Richard Henry Lee to Arthur Lee

I am happy to hear of your safe arrival in Philadelphia, & I hope to be made more happy by seeing you at Chantilly as soon as you have finished at Congress - As I suppose my sons are on their way home I shall say nothing of them. It is to be hoped that you will find in Congress now more justice, impartiality and patriotism than I left it possessed of - If you meet with sensible, patriotic, & candid minds in Congress, I have no doubt but that our affairs in Europe will be put into abler & more honest hands than some of them are at present.

My fears are great indeed, least the sagacity of European observation should see, or think they see too much depravity and weakness in America, arguing from the manner in which our affairs beyond the water have been conducted, to merit an honorable connection with them -

The last Assembly directed that our Delegates in Congress should send here an exact account of all the monies heretofore received by any Delegates from this State to Congress jointly or severally from the Treasury of the United States vouched by sd. Treasurer, and also an account of the expenditure of all pub. money entrusted to the Delegation &c. &c. - These accounts have not been sent. Enquire of Colo. Bland if he has seen this Resolve of the Assembly & perhaps he may be able to give a reason why this has not been complied with.

It will be usefull to the public that these accounts be forwarded without delay, in the manner desired by the Assembly, . . . [omitted text, in cipher].

Our state is at present invaded and some accounts say powerfully, but we have nothing authentic yet concerning the force or the designs of the enemy - I think that the best put together lace their number about 3000 land Troops, besides the Marine force - the whole would be a tolerable good hall if a french fleet was to enter our Bay - Ten thousand Militia are ordered out, & the general alacrity with which all Classes turn out seems to denote that the enemy will not long remain here - We want arms and Tents. The Militia appear determined to heal their wounded - The defeat of Majr. Ferguson with 1000 & more men who are all killed wounded & prisoners, was effected under the conduct of a Virginia Militia Colonel with a mixture of North Carolina & Virginia Militia - This was really a well fought battle - the Militia were fewer in number than the enemy, and the latter strongly posted upon the top of King’s Mountain - The Assailants were divers times repulsed, but a brave perseverance at length gained them a complete victory.

This and some other successes in the South have compelled Lord Cornwallis to depart with great precipitation for Charles Town -

He is hotly pursued, but it is feared he will escape as he was within 80 miles of Charles Town when we last heard of him - With the aid of a fleet, it will be no very difficult matter to rescue Charles Town from its present possessors before next spring - We are very apprehensive that our brother William & his family will be much distressed for want of remittances from his estate here but how to make such in the present state of things we do not know. I have Loan Office certificates of his for between 20 & 30 thousand pounds, which I am told will sell well in Philadelphia for bills of exchange - Some of these certificates draw sterling interest and most of them are of old dates - Enquire if you please whether bills that are good can be so purchased & if you think it proper the certificates shall be sent to you for the purpose of remittance -

What were our brother Williams views when you left France? My compliments to Mr. Lovell & tell him that I shall thank him for the last published Vol. of the Journals of Congress if any has been published since the last that I have which ends with the year 1777 -

I have not heard either from Mr. S. Adams or Mr. Lovell for some time, altho I have often written to them both - perhaps my letters have miscarried - Ask them if you please -

My friend Mr. Adams seems to have forgot me quite. Love to my sister & the family - Farewell -

Richard Henry Lee