Norwich bulletin., 1913-01-24
COUNTRY DisREGARDED
 SERVICES OF slLAs DIANE.
Native of Groten Married Norwich oiri-Becams Man of Wealth and Power

The Rev. George L. Clark, of Weth- ersfield, read a paper of much interest on -"Silas Deane, Revountionars l Patriot" before the Connecticut His
 tordcal society The following is 3 brief outline of MT. Clark's paper; l Silas Deane was born in Groton IT l1737, graduated from Yale in 1753, and went at once to Wethersfieid, taugh' 1 school, engaged in business and by his enterprise and shrewdness became in l ten years & man of wealth and power ] Deane engaged in business with his brother, Barnabas, and built the Sflas | Deane house in Wethersaeld shortly before the Revolution. In 1761 he 1 married Mrs. Webb, who died in 1767 1 He later married Elizabeth, daughter | of Colonel Saltonstall of Norwich. The first conquest made by the ! oga, May 10. 1775, was largely due to the influence and money Of Silas Deane, who advanced g 3S6 to the com : missary Captain Elisha Phelps. In gate to the Continental congress, and on August 22 left for Philadelphia. In the deHberation and action Of con gress Deane bore a, leading part, as became a man of his ability and en- ersy.
 Washineton Slept in Deane's House. Washington visited Wethersfeld and slept at the Deane house the night of June 2S, 17T5. In the autumn of lffo
 the project was discussed in con gross of sending man to France to secure foreign sympathy and aid Silas Deane, the Wethersfield patriot and business man, was the choice or the committee of congress, and he was accordingly sent with E 40,000 to buy 100 brass cannon and arms and clothing for 25.000 men.
 Arthur Lee, who arrived in Paris with Franklin late in 1776, was en- zr>rTl Tlrs71e 1 at once began to work against Deane- He wrote home that Deane was ex- trayagant and perhaps speculated with the funds in his hands
 Deane brought home letters of hearty commendation from Beaumar- chais, Franklin and Vergennes- But cold looks, averted faces and violent partieanship met him instead of sym whom he had loved with singular de- votion, had died during his absence. The Virginia and South Carolina frac- tions were arrayed against him
 Deane explained his position before congress showing how he had spent the greater part of his private for tune for the good of the country, but the opposition of the Lees resulted in delaying any action of congress toward his vindtcation-
 To France Again.
 He went to France again to gain LHe ne6Qod information ana IOQnu that the French government had been prejudiced against him. Ruin and disgrace threatened him on his re- turn to America. so that he became discouraged, morbid. misanthropic.
 Then came the publication of the famous Rebel Mail" the ''intercepted letters" published in the "Rivington Royal Gazette in which he argued that since France was weary of aiding us, the colonies so full of jealousy and faction, congress so incapable and our prospects of commerce so futile, it might be wise for the colonies to come to an understanding with England on some basis that would give them local self government. with the sta bility of connection with the mother country dn this time of gloom sim liar sentiments had been uttered by even such men as Franklin and Wash ington.
 An Exile.
 These letters raised such a storm that Deane was driven from the so ciety of patriots and made an exile. He esca ped to Ghent where he re- mained in obscurfty and poverty for a year and a half and then went to England. He remained in England until his death, September B, 1739, on the ship upon which he had embarked for America IT. bedr was carried ashore and buried in the churchyard in the town of Deal, where it lies in an unmarked grave. In 1S42 congress voted $SS,G00 to the heirs of Deane in partial restitution of the fortune that he had devoted to his country.