Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-23
To the Editor OF The Star:

| To the Editor OF The Star:
J A short time ago, while stationed at
Newport, a friend handed me clip
| ping from The Washington Evening
| Star on which was letter questioning
! the existence of a Navy early in De-
then of Union Flag British crosses
with Is stripes in the field.
Please note the following from the
autobiography of John Adams: ON
Tuesday, November 28 1775). the Con-
gress resumed the consideration Of the
| rules and orders for the Navy Of the
United Colonies. and. the same being
debated by paragraphs. were agreed TO.
-" They were drawn up in the
marine committee, and by my hand
but examined. discussed and corrected
by the committee. In this place / Will
take the opportunity to observe that the
pleasantest part Of my labors for the
four years / spent in Congress from
1774 to 1778 was in this naval COM
mittee. Mr.. Lee. Mr.. Gadsden were
sensible men and very cheerful. but
Gov. Hopkins of Rhode Island. above
10 years Of age, kept us all alive. Upon
business his experience and Judgment
were very useful. But when the bust
ness OF the evening was over he kept
us in conversation till IL. and some
times IL O'Clock. His custom was
to drink nothing all day. nor till 8
o'clock in the evening. and then his
It gave him wit humor. anecdotes,
science and learning. He had read
Greek, Roman and British history, and
was familiar with English poetry. par
ticularly Pope, Thomson and Milton,
and the flow of his soul made all his
reading all our own. and seemed to
bring to recollection in all Of US all we
~
drink in these days. The other gentle
men were very temperate. Hopkins
never drank to excess, but all he drank
was Immediately not only converted into
wit, sense, knowledge and good humor,
but inspired us with similar qualities. i.
This committee soon purchased and
fitted Ave vessels; the first We named
Alfred. in honor Of the founder OF
the greatest navy that ever existed
The second, Columbus, after the dis
! coverer of this quarter Of the globe.
The third. Cabot, for the discoverer Of
this northern part of the continent
The fourth, Andrew Doria, in memory
of the great Genoese admiral. and the
fifth, Providence, for the town where
she was purchased, the residence OF
Gov. Hopkins and his brother EZek,
whom we appointed first captain, We
appointed all the officers OF all the
ships. At the solicitation of Mr.. Deane
we appointed his brother-in-law. Capt
Saltonstall."
Given Leave to Rest.
On December 9 Adams notes in his
dairy that. worn down with long and
uninterrupted labor. he asked and OBJ
tanned leave from Congress to visit
his State and family. He left on that
date, and there is no entry in his jour-
nal after December 10 until January "a,
1776, Wednesday, Began my journey
| to Philadelphia Dined at c. Mifflin's
with G.. Washington and Gates and
their ladies and half a dozen sachems
and warriors Of the French Caghnawaga
tribe, with their wives and children"
This was the only time that Adams was
| a member of the naval committee, for
on his return he found larger COM
mittee on which he was not member.
It is necessary to Ak the date upon
which Hopkins became commander in
chief of this fleet.
In the Rhode Island Historical So
ciety Collection-Hopkins Papers-is
the following letter to Brig. Gen. Esek
Hopkins
philadelphia, November 6, ITS.
"You will perceive by letter from
! the committee dated yesterday that
they have pitched upon you to take the
/ command of a small feet, which they
and I hope will be but the beginning
| of one much larger. I suppose you
| may be more serviceable to your coun-
| try In this very dangerous crisis of its
affairs by taking upon you this COM
| mand than you can In any other way.
{ should therefore hope that this will
| be q sufficient Involvement for you to
accept Of this offer. Your pay and
perquisites will be such as you will
have no reason to complain Of. Such
officers and seamen as you may pro-
cure to come with you may be in
| formed that they will enter into pay
from their first engaging In this serv-
ice, and will be entitled to share as
| prize one-half OF all armed vessels
and the one third Of all transports
'''''' ''''' "sTEP HOPKINS"
In the Revolutionary correspondence
published by the Rhode Island Histori-
cal Society is the order to Comdr.
Abraham Whipple.
Whipple's Orders.
By the Hon. Nicholas Cooke, ESQ.,,
| Gov. Can't. Gen. and Commander-in-
chief of and over the English Colony
| of Rhode Island and Providence Plan
tations in New England, in America.
To Abraham Whipple, commander of
the SlOOp Katy, III TIC ccINiCC VI 1iic
colony aforesaid, greeting:
At the request of the committee ap-
pointed to act during the recess OF
the General Assembly, you are hereby
directed to take on board the said sloop
Katy the seamen engaged by Brig. Gen.
Hopkins, in the Continental service, and
with them and the officers and the men
TO the sloop belonging, you are to pro-
coed Immediately to Philadelphia. If
the honorable Continental Congress
are equipping q naval force to act
against the enemy upon the Coast of
New England, that will sail soon. you
are to remain there in order to sail
with and assist such feet in their
operations upon the said coast. But
If the feet OF the United Colonies Is
destined for any other part Of America
you are to apply yourself to the Hon
stephen Hopkins and Saumel Ward
esus., Nathaniel Mumford, Thomas
Greene and Gideon Mumford, esqs., all
of this colony, whom you will md II,
Philadelphia, who will furnish you with
cargo of -four upon account Of the
colony, which you are to lade on board
the said sloop, and return Herewith i'm
Il H. L. g.