Philadelphia July 16. 1776
Dear Brother,
I have written to you every post, since you left this. If you have not recd. the Letters, there must still be some villain, in the Post Office. It is supposed Ld. Howe is arrived, as three ships last Fryday joined the fleet at N. York, one very large, with St. George's flag at the masthead, which was saluted by the whole fleet. The rest of his Myrmidons are not far behind I suppose. Two men of war & their tenders have run by all our batteries, & got above King's bridge, without any damage. It always appear'd to me that our Generals placed more confidence in their batteries than they deserved. It seems probable, that Howe will Land his Army above Kings bridge, & cut off all communication with N. York by land, while the fleet does the same by sea, in which case our Army must starve, or attack the Enemy in their entrenchments. I fear such an event is not sufficiently attended to; the defense of N. York seems to engross all their tho'ts. Col. W. Alleyn arrived yesterday from Crown Point; he left 6,000 men there, half sick; by their last accts. from St. Johns, Burgoine had 1000 there, no preparation of boats. It is said the six nations begin to be troublesome; indeed from all appearances we shall soon have the whole of the Indians to encounter.
Genl. Washington has as many men as he wants & least Howe shoud think fit to march into the Jerseys, we shall soon have 20,000 there to cope with him. But I think it is very improbable, that he will give up the scheme, of opening a communication with Canada, by the North River. The 11th of next month Colo. Harrison & Braxton are no longer delegates, & as Mr. Jefferson is determined to go home then, we shall be without a representation, unless you join us. We have not heard when Mr. Wythe intends to be here. I have now got a very good house, near the State house, in which you may have choice of good rooms well furnished, except with beds. As we have but one, it is necessary we shoud know as soon as possible when to expect you, that we may provide for you. We have this house certainly till the last of Octr. & a chance for the winter. Our best Love to Chantilly & Stratford, & Respects to all friends in Westmoreland.1
Yr. Afft. Bror. & friend,
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Receiver's copy, New York Public Library.
1 l Francis Lightfoot Lee also wrote a letter to Landon Carter this day in which he commented: "It gives me concern to hear that some of your Negroes have joined the Arch Devil, and my friend Mr. Carter's favorite servant too! But Slavery plants a Vice where a Virtue might be expected. Your government I find is at length compleated. God send it may procure internal peace and happiness to the Country." George D. Smith Autograph Letters (New York: 898 items, n.d.), item 450.