More than a month has passed away since writing the above, and no
opportunity has yet offered of conveying you a line; next to the pain of
not receiving is that of not being able to send a token of remembrance
and affection. (You must excuse my not copying, as paper is ten dollars
per quire.) Last week a packet arrived from Brest with dispatches for
Congress, but no private letters. I was disappointed, but did not
complain. You would have written, I know, had you supposed she was
coming to Boston. By her we heard of the safe arrival of the _Alliance_
in France, which gave me much pleasure. May she have as safe a return to
us again. Last week, arrived here the frigate _Warren_, after a
successful cruise. She had been out about six weeks, in company with the
_Queen of France_, and the _Ranger_, Captain Jones. They fell in with
and captured a fleet bound from New York to Georgia, consisting of ship
_Jason_, twenty guns and one hundred and fifty men; ship _Maria_,
sixteen guns, eighty-four men, having on board eighteen hundred barrels
of flour; privateer schooner _Hibernian_, eight guns and forty-five men;
brigs _Patriot_, _Prince Frederick_, _Bachelor John_, and schooner
_Chance_; all of which are safe arrived, to the universal joy and
satisfaction of every well-wisher of his country. The officers who were
captured acknowledge that this loss will be severely felt by the enemy,
and it is hoped that it will give General Lincoln important advantages
over him in Georgia.
Respecting domestic affairs, I shall do tolerably whilst my credit is
well supported abroad; and my demands there shall be as small as
possible, considering the state of things here; but I cannot purchase a
bushel of grain under three hard dollars, though the scarcity of that
article makes it dearer than other things. Our friends here all desire
to be remembered to you. I remind your daughter to write and she
promises to, but she does not love it. Charley is very busy gardening,
sends his duty, and hopes to write soon. My pen is very bad, but you are
so used to the hand you can pick it out, and if it goes into the sea, it
is no matter. I should be very glad of some woolens by the _Alliance_,
for winter gowns; nothing will be amiss, unless it be men's white silk
stockings, which I have no occasion for. I suppose the pair sent among
the letters which came in the _Mifflin_, an accident.
My pen is really so bad that I cannot add any further than that I am
wholly
Yours.