[Extract]
My dear Hewes

I was favoured with two letters from you by Capt Alton. I lament your hard fortune, and unless some measures are immediately taken to prevent the infamous practices of the Privateers, America will soon be in a state of general confusion — One Part warring against another, and the defenceless Southern colonies become a devoted prey to their more formidable Eastern neighbours. I laid your letter relative [to] the Capture of the Brig Joseph before the congress without any embellishment or reserve.² The New England Gentlemen, felt the force of the Imputation but considered it as too general. I have an order that our President should write the President and Council of Masstts requesting to make an immediate enquiry after the Vessell and the Pirates who have taken her, secure her and them, & report immediately to congress -I have also procured a reference of your letter to the marine Committee, who I hope will take some spirited resolves to avenge the Injury done you and to prevent the repetition of such unjustifiable depredations. [Robert] Morris is not here, but I have requested him in a letter which I wrote him yesterday inclosing yours to correspond with me upon the subject and exert his utmost endeavours to interest Congress in favour of your Application — by a publick epistle to our Honours — This is all which can be done at present, when I hear more particularly from you I shall prosecute every expedient to improve such information to your benefit.

The Congress upon Part of G Howes' Army advancing within 9 Miles of Cooper's ferry, by the advice of [Thomas] Mifflin and [Israel] Putnam removed to this dirty infamous extravagant hole, where with all possible Oeconomy we live at the rate of 50/ per day, Every necessary of life being double what they cost us in Philadelphia — & before we left that everything was enormous —