Newyork 14^th Sept. 1789.
Dear Sir
    As our Court opens this day wish you to forward the enclosed papers to Mr. Barcklay¹⁸ for the use of the Justices & Commissioners, who may be gratified by knowing what is doing here.
    You see the Officers of the Treasury Department except Mr. Nourse¹⁹ are all new men. This is the machine that must give life & vigor to everything, & no doubt the President is possessed with good Reasons to satisfy himself in making this Revolution in the management of our money affairs; I pitty poor Hillegas.²⁰
    Am just going to the President's in Company with the Pennsylvanians in Town, to present the address of the Legislature of our State.
    The Judiciary is the present subject of Discussion,

    ¹⁸ Thomas Barclay, see page 47.
    ¹⁹ Joseph Nourse, born London, England, 1754, died Georgetown, D. C., 1841. Came to Virginia 1769, entered Revolutionary Army, 1776, Clerk and Paymaster to Board of War, 1777-81. Later Assistant Auditor General and Register of the U. S. Treasury, 1781-1829. Vice President of American Bible Society for twenty-five years.
    ²⁰ Michael Hillegas, born Philadelphia, 1728, died there 1804. He was in the sugar refining business and at the outbreak of the Revolution took an active interest in the patriot cause. He was Treasurer of the Committee of Safety, and from 1775 to 1789, Treasurer of the United States.

the Bill respecting the permanent Seat is not yet reported, tho' probably will be this day, its fate not perfectly certain; the probabillity is in favour of its Success.
    My compliments to Crissey & Nicholas which accept likewise from
                                          Your affectionate
                                                  Henry Wynkoop.
Doctor Reading Beattie.

                                                    Newyork, 18^th Sep^r 1789.
Dear Sir,
    I thank you for your communications of Monday last, the Compensation Bill which stood lost, when I wrote you on Fryday last, was received again next morning by the majority moving for a reconsideration & an adoption of the Report of the Conferees, which limits the Bill to seven years, the last of which the Senators are to receive 7 doll'rs, thus fixing the Discrimination in such a way as to have a future operation, & in the meantime to afford an opertunity for the Decision of the State Legislature on the Subject.
    Have had no opertunity for enquiring into the Effects of Tolge on the Wheat in this neighborhood: do not conceive any danger from them by sowing after the 20^th instant, the weather becoming so cool as to destroy the activity of the Insect tribe, have ordered my People to sow about that time, however one great advantage of the yellow bearded wheat is that it will bear late sowing better than any other kind. I last year began to Sow y^e 23^d, & putting all in with the Drill, it must have been near October before we finished, yet had an excellent Crop, the yield from what has been threshed must have been from 20 to 30 Bushels y^e Acre.
    People are mistaken in supposing the permanent seat on the Susquehannah would injure the trade of Philadelphia, for whatever Improvements might be made, in

consequence thereof, in the navigation of that River, it can never be rendered equal to the communication with Philadelphia by a Junction of the Susquehannah to the Schuylkill, thro' the Swataria & the Tulpehocken.
    With respect to our Voting against the temporary Residence in Philadelphia & the permanent one on the Delaware, you have only to look at the Debates & you will readily perceive the whole of those kind of Propositions introduced for the purpose of embarrassment, & to carry us to the Potomack, in Opposition to which we were obliged to stand firm & vote thro' thick & thin against every Measure, which would lead to the attainment of that Object.
    At present conceive the Susquehannah as good as lost, by the introduction of the clause you will see in the Debates of yesterday, by way of proviso to the Bill for establishing the permanent seat, do not see at present how we can assent to its passing under those embarrassments, and without them the thing is impossible, so that at present provided my Colleagues can again be induced to vote with us & fall in with the Proposition of Mr. Gerrey,²¹ it may yet come back to the Falls. What turn this day will produce is utterly uncertain & depends upon the negotiations of this morning, possibly we may think half the Egg better than an empty Shell.
    A kiss for Miss Nanney, my Compliments to Crissey & Nicholas which likewise accept from
                                  Your affectionate
                                                  Henry Wynkoop.
    Doctor Reading Beattie.

