Richard Henry Lee to John Page

I have the honor to inclose you an extract of a letter from my brother William to my brother Frank¹dated October the 15th 1778, by which it seems Very clear that the Stores you apprehend to have been shipped in September and taken, were not shipped so soon, and therefore I hope may yet be safe.² It will be a very unfortunate loss indeed, if the enemy have got them. But if this event has not already taken place, there will be less danger of it hereafter, as I expect that the measures we have taken will remove the enemies privateers from our coast. We have been informed that the Roderigue (Beaumarchais Ship) was to sail in company with three or four large ships for Virginia. I expect that our Stores will come by some of them. It seems that Ford ³arrived in France from England and applied to the Commissioners representing that he had been made prisoner by the enemy in Virginia and carried to England, he shewed them his appointment of Chaplain to a Continental regiment, and being in distress he prayed their help to get back to Virginia. They assisted him, and he went to Nantes where he took his passage for America. He was taken by a Jersey privateer and made his escape a second time and got to Paris. Then it was that my brother seeing a person whom he had every reason to suppose a good Whig and a persecuted American, and at the same time wanting a Secretary, he employed this person whose abilities he found compitent to the business. But I am very certain that Dr. Lee will not continue Ford an hour in his employment after he shall be informed that suspicion has justly fallen upon his character. Information on this subject was sent by the first opportunity after the Governors letter came to Congress.

A report prevails in New York that the Count D’Estaing has beaten Gen. Grant in St. Lucia and that the British Troops to the southward are very sickly. Gen. Clinton lately undertook an expedition in the Sound, supposed against New London, but he has returned disapointed to N. York. The late violent Snow Storm, we hear wrecked 14 of his Transports on Fishers Island. May the Arm of Providence be thus always stretched out against the foes of freedom.

If Spain should join in the war of which there seems the greatest probability, England must submit or expose herself to almost certain ruin.

I am dear Sir your most affect and obedient Servant,

Richard Henry Lee