Philadelphia Sepr. 17. 1776
Dear Sir,
Our affairs at N. York have not much alter'd since your departure, the Militia of the eastern states have mostly left it, & probably improved the Army. The Enemy having by every motion shewn a design to get above our troops, Genl. Washington is busy in removing his stores from the City, & collecting his forces at & about King's bridge, but we fear he has been interrupted by the Enemy, as a very heavy firing was heard there on Sunday last.1
Genl. Gates in his last Letter says, there was just then heard a heavy cannonade upon the Lake, from whence he judged, our fleet under the command of Genl. Arnold, was engaged with the Enemy, on their way to Crownpoint. We therefore expect every moment to hear of some considerable Actions at both places. All our advices from the Indians, indicate a general war with them. I hope our people will have done the business of the southern Indians, that they may be ready to chastise those of the west.
The week before last Ld. Howe sent Genl. Sullivan to Congress with a message, that he was very sollicitous for peace, that he had great powers, that tho he cou'd not at present acknowlege the Congress, yet he wished to confer with some of the members, as private Gentlemen. This message made a great noise without doors, & it was fear'd wou'd have a bad effect upon our Military operations. The Congress fully apprized of the perfidy & villainous designs of these Ministerial Agents; yet willing to convince our people that they are not averse to peace; sent him in answer That being the representatives of free & independant States, they cou'd not allow their Members to confer with him in their private capacities; but wou'd send a Committee of their body to know his powers & his terms. The Committee met his Ld.ship last Wednesday on Staten Island, & had the honor to dine upon plate with him, & a three hour's conversation, the substance of which was: that he had waited 2 months in England to prevail with the Ministry to empower him to confer & converse with some Gentlemen of influence in America. That he was sure of the good intentions of the King & the Ministry; and if we wou'd return to our allegiance, they wou'd revise the late instructions to Govrs. & Acts of Parliament; & if there was anything in them which appear'd to them unreasonable, he did not doubt, but they wou'd make them easy. That he had no power to suspend the operations of war, or to offer any terms. The tories are struck dumb, but I fear it will have a bad effect upon our foreign negotiations; as it will show too great an eagerness in us, to make up with G.B.
This whole transaction will be soon published by Congress, which the next post will bring you, & I hope the Accts. of our glorious Victories.
I am Dear Sir, Yr. afft. friend & hble Servant,
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Receiver's copy, Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Jefferson, Papers (Boyd), 1:520 - 21.
1 Undoubtedly a reference to the British bombardment and landing at Kip's Bay on September 15. See also Arthur Middleton to William Henry Drayton, September 18, 1776, note 1.