[Philadelphia, December 12] 2
The Gentleman who brings this, will have all our public papers; by which you will see our great success this year, against your infamous Ministry. The Associations & Committees of correspondence, gives us some hopes, that your Hill will soon be graced with their heads. It is my opinion that if the war continues another year, G. Britain & the Colonies are disunited for ever. Our troops now in pay & order'd to be raised amount to 35,000 & will be 8 or 10,000 more in the spring. We have now 10 Ships of war from 10 to 30 Guns in Continental pay; & are determined to exert the whole force of the Continent this winter to fit out as many large Ships as possible against next summer. There are many small Ships belonging to the different Colonies, & private persons to cruise upon the. Ministerial transports; & many others getting ready. Ld [John Stuart] Bute 3 will soon make America a great Naval power. The Lee capt Manly, took the other day a store Ship called the Nancy, loaded with Musketts artillery & other stores to a great amount. We thank the Ministry [for] the supply. all Canada is ours.
1. Francis Lightfoot Lee Folder (Misc.), VHS. Only a fragment of this letter is extant.
2. The date is approximated, based on the account of Manley's capture of the Nancy. This was first printed in Philadelphia in the Pennsylvania Packet of December 11, 1775, without naming the Nancy. The Pennsylvania Evening Post on December 12, 1775, published the invoice and identified the store ship as the Nancy.
3. The peer used by George III to break the power of the Whigs.
