spared many to the Soldiery, we have been near 3 years in a state of consumption only, with very little recruit, while the captures to the Eastward have been a source of continual supply to them.

on his crutches; his argument was like all his, wise and forcible, and I hope America will prove the truth of his prediction.

1777, May 25th. I find Mr. Hunter is alarmed lest his works should stop for want of iron; the Maryland Gentlemen who deal in that material article, either from the fondness of back friends to invest their paper in that commodity, or their opinion that we are in their power, or perhaps both, have demanded £20 a ton for Pigs. It will be shocking to have him stopped in so beneficial a course, since besides his gun manufactory and supplying the Navy with Anchors, &c., his slitting, plate, and wire mills are in great forwardness, which would produce the greatest private utility. We must explore our banks for ore and compel the Proprietors to open them, or give up to those who will, that we may have the necessary for these branches within ourselves.

1777, August 30th. I think it no unimportant part of our late success that militia had a principal hand in it, for if they will stand six hours' hard fighting with their officers and men falling by their sides, we can never be subdued; our resources in that way are infinite, however difficult it may be to raise a regular army, and I am told the whole militia here, lately called below, were of volunteers without a single draft, and in most counties the whole declared themselves ready if wanted.

I am no soldier, but I think in dividing their Army as they have done, and carrying on distant operations at the same time, they have played the game as we should have wished.

I am glad to hear that the good old Lord of Hayes,* was able to get out even

1777, Nov. 2d. Some of the pleasantest lines that ever adorned paper since the promulgation of the Holy Scriptures, met my eyes in your obliging favour of the 21st past: and is it really true that the great and flourishing Burgoyne, with nine other Generals, at the head of the very number of men with which they boasted in St. Stephen's Chapel they could conquer America, has surrendered to a detachment of our Army, composed for the most part of honest Planters, called to oppose them from the culture of their farms? I won't say tell it not, but tell it in Gath and publish it in the streets of Askelon; and add, moreover, that this great and mighty nation whose Naval Power hath awed the world, hath been alarmed for their trade at home, by a few fishing boats scrambled up by the poor despised Americans, at a time they were entertaining the fond idea of blocking up all the ports upon the Ocean for 1800 miles of a coast 3000 miles from them. If this don't open the nation's eyes, I think they are desperate and their destruction inevitable: nor would I undertake to play for the Prussians, if they are such sanguine gamesters as not to allow we have "thrown sixes."

1777, Nov. 8th. Your last favour removes all doubts, and tho' it cuts us off of 4 Generals, 10,000 stand of arms and 5 pieces of cannon, which common fame had made it, we have yet had abundant reasons to be thankful, for it is a most important victory; and I am inclined to think their retiring to England may prove of greater advantage to us than their actual captivity here, in the report which they may make, discouraging further pro

secution of their attempts. Especially Burgoyne, if he seriously thinks our Independence inevitable, may forward a peace much in the House of Commons, where his own honour seems concerned, and must stimulate him to magnify our strength and importance.

1778, June 13th. The treaties of Alliance and free Commerce with France, which will probably lead the way to those with many other European Powers, will make this year a memorable Era, tho' nothing more important should happen in it.

August 16th. I was astonished at the Resolutions of the Commons in favour of the Irish. I consider them, however, as the first fruits of the benefits mankind will receive from our noble struggle. This and the success of the Duke of Richmond's motion respecting the Toulon fleet, seem to indicate a change in ad. ministration. Happy for us they cannot raise Lord Chatham to be in the new.

A heavy North-East storm, on Tuesday last, has greatly injured our Corn and Tobacco, and forced down too many of our half-ripe Peaches. I expect to hear it has reached the fleets.

JOHN PAGE TO R. H. LEE.

Williamsburg, Dec. 9th, 1775.

It was so late when I received your letter, and I have been so engaged in business and surrounded by company, that I am scarcely able to tell you that I received it, and by no means have time to say how much obliged I am to you for writing it. But however much I am pressed for time, I cannot conclude without lamenting the unhappy situation of our Country. So defenceless is it that I am persuaded that a couple of Frigates with a few tenders and only one Regiment, might at this time make as complete a conquest of all the lower Counties of Va. as Ld. Dunmore has made of Princess Ann and Norfolk. Col. Wood

ford, with 500 hundred men, has been hitherto prevented from passing the Great Bridge, on his way to Norfolk, by a body of Negroes headed by Scotchmen and a a few Regulars; and I make no doubt that before he can pass, Norfolk will be made impregnable by land. It is capable of being strongly fortified on a small neck of land near the Church, where it is said Lord D. has for some time past employed several hundred negroes. The only way, I conceive, that town can be taken without Cannon, must be by taking advantage of the night and throwing into it 3 or 400 resolute Fellows-and to make a bold push at the Sloops of War at the same time. I have mentioned this to several, but unhappily they call it a rash attempt, and seemed to be contented with the Expedition now carrying on under Col. Woodford-which if it should succeed, can only force our enemies on board the Ships, and oblige them to change the scene of the War, and spread their depredations farther. I wish to God we had a few armed Vessels to take the tenders. We might very much distress their ships by it. I approve very much of your hint of procuring them from Bermuda or the Northern Colonies. But most of the Committee and Convention seem to think it in vain to attempt any thing by water. I think this may be attended with fatal consequences-for if no attempt of this kind is made before Reinforcements of Ships and tenders arrive, the people will be most wretchedly dispirited and easily crushed. For my part, I think we should make a point of keeping possession of our Rivers, those excellent channels of Commerce, and should strain every nerve in struggles for the Dominion of the upper part of the rivers at least. It is certain that 5000 men cannot defend our Coast against the depredations of the men of war and tenders already herebut it is certain that 500 men in armed vessels could easily take the whole fleet.

