Peirce, Joseph (1745-1828) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.02691 Author/Creator: Peirce, Joseph (1745-1828) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 October 1783 Pagination: 1 p. ; 23 x 18.9 cm. Order a Copy
Informs Knox that Congress has voted to "discharge the National Debt," and that one party had wanted to insert a clause to "exclude the Commutation & confirm it solely to discharge the foreign debt," though this clause did not pass.
[draft]
Boston Octr. 20th 1783
My Dear friend,
I have not had the pleasure of a line from you since my last - It is with pleasure I am able to inform you, that the finishing Stroke was this day put to the Import to enable Congress to discharge the National Debt. - by this you'l observe the Commutation is included - the Country Party labour'd extremely hard to have a Clause inserted - to exclude the Commutation & confirm it solely to discharge the foreign debt - The Contest was so very close, that from the Vote to bring in the Bill, [struck: to] [inserted: through] the [struck: very last] [inserted: debates], the first, 2d. & 3d. Reading - [&] for the [ingressing] & to the very last Vote of all upon the matters the Majority ran 5th not higher than Six - it is however compleatly finished - I suppose there will be no great difficulty in Hampshire State, as they commonly [copy] after Massachusetts in almost every thing - As the other States at first looked up to this State, I hope they will again for an example. We have not late arrivals here, consequently no news - I am -
Sir Your Friend
PS. Please let the inclosed Joseph Peirce
be deld. my Brother
Genl Knox
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