Jackson, Henry (1747-1809) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00612 Author/Creator: Jackson, Henry (1747-1809) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter Date: 12 June 1777 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket ; 22.2 x 18.5 cm. Order a Copy
Repeats news he mentioned in a letter from 8 June. Discusses the capture of several British ships with Hessians on board, and asks if he can enlist some of them for service. Comments on various ships, and mentions receiving money from Henry's brother William for Henry's share in the Newbury, apparently a privateer. Notes that Samuel Bradstreet has been accused of being a Tory, and Doctor Boyle is to be sent out of the country. Declares, "if the Court does not do something for us, we shall never raise out Regt. it is not money that will get the men... money is as plenty as dirt- there is nothing but what is better than money- Harry you have not the least Idea of the price of goods..." Complains of the exorbitant prices charged for goods, and proposes a system in which the military could purchase goods at a lower rate.
[draft]
"…I wrote you last week by way of Peck Kill, that two of our Cruisers had taken two Transports with Hessians on board bound to New York - that one was arriv'd and the other was not, since wh: the other is arriv'd at Casco Bay, we expect tehm up here every day - I wish to know if it would be agreeable to Inlist some of them
Young Daniel McNiel in a Privateer Shooner from this place, has sent in here a Large Ship from England bound for New York Load'd with Sea Coal - he has allso taken a Brig bound to NYork, load'd with Oats - she has not arriv'd - our Ship [Tarter], has taken a Brig and sent her in here, the Brig sail'd from here about 10 days ago [2] bound to South Carolina - and was taken by one of the British Ships, and order'd into New York, the [Tarter] retook her shi is not worth much - but this is a beginning -
The Ship at Newbury go's on very fast, every body says she is a very firme Ship - a few days ago I paid Mesr. Jackson Tracy and Tracy £500 LMy: in part, of your 32d part of said Ship - the money I recd: of your Brother Bill - Samel: Bradstreet was try'd a few days ago for being a Tory, and was honorable acquite'd, Doctr Boyle is to be sent out of the Country-
I recruit but very slow, I have inlisted about 50 Men in all - have not Inlisted a Man this several day's, and if the Court does not do something for us, we shall never raise our Regt: it is not Money that will get the men. I offer £66[..0] bounty and expect I shall give £100.0 in a few day's [3] is as plenty as dirt - there is nothing but what is better than Money - Harry you have not the least Idea of the [illegible] of good's - such thin summer goods as they all ways sold for 3/ LMy yard is now sold for 40/LMy and every thing in proportion to this - unless the Officers and Soldiers can be supply'd at a cheap rate than this there pay will not half [text lost]
I think there ought to be Factor's in every Capital Town on the Continent to purchase goods for the Army at the lowest rate - and these goods delve'd out - to the army, at one half what they cost, and the Continent ought to Sink the other half - this would but be just and right - and then the Merchant, who reviews this very high Price for his good will be oblige to - refund part, by paying the generall a Large - as it now stand's the poor officer and Soldier who are the consumers pay this dimmable prices and when we return from the army, without one Coper to help us, they will laugh at us for our [illegible] - Yor: Friend
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