Philadelphia, 11 July, 1777.
This letter will go by the hand of the Honorable Joseph Hewes, Esquire,
one of the delegates in Congress from North Carolina from the month of
September, 1774, until 1777. I had the honor to serve with him upon the
naval committee who laid the first foundations, the corner-stone, of an
American navy, by fitting to sea the _Alfred_, _Columbus_, _Cabot_,
_Andrew Doria_, _Providence_, and several others; an honor that I make
it a rule to boast of upon all occasions and I hope my posterity will
have reason to boast. Hewes has a sharp eye and keen, penetrating sense,
but, what is of much more value, is a man of honor and integrity. If he
should call upon you, and you should be about, I hope you will treat him
with all the complaisance that is due to his character. I almost envy
him his journey, although he travels for his health, which at present is
infirm.