My honoured Lord—This instant only I learn that a packet is to be dispatched and to sail this evening with the Viscount's [Howe] and General's [Clinton] letters, forgive then, my revered patron, a hasty scrawl. 

Painfully circumstanced as I have been ever since my arrival here, ignorant totally of all that has passed from scarce ever hearing from the Delaware until now that Lord Howe has just arrived at Sandy Hook and Sir Henry¹ with his army through the Jerseys. Not a single line have I ever had of even the Commissioners' arrival in the Delaware,² the evacuating Philadelphia, or the army's marching, until Lord Howe appeared off the Hook,³ so that what preparations I indefatigably prepared of transports, small ships, flat-bottomed boats, &c. to co-operate with and assist the army, and which were highly necessary, I undertook and perfected from the confidential intercourse and communication I had with the General Jones⁴ commanding here; and nothing transpiring from Philadelphia hither during the whole time, we could only pick up surmises and common reports, very insufficient to form any judgment or ground any opinion. The packets Lord Howe sent me after the arrival of the Trident at the Delaware,⁵ and announcing to me the evacuation and intended march of the army, were it seems put on board the Trident, who was to have proceeded hither long ago but unfortuitously detained up the Delaware a long time, so long indeed that she arrives but now with Lord Howe in the Eagle, and the packet sailing instantly, I have scarce time to acknowledge the having but just received your two kind letters of the 13th April⁶ that came in the Trident and to return you my sincere and affectionate thanks for your continued attention to my fate, which I feel sensible satisfaction in confiding to your friendship, assured and convinced that I shall be happy while my destiny remains in your hands. 

Distressed in point of time I have not sufficient at least by this conveyance, either to express my gratitude or, from being hitherto kept in ignorance in this Siberia, to form any judgment of what has been done or is likely to happen, yet wish to obey your commands whenever possibly in my power. In view to see his Lordship and to get some insight I requested to be permitted to come down to him, he having wrote me to continue as usual in the command and duties of the port as if he was not at the Hook. He not forbidding my request, I went down to him for some hours and am just returned, but little wiser than I was either as to what has or may occur—so totally reserved to all. I learned from him that, having heard of a supposed destination of a squadron of French ships of war expected on the coasts of this continent, he judged fit to assemble all the ships of his Majesty's fleet of the greatest force in readiness to put to sea on the shortest notice; and as my stay will in that case be necessary to regulate the duties here and to co-operate with the commander in chief of the land forces in such measures as he may see proper to adopt for the King's service during his (Lord Howe's) eventual absence, he directed me to embark and move my distinguishing flag on board such ship of my division (composed of three or four small frigates and other vessels) as I should think fit, directing the captain of the Ardent to repair with that ship directly to the Hook to join him there.⁷ 

When his Lordship mentioned a hint of intelligence of a French squadron's being expected here or hereabouts (however different my own idea from the state of the particulars of the information and its grounds for apprehending their destiny being hitherwards, I mean in North America or the continent, and which idea of mine respectfully submitted to his Lordship) I nevertheless as humbly requested that if aught of opportunity of active service or honour was to be sought that he would indulgently and considerately allow me to claim a right to be employed; but he replied that it was absolutely necessary that either he or I should stay here with the army to cooperate with and assist it. 

