Philadelphia 17 March 1776
Dear Sir,
I received your account of the retaking Husdons ship1 and the flight of the enemy with great pleasure. I hope you will make wise use of the opportunity to render the avenews to yr. flourishing Town inaccessible to the enemy. I think you have the means of doing this most effectually, and sure it ought not to be neglected. I suppose the Defence and her Tender will now be employed in keeping your Bay Coast as far as Potomac clear of Sloops and Tenders from our Enemies. I am sure Capt. Squires will not interrupt your Trade so long as he knows Capt. Nicholson is with you, and as for larger Ships, if they should come, which is not very probable, it will be no diflficult matter to get out of their way by retiring to shallow waters. I expect this will be delivered you by General Lee who is on his way to his Southern command. I am in no doubt of the worthy General meeting with those civilities from you that prove so agreable to every body else. It is of great importance that Gen. Lee should quickly get to the place of his destination, and therefore, if he should want either horses or Guides for this purpose, I know your patriotic Committee will furnish them. I need not trouble you with news, as the General can give you any that prevails here.
I am, with much esteem, Sir your obliged and obedient servt.
Richard Henry Lee
Receiver’s copy, Maryland Historical Society.
Printed in James Curtis Ballagh, The Letters of Richard Henry Lee, Volume 1, 1762 - 1778, p. 170. Addressed "Samuel Purveyance Jun Esqr. Chairman of the Committee of Baltimore. Favored by General Lee."
1 A reference to the prize taken by the British sloop Otter, Capt. Matthew Squire on March 6, which was retaken by the Maryland ship Defence, Capt. James Nicholson, on March 9. Clark, Naval Documents, 4:286.