Philadelphia Novr 23d 1779
My Dear sir,
I have the pleasure of yours of the 19th Currt. The Inclosed papers gives you all our publick news. Our Army are moving into Winter Quarters, no accounts from N York that are to be depended on, respecting the movements of the Enemy.
Congress have recommended to the States a limitation of prices not to exceed twenty for one, to what they were in 1774, should this & the raising Taxes be complyd with a stop may be put to the amazing Depreciation of our money. I hope shall soon have the pleasure of seeing you, as I flatter my self some of our new Delegates will soon appear in Congress.
I ever am with perfect Esteam & regard, your affe Friend & Servt,James Forbes2
Receiver’s copy, Emmet Collection, New York Public Library.
1 Probably Thomas Sim Lee, with whom Forbes corresponded regularly in similar terms. In this letter Forbes also expressed his expectation of being left off the slate of Maryland delegates that were soon to be elected, and in his December 30 letter to Lee he reported his great disappointment that he was included in the new delegation elected December 22.
2 This day also the following brief letter was written by Pennsylvania delegate Frederick A. Muhlenberg to the Board of War.
"There is a certain Captn. Brightman now a Prisoner in the new Jail, who was taken on his Passage from the West Indies to New York in an unarmed Vessel. I should be extreamly happy if Your Honourable Board would admit him on his Parole, & I will be answerable for his good Behaviour & strict Adherence to it." Society Collection, PHi. The object of Muhlenberg’s solicitation may have been James Brightman, captain of the William, who had been captured by a Pennsylvania privateer and was lodged at a Mr. "Boyles" in January 1780. See Pa. Archives, 1st ser. 8:93.