[Extract]

Philadelphia 9 March 1776.

I am glad to hear of the Attention given to procure a Marine Strength ー it will I beleive be Very Usefull -the continental Fleet has been out for some Time I think We may Shortly expect to hear from it ー The Manufacturing Arms and G Powder are objects which cannot be too much attended to, if every American was well furnished with the Means of Defence I should think We might be almost a Match for the World -G. Powder is Manufacturing here continually ー Very soon they will in this Colony make five Tons Weekly -Twenty seven Tons of G. Powder, one of S Petre and 500 stand of Arms have within a few days arrived. A Petition lies before Congress from a large Number of Merchants of this City requesting Letters of Mark and Reprizal ー the matter has not yet been discuss[e]d The Business of Congress seems continually to encrease So that no Recess is tho't of at this Time ー The persevering Crewlty of the british Administration is such that I fear We are to expect no further Benefit from what We have heretofore fondly called the Mother Country ...

The Military Division of the Colonies I beleive Sir you must have heard of, and a further establishment of General Officers ー Genl [John] Thomas is Ordered to Canada ー Genl Lee is going to the Southward -Genl Clinton it is said has just touched at Virginia but has now left it but I do not tell this for a certainty. . . I am Sir [&c.]

Oliver Wolcott