Samuel Chase to Richard Henry Lee

Your Letter of the 14 Inst. followed Me to this City, and your other favour of the 21st was delivered by yesterdays Post.

I hurried to Congress to give my little assistance to the framing a Confederacy and a plan for a foreign alliance, both of them Subjects of the utmost Importance, and which in my Judgment demand immediate Dispatch. The Confederacy has engaged our close

Attention for a Week. Three great Difficulties occur. Representation, The Mode of Voting, and the Claims to the South Sea. The whole might in my opinion be settled if Candor, Justice and the real Interests of America were attended to. We do not all see the Importance nay the Necessity of a Confederacy. We shall remain weak, and distracted and divided in our Councils, our Strength will decrease, we shall be open to all the arts of the insidious Court of Britain, and no foreign Court will attend to our applications for Assistance, before We are confederated. What Contract will a foreign State make with Us, when We cannot agree among Ourselves?

Our Army at Tionderoga consists of 6,000 of which 3,000 are in the Hospital from the Small Pox and other Camp Disorders. Our Army at N York contains 14,000, of which only 10,000 are effective. Our Flying Camp in the Jerseys has but between 3 & 4000 Troops.

No News from Gen. Washington. He writes 27th that 8 Sail, supposed to be part of Lord Howes fleet, arrived at the Hook that Day.

I shall always be glad to hear from you, and am with great Esteem, Your Affectionate Friend, And Obedt. Servant,

Saml. Chase