Philadelphia, 14 September, 1777.
You will learn from the newspapers, before this reaches you, the
situation of things here. Mr. Howe's army is at Chester, about fifteen
miles from this town. General Washington's is over the Schuylkill,
awaiting the flank of Mr. Howe's army.
How much longer Congress will stay is uncertain. I hope we shall not
move until the last necessity, that is, until it shall be rendered
certain that Mr. Howe will get the city. If we should move, it will be
to Reading, Lancaster, York, Easton, or Bethlehem, some town in this
State. It is the determination not to leave this State. Don't be anxious
about me, nor about our great and sacred cause. It is the cause of truth
and will prevail. If Howe gets the city, it will cost him all his force
to keep it, and so he can get nothing else.
My love to all friends.