March 20h 1780.
1Dear Sir, Philada.
I reced your Favor of the 19th Feby inclosing a Note for Tho Paine Clerk of our Assembly wch I delivered. We hear from Carolina that the Troops to the amount of 8000 are arrived & Landed, some on Johns Island, some on James’s Island & some elsewhere, a number of their Ships much shattered, some 3 foundered, all their Horses lost. That one 64 Gun Ship & 2 or 3 smaller appear off the harbour. Sulivan says that if they delay their motion 2 or 3 Weeks he hopes to be prepared for them, that he has expected the Virginia Troops 18 Months not arrived the 24th Feby. Mr Laurens was to sail for Statia the next day. The Vessel wch John Adams sailed in arrived at Corunna in 18 Days. I wish I could inform you of a prospect of an honorable Peace but I guess the fluctuating state of our Finances will encourage our obstinate Foes to struggle hard to prolong the war, by the inclosed imperfect sketch of our present System passed yesterday you’l see how unequal we are to the work. The Credit of our Money is so low that it is absolutely necessary to attempt something.
If I have the pleasure to see your Sons in Philada. on their way to Virginia I shall observe your directions.
I have wrote you several times by the Post & directed agreably to your advice but I dont find you have reced any of my Letters.2 Inclosed is a Letter from D Scudder, Young Madison one of your Delegates came into Congress yesterday. I cant find any good Sonchong Tea but have bot you one pound very fine Hyson at a Guinea but how to send it I know not.
Best Compts to Mrs. Lee &
Famy. W. Shippen
Receiver’s copy, Lee Family Papers, University of Virginia Library.
1 Shippen may have actually written this letter on March 21, as he writes below that "Young Madison . . . came into Congress yesterday," and James Madison first attended Congress on Monday, March 20.JCC, 16:268.
2 The last letter from Shippen to Lee that has been found is dated June 22, 1779.