Gerry, Elbridge, signer of the Declaration of Independence from Massachusetts

News of Yorktown, the state of the economy, and the success of the Articles of Confederation.

In the Massachusetts election of 1780, Gerry was elected senator for Essex county (an office he declined), and representative for Marblehead in the house. In June of 1781 he declined appointment to the congress of the United States, wishing to remain in close contact with his constituents. John Jay was at this time serving as minister to Spain trying to gather financial aid for the Revolution, and recognition for the new country (which Spain refused until 1783).

Gerry begins by noting that he is enclosing a copy of the recently adopted Massachusets constitution at Jay's request. He goes on with news of the Yorktown Campaign: "Since the arrival of the Fleet of our Allies at Virginia, we have a favorable prospect of a happy issue to the present Campaign, & I flatter myself that You will soon have the Pleasure of hearing of the capture of Lord Cornwallis and his army, and of the removal of the enemy from every part of the southern States."

He expresses doubts about paper money, arguing for coin, "The Failure of the old continental currency has nearly prevented a Circulation of the new, & I wish not to see either revive, as Specie is every Day increasing amongst Us, by publick as well as private Importations, which being greatly promoted by the scarcity of the medium, must soon produce a competent supply."

He reports on the state of the local economy, which enjoys "a plentiful supply of every article of foreign produce" even though privateers have been suffering "repeated losses," listing the local prices of sugar, coffee, cotton, Madeira, and salt. "We have had in this quarter, & I believe thro'out America, as plentiful an Harvest as ever was known, which has reduced the prices of provisions here, lower than they were last War, & at the same time increased our resources so as to enable us to Finish the Campaign ..."

His attitude toward the Articles of Confederation is suprisingly sanguine: "... the power of Congress in consequence of the ratification of the confederacy, & of the vigorous exertions of government in the several states, have produced the most salutary effects, & convinced the people, that we have not only resources for continuing the war, but also the power of drawing them forth in quantities equal to the most pressing necessities ... from this State of Facts, it is hardly possible to conceive, that our enemies should buoy themselves up with Hopes of reaping advantages by prosecuting the War, but they seem to be devoted to destruction, & verify the Maxim, "Quem Deus vult perdere, prius dementat" ["He who god wishes to destroy, he first makes mad"].