    ²¹ Elbridge Gerry, born Mass., 1744, died Washington. D. C., 1814; he graduated at Harvard 1765. Elected member of Continental Congress 1776, and continued in it until 1780. Chairman of Treasury Committee 1780, member of Congress 1789-1791, and reelected 1791. In 1797 was colleague of Marshall and Pinckney to France; In 1810 elected Governor of Massachusetts. Originator of the "gerrymander."

                                                    Newyork 25^th Sep. 1789.
Dear Sir--
    Have the pleasure to acknowledge the Receipt of yours y^e 21^st. Am sorry to hear Miss Nancey is so unwel, hope I shall hear of her Restoration when I return home, which will be the beginning of the ensuing week; the Bill respecting the permanent Seat passed I think on Wednesday for Susquehannah 31 to 17. It was taken up in Senate yesterday, & this day stands amended with Germantown, likewise with a Proviso anexed against Pennsylvania, for her paying the 100,000 Dollars, what will be its fate at last is yet uncertain, the Maneuvering of this Affair has been so various & also so interesting, that I confess myself heartily tired of it, yet feel myself anctious for a Termination favorable to the State. Germantown is certainly the first place in the National Scale, & the Falls with me is the next.
    Think I may now venture to write you & yours to dine with me at Vreden's Berg on Sunday week, by which time shall be able to inform you of the conclusion of this session of Congress.
            My love & affection to you & yours,
                                                  Henry Wynkoop.
    Doctor Reading Beattie.

                                                    Newyork, thursday evening
                                         21^st Jan. 1790.
Dear Sir,
    No, I do not mean to limit my correspondence with you to once in two weeks, but you shall hear from me not only once, but if you desire it, five times in a week.
    The paper enclosed will, in some Measure, gratify your Curiosity respecting Mr. Hamilton's²² Report, affording some of the general outlines of the Plan.

    ²² Alexander Hamilton, active during the Revolution, and in 1789, appointed by Washington head of the treasury department. Author of "The Federalist," and chief organizer of the principles of the Federalist party. Killed in duel with Aaron Bur, 1804.

    The Secretary of the War Department this day reported the Organization of the Militia, this is likewise a Measure, which if it can he effectually carried into execution, will have an Influence on the Community, not only regarding the Defence and Security, but likewise the establishment of domestic manufactures, beyond what can he conceived, the Report is ordered to be printed, & if practicable, will also be transmitted to you for the Information of the people of Bucks.
    Yes Sir, the gallery doors have been shut, it was done this day, this is a Circumstance, which tho' seldom, must necessarily occur some-times, and when it does will always create a variety of conjectures abroad.
    The election of the Representatives of North Carolina is fixed the fore part of February, one of their Senators is here.
    The eastern papers this day inform us that the Assembly of Rode Island have agreed to call a Convention.
    The existence or nonexistence of the Bill respecting the federal Seat depends on the Report of the Committee of Conference appointed yesterday and the Determination of the two Houses thereon.
    There is no Snow at present, yet Peter Wynkoop sat out this morning in a Sleigh for Esopus which had brought some members of the State Legislature down & was said had good sleighing to Hackinsak.
    After having gratified your Curiosity you will by some means forward the enclosed to Vreden's berg.
    A kiss for Miss Nanney, my compliments to Crissey & accept the same from
                                Your affectionate
                                                 H. Wynkoop.
    Doctor Reading Beattie.

                                                    Newyork, 28^th Jan. 1790.
Dear Sir,
    The papers accompanied will inform you of the News & Polliticks here, except that a letter was this day de-

