two French frigates had come into the Delaware Bay, "they got into a wrong channel and proceeded in it till the appearance of a superior enemy below rendered it impossible to return into the right one. In this perplexity they pushed forward and attempted to force their passage with the aid of the tide over the shoal which obstructed it. In the attempt one of them was successful & has since got up safe to Chester. The other stuck and was lost. The money &c and despatches on board her were fortunately saved. It is said that the Capt. and crew have fallen into the hands of the Enemy."