Phila. Feb’y 28, 1779.
My Dear Sir:
I arrived here on the 19th, thro the worst roads that I ever travelled over. I find business of faction here pretty much at an end by the thorough exposure of its author, Mr. Silas Deane, who, if I am rightly informed, regrets extremely his publication of December the 5th. But be this as it may, he has certainly gained nothing by it here in the public opinion. I inform you with pleasure Sir, that the King of France has formally agreed to rescind the 11th and 12th articles of the treaty of Commerce,1 so that now, the only unequal parts being removed, it rests upon the liberal ground of fair equality in every part. We are certainly indebted to Dr.
Lee’s attention for this beneficial alteration, for which the honest voice of posterity will indubitably thank him when the poison of wicked faction shall cease to operate. The King of the two Sicilys has opened his ports to the vessels of the United States,2which is a good omen of Spanish attachment to our cause. Indeed we have abundant reason to believe that Great Britain will not get assistance from any power in Europe to carry on the war against us, and already our good Ally has made great havoc among the Privateers and with the trade of our enemies. We hear that 7000 British Seamen are now prisoners in the jails of old France. Notwithstanding these favorable appearances it certainly behooves us to get a strong army in the field, as the enemy have yet here a strength sufficient to do much mischief if they are not properly opposed. From the best accounts that I can collect, it appears that they have not less than 11,000 men at New York and Rhode Island. Yesterday accounts from Jersey told us the enemy had landed at Elizabeth Town, and had burned Gov. Livingston’s house, and were advancing into the country. Our army was preparing to resist them, and if they do not quickly return I hope we shall give a good account of them. The enemy have published some curious letters of Mr. Braxton’s which they have intercepted. I am informed they will be republished here, and when they are I will send you the paper.3
I am with much esteem, dear Sir, affectionately yours,
Richard Henry Lee.
March 2.
R. H. Lee.
UNKNOWNUNKNOWN
Printed in William Wirt Henry, Patrick Henry, 3:227 - 28. Printed also in James Curtis Ballagh, The Letters of Richard Henry Lee, Volume 2, 1779 - 1794, pp. 36 - 37.
1 See Meriwether Smith to John Page, 21 February 1779, note 1.
2 In his 19 October 1778, letter to the committee for foreign affairs, Arthur Lee had reported that "The King of Naples and Sicily has declared to us in form, by his ambassador here, that his ports are open to all Vessels belonging to the United States." See PCC, item 83, 1:345 - 48; and Wharton, Diplomatic Correspondence, 2:800 - 801.
3 For further information about these "curious letters" and the controversy that ensued, see Meriwether Smith to the Public, 9 March 1779.