livered Congress by the Secretary of the President, from the Governor of Rode Island accompanied with an Act of the Legislature of that State appointing the first monday in February for the people to elect Representatives in Convention to meet the first monday in March.
    This being the day appointed for discussing the Report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the establishment of the credit of the United States, the Subject was introduced by a motion for postponement to next monday week, this occasioned some contention which appeared exceedingly interesting to a very crowded gallery, the motion was agreed to.
    If you have not sent that Report to Newtown, send it with the papers to Vreden's Berg for the perusal of Cousin Girardus & Abram Dubois, one of whom I shall request to see it deposited with Linton; you will see that Fenn in his paper of yesterday has begun its publication.
    I wish you to inform yourself as you have Opertunity with intelligent people, how this plan is relished, expect it will afford abundant matter for Polittical Disquisition, indeed its Importance requires it, and as it is a subject on which Congress should have the fullest Information, it is noways probable its Discussion will be precipitated.
    Mama has discovered an inclination of visiting Newyork, in case there should be good sleighing, & should your Business permit you to accompany her & gratify your curiosity in seeing the National Legislature & hearing their Debates, shall be very willing to bare your expenses, this tho' is a matter which must be left to you & her to manage.
    My compliments to Crissey & accept the same from
                                      Your affectionate
                                                     Henry Wynkoop.
    Doctor Reading Beattie.

                                                    Newyork, Thursday evening
                                                                    4^th Feb. 1790.
Dear Sir--
    The papers accompanying will afford you the general News & Polliticks of this place. This day was spent on the Naturalization & enumeration Bills, much conversation was had but nothing done, respecting the enumeration the Southern gentlemen are disposed to cast every Obstacle in its way, while those from the eastward generally are disposed to forward it. Hope to hear by next Post wether you will favour us with a Visit & accompany Mamma, indeed I do not think at this season of the year, she ought to attempt coming without some person to accompany her; the River as yet is as clear of ice as if it was Summer.
        My love to Crissey which accept likewise from
                                   Yours &c
                                           Henry Wynkoop.
    Doctor Reading Beattie.

                                                    Newyork, 18^th Feb. 1790.
Dear Sir--
    Your Reasons offered in the Letter of Sunday last for not coming forward as was urged by me are perfectly right, yet I feel sorrey you could not comply with propriety, as the importance of the Debates, then suggested, have since been fully verified: I believe I mentioned in my last the Proposition of Mr. Madison²³ to introduce a discrimination between the original holders & present possessors of public Securities, this has been the Subject of Debate ever since & is yet undecided, the principal Advocates for this Measure are Madison,

    ²³ James Madison, afterward President of the United States.

Jackson,²⁴ White,²⁵ & Lee,²⁶ those in opposition are Ames,²⁷ Hartley,²⁸ Lawrence,²⁹ Boudinot,³⁰ Benson,³¹ & Wadsworth,³² the House being anctious to have this matter fully discussed, the Question has not been urged & the gentlemen have come forward fully prepared with their Arguments on both sides, Mr. Boudinot yesterday spoke more than two hours & Mr. Madison this day was up near that time, perhaps to-morrow may close this important Debate; you could not have been here at any one time since the existence of the Government when your curiosity would have been more highly gratified, tho' perhaps you might be more comfortably accomadated with a Seat in the Gallery;     Shall look for you on tuesday & think you had best take your Seats at Morton's in the first stage wherein you can be comfortable, because finding seats vacant in the Mail Stage is uncertain, & should you be disap-

    ²⁴ James Jackson, born in England, 1757, died Washington, D. C., 1806. Officer in the Revolution. Brigadier-General 1786. Representative in Congress. 1789-1791. Senator 1793-95. Governor of Georgia 1798-1801. Senator 1801-06.
    ²⁵ Alexander White, born in Virginia 1738, died Woodville, Va., 1804. Member of Congress 1786-88, and 1789-93.
    ²⁶ Richard Henry Lee, born Virginia 1732, died there 1794. Was a member of the Virginia house of Burgesses 1761-88, in the Continental Congress 1774-80, 1782-85. United States Senator 1789-92.
    ²⁷ Fisher Ames, born Dedham, Mass., 1758, died there 1808. Graduated from Harvard 1774, and studied law. He was a member of the State Legislature 1788, and of Congress 1789-96. In 1804 he was elected president of Harvard, but declined to serve.
    ²⁸ Thomas Hartley, of Pensylvania.
    ²⁹ John Lawrence, born Cornwall, England, 1750, died New York City 1810. Came to New York 1767, admitted to the bar 1772. In 1775 he was given commission in the First New York Regiment, in 1777 was Aide-de-Camp to General Washington. and as Judge Advocate General presided at the trial of Major John Andre. Member of Congress 1785-1787, and 1799-94, U. S. Senator 1796-1800.
    ³⁰ Elias Boudinot, see page 56.
    ³¹ Egbert Benson, see page 52.
    ³² Jeremiah Wadsworth, born Hartford, Conn., 1743, died there 1804. Commissary-General of the Continental Army, member of Congress 1786-88, and 1789-95.

pointed you will wait for the next more comfortably at home than at Trenton.
                                                    H. Wynkoop.

