Richard Potts to Thomas Sim Lee

I wish I could by this post give you any authentic Information of our Affairs to the south, but Congress have received no Letters from either commanding Officers in that Department for many days. Reports from thence pass through Maryland, and these Approach nearer to truth in proportion to their Vicinity to the Scene of Operations. Those are the only Source of this days Intelligence. Congress have had before them a number of Official Letters from the Ministry in Brittain to their Commander in Chief, and other Heads of Departments in America, these were intercepted in a packet taken in Europe and transmitted by Mr. Jay.¹ From the Letters of Lord Germaine to Sir Henry Clinton &ca. it appears that the Expectation of a speedy Conquest was fully impressed on the Brittish Cabinet, and that administartion already regretted their proffered Clemency through their Commissioners held out in their proclamations. He observes to General Clinton and the other Commissioners that their Offers of pardon were not suffciently guarded with Exceptions, and that the Supplicants for pardon being readmitted to a full Enjoyment of the Rights exercised under their former Connection was more than Government ever intended to grant. Or in other Words that they meant to deprive them of their Charters and constitute their Governments more to the Will of the Parliament. He expresses much Satisfaction at the General’s Information that there were more provincials in his Majestys Service in America than that of the United States, but laments the mortifying reflection that under those Circumstances the Rebellion should have continued so long. His Lordship apprehends General Clinton’s Generosity in recommending so many of the provincial Choirs [Corps] to be put upon the Brittish Establishment and then secure of Victory, gives such a Construction to his Majestys directions on that Subject as to restrict the Benefits of it to very few.

These Instances serve to shew, if it remained to be proved, what would be the treatment of the friends to America in it, if his, Germaine’s imaginary Ideas of Success were to be realised. No sooner had they any foundation for such a Hope, than they begin […] to estimate the Value, and regret the Loss of Estates secured under former Submissions; and wish to discharge from their Service without the Rewards held out formerly, those whom they have seduced to be instrumental in accomplishing their supposed Conquests. Lord Germaine speaks of the Carolinas & Georgia as totally reduced, and has no doubt but that Virginia must immediately yield to the Activity & Enterprise of Lord Cornwallis supported by so powerful an Army. His Lordship speaks of an Expedition which had been projected against our Bay, approves of it and urges General Clinton to push it with Vigour. It was intended to send a Number of Troops to the head of our Bay to act against Maryland and Pensylvania, and establish a place of Security for the Reception of the loyal Subjects in those States. The reverse of Fortune to the southward hath probably delayed the Execution of this place, and I hope the Event of the Operations there and elsewhere will oblige the Enemy totally to abandon it. It appears from Germain’s Letters that they intended to fix a permanent post at Elizabeth River. Those Letters come down to the 7th March.

The Length of this Letter will apologize for my Silence last Week, and for my sending it in its present State. A necessary Attendance on the Courts will oblige me to return on the first of next month² by which time I expect to see Mr. Hanson here. I now intend to return on the first of September and remain here until November, if before I leave the City I see any well founded probability of receiving public Supplies. The Situation of many of the Delegates here is truly disagreeable, my Stay hath not been so long as to subject me to many difficulties yet, although I in some degree depended on public funds. The Necessity of being obliged to have Recourse to our friends has been the Lot of us all and it is unnecessary to comment on so humiliating a State. Present my respectful Compliments to Mrs Lee and believe me very sincerely,

Yours affely.

R. Potts