The orders he was under being to govern his conduct, more he would not say, nor did he seem inclinable to communicate aught. Visibly so, in so much that my painful suspense and ignorance of my future fate was not one jot relieved, and all that I had to console or comfort my sensibly uneasy feelings was and is the kind contents of your Lordship's letters. They are my only balm, and on them will I rely until a little time shall develop what his Lordship takes pains to keep so profoundly secret, in the comfortable hope that your continued friendship will not let me be kept abroad a second in command at any rate, nor permit the promises that I was considerately honoured with be annihilated and unperformed to the distress and hurt of a devoted servant, honoured with your friendship, who wishes to deserve it, and who has quitted a certain subsistence for an amiable wife and five helpless children to endeavour under your auspices and protection to better support and educate them at the cheerful risk of his life and health on a remote service of unequalled fatigue, difficulty, and unremitting attention. Most kindly did your Lordship comfort me by empowering me to rest satisfied that, if I should from the vicissitudes remain abroad, that the disappointment of not coming home as was intended would be made up on some degree to me and mine by my remaining commander in chief in an advantageous and honourable situation, with being one of the Commissioners, for which purpose a new commission would be sent out. This being the advice and wish of you, my honoured loved patron, was a balm to every corroding apprehension joined to the hoped idea and prospect that come what might of dangers difficulties, and anxieties in the most unpleasing untoward service, and now I fear reduced to become only a secondary object of the State's attention, I might still have my pains and labours crowned with some profit and support for my wife and children; and in this idea let me again entreat your patronage and protection, or a family that reveres you and depends on your kindness will be reduced to wretchedness.

Evacuating Philadelphia was unpalatable to many: I conclude it was judged at this time necessary. Some wish it had never been occupied, or the needle pointed to the southward. It will require I am told a very great body of troops to keep even this place alone—and a much larger force if Rhode Island also. 

The answer from the C[ongress]—however strong—yet appears to some not still impossible, but that some time, and possibly not far off, that they may be more inclinable to treat—when the dispassionate shall have time to reflect, and those that do shall circulate and avail themselves of opportunities of communicating to the herd their opinion of the indulgent terms offered.⁸ At present a few illiberal, greedy, passionate mendicants sway and infatuate the multitude, keeping them in a state of ignorance and irascible ebriety.⁹ If such a fortuitous change of sentiments does not speedily happen, this distant and in itself globe of country is more, some fear, now unconquerable than Peru and Mexico were of old. Our army as they are is healthy, brave, and zealous; but an army must constantly be recruited. Twelve hundred leagues with its natural difficulties demand a solemn thought—the means and expense! Our ships, long out, want repair; and a considerable number must ever be constantly here on this extensive coast, too extensive almost to guard anyhow and at all seasons. 

[La Motte-Picquet] his little squadron alarmed.¹⁰ Whenever all our cruisers are called in from the stations 'tis inconceivable what groups of supplies have been daily poured in, La Motte's few ships making such to have been found advisable. D'Estaing's reported visit or suspected mission causes the same to continue: they know all this, and they most sensibly avail themselves of it, astonishingly so! Small ships, small good-sailing vessels and numbers of them, are not only indispensably necessary on this coast, but 'tis also impossible to do without: 20-gun ships coppered, sloops, cutters, and small vessels, are of the greatest utility here; some ships of force are necessary likewise. The rebels can now muster threescore sail from their different ports from 36 to 20 and 18 guns; and yet I will venture to affirm that a third of that number of our frigates would take them all, would each party agree to meet, but we have such a range of coast and such a multiplicity of various services, convoys, army requisitions and attendances, that it is an Augean labour to attend to and find means to encounter such a variegated choice of numberless difficulties. 

Pardon my honoured Lord so undigested and hasty a scrawl, let want of time, want of matter from cruel banishment hitherto, and being kept in ignorance unaccountably so, be my apology for not being able to obey your commands. I only pray for ability and opportunity in future, for I want not zeal or inclination. 

Reports are various, and only reports can I learn. Lord H[owe] did tell me that Admiral B[yron] was expected. Lord Carlisle confirmed the same. And yet your Lordship's kind letters are my balm and banish every painful apprehension, and I comfort myself that you will not let me stay here, at least without having the command in chief and being in the Commission; and even then I fear there will be little possible field for your devoted servant to acquire either credit or honour to his zealous wishes of distinguishing your election or of getting subsistence and support for his wife and children. Monsieurs Picquet and d'Estaing have hitherto totally prevented the latter. . . .