Hull, William (1753-1825) to Henry Knox

[draft]
De Lanceys Mills 14th Octobr. 1783.
Dear Genl,
Yesterday I returned from Boston, which place I left on the 8th inst. - the general Court was sitting and have had the great question of the Impost under Consideration - I send you some of the latest eastern Papers, by which you will see that the Governor of Massachusetts has come out fully on the subject, and strongly recommends a compliance with the late Resolutions of Congress on the subject of Finance. The Senate after deliberating on the Question were unanimous except two, (Washborn & Nichols) in passing a Bill conformable to the Resolution, without any Restrictions or limitations. The Question before the House was whether they would concur with the Senate. The great obsticle [sic] was the commutation.
Every argument, which justice, gratitude, and policy could inspire, was made use of to remove the difficulty - those arguments were opposed by Envy, obstinacy and avarice, and the latter triumphed by a [inserted: considerable] Majority [struck: of] - Those in Favor of the Impost were so anxious that their names should be known to their constituents, and the world, that they insisted on the yeas & nays being taken, which accordingly [inserted: was] done - The
People at large do not appear so inveterate, as has been represented, or as their obstinate Representatives - Sullivan, Hamilton, and indeed every Man of any kind of understanding, who were the last session approved to the Measure, are now in Favor [2] of it - I say this from the best Information, because I heard them give their yeas when the question was taken - In a few minutes after the Question was determined I left the town - The Plan of the opposite Party was to grant Congress an Impost with certain Restrictions, and they supposed they could devise a better one than Congress had laid before them - This will be opposed by the Senate and the good Sense of the House, and I think they will finally be obliged to adopt the one recommended by Congress - This however is uncertain as a Majority of the House appears to be strongly fixed in the opposition, and many of them declare they had rather risque any Consiquences [sic] than discharge so unjust a Debt, even a Dissolution of the Union - What will be the Consiquences [sic] of such Madness & Folly, Time must determine -
It appears no less disgracefull, than extraordinary, that a People should be able to conduct a War in such a Manner as to gain the admiration of the World, and at the same Time, while under no Restraint, be destitute of sufficient Wisdom to form arrangements for Peace, which will make them happy and respectable.
Let what will happen we shall have the Satisfaction of reflecting that during the Storm we have saved the ship and if her present Pilots, thro' Ignorance or obstinacy suffer her to sink, in a perfect calm, we shall not be answerable for the Consiquences being only Passengers -
It is said here the Fireworks are to be displayed the 17th or 19th inst. - If so I should be happy to be informed - I should likewise be happy to hear, whether a Reduction of the Regiments will soon take place - Inclosed here with are a Number of Letters for Gentlemen at the Point -
I am Dear Genl
very affectionately your
Friend
Wm Hull

Honble. Major Genl. Knox

[address]
Major General Knox.

[docket]
from Colonel Hull
14 October 1783