least five thousand men to oblige me to evacuate it; and that would be easing the Southern Colonies of so many enemies during the course of the campaign, and perhaps recover a little of the honour we have lately too lavishly thrown away.

Mr. Chase is of opinion we may with safety break the capitulation made with General Arnold. It is extremely hard to give up all the fruits of the last year’s campaign in Canada, which cost so much, and, what was still a greater loss to us, the life of General Montgomery, without even releasing our distressed friends in Quebeck. But if engagements of this delicate nature are broken without the fullest testimony to support us, we shall be forever undone.

I have sent off the sick and heavy baggage from hence, that if I am reduced to the necessity of retreating, I can do it with little loss. Including the men that went with Colonel St. Clair, those employed in rowing his boats, and gone to remove the sick, with fifty stationed on the opposite side of the St. Lawrence, the number of troops here are reduced to about two hundred. In a few days I shall be joined by Colonel De Haas with his detachment.

My greatest distress at present is on account of the unhappy situation of the Canadians who have taken an active part with us, as I know not whether I shall long have it in my power to protect them from the vengeance of General Carleton, with which they are threatened. They apprehend the worst, and are truly objects of compassion.

I am, my dear General, your affectionate humble servant,

WILLIAM THOMPSON

To General Washington.

ARTHUR LEE TO THE COMMITTEE OF SECRET CORRESPONDENCE.*

June 3, 1776.

GENTALEMEN: The desire of the Court of France to assist may be depended on; but they are yet timid, and the Ministry unsettled. Turgot, lately removed, was the most averse to a rupture with England; his removal is of consequence. The contention for the lead now is between Count de Vergennes and the Duke de Choiseul; both are friends to you and for vigorous measures. The disposition in France may, for these reasons, be relied on. Spain is more reserved; her Minister here is an old woman; but surely, when France moves Spain will co-operate. The clear revenue from the farm of tobacco is twenty-four millions of livres to France. It has been hinted to me that she is likely to tell Great Britain that if England cannot furnish it she will send for it herself. You may judge, therefore, what an important instrument that is in your hands. A Scotch banker, Sir Robert Herries, proposed to the farmers in France to supply them at the home price here, that is, with the duty, to which they agreed. He then applied to this Government for leave to import it upon paying the duties, which was refused. The Scots are the contrivers and supporters of all the measures against you; nor will they ever desist while the English have a penny to be plundered of, or a man to be sacrificed. Whatever propositions are made you must consider as coming from the Scots, whose perfidy you know can never be trusted. Do not let the character of Lord Howe deceive you. They have corrupted their English adherents almost to their own degree. Howe has a weak and confused head. Two hundred thousand pounds in specie have been sent to Canada, so that the booty there, if you succeed, must be great.

In the last debate, Lord George Germaine, who is undoubtedly Minister, affirmed that no treaty would be held with you till you had laid down your arms. My opinion is, that independency is essential to your dignity, essential to your present safety, and essential to your future prosperity and peace. Some of the Congress correspond with Mr. Jackson, of the Board of Trade, and with Mr. Molleson, a Scotch merchant; the intelligence they give goes directly to the Minister. To prevent this, all correspondence ought to be prevented with the Scots, who are to a man treacherous and hostile; and with the refugee Americans, who also communicate with the Minister. Parson Maddison has been permitted to return to Virginia, and, as he will probably give intelligence, he should be watched.

The young gentleman who will deliver this is of great worthiness, and deserves much of his country for his fidelity and zeal. Six thousand of the Hessian troops sailed last month, the remainder is not yet arrived here, so that it may be September before they reach you. In the mean time, it may be Howe’s plan to amuse you with a negotiation, which may also furnish an opportunity of feeling some pulses among you, as to the efficacy of money and promises. Beware of Joseph Reed, of Philadelphia. One Brooke Watson, who was permitted to travel last year from New-York to Quebeck, gave in a plan to the Ministry for attacking Canada, and is with the invaders.

This book is better than the last I sent you. It is to decipher what I write to you, and for you to write by. This is done by putting the page where the word is to be found, and the letter of the alphabet corresponding in order with the word. As there are more words in a page than the letters of the alphabet, the letter must be doubled or trebled to answer that; as thus-to express the troops, you write 369, kk 381, vv; ing, ed, s, &c., must be added when necessary, and distinguished by making no comma between them and the figures; thus-for betrayed, put 33ed. The letters I use are these, a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z, which are twenty-six. I cannot use this until I know it is safe. You can write to Mrs. Lee, on Tower Hill, in a woman’s hand; if you have both books, say the children are well; if the first only, the eldest child is well; if this, the youngest child is well. They will let this pass.

TO THE INHABITANTS OF VIRGINIA.

It is much to be lamented when one part of a community is so deeply incensed against another, and can with pleasure behold its ruin; because the most ancient ties of friendship are then dissolved, and the greatest intimates at that time become implacable enemies. However, there are many circumstances that justify such resentment; many that render them absolutely necessary; but it too often happens that they take their rise from the slightest causes, and, being aggravated by strong suspicions and gross misrepresentations, grow at length into the most inveterate hatred; a striking instance of which now presents itself in this distracted country. The poor inhabitants near our sea-coast are universally condemned, insulted, and abused, for no other reason than because they were so unhappy as to fall into the hands of a Governour who is deservedly held in the utmost abhorrence. It was expected by many of their countrymen that they would have made a vigorous resistance; but not by those who were well acquainted with their situation. There were a thousand obstacles to prevent it. At least half the town of Norfolk were disaffected to the American cause, and armed vessels lay at their doors to terrify the other half into obedience. Those who lived in the country were totally ignorant of military affairs, and war was a thing altogether new to them. Some spirited men among them, who could not brook the pride and insolence of the Scotch party, did prevail upon a few of the inhabitants to take up arms and stand on their own defence; but the event fully proved that discipline and experience are highly essential to form the soldier. They wanted these qualifications, nor was there a single officer to command who had ever been in action. Had they waited till the arrival of our troops from Williamsburgh, they had never incurred the censure of their brethren, nor been looked upon as foes to publick liberty and the rights of mankind. This is the effect of that military parade, which they mistook, and which is too frequently mistaken for true valour and heroism. I am bold in my assertion, because the situation of the people is thoroughly known to me. I was born among them, I lived among them, and have been a witness to their conduct during the whole of the present contest; and I do aver, that (except some of the inhabitants of the town of Norfolk) as many friends to America reside near the coast as in any other part of the Colony. Some enemies may undoubtedly be found; but are all, without distinction, to be condemned and treated with disdain on that account? Are your friends to suffer one common punishment with your most bitter foes? By Heavens, my countrymen, it is ungenerous and inhuman!

* Copy of A. Lee’s letter to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, date June 3, and taken from the original in the cover of a dictionary, which was delivered to the Secretary of Congress, by Mr. Robert Morris, on the 4th of September, 1778, and delivered to the Committee of Foreign Affairs, 7th December following.