[Philadelphia, February 13, 1776]
Dr Sir
The Bearer Mr Goddard intending to go as far as Georgia to establish A Continental Post office under proper regulations thro the Southern Colonies I embrace the opportunity to entertain you with a line or two on politicks
By Numbers of Letters from Great Britain & Ireland the Colonies [are] threatened with inundations of Roman Catholick, Hanoverian, Hessian and Russian Soldiers, from the best accounts we have been able to procure (for we have nothing since the Parliament met) a plan has been formed by Administration to send over 20 m Russians early in the Spring, the Empress of Russia it is said does not chuse to hire them as she dont expect one of them would chuse to leave the rich fertile Fields of America and return home to the frozen Mountains of the North, but is willing to Sell them to great Britain for a certain Stipulated Sum, this is to be agreed too and they are to be conveyed by a British Fleet into these Colonies, some say into Pennsylvania first as being the most fertile, best improved and richest Country and to punish its inhabitants for entering to deeply in [to] the present Rebellion wherever they Land they are to have such parts of the Country as they can Conquer and to become British Subjects, if those formidable Savages should enter America they will not possess much of it without a severe contest having very little hopes of a reconciliation we are endeavouring to make all the defence in our power against this dreadfull Storm we have ordered 53 Regemts to be raised in the different Colonies each to consist of 728 men including Officers, many of them are now compleat and they will all be so early in the Spring, you may add to this Double the number of Regiments of well regulated Militia who no doubt will struggle hard for those rights & privileges which they consider as their birthright Gen Lee in a Letter to Congress recd. yesterday says he expects a large Number of British Troops will be sent to New York as early as possible that he intepds to Fortify the City in the best manner he can & calls for more Troops, wishes to have a Battalion of the Philada militia that they might be instructed in Pilage Fortification, camp duty, &c. & his desire was immediately made known to the City, the Colo of the four Battalions instantly applied to Congress for the command of the detachment should one be sent, the Pennsylvania Fanner on Duty being the first Col. insisted on his right and will have the command the four Battalions were this day drawn out when it was proposed that two companies from each should turn out for that Service so as to make a compleat Battalion from the whole, they did it with great chearfullness it was diverting enough to see both officers & men soliciting to be employed on the Service, some of the Companies will march to Morrow ー today I might say for the watchmen are this moment saying past one oClock the express will call on me at eight. [William] Hooper in Camp gone & [John] Penn not very well I intended to have wrote Mr. [James] Iredale & Mr. [Wiley] Jones, I am much fatigued and cannot do it, excuse me to them, they have my best wishes.