Feb. 3d., 1776. I have been always of your opinion with respect to our present Commander in Chief. All orders do pass

thro' him, and we really wish to be in perfect harmony with him.

Feb. 19th, 1776. I moved too, with the like success, that the sum of £40 should be paid to Bucktrout, for his ingenuity in constructing, and to defray the expense of erecting a powder mill; and to enable him to prosecute his plan of working up the Salt Petre which may be collected in the neighbouring Counties, with his Hand Powder Mill now at work in this City. The President-altho' I told the Committee I would engage to make 100 lbs. of Powder per day with it, and endeavoured to show the necessity of encouraging such a work-declared that in his opinion it was a Bauble,—and 5 members were of opinion that it was not worth the reward I proposed. I was ashamed for the Committee, and very much hurt to find that my recommendation of a machine which I understood perfectly and had seen tried, and a man of whose ingenuity I had before produced proofs by showing powder of his making and proving its excellence by actual exseriments, had not the least weight with he Committee. This mill, Sir, alone, rell attended, might supply a great part of our Country with Powder, I shall do ll I can to encourage the man to go on with his work. I think private subscriptions, until the Convention meets, may enable him to be very serviceable. The Committee indeed, on finding that many people in Town entertain an high opinion of this Mill, begin to appear willing to give some kind of encouragement to it.

April 12th, 1776. I am particularly obliged to you for so readily promising me your vote and interest in favour of Col. Grayson. Before you can receive this you will have seen the letters to Gov, Eden from Lord G. Germain. They had a good effect here. I think almost every man, except the Treasurer, is willing to declare for Independency. But I fear it is too late for Va.; for if the at

tack should be made here, which we have now great reason to expect, we shall be able to make but a poor resistance. Our army is but an handful of raw, undisciplined troops, indifferently armed, wretchedly clothed, and without tents or Blankets. Our people, in some places disconcerted about Henry's Resignation, in others on account of the removal of the Troops from their Neighborhood, and in others at the apprehension of being removed, as the People of Norfolk and Princess Ann are to be, into the interior parts of the Country. In this state of things, God knows what will be the consequence of a vigorous push made by a fleet and 6 or 7 regiments. It is happy for us that General Lee is here, but so weak are we at present, our troops being so badly armed and accoutred, that I really pity him. On a review to day, there were only 500 men fit for duty. There are 3 companies at York and 6 at Hampton. I trust only to Heaven which has hitherto protected us.

I would to God you could be here at the next Convention. It would be happy for us if you could be all spared on that occasion; if you could, I make no doubt you might easily prevail in the Convention to declare for Independency, and to establish a form of Government.

(P. S.) I suppose, as Mr. Arundel is appointed Captain of a company of Artillery to be raised here, you either intend that there should be two Companies, or you did not know that we had already raised one. If the latter was the case, I fear there will be some confusion here, as Capt. Innes, who is captain of the Company, is a very deserving man, and was expelled the college for his activity in the cause. To prevent this, and indeed as two companies are really wanted, I wish you would raise another, and put them both on the Continental Establishment.

Williamsburg, Dec. 20th, 1776. You cannot conceive how our cause suffers for want of a constant and speedy conveyance of Authentic Intelligence from State to State. I hope the late

resolutions of Congress respecting the Posts would have remedied this inconvenience, but unhappily it has not been carried into execution. The Tories propagate what lies they please to invent, and it is often long before we can contradict them. Seldom before they have made a bad impression somewhere. Many people here were greatly alarmed at the letters, which it is said, you and Col. Harrison wrote by the Post, (I have not yet seen them,) and seem to think all is lost. But I am sure, your letters, and I suppose Col. Harrison's, could never convey such an idea. For the loss of every town in America, must be but a small loss compared to all. Some people, I fear, wish all was lost.

Williamsburg, Jan. 29th, 1777. P. S.-There is a sloop, (the one I mentioned in my letter,) which has a number of soldier's clothes on board, which will probably be taken if she ventures up the Bay. I have endeavored to have them landed and put on the backs of the poor fellows, who cannot march without clothes. But the Capt. refuses to deliver them, unless by an order of Congress, or of Mrs. Buckannan of Baltimore. ****If the clothes could be sent to Fredericksburg, they would be very convenient for the men who will rendezvous there.

