Yorktown, Pennsylvania, Tuesday, 30 September, 1777.
It is now a long time since I had an opportunity of writing to you, and
I fear you have suffered unnecessary anxiety on my account. In the
morning of the 19th instant, the Congress were alarmed in their beds by
a letter from Mr. Hamilton, one of General Washington's family, that the
enemy was in possession of the ford over the Schuylkill and the boats,
so that they had it in their power to be in Philadelphia before morning.
The papers of Congress belonging to the Secretary's office, the War
office, the Treasury office, etc., were before sent to Bristol. The
President and all the other gentlemen were gone that road, so I followed
with my friend Mr. Marchant, of Rhode Island, to Trenton, in the
Jerseys. We stayed at Trenton until the 21st, when we set off to Easton,
upon the forks of Delaware. From Easton we went to Bethlehem, from
thence to Reading, from thence to Lancaster, and from thence to this
town, which is about a dozen miles over the Susquehanna River. Here
Congress is to sit. In order to convey the papers with safety, which are
of more importance than all the members, we were induced to take this
circuit, which is near a hundred and eighty miles, whereas this town, by
the direct road, is not more than eighty-eight miles from Philadelphia.
This tour has given me an opportunity of seeing many parts of this
country which I never saw before.
This morning Major Troup arrived here with a large packet from General
Gates, containing very agreeable intelligence, which I need not repeat,
as you have much earlier intelligence from that part than we have. I
wish affairs here wore as pleasing an aspect. But alas, they do not.
I shall avoid everything like history, and make no reflections. However,
General Washington is in a condition tolerably respectable, and the
militia are now turning out from Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania,
in small numbers. All the apology that can be made for this part of the
world is that Mr. Howe's march from Elk to Philadelphia was through the
very regions of passive obedience. The whole country through which he
passed is inhabited by Quakers. There is not such another body of
Quakers in all America, perhaps not in all the world.
I am still of opinion that Philadelphia will be no loss to us. I am very
comfortably situated here in the house of General Roberdeau, whose
hospitality has taken in Mr. S. Adams, Mr. Gerry, and me. My health is
as good as common, and I assure you my spirits not the worse for the
loss of Philadelphia. Biddle in the Continental frigate, at South
Carolina, has made a noble cruise and taken four very valuable prizes.