Richard Henry Lee to Charles Lee

I thank you heartily for your obliging favors by this and the last Post,

¹ they have made me very happy by the good opinion you have of our officers and troops. I have no doubt they will verify upon the Enemy, when they come, your opinion of them. It always gave me much pleasure to reflect on your appointment to the Southern Department, well knowing the signal benefit and security that would result to my country therefrom. Your measures are in my opinion extremely wise and well adapted to the ends you have in view. I am sure your water manoeuvres will give great security to our rivers and confidence to the people thereon, at the same time that it will distress the enemy by preventing their getting provisions. The idea entertained by some that the battalions were to be stationed here and there to defend against Cutters was very absurd, and if executed would have rendered the Regiments useless for that and for every other purpose, unless we could have prevailed on the enemy to go there only to maraude where the troops were fixed. It was certainly the idea of Congress, and it is so expressed in their resolve,² that you should raise a Company of Artillery for Monsr. Arundel, and the Convention or Committee of Safety to appoint the inferior Officers - Capt. Innis’s company it was never proposed to affect in any degree by this new raised Company. You will hear more of this hereafter. Your desire is complied with by a Resolve of Congress directing letters to Generals commanding in separate detachments to go post free.³ The pay of an Engineer under the chief is no more than twenty dollars a month, and as yet no rank is settled. Your letter to Congress concerning shoes and blankets has been considered, and a very good man is ordered to procure and forward immediately to Williamsburg 5000 blankets and as many shoes for the Troops in Virginia.⁴

Three tons of powder are likewise ordered. You may expect these ere long. The want of discipline among our Troops in Canada this winter has occasioned some disturbances in that country where a small engagement has actually happened between the country people and a party of our men in which the former were defeated. We are taking all the means in our power to compose these unhappy differences, and hope it will be effected by our Committee, better discipline, and the large body of troops going thither. We know not yet where the mercenaries from Boston are gone unless it be to Halifax. Manly has taken one of their Transports with two capital Tories and Tory goods imported from G.B. valued at £35,000. sterlg. 2 of their Transports with provisions from England for Boston have been lately taken. You have no doubt heard how Commodore Hopkins has drubbed the Glasgow and would certainly have taken her, if he had not been so heavy with Providence stores - A Bomb Brig & 3 Tenders he did take and carry into N. London - Wallace & his little Squardon have fled from the Rhode Island Station, and left it to our Fleet. The Commodore we expect is now out on another cruise.

When Sir you find anything whatever deficient about the troops, a letter from you to Congress thro the President will be the quickest and surest way to obtain it, as happened the other day when you applied for powder, blankets, and shoes. You ask me why we hesitate in Congress. I'll tell you my friend, because we are heavily clogged with instructions from these shamefully interested Proprietary people, and this will continue until Virga. sets the example of taking up Government, and sending peremptory Orders to their delegates to pursue the most effectual measures for the Security of America. It is most certain that the people in these Proprietary Colonies will then force the same measure, after which Adieu to Proprietary influence and timid senseless politics. You have enclosed a sensible little pamphlet on government written by Mr John Adams. 'Tis well fitted for the times, shewing that to be easy and necessary, which the unthinking people have supposed to be unnecessary and difficult. We have an account in Town that the Court of London has demanded from that of Portugal all the American property in the Portugese dominions, and 'tis supposed this will be complied with. Every days experience still confirms the most diabolical wickedness and violence of that execrable Court. I do most heartily wish it were in my power to attend our Convention at their coming Session - But it is impossible to leave this place, and you would think it quite improper if you were here.

Your affectionate friend,

Richard Henry Lee

I am so hurried that I scarcely know what I write.