Philadelphia, Friday, 29 August, 1777.
The newspapers inclosed will give you all the intelligence of any
consequence. General Washington, with a very numerous army, is between
Wilmington and the Head of Elk. Howe will make but a pitiful figure. The
militia of four States are turning out with much alacrity and cheerful
spirits. The Continental army under Washington, Sullivan, and Nash,
besides, is in my opinion more numerous by several thousands than Howe's
whole force. I am afraid that he will be frightened, and run on board
his ships, and go away plundering to some other place. I almost wish he
had Philadelphia, for then he could not get away. I really think it
would be the best policy to retreat before him, and let him into this
snare, where his army must be ruined. However, this policy will not be
adopted.
In a letter from good authority, Mr. Paca, we are informed that many
dead horses have been driven on the eastern shore of Maryland; horses
thrown overboard from the fleet, no doubt.
Prices current. Four pounds a week for board, besides finding your own
washing, shaving, candles, liquors, pipes, tobacco, wood, etc. Thirty
shillings a week for a servant. It ought to be thirty shillings for a
gentleman and four pounds for the servant, because he generally eats
twice as much and makes twice as much trouble. Shoes, five dollars a
pair. Salt, twenty-seven dollars a bushel. Butter, ten shillings a
pound. Punch, twenty shillings a bowl. All the old women and young
children are gone down to the Jersey shore to make salt. Salt water is
boiling all round the coast, and I hope it will increase. For it is
nothing but heedlessness and shiftlessness that prevents us from making
salt enough for a supply. But necessity will bring us to it. As to
sugar, molasses, rum, etc., we must leave them off. Whiskey is used here
instead of rum, and I don't see but it is just as good. Of this the
wheat and rye countries can easily distil enough for the use of the
country. If I could get cider I would be content.
The business of the country has been in so critical and dangerous a
situation for the last twelve months that it was necessary the
Massachusetts should have a full representation, but the expenses of
living are grown so enormous that I believe it will be necessary to
reduce the number of delegates to three, after the campaign is over.