                                                    Newyork, 4^th March, 1790.
Dear Sir,
    The assumption of the State Debts is yet undecided. The day before yesterday the Debate was suspended in order to obtain from the Secretary of the Treasury a Report on the aditional Resources required in case the Adoption of the State Debts should succeed, this Report was made this day & is limited to aditional Imposts on luxurious Articles of consumption, except Salt on which likewise six aditional cents is proposed, 100 Coppies of this Report are ordered to be printed for the Use of the Members. Of course it is not probable the question will be taken before some time next week.
    For the news of the place & debates of Congress, refer you to the papers.
    Mama is in no want of Visitors, this evening we have drank tea, I believe for the first time this week, with the family but has not yet seen the Hall, the Congress, or paid her respects to Mrs. Washington, a task she wishes to perform & yet is in fear of it. Wether it will yet be undertaken & how performed I do not know.
    The weather is again as cold aparently as any time this winter.   *   *   *   *   *   *   My compliments to you, Nicholas & Crissey, with kisses for Miss Nancy
                                                   Henry Wynkoop.
    Doctor Reading Beattie.

                                                    Newyork, 18^th March, 1790.
Dear Sir--
    We have not received a single Line from Bucks this Week, which induces us to suspect that those Communications must have miscarried.
    Tuesday & Wednesday were unfortunate Days relative to the Debates of Congress, owing to a Subject

being introduced relating to the abolition of slavery, this is one in which the States of South Carolina & Georgia are extremely interested & determined to give every opposition to the Measure, the Debate on their part was conducted with an unusual degree of warmth & not without severe Invective against the Quakers, who seated in the gallery, bore the Basteing, as they termed it, with all the Composure of true Philosophers. I am happy to inform you that the Boisterous Commotions of the two past Days have subsided on this and as after a Storm fair weather ensues, the House this day in Committee of the whole have with great Calmness & moderation proceeded in discussing the Report of the special Committee on the Memorials of the Quakers, & the Society of Philadelphia on the Emancipation of Slaves, and after all, considering the small degree of Authority in the National Government, it is nowise probable anything will be done that can afford the least ground of alarm to those Southern States.
    Were it in my power to cast a Veil over the Debates of the two past days, I should undoubtedly do it, but as they were public & will appear to the world, however small the credit to be derived from them, I send you the Dayley Advertiser by way of Example.
    Mama has work enough upon her hands. I don't know wether she will not have to do like some other People, make an elopement to avoid paying their Debts. Drinking tea with Mrs. Roensey this evening, who is Sister to the Speaker & General Mughlenberg, I met with a man from Montgomery County, with whom I sent my Home Communications to be left at Ledom's.
    Mama joins in love to you, Crissey, Nancey & Nicholas.
    We are told that the day before yesterday a snow fell above the high Lands near two feet thick.
                                                         Henry Wynkoop.
    Doctor Reading Beatty.

                                                    Newyork, 25^th March, 1790.
Dear Sir--
    Have received yours of 20^th, with those accompanying; the Quaker busyness has given me more uneasiness than anything which has hapened since my attendance here, in defiance of all Order, gentlemen digressed from the points in question and ran in pursuit of Objects utterly foreign to the Propositions before the Committee, the House has however got rid of this disagreeable Busyness, & are now again proceeding with their usual good humour in the management of our national concerns.
    Have ordered our light Wagon to meet us at Morton's on Saturday y^e 3^d April, when, should the Roads improve, we may be at your House to diner.
    The Polliticks & News of this place you have in the papers.
        Mamma joins in Love to you & yours
                                                             Henry Wynkoop.
    Doctor Reading Beatty.

