Philadelphia 25th Novr. 1776
Dear Sir,1
I am greatly concerned that the necessity of immediate and principal attention to our military securities should be overlookt for any other consideration whatever. However I hope the most complete regard will be paid to this business before the Assembly disperses. Portsmouth is an Object of capital concern and deserves a constant and a powerful guard in my opinion, since it presents so fine and convenient a harbour for our Vessels to retire to if pursued, and at the same time so convenient for building. No object I think deserves our attention more than Ships and Seamen, and therefore every encouragement should be given to building the former and raising & bringing in the latter. Gen. Howes success against the forts Washington and Lee has so raised his hopes as to have turned his eyes upon this City, and here he is said to intend his next visit by marching his army thro the Jerseys, where Gen. Washington has at present, not quite 6000 men to oppose him. Much alarm has taken place here on this account, but I hope it will rouse such a spirit as must compel the Tyrants troops to go quickly into Winter quarters. It is certainly very necessary for their mighty force, from which the immediate conquest of all N. America was confidently affirmed, to do a great deal more than they have done to prevent them & their Master from falling under the contempt of Europe. We are just furnished with a prize ship sent in here by a small Continental Cruiser freighted with 13,000 silver dollars and some other merchandise.
I hope our manufacturers have not lost sight of Salt Petre and Gun powder. I wish to be Independent indeed, not of G.B. only, but of the whole world. Therefore Cannon, Small Arms, Saltpetre, Gunpowder & discipline should be our objects.
We hear from N. York that Ld. Dunmore has certainly sailed for England, but not before he had so conducted himself that no Officer would speak to him or keep company with him.
Farewell dear Sir, be healthy & happy,
Richard Henry Lee
Receiver's copy, Houghton Library, Harvard University.
1 Although the recipient's identity has been taken from the inside address, "Honbe John Page," which was obviously added at a latter date by an unknown hand, comparison of this letter with Lee's November 4 letter to Page suggests that both were directed to the same person. In a December 6 letter to Lee, Edmund Pendleton acknowledged receipt of "your obliging favor of the 25th of November," but the content of Pendleton's letter indicates only that Richard Henry wrote another letter this date which has not been found. Edmund Pendleton, The Letters and Papers of Edmund Pendleton, 1734 - 1803, ed. David J. Mays, 2 vols. (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1967), 1:203 - 4.