Philadela. July 25. 1780.
Dear Sir
I had the honour of your Excellys. favour by the last post.1 All the influence that I have shall be exerted in favour of the Gentleman recommended in your Letter, tho at present I see very little prospect of an appointment of that sort taking place, if it should you may rely that my attention shall not be wanting.
The Acts of the General Assembly have been received, and we shall have it in our power in a few Days to send one half of them by Mr. Laurens to Europe. The remainder we shall forward by some other opportunity.2
The English Fleet sailed from New York on Wednesday last at 4 o'Clock in the afternoon; the whole consisted of sixty sail. Among them was twenty one ships of War, of what force the intelligence does not say. Light Troops it is said are on board; what Number is very doubtful. The conjectures respecting their destination are very various. One is, and it comes from New York, that an action has taken place in the West Indies in which the English have lost one 74 sunk in the Action and three of lesser force taken, and that the remainder of the Fleet is blocked up in St. Lucia and that this Fleet has sailed to their assistance. A Nother report is that they have sailed for Rhode Island, but both can be only conjecture.
The French Fleet consists of eight sail of the line, three Frigates and two bomb ketches commanded by Mr. Terney. The Land forces amount to five thousand; fifteen hundred of them are at present unfit for Duty but will be able in three weeks to join their Regiments.
Mr. J. Adams in his Letter of 23 March observes that the Committee and other public meetings in England are likely to give Administration much trouble.3 He speaks of a Congress among them and hopes they will soon have the powers of one. He is not particular on this subject. He dwels much on the late vote in the House of Commons abolishing the board of Trade as to America, which is a tacit declaration of the Sense of the Nation and is so received by the World, that America is lost forever. There was a Majority of eight on the vote, for the affirmative.
Give my Compts. to Mrs. Lee and believe me to be with Sincerity & the most perfect Attachment, Yrs.
J. Henry.
Receiver’s copy, Emmet Collection, New York Public Library.
1 Not identified; but from Henry’s description it is clear that it was not the July 19 letter cited in the following note.
2 The Maryland Assembly had adopted an act "empowering the Treasurer of the Western Shore to draw and sell Bills of Exchange" which would be negotiated in Europe, and the council had instructed its delegates on July 19 to send 12 copies of the act to persons in France and Great Britain "as you may think proper . . . in Order that those who may be affected by the said Act, may have Sufficient Notice thereof." Md Archives, 43:223.
3 This letter is in PCC, item 84 1 345 - 48; and Wharton, Diplomatic Correspondence, 3:568 - 70. It was read in Congress July 24. JCC. 17:654.