Lord Shelburne to Arthur Lee

DEAR SIR: I am to thank you for your obliging letters, the last received this morning. I never imagined that publick affairs would have affected me as much as they have done since the affair at

Lexington. A man of common attention cannot avoid feeling every passion agitated and distracted. I am very clear, from General Gage' s letter, that the Troops have suffered a signal defeat, and that the arms of England

have lost a lustre, which I see no probability of their regaining during the present contest. There is, besides, a cloud which hangs upon the General's account, and betrays a most alarming situation of things; while the conduct of the Provincials, through all the mist, under the command, it would seem, of nobody, manifested a decisive superiority in every point of military judgment.

In my life I was never more pleased with a state paper than I have been this morning with the Assembly of

Virginia' s discussion of Lord North's

proposition. It is masterly.

By the papers, as well as the run of private accounts, I see very plainly that whoever governs us is determined to proceed; and that as long as the stockholders keep from ruin, the Nation is to run every risk to keep the rewards of Sir

R. Walpole and Mr Fox upon Mr Jenkinson

. How long this torpor will continue, it is impossible to say; nor do I consider with any pleasure upon whom the storm will or ought to burst; but what I fear is, that the evil is irretrievable. Union itself will be too late.

I set out for

Ireland on Thursday, and private business obliges me to return early in October. As to publick business, I despond. Personal jealousy and disunion infect and destroy the weight of both individuals and bodies of men. The only uncorrupt body of men remaining in the City of London

, I see daily losing its weight, for want of proper direction and joint effort.

I am, with great truth and regard, dear Sir, your most obedient servant,

SHELBURNE.

To

Arthur Lee, London

.