Dr. Church returns to-day, and, with smarting eyes, I must write a few
lines to you. I never had in my life such severe duty to do, and was
never worse qualified to do it. My eyes depress my spirits, and my
health is quite infirm. Yet I keep about, and attend Congress very
constantly.
I wish I could write freely to you, my dear, but I cannot. The scene
before me is complicated enough. It requires better eyes and better
nerves than mine; yet I will not despond. I will lay all difficulties
prostrate at my feet. My health and life ought to be hazarded in the
cause of my country, as well as yours, and all my friends.
It is impossible to convey to you any adequate idea of the
embarrassments I am under. I wish that you and our friends may not be in
greater distress than I am. I fear you are. Pray let me know as often as
possible. Our friends write to Mr. ----, not to me, this time. They
don't let us know the state of Boston people, nor the state of the army
in Boston, so exactly as I could wish.
Two days ago we saw a very wonderful phenomenon in this city: a
field-day, on which three battalions of soldiers were reviewed, making
full two thousand men, battalion men, light infantry, grenadiers,
riflemen, light horse, artillery men with a fine train, all in uniforms,
going through the manual exercise and the manoeuvres with remarkable
dexterity. All this has been accomplished in this city since the 19th of
April; so sudden a formation of an army never took place anywhere.
In Congress we are bound to secrecy. But, under the rose, I believe that
ten thousand men will be maintained in the Massachusetts, and five
thousand in New York, at the Continental expense.
We have a Major Skene, just arrived from London with a commission to be
governor of Crown Point and Ticonderoga, and surveyor of the woods,
etc., a close prisoner. He must dispute for his government with Arnold
and Allen. My love and duty where due.