dian affairs, the commissioners to "have power to
treat with the Indians in their respective departments, in the name
and on behalf of the United Colonies, in order to preserve peace and
friendship with the said Indians, and to prevent their taking any part
in the present commotions." On the following day the commissioners for
the middle department were elected, namely, Franklin, Patrick Henry,
and James Wilson.[203] On the 17th of July, a committee was appointed
to negotiate with the Indian missionary, the Rev. Samuel Kirkland,
respecting his past and future services among the Six Nations, "in
order to secure their friendship, and to continue them in a state of
neutrality with respect to the present controversy between Great
Britain and these colonies." This committee consisted of Thomas
Cushing, Patrick Henry, and Silas Deane.[204] Finally, on the 31st of
July, next to the last day of the session, a committee consisting of
one member for each colony was appointed to serve in the recess of
Congress, for the very practical and urgent purpose of inquiring "in
all the colonies after virgin lead and leaden ore, and the best
methods of collecting, smelting, and refining it;" also, after "the
cheapest and easiest methods of making salt in these colonies." This
was not a committee on which any man could be useful who had only
"declamation" to contribute to its work; and the several colonies
were represented upon it by their most sagacious and their weightiest
men,--as New Hampshire by Langdon, Massachusetts by John Adams, Rhode
Island by Stephen Hopkins, Pennsylvania by Franklin, Delaware by
Rodney, South Carolina by Gadsden, Virginia by Patrick Henry.[205]

On the day on which this committee was appointed, Patrick Henry wrote
to Washington, then at the headquarters of the army near Boston, a
letter which denoted on the part of the writer a perception, unusual
at that time, of the gravity and duration of the struggle on which the
colonies were just entering:--

PHILADELPHIA, July 31st, 1775.

SIR,--Give me leave to recommend the bearer, Mr. Frazer,
to your notice and regard. He means to enter the American
camp, and there to gain that experience, of which the
general cause may be avail'd. It is my earnest wish that
many Virginians might see service. It is not unlikely that
in the fluctuation of things our country may have occasion
for great military exertio