                                                    Newyork, 13^th April, 1790
Dear Sir,
    Came here on tuesday morning before breakfast, from Elizabethtown point. my leg was somewhat inflamed from the Journey, but is now again in a good way of healing, and am in hopes soon to be able to walk to & from the Hall instead of employing a Coach for that purpose.

committed to a Special Committee, in hopes thus to produce an acomodation. The House, in short, is much embarrassed, & how they will be extricated so as to proceed with proper Temper on the great Subject of public Credit, time only can discover, such Situations occasion an inconceivable Anctiety to Minds impressed with the Importance of this Subject to the future Honor, Credit & Prosperity of our Country.
                              My love to you & yours.
                                                   Henry Wynkoop.
    Doctor Reading Beattie.

                                                    Newyork, 22^nd April, 1790.
Dear Sir--
    The Assumption of the State Debts is again the Subject of Debate, as you will perceive by the Newspapers. Madison this day spoke in opposition more than one hour, expect Ames will follow him to-morrow & possibly on monday a Discussion may again take place. I must confess for my part no Proposition hitherto before Congress has so much embarrassed my mind, it is like Sylla & Charybdis, Dangers on every Side, & how the Ship will yet with perfect Safety be piloted into Port, Time will discover. The State Debts proposed to be assumed are those incur'd in consequence of exertions against the common Enemy during the late War. Your Register for last week No. 9. I sent on by Mr. Cornet to Vreden's Berg. Shall enquire of Mr. Loyd respecting the others.
    Congress have this day agreed to wearing the customary mourning for four weeks in commemoration of the Merit of Doctor Franklin.
    If your ground be in order, it is high time your flax & Oats were in. Long to hear Nance chatter. Give her a kiss for grand: pa. My Love to Crissey & Nicholas, which accept likewise from
                                           Yours &c
    Doctor Reading Beattie.                        Henry Wynkoop.

    N. B. have walked to & from the Hall this day & as yet feel no inconvenience.
                                                            H. W.

                                                    Newyork, 29^th April, 1790.
Dear Sir--
    You will perceive by the Debates of Congress that this week has been more propitious to Busyness than some time past, that the State Debts are put out of View for the present. A Committee appointed to report a Bill making Provision for the public Creditors, agreeable to the Principals established, and also one for a Bill to lay aditional Duties on certain enumerated Articles, since which the House has been perfectly harmonious, and the files are clearing off fast, see nothing at present which will be likely to embarrass except the return of the Assumption Affair, which will inevitably be brought forward again.

                                                    Newyork, 20^th May, 1790.
Dear Sir--
    Left home between 10 & 11 on monday morning, & came here at 12 on tuesday, had an agreable ride & good company.
    We have been greatly alarmed for the safety of the President, but happily he is again out of Danger, owing, I am informed, more to the natural strength of his Constitution than the Aid of Medicine, the Disorder being seated in the Lungs, an uncomon Discharge

taking place afforded immediate relief, am not without hopes we shall be able to rescue him from a third attack arising from Disorders occasioned by the cold Damps of this place, and prolong his days by breathing the more temperate & salubrious Air of Pennsylvania.
    The Bill for the payment of the National Debt is now under Discussion, in Committee of the whole & the funding the old Continental money yet in the Hands of individuals is the Subject of the Day.
    The House have this day agreed to meet at 10 in the morning, an Omen this predictive of an Adjournment being not far distant, as the Committee Busyness, which otherwise consumes the morning, is nearly disposed of.

                                                    Newyork, 27^th May, 1790.
Dear Sir--Yours of Sunday last received yesterday, the President is so far recovered as again to attend to Busyness & ride out. On Monday last the motion for fixing the next Meeting of Congress at Philadelphia was made in the Senate by Mr. Morris, & seconded by Mr. Langdon,³³ which lay on the Table until yesterday, when it was again brought forward & postponed to that day week, to afford time for Rode Island to send forward their Senators, the votes stood 13 for the postponement & 11 against, thus you see our sanguine Prospects of going to Philadelphia are at last rendered precarious, tho' we will not consider it as lost yet. Perseverendo, you know was the Motto of one of our Continental Bills.

