[Extract]

You have seen the King's speech, which you wou'd suppose, must convince everybody of the bloody intentions of the King & Ministry, but it is far from being the case in this City; for there is a certain Ld Drumond who perswades the Fools who are gaping after a reconciliation, that he is in the secret of the inner Cabinet, that the sincere wish is, to make up with America, upon her own terms, that even Ld Mansfield is a warm friend to our Cause. All this is so absurd, that you will say, none but rank tories can pretend t beleive it & so shou'd I, did I not find the contrary, for you may be assured that many friends & well meaning people are taken in & wish loudly for Congress to send deputies home. indeed I am not without my fears, that Congress May be somewhat affected. Thursday a motion was made to grave this measure, by myself & some others. You shou'd be here as soon as possible, I mean with tolerable convenience to yourself, for I see no prospect of the Congress adjourning. nine batallions are order'd for Canada, to march as quickly as they can be raised, ³ [John] Bull's & [William] Maxwell's are two of them who go off directly. [Richard] Montgomeries last Letter informs us of his being before Quebec, & confident of success. We have recd 57 tons of salt petre & 30 tons of powder, & have intelligence of a vessell with 15 tons & 2000 stand of arms which is every day expected [illegible] Yr fleet is not yet out of the River but I beleive thay have now no obstruction, tho Virga I beleive will not receive any benefit, as the pilots are sent home. Norfolk we hear is destroyd, but we are anxious to know the fate of the troops there. God bless you farewell