taken under their consideration as soon as is consistent with
the other important affairs before them.

I have the honor to be, &c.

SILAS DEANE.

FOOTNOTES:

[22] All the letters written by Mr Deane, from the 10th of July to the
18th of December, 1779, were on file in the Secretary's office of
Congress, and taken thence for the purpose of having them recorded,
with his other letters of a prior and subsequent date, which were
filed in the office of Foreign Affairs, except the memorial mentioned
to be enclosed in his letter of the 18th of August, 1779, which was
then and is still missing.

* * * * *

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Philadelphia, 4th September, 1779.

Sir,

I take the liberty of addressing you on the subject of a memorial I
presented to Congress, and to pray you would inform me what the
determination of Congress has been thereon.

I have the honor to be, with the most sincere respect and attachment,
&c.

SILAS DEANE.

* * * * *

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Philadelphia, 23d November, 1779.

Sir,

As I have received no answer to my memorial of the 16th of August
last, I conclude none will be given, and, consequently, that I am laid
under the necessity of returning to Europe in the best manner I can,
and at my own expense.

I must confess, that when I reflect on the part I have acted, and the
returns made me for my services, I have nothing but the consciousness
of having done my duty to my country with zeal and integrity, and of
having been successful in the important affairs I engaged in, to
support me. Previous to my embarking, permit me to assure Congress,
that my respect for them as the representative body of these States,
is not lessened, nor my zeal for the service, prosperity, and
happiness of my country abated, by the treatment I have met with. The
expense of time and money, which I have suffered by my detention in
this city, with the further expense I am now unavoidably forced to
make, fall heavy on the small remains of a very moderate fortune; but
as I go to vindicate what is dearer to me than either life or fortune,
my honor and character, as the faithful servant of these States, a