To John Jay from Alexander McDougall, 26 November 1775
From Alexander McDougall
NewYork Novr 26th: 1775
Dear Sir
I am Sorrey to inform you, that the information I gave you, relative to the arrival of Powder, proved groundless.1 The vessel arrived which gave rise to the report; but brought none of that Article: She waited 36 days at Barcalona, to gain advice from the neighbourhood, whether any could be purchased; but none could be procured. The Powder in Spain was all in the King’s Magazines. To add to our distress, we have lost Judge Livingstons Mill,2 by the Carelesness of two men, who fired off their Guns near Some of Pans in which Powder was placed to dry. We have been informed, that there has been a Considerable arrival of Powder in Phia. If this be true, surely the Congress can borrow of theirm abundance; to supply our pressing wants: for what we have lent the Continent. A Sufficient number of members have not yet appeared, to make a Congress;3 so that we are without Power, or means to Crush with Safety, those Machinations, which our restless Enemies are devising to destroy the Confederacy. What detains the Continental Troops to the Southward? Last week we received intelligence, that a Captain Harris4 of Dutchess County, had enlisted men for the Ministerial Army, and it was expected he would be on Monday Night on Long Island, at one of the Ferries. After searching 6 Houses at 11 at Night, I found him and two of his recruits, and brought them over, and Secured them under gard; till they were upon evidence against each other, and the Confession of the Captain, found guilty by the Committee of Transgressing a resolution of our Congress. The next morning about 2 AM, the Captain and one of his men, made their escape, either by the Carelessness of the ^Militia^ Gard, or by their being bribed with money or Liquor, or disafection to the Common Cause; they are now Confined. Our difficulties are increasing fast upon us. The Committee in enquiring into the exorbitant Sale of Goods, find that William Ludlow among ^many^ others will be a delinquent; and they have noticed Robison and Price, in ^the^ same predicament with him, to be advertised; So that he must necessarily follow. From what you know of his connections, you will be at no loss to determine, that this necessary measure will decrease the Number of our Friends.5 It will therefore be expedient, in order to Strengthen our Hands, against the influence these measures ^will have^ on many; and to make the Principle of Fear, which now makes Causes many to look back; operate in our Favor to ^have^ Troops here without delay. Otherwise it is difficult to say what a Few weeks may bring forth in our Capitol, ^against the union.^ It is unne[ce]ssary to
trouble you with a Particular detail. I am in great Haste Sir, Your affectionate Humble Servt.
Alexr. McDougall
Col. Jay
ALS, NNC (EJ: 6918). Addressed to: “Col John Jay Delegate for the / Colony of New York in / Congress / Philadelphia / Favoured by / Capt. Livingston.” Endorsed.
1. The letter to which McDougall refers has not been located.
2. Judge Robert R. Livingston Sr.’s powder mill at Rhinebeck, N.Y.
3. The First New York Provincial Congress adjourned on 4 Nov. 1775. Elections for delegates to a Second Provincial Congress were held on 7 Nov., and the new Congress was to convene on 14 Nov. McDougall, a delegate to the Second Congress from New York City, seems to have attended sessions conscientiously in the last two weeks of November, but other congressmen were less punctual, and no quorum could be formed until 6 Dec. , 1: 195–205.
4. The New-York Gazette; and the Weekly Mercury of 27 Nov. 1775 carried a colorful account of McDougall’s pursuit of Captain Peter Harris of Poughkeepsie. The Loyalist captain was found on Long Island at Degrushee’s Ferry “in an upper Room in a Posture to defend himself, which appeared by two Pistols lying on his Bed, close by his Side, loaded and primed.” According to this account, Harris later escaped. Harris’s activities were brought to the attention of the provincial congress on 12 Dec. ( , 1: 215).
5. Robert Robinson and Michael Price, partners in a store on William Street, were examined by the provincial congress for selling overpriced druggets and blankets to the militia on 3 Nov. 1775. Notice of their violation of the Continental Association was published in the N.Y. Mercury of 27 Nov. 1775. , 1: 193.
William Ludlow was a dry goods merchant in partnership with his brother George. No notice of profiteering by either Ludlow brother has been found in New York newspapers for the period. A “notice” of the Ludlows would have had serious political repercussions, since William was then a member of the Committee of One Hundred, and their cousin, George Duncan Ludlow, was a justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature.