PBA Galleries

Charles Pettit (1736–1806) was an American lawyer and merchant from New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served as a delegate from Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress from 1785 to 1787. He penned this lengthy and detailed letter at that time, dealing with politics, economics and related subjects: "...Their demands are said to be surprisingly extravagant for an enlightened people. A Reliquidation of the public Debt, and then paying it off in Paper Money to be made a legal Tender and without Funds for its Redemption, is said to be the aim of the most moderate; but a great Proportion we are told are for taking a shorter cut to obtain the same End, to whit a total Extinction of all Debts public and private, and some are said to Claim a general Distribution of Property..."