    ³³ John Langdon, born Portsmouth, N. H., 1741, died there 1819. Member of Congress 1775-76.

    The Assumption of the State Debts was again brought forward, as you will perceive by the papers, but was rejected as part of the funding Bill, which this day has been completed, so far as to be engrossed for a third reading on monday next; this done Mr. Fitsimmons introduced the following motion, That Congress meet & hold their next Session in Philadelphia this was seconded from various parts of the House & now lays on the Table, what will be its fate time will discover, many gentlemen are yet sanguine, while others wear long faces upon it. The coming in of Rode Island is yet precarious, as the communications from thence are various in Opinion, some gentlemen conceiving they will adopt the Constitution, while others are positive in assertions to the contrary.
    Coll. Bland is extremely ill, & what is somewhat remarkable, I believe is the only gentleman from Virginia who prefers this place to Philadelphia.
    Mr. Boudinot in the form of Resolutions agreable to what is contained in the Report of the Secretary & the propositions of Mr. Gerrey of Monday last, again this day brought forward the Assumption of the State Debts, these now lay on the Table.
    The adjournment of Congress cannot yet be ascertained, much busyness is yet depending, & little probability that it can possibly take place before some time in June.
    I send you Child's paper of this day, containing the speeches of Sherman & Boudinot on Mr. Gerry's propositions of last monday, but the Cream of that Debate is in the Speech of Ames not yet published, as that probably will appear to-morrow, shall send it to you on monday.
    My love to Crissey, Nicholas & Nancey which likewise accept from
                                                            Henry Wynkoop.
    Doctor Reading Beatty.

                                                    Newyork, 31^st May, 1790.
Dear Sir,
    This day the Proposition for meeting & holding the next session of Congress at Philadelphia was taken up in the House of Representatives. A world of maneuvering as usual was introduced for the purpose of embarrassing, but the Friends of the Measure were prooff against every attack, & by two o'clock the Question was farely brought before the House, when the votes stood 38 for & 22 against it, so that we had a majority of 16 on the floor & the Speaker makes 17. I believe I told you in my last that the convention of Rode Island were sitting, they met last monday, Debated until Saturday, when at 5 o'clock in the afternoon the Question on the Adoption of the general government was put, 34 were for & 32 against it, perhaps by Saturday next we may expect their Senators; thus you see, Doctor, it is hot work here, our geting into Pensylvania now entirely rests with the Senate, with whom the great majority in the House of Representatives must have an influence, two more Votes in that Body previous to the coming in of Rode Island does the Busyness.

                                                    Newyork, 4^th June, 1790.
Dear Sir--
    Those sanguine expectations expressed in my last respecting an adjournment to Philadelphia have since been somewhat allay'd by the Proceedings of the Senate, which you will see in the papers, however do not yet despair of success, the popularity of the Measure in the House of Representatives & the respectabillity of the minority in the Senate, must undoubtedly ac-

complish it in some Shape or other. I send you Child's paper of this day, by which you will perceive how the Shoe pinched, the newspaper wiffets are barking, they snarl & shew their Teeth, so much for the treatment the Pensylvanians received here last Fall, for which tho' I believe our Newyork Brethren are now sincerely penitent. Their superior address saved our 100,000 Dollars, & I hope by the time this Matter is ended our Reputation will be saved also.
    The funding Bill passed the House yesterday, that making provision for the Settlement of the Accounts between the United States & individual States is now under discussion, hope this will in some measure quiet the minds of the Advocates for the State Assumptions.

                                                    Newyork, Fryday morning 25^th June, 1790.
Dear Sir,
    I left home on tuesday morning last at 5 & arrived here at 7 that evening, the Bill for raising aditional Revenue was rejected on monday, arising from two causes, the eastern people voted against it on account of the State Debts being unassumed & the southern from an aversion to an Excise. The Committee appointed to prepare another Bill have not yet reported.

