Philadelphia, 21st May, 1776
My Dear Friend,
As I wrote you yesterday by your Express,
1 I have now only to thank you for your favor by last post.2 If you discovered any languor in my letters it must have been merely corporeal, the mental powers having been just as vigorous as ever. Excessive writing and constant attention to business affiicts me a good deal I own, but they are far from depressing my spirits in the great cause of America, and if you were to consult with our moderate men in and out of doors you would think me possessed of something else than languor. The mischievous instructions from some Colonies have indeed fettered Congressional Councils, but many of these are done away, and the rest will be so immediately. The Resolve of Congress respecting government hath wrought a great change hereabouts, and very soon the Public affairs will wear a different aspect, and be directed with better spirit. I expect an expedition to Detroit will be undertaken, Niagara will probably be suspended, as the Indians thereabout wish it to continue a place of trade yet awhile.3 A Gentleman just from N. York, tells us that 70 sail of Transports with 10,000 troops were arrived off the Hook; and that Gen. Washington was despatching an Express to Congress, a confirmation is hourly expected. They have made the works about N. York very strong, and tho' the detachment of 10 Battalions to Canada, has not left above 8,000 yet 10, or 12000 militia may be thrown in, so that we apprehend no danger from that quarter.
Farewell, my dear Sir,
Richard Henry Lee
Early in April I gave you an Account4 of the affair of the Annapolis Council. General Lee, Commander of the Continental Forces in the Southern Department, at Williamsburg, Virginia. NOTES:
Prlnted in New York Historical Society Collections, The Lee Papers, 5 (1872): 31 - 32. Printed in James Curtis Ballagh, The Letters of Richard Henry Lee, Volume 1, 1762 - 1778, pp. 192 - 93.
1 Not found.
2 General Lee s letter of May 10 is in NYHS Collections 5 (1872): 20.
3 Richard Henry Lee was a member of the committee appointed to consider General Lee s May 10 letter to Congress urging preparations for expeditions against Niagara and Detroit. Ibid., p. 17. Consideration of the committee's May 21 report, which recommended that an expedition be immediately undertaken against Detroit, was postponed until General Washington, then en route to Philadelphia, could be consulted - The committee that subsequently conferred with Washington eventually recommended that Indians be offered bounties for prisoners to encourage them to attack Niagara and Detroit, but the resolution Congress finally adopted on June 17 was simply a broad authorization for Washington to employ Indians wherever they might prove most useful. See JCC, 4:368, 373, 394 - 95; 5:452.
4 Not found.