[Extract]

Dear Sir. Yours of the 5th came to me the 8th ー You will see by this Post, that the River is past and the Bridge cutt away. The Declaration was yesterday published and proclaimed from that awefull Stage, in the State house Yard, by whom do you think? by the Committee of Safety! the Committee of Inspection, and a great Crowd of People. Three Cheers rendered the Welkin. ー The Battalion paraded on the common, and gave Us the Feu de Joy, not with standing the Scarcity of Powder. The Bells rung all Day, and almost all night. Even the Chimers, Chimed Away....

As soon as an American Seal is prepared, I conjecture the Declaration will be Subscribed by all the Members, which will give you the opportunity you wish for, of transmitting your Name, among the Votaries of Independence...

The Arms, are taken down from every public Place. The Army is at Crown Point. ー We have sent up a great Number of Ship wrights, to make a respectable Fleet upon the Lakes.

We have taken every Measure to defend New York. The Militia are marching this day, in a great Body from Pensilvania. That of Jersey has behaved well, turned out universally. That of Connecticutt, I was told last night by Mr [Samuel] Huntingdon, were coming in the full Number demanded of them, and must be there before now. ー We shall make it do, this year, and if We can Stop the Torrent, for this Campaign, it is as much as We deserve for our Weak ness and Sloth, in Politicks, the last. Next year We shall do better. ー New Government will bring new Men into the Play, I perceive: Men of more Mettle.

Your Motion, last Fall for sending Embassadors to France, with conditional Instructions was murdered, terminating in a Committee of Secret Correspondence, which came to nothing.