Philadelphia, 8 April, 1777.
Yours of 26th March came by this day's post. I am happy to hear you have
received so many letters from me. You need not fear writing in your
cautious way, by the post, which is now well regulated. But if your
letters should be intercepted, they would do no harm. The F.[167] turns
out to be the man that I have seen him to be these two years. He is in
total neglect and disgrace here. I am sorry for it, because of the
forward part he took in the beginning of the controversy. But there is
certainly such a thing as falling away in politics, if there is none in
grace.
Lee fares as well as a man in close prison can fare, I suppose,
constantly guarded and watched. I fancy Howe will engage that he shall
be treated as a prisoner of war, and in that case we shall all be easy.
For my own part I don't think the cause depends upon him. I am sorry to
see such wild panegyrics in your newspapers. I wish they would consider
the wars against idolatry.