Williamsburg, Feb. 27th, 1777. If I can have any weight with the Governor and Council, no pains shall be spared to put our Navy on a respectable footing. As it is, I think, if we were not too diffident, or ignorant of the effect of 18 Pounders, we might drive away the Men of War. ***

The apprehension of an Indian War makes the people immediately on the frontier, who are the best troops in the world for the defence of that country, very averse to leaving it, and they will not enlist.

cannon here. The two private Powder mills-for there are none belonging to the public-stand still for want of Saltpetre. A fine large Galley is almost finished in North Carolina, but we have no guns proper for her, and we want at least 50 heavy Cannon for the necessary protec tion of our most important harbors. We have discovered vast quantities of Lapis Calaminaris near one of the Copper mines in this State, so that we might, with proper spirit and Industry, supply America with Brass and Brass Cannon. Mr. David Jameson, one of our board, is concerned in a Copper mine, where he thinks that 20 or 30 hands might raise copper enough for this purpose, and the Calamine lies around in vast abundance. We have had specimens of this stone and a small experiment made on some copper with it, and find that it makes fine brass.

Wms. Burg, August 29th, 1777. I will do all in my power to forward the works you mention, but I have long laboured in vain to draw the attention of our Countrymen towards the Copper and Lapis Calaminaris.

Rosewell, Sep. 11th, 1777.

I return you many thanks for the Hand bill, and heartily congratulate you on the glorious news it contains. Col. Gansevoort deserves the highest honours for his gallant defence of Fort Schuyler; and Arnold, whose perseverance, fortitude, and fearless spirit, raised him long since high in my esteem, rises still higher by his rapid march to support Fort Schuyler, his noble resolution to attack the Besiegers at all events rather than suffer the Garrison to fall into their bands, and above all by the Terror which his approach seemed to spread thro' the British Army and the happy effects of this Consternation. And what shall I say of the Generals Herkimer and Starke, the Colonels Warner and Willet. I cannot sufficiently admire them. Happy for us, that quarter of America teems with

I think it the happiest event of the War that Ticonderoga was evacuated,for otherwise Burgoyne would not have ventured so far into the Country. Had he been forced to make regular approaches and attack that place in form, and been long detained by a stout resistance, he must either have set down at that Post after its surrender, or if compelled to raise the siege, have retired to Crown Point; so that I think St. Clair's retreat a happy circumstance; and almost think that if Burgoyne has not seen the votes of Congress condemning that step, he will now think it but a manoeuvre. Do you recollect your conversation with Major Butler of Charleston, in the Coffee House Porch at Wms. Burg, on the subject of defending Ticonderoga? I think you spoke of it as a place of little consequence, which surprised us much, and upon our expressing some surprise at your opinion, you added that you believed Congress had ordered it to be evacuated; which I looked upon to be the case until I saw the votes above-mentioned, and then I concluded you must have spoken it in jest and for the sake of argument.

Some people here are greatly afraid, that Howe, when forced to abandon his designs against Philadelphia, will thro' vexation and Revenge lay waste Maryland and Virginia, and canton his troops for the Winter in those States. We have have an excellent body of Militia, but unhappily we have not Tents, &c., &c., for a sufficient number of them. Is there no possibility for cutting out an excuse for France to declare War against England? Can she not, with a safe, Catholic conscience, endeavor to restore the unhappy race of the Stuarts? May not the present cruel Usurper be told, that he has far exceeded any of that family in acts of Tyranny; even the English themselves have no good reason to object to their restoration, and the Scotch must be strangely altered to be less zealous and active in this favorite work, than they were in 1715 or 1745.

(P. S.) I heartily congratulate you, on the gallant behaviour of our kinsman, Capt. Lee, of the light Horse.

VOL. XXVII-17

Williamsburg, Oct. 17th, 1777.

I this moment received yours of the 10th inst. by the return of our Express, and am much obliged to you for the particular account you have given me of our attack on the Enemy. From your account of this affair, and Weedon's particular detail of the Plan, March, and Disposition of Attack, I look upon it to be one of the best concerted, but worst executed expeditions and Attacks, which ever was made. However, as our troops have learnt experience by it, and are willing to make a second trial of their Courage and skill, and have also received a considerable reinforcement since their repulse, which makes them very much resemble the Hydra, I trust they will be more successful in their next attempt and show us that they have not an Hercules to deal with. For my own part however, I had rather fight such battles every day than not fight at all. For we not only have the advantage of gaining experience by frequent engagements, but we must at length break up and destroy, or worry our Enemies to death. They will soon be taught to reason in this manner: "If we are to depend upon reinforcements and supplies of Provisions sent us from the distance of 3000 miles, and our enemies, having supplies at hand and recruits daily coming in, can easily, after every defeat, meet us with renewed, or at least undiminished numbers; and if we add to this that a total defeat to us must be ruinous, not only to our affairs in America-but

perhaps to Britain herself, what folly is it to contend any longer for the Conquest of America! We see that the loss of Towns and the rout of Armies, serves but to embitter and to instruct our enemies, whilst our very victories must ruin us. Our unavoidable losses in killed and wounded, the necessary guards for the sick and wounded after such incessant Attacks and fatigues, and the garrisons for the Posts we must occupy, must in a short time so weaken us, that it will be at least impossible to make any farther progress in our Victories." But enough of this Reverie.

I am myself much pleased with the