Decoding Revolutionary Correspondence
April 17(i), 1783, from Dana to Livingston
Code/Cipher: WE031
Source: Papers of the Continental Congress, Roll 117, Page 727 (Code appears on Page 730)
Manuscript, transcript (Footnote.com)
Electronic Text of Wharton (The Libary of Congress | American Memory)
Searchable Text of Sparks (Google)
In Plaintext
(plaintext pages omitted)
(Page 730)
judgment upon this matter, and particularly upon my conduct in it, till they shall be fully informed of facts. All may yet end as we wish; it may end otherwise.
[With?] administration like this, which [is] not guided by ang[?] settled principles [or?] system, you can be certain of no men sure. What the minister adopt[s] in this hour may be opposed by an irresistable influence in the next. In short, properly speaking, there is no minister here. Hence, my present difficulty.
I have the honor to be be, with much respect & esteem, Sir, your most obedient & most humble servant.
Francis Dana
P.S. I make use of the cipher I sent you by Mr. Adams' son, having laid yours aside for the reason there mentioned(ii). Your printed one has not come to hand with your letter. Count Panin died since my last, much lamented. He had long lived a retired life in the city. His death, therefore, makes no change.
Verification Dump
29 ?
19 E N &
20 F O A
1 N W I
31 administration
26 L U G
14 & I V
3 P Y K
19 E N & like
25 K T F
27 M V H
23 I R D
24 J S E this
15 A J W
22 H Q C
14 & I V
22 H Q C
22 H Q C which
23 I R D [wrong column?]
1[1](iii) X F S is?
1 N W I
20 F O A
12 Y G T not
21 G P B
26 L U G
1 N W I
18 D M Z
10 W E R
23 I R D guided
16 B K X
3 P Y K by
20 F O A
1 N W I
12 Y G T ang?
11 X F S
19 E N &
25 K T F
12 Y G T
26 L U G
10 W E R
23 I R D settled
3 P Y K
23 I R D
1 N W I
1 N W I
8 U C P
1 N W I
3 P Y K
17 C L Y
24 J S E
6 S A N principles
[20(iii) O missing?]
10 W E R or?
6 S A N
3 P Y K
11 X F S
7 T B O
10 W E R
5 R & M system
12 Y G T
20 F O A
13 Z H U you
17 C L Y
6 S A N
6 S A N can
16 B K X
10 W E R be
22 H Q C
19 E N &
23 I R D
12 Y G T
15 A J W
14 & I V
6 S A N certain
2 O X J
11 X F S of
6 S A N
2 O X J no
18 D M Z
24 J S E
1 N W I men
24 J S E
13 Z H U
5 R & M
10 W E R sure
15 A J W
22 H Q C
6 S A N
12 Y G T what
7 T B O
13 Z H U
24 J S E the
137 minister
15 A J W
9 V D Q
7 T B O
3 P Y K
25 K T F adopt
1 N W I
1 N W I in
25 K T F
27 M V H
23 I R D
24 J S E this
27 M V H
2 O X J
26 L U G
10 W E R hour
2[7](iii) M V H
6 S A N
17 C L Y may
16 B K X
10 W E R be
7 T B O
3 P Y K
21 G P B
7 T B O
6 S A N
10 W E R
23 I R D opposed
16 B K X
3 P Y K by
20 F O A
1 N W I an
14 & I V
10 W E R
5 R & M
10 W E R
11 X F S
23 I R D
24 J S E
12 Y G T
15 A J W
7 T B O
26 L U G [wrong column]
10 W E R irresistable
1 N W I
1 N W I
[11(iii) F missing]
4 Q Z L
8 U C P
24 J S E [wrong column]
6 S A N
17 C L Y
10 W E R influence
1 N W I
1 N W I in
25 K T F
27 M V H
19 E N & the
19 E N &
24 J S E
11 X F S
25 K T F next
1 N W I
1 N W I in
24 J S E
27 M V H
2 O X J
23 I R D
12 Y G T short
3 P Y K
23 I R D
7 T B O
3 P Y K
10 W E R
10 W E R
2[6](iii) L U G
3 P Y K properly
11 X F S
3 P Y K
10 W E R
20 F O A
25 K T F
14 & I V
6 S A N
21 G P B speaking
25 K T F
27 M V H
19 E N &
23 I R D
24 J S E there
23 I R D
24 J S E is
6 S A N
2 O X J no
168 minister
22 H Q C
10 W E R
10 W E R
19 E N & here
13 Z H U
24 J S E
[N missing]
8 U C P
24 J S E he[n]ce
27 M V H
3 P Y K my
8 U C P
5 R & M
10 W E R
11 X F S
19 E N &
19 E N &
12 Y G T present
18 D M Z
14 & I V
25 K T F
20 F O A
14 & I V
22 H Q C
8 U C P
17 C L Y
12 Y G T
12 Y G T difficulty
Notes
(i) The manuscript bears the date "April 6th", which may be in the Old Style used in Russia at the time. In the eighteenth century, Old Style is 11 days behind the New Style.
(ii) The cipher table mentioned in the postscript is found on PCC, Roll 117, Page 656 and also on Roll 134, Page 102. According to the explanation written beside the table, the "reason there mentioned" is "This being sent to you only because I have probable grounds to suppose your's is in the hands of the Ministry here."
(iii) The manuscript is cut off at the right margin in the digital image I used. The insertion of two missing codes would be further justified by the order of the column switching.
First posted on 24 September 2008. Last modified on 24 June 2009.
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