Family-histories and genealogies : containing a series of ...

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myself at liberty to depart essentially from it. You will perceive, my dear Sir, the
evident propriety that the reply to the Secretary should, if possible, proceed from
your hand. Aside from this consideration which is in some degree personal, a new
question arises out of the declaration of the President ' that the United States are in
imminent danger of invasion,' and one perhaps which the council did not particularly
consider. Altho' there is no difficulty in resisting this renewed requisition, on the
ground that our second objection remains in full force, still I see not but the question
above mentioned must be met.
" Mr. Dwight has just returned, and informs me you are on your way to Connec-
ticut. I despatch an express, not for the purpose of hastening your journey, which
for the sake of your health I beg you not to do, but to learn your wishes as to the
course to be pursued. Shall the council be convened ? This measure I had resolved
to take by the advice of our friends here, and should have issued letters missive on
Monday, if no intelligence had been received from you.
" Whatever directions you may please to forward shall be scrupulously
obeyed. . . .
" I am, my dear Sir, in haste, but most sincerely and affectionately yours,
" His Excellency Governor Griswold."
J.
C. Smith."
The foregoing letter from Lieut. Governor John Cotton Smith is a
valuable missing link in the correspondence between State-authorities and
the General Government, on the subject of Secretary of War Dearborn's
requisition for troops of the militia of Connecticut, to be ordered into the
service of the United States, on the breaking out of the War of 1812.
It does not appear among the letters and other documents, relating to this
subject, published by Dwight in his " History of the Hartford Conven-
tion." But more important and interesting, in the same connection, is the
following draft of a letter written by Governor Griswold, on the 4**" of
Auo-ust 18 1 2, to Secretary Dearborn, which, it is beheved, has never
appeared in print, and was, perhaps, never sent. Being found among the
family-papers, it is put on record here as an additional tribute to his mem-
ory. The date of the letter is the same as that of the meeting of the