                                                    Newyork, 29^th June 1790
                                                            6 o'clock in the morning.
Dear Sir--
    With this I send ½ doz. pair thread stockings, of the manufacture of Hartford, for the use of my Boys, 2 pair are for Nicholas, the others for John & Jonathan. If no other opertunity presents for forwarding the Letter to Mr. Hutchinson, let it be left with Linton at Newtown.
    Yesterday the Joint Committee reported the Busyness yet to be decided upon during this session, & the time of Adjournment, which is y^e 15^th July, by far the greatest part of those Matters Reported by this Committee, having passed the House of Representatives, now lays with the Senate, so that it chiefly depends on that Body wether we shall get away at the time allotted: The Senate also took up the Propositions respecting Residence understand the permanent, was fixed on the Potowmac 16 to 9, how it is with the temporary Residence, have not heard. The paper will afford you the general Information of what is doing here.
    My love to Crissey, Nicholas & Nancey, which accept also from
                                            Your affectionate
Doctor                                                 Henry Wynkoop.
    Reading Beatty

                                                    Newyork, fryday morning, 2^d July, 1790

Dear Sir--
    You are altogether mistaken respecting the Adjournment to Phila., the Bill passed the Senate yesterday, will come down to us this day & probably as we have a decided Majority, be assented to to-morrow, by this the permanent Residence is fixed on the Potowmac, & the temporary for ten years in Phila., to which place all the public offices are to be removed by the first monday in December next; thus we have a prospect at length to put an end to this disagreable busyness, &

upon Terms tho' not altogether so advantageous to Pensylvania as might have been wished, yet the best possible to be procured, and such as must be considered a great Acquisition to the State, for the Financial Arangements once established there, it is improbable that their Removal to an Inland Situation will be convenient to Government; the credit of this Measure is due to our Senators, Mr. Morris, who is ridiculed, insulted & abused here, is entitled to the gratitude & Esteem of every man who regards the Interest of Pensylvania.
    The funding Bill is yet with the Senate, the aditional Ways & Means you will see in the papers, which were adopted in Committee of the Whole yesterday, & probably will pass the House this day, tho' not without Opposition, chiefly arising from the non-assumption of the State Debts. Could you command the money, you would do well to furnish yourself with Indents sufficient to redeem your Continental certificates, by doing that you add the whole of your interest to the principal Stock, by this even at 2% your annuity will be equal & perhaps more & that in actual Specie, than you have received at 6% on account of the increase of your principal: I have directed Lombaert to get mine in Philadelphia, here they were a few days ago at about 7s to the pound.
    The Indian Corn you must have, tho' I relied on that to supply myself with some necessary cash. My love to Crissey, Nicholas & Nancey which accept also from
                                         Your affectionate
Doctor                                            Henry Wynkoop.
    Reading Beatty

                                                    Newyork, fryday morning, 9^th July, 1790
Dear Sir--
    Was in hopes before now to have informed you of the final Determination of the Question of Residence,

but that is not yet in my power, the Bill passed by the Senate was taken upon tuesday in Committee of the whole, & Debated until yesterday, when it was reported without any Amendment, the lowest majority I think was six votes, this Day it will be taken up in the House, when, as usual, we shall have Yeas and Nays in abundance, tho' the majority is decided & there is not the most distant Prospect of defeating the Bill, yet the Opponents are determined to dispute its Progress in every part, if it be got thro' to-day I shall slip home to-morrow, that I may have an opertunity of viewing the Fields of Grain before Harvest, but this at present is doubtful. Your Conjecture respecting Indents is right, on redeeming the Continental Certificates the State must be furnished with Indents to the amount of the Interest paid by her, otherwise she must retain that sum out of the Certificates themselves. Wish you & Crissey could dine with me at Vreden's Berg on Sunday, and yet, thro' uncertainty, dare not ask you.
                                                    Henry Wynkoop.
Doctor
    Reading Beatty.

