Date: [September 12-18, 1774]
“Monday. This Day as usual was spent on Committees. Tuesday We dined with Mr. Smith a Merchant of this City–and on Wednesday & Thursday attended Our Business. Friday We had a grand Entertainment at the State House. Sammy Webb must describe it. About Five Hundred Gentlemen sat down at once, and I will only say there was a plenty of everything eatable, & drinkable & no scarcity of good Humor, & diversion. We had besides the Delegates, Gentlemen From every province on the Continent present. Saturday. I send the Resolves of this Day which are applauded to the skies by the Inhabitants of this City, so will say nothing more about them. When I shall return is as uncertain as it was, on my First entering the City. I arm myself with Patience, and determine not to desert the Cause. I hope your Health returns. J Webb says it does, but I had rather see it under your own hand. Mr. Revere sets out in the Morning early and by him I send This Letter, which brings me to Sunday Evening, having heard Mr. Deshay in the Morning, & a Highland parson just imported the last Week from the Mountains of North Scotland, this After Noon. I saw Wm. Goddard here, but he looks dejected, and I thought, did not much choose being seen in public. He most certainly engaged Two potent Adversaries, when he differed with Galloway & Wharton. My most Affectionate Regards to all of both Families and to the Neighborhood.
I am my Dear Your most Affectionate Husband, Silas Deane”
Source: Ford, Worthington Chauncy, ed. The Journals of the Continental Congress , Washington, D.C., U.S. Government Printing Office, 1904. Vol. 1, p. 55.
Commentary: The Suffolk Resolves, largely the work of Joseph Warren, were delivered to the Continental Congress by Paul Revere on September 16, 1774. Well received, they were adopted word for word by the Congress. Connecticut’s Silas Deane, in a letter to his spouse Elizabeth Deane, notes the positive reception among Patriotic Philadelphians.
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