Whipple, William, 1730-1785 to John Langdon & Meshech Weare

Written by Whipple, who would later signed the Declaration of Independence, as a New Hampshire Congressman to Langdon and Weare as prominent politicians in New Hampshire (Landgon resigned from his seat in Congress on 25 June 1776 to become agent for Continental prizes in New Hampshire). This document is actually two drafts of letters on different sides of one sheet of paper. The letters are unsigned. Langdon draft: Says this accompanies the 10,000 dollars for the naval service mentioned in a former letter. Says he has put it in a box with other money sent to Colonel Weare. Mentions that Major General John Thomas died. Thomas died of smallpox on 2 June 1776 while leading a demoralized retreat from Quebec. Says General John Sullivan will take command until another general officer could be sent, probably General Horatio Gates. Weare draft: Says this letter goes by a person delivering money mentioned in a previous letter for the advance pay and expenses of raising a regiment in Portsmouth. Says the sum ordered is 10,500 dollars and that "we send 10,000 the 500 WW has taken which he desires to be charged to him, & replaced out of the treasury." Says a box with the money is being sent and that inside of it will be another 10,000 dollars for Langdon.