                                                    Newyork, 16^th July, 1790
Dear Sir--
    The authority respecting the opening of Roads & declaring them either public or private, is in the Viewers & the Court, I take the general Distinction between a public & private Road to be, that the one is a general thorofare or Passage for the community at large & the others a mere private Passage to acomodate one or more Individuals in getting to & from a public Road: the expense of the first is borne by the public, that of the latter by the Individual.
    The adjournment of Congress was yesterday postponed to y^e 27^th. The funding & consequent revenue Systems are yet far from being completed, Report was yesterday that the President has signed the residence

Bill, but no official information was given. My love to Crissey & Nicholas & kiss for Miss Nancey & am
                                            Yours &c.
                                                Henry Wynkoop.
Doctor
    Reading Beatty.

                                                    Newyork, 29^th July, 1790.
Dear Sir--
    The funding Bill received the Sanction of both Houses this day between 3 & 4 o'clock, majority generally six, the Creditors will have two-thirds of their principal funded at 6 y^e ft., the remaining third at the like Interest after the expiration of ten years, & the indents & back interest up to the last day of December next at three y^e ft. this is doing less for them than what was agreable to the wishes & inclination of a majority of the Representatives, but they were at length reduced to the Alternative of agreeing to this or loosing the Bill, the Representatives of Pennsylvania to a man prefer'd the former. The Ways & Means are yet with the Senate, but hoping that will meet with little Difficulty, conclude there is a fair Prospect of an adjournment being effected in the Course of next week, shall therefore order my light wagon to meet me at Morton's on the evening of Saturday week, when I hope, if not before, to take a night's Lodging with you.

    N. A Proposition laid on the table on tuesday last for the appointment of a Committee to bring in a Bill for repealing the fifth Section of the residence Bill, relating to the temporary Residence in Philadelphia, was this day withdrawn by the Mover, wether this ill-natured thing will again make its appearance is uncertain, but should it, I do not conceive the least probability of its succeeding.
                                                                H. W.

                                                    Newyork, fryday morning, 6^th Aug. 1790.
Dear Sir--
    Notwithstanding the confident expectation of being at your House to-morrow evening it is now tollerably well ascertained that I am to be disappointed, for the revenue Bill was not returned from the Senate until yesterday about two o'clock. It is so amended as to alter its complection much & adds greatly to the uncertainty of the time it will yet consume, so that should Mama be at your House, she must return without me, & I must get home as soon & as well as I can.
    Conceiving you must be anctious to see the funding Bill, I send it enclosed, as also some of the caricatures sold about the streets, expressive of the Spleen of the Cittizens on account of the removal of Congress: You probably must have heard of the motion for repealing part of the residence Bill, this was brought forward yesterday & rejected by a majority of 12, so that I hope we shall not hear any more of it. The Rabble here are very free in bawling out some one or other of the dirty expressions you will see in the Labels, when they perceive a Pennsylvania Delegate passing the Streets, from which you may judge somewhat of the agreeableness of our Continuance here, but be that as it may, I believe not a man of us will leave the place until all is over & safe, which probably will be tuesday or Wednesday next.

    Expecting Mama will be with you to-morrow afternoon, this must serve for you both. My love to her, Crissey, Nicholas, & Nancey which accept also from
                                       Your affectionate
                                                    Henry Wynkoop.

                                                    Newyork, 8^th Aug. 1790
Dear Sir--
    Yesterday the Senate concurred with the House of Representatives for Adjourning on tuesday, think therefore may now without danger of Disappointment, make Disposal for getting Home; Therefore request you, if convenient, to give notice to my family to send a Light waggon to be at Morton's by sunrise on Thursday morning next, or if you can not conveniently give that notice, then to send some Vehicle to Morton's by that time to take me & my Baggage: writing this at Doctor Elmer's¹ who is just going off, is the Reason I send you no papers, but in a few days you shall have all the news.
                                                       Henry Wynkoop.
Doctor
    Reading Beatty

    ¹ Jonathan Elmer. See PENN MAG. Vol. xxxv, p. 103.

Source:

Beatty, Joseph M., Jr., "The Letters of Judge Henry Wynkoop, Representative from Pennsylvania to the First Congress of the United States," Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 38, No. 2 (April 1914), pp. 183-205.