Williamsbg 6th July, 1776.
My Dear Friend,
The inclosed form of Government will shew you that this Country has in view a permanent system of Liberty. Mr Henry is chosen Governor, and a Privy Council is appointed to assist him in the discharge of his important duty - A new Great Seal, adapted to our State is ordered to be made, and now, we have in all respects a full and free Government which this day begins the exercise of its powers. The Convention of Maryland has rescinded the mischievious instructions with which they had bound their Delegates, empowered three of them to join the other Colonies in a vote of Independence, Foreign Alliance, Confederation, & By this time I expect the two former are settled in Congress - Before this reaches you, no doubt you will have heard of our having taken in this Bay a Transport with 217 Highlanders, and by this Post we learn that 5 Transports more with the same kind of Cattle have been carried into the Eastern Ports - But this good news is allayed by more adverse fortune in Canada - Gen. Thomson with 2000 men went to dislodge 300 Regular Troops at the three Rivers whence he was met by Gen. Burgoyne with a considerable force - Thomson’s forces were routed himself and Col. Irwin taken prisoners, with the loss of 150 men killed, wounded, & taken prisoners. The rest joined our Army at the mouth of Sorel. In short, our affairs in Canada, at present wear but an indifferent aspect. We learn by this post that a very extensive conspiracy (pushed on by British gold) has been detected at New-York - General Washington was to have been assassinated, the magazine blown up, and the cannon spiked - ’Tis said the Mayor of N. York was concerned in the Plot. Many are now in Jail for this nefarious business. Lord Dunmore still remains on Gwin’s Island where Caterpillar like, we hear he has devoured everything in that place, so that it is probable force of some kind or other will shortly drive him thence but where he will fasten next we cannot guess. We are concerned here at not hearing from you, and are obliged to comfort ourselves with the consideration that no news is good news. I shall return to Congress about the last of August, and in the meantime nothing will more contribute to my happiness than to hear that you are healthy, happy, and successful. Our cause is the cause of Virtue and mankind, and well supported as it is, I have no doubt of its success.
Farewell my dear Friend.
Richard Henry Lee
My direction is at Chantilly, Westmoreland County, Virginia. NOTES:
Lee Papers, New York Historical Society Printed in New York Historical Society Collections, The Lee Papers, 2:123. Printed also in James Curtis Ballagh, The Letters of Richard Henry Lee, Volume 1, 1762 - 1778, pp. 205 - 6.