Richard Henry Lee to Landon Carter

It hurts me exceedingly that you should attribute to declining friendship what realy arose from the necessity of my situation. After an absence of many months, I had obtained leave to pay a short visit to my family, where I had been but a few days when the public business called me to Williamsburg and Mrs. Lees illness occasioned a summons from thence. She was but just recovered before I was compelled to return to this place. This situation of my affairs will very sufficiently account for my not gratifying myself by visiting Sabine Hall, without imputing it to want of regard. You will have heard no doubt of our enemies shameful flight from Boston, where they left behind them many marks of apprehention and hurry, altho they took time to remove with them all the American prisoners (they had made) in chains, while they left to the resentment of an injured country, many Tories, to whom they had promised protection. Where these hostes humani generis will go next, we can only guess, and have. already strengthened N. York, we are preparing with 10,000 men well commanded, to meet them in Canada, the Capital of which Country still continues besieged by the Continental forces. It is curious to observe that whilst people here are disputing and hesitating about independancy, the Court by one bold Act of Parliament, and by a conduct the most extensively hostile, have already put the two Countries asunder-They think forever, and are therefore preparing the minds of the people of England for this event, by having hired Dean Tucker to prove the measure an eligible one.¹ As well, dear Sir, might a person expect to wash an Ethiopian white, as to remove the taint of despotism from the British Court. The vicious principle has pervaded every heart, perverted every head, and will govern every movement of that Body. The measure of British crimes is running over, and the barbarous spoliation of the East is crying to Heaven for vengeance against the Destroyers of the Human Race. Out of 8 Vessels from Whitehaven with provisions for their army, 7 have been taken and the 8th driven on shore. They are disgraced in the East and the North, and their friends beaten in the South. Were it not for their present Marine superiority, I do verily believe that N. America could give law to that proud imperious Island. Be so kind as give my compliments to your Son and inform him that I, as well as my brother, applied to Gen. Lee to receive Squire Landon as an Aid de Camp, but the General was already provided with two, Mr. Byrd & Mr. Morris, and two only were allowed by the Continent; but the General is willing to receive Mr. Carter into his family if he chooses to attend on his own expence as an Aid de Camp.²

I wish you healthy and happy dear Sir for I am sincerely your affectionate friend,

Richard Henry Lee