Middleton, Arthur, Signer of the Declaration of Independence from South Carolina

Autograph letter (unsigned), 2 pages (7 7/8 x 6 1/2 in.; 202 x 165 mm) on a single leaf, with an autograph postscript on a separate slip of paper (8 1/4 x 3 in.; 210 x 76 mm), Philadelphia, 12 December 1781, being a retained draft, with a few revisions and emendations, of a letter from the South Carolina congressional delegation (Middleton, Thomas Bee, Nicholas Eveleigh, John Mathews, and Issac Motte) to South Carolina Governor John Rutledge; browned, pinholes at top, tear in postscript crudely mended on verso.

Sold, Parke-Bernet, 15 January 1941, lot 286 (undesignated consignor) — Sold, Parke-Bernet, 25 November 1952, lot 224 (undesignated consignor) — Sold, Charles Hamilton Autographs, 13 December 1966, lot 360 (undesignated consignor)

Letters of Delegates to Congress, ed. Smith, 18:244–45; Joseph E. Fields, "The Autographs of Arthur Middleton," in Autograph Collectors' Journal, vol. 4, no. 2 (1952): 52

South Carolina's congressmen scheme to exploit a provision in the Articles of Confederation. After apprising Rutledge that nothing of import has occurred since their letter of two weeks earlier, Middleton and his colleagues reveal their plan for reducing South Carolina's obligations to the union of states: "By the Arts. of Confedn. The States are to make returns of their White Inhabs. as a ground for fixing their respective Quotas of the United Army, & for levelling the general Expences attending it at a future day. We are therefore of Opinion (altho Congress has not required it) it might be politick for our State to make such a return as soon as possible, whilst our population is at a low Ebb, & We recommend it to your Excellency's Consideration."

The letter next turns to an account of the privateering exploits of Commodore Alexander Gillon of the South Carolina Navy. "A report lately prevail'd that the So. Carolina Frigate was wreck'd on the Coast of Holland, we have the pleasure of informing you, it was without Foundation; having since heard with certainty that Commodore Gillon had put into Corunna in Spain, & was victualling with intention to sail for America, & we hope for his Arrival shortly." The delegates also report on the arrival of woolens, indigo, and other goods that they planned to place with the state's financial agent, John Ross, a Philadelphia merchant.

Reverting to the subject of privateering, Middleton informs Rutledge that "Congress have passd an Ordinance respecting Capture, intended to Check the increasing Circuitous Commerce with GB. impolitic, as being destructive to our Interests; & affording an Object of Jealousy to our Allies present & future. We endeavour'd to make the Ordinance as far as we were able, consonant to our Interests in points of recapture &ca. There is a prospect of progress in our Spanish negotiations, & we have reason to expect the News of our late success will bring Matters to a Crisis there."

A postscript reveals that the South Carolina delegation's plan for lessening its share of the financial and military support of the Confederation may have gotten some unintended assistance from a congressional resolve: "Since writing the above a resolution has been pass'd by Congress requiring from each state a return of their white inhabitants as soon as practicable pursuant to the 9th Article of the Confedn." Article IX of the Articles of Confederation reads, in part, "The United States in Congress assembled shall have authority to ... ascertain the necessary sums of money to be raised for the service of the United States, and to appropriate and apply the same for defraying the public expenses — ... to agree upon the number of land forces, and to make requisitions from each State for its quota, in proportion to the number of white inhabitants in such State; which requisition shall be binding. ..."