University of Virginia Library

TO EDMUND RANDOLPH.[1]

Dear Sir,—Some intelligence has been received
from the frontiers of New York, which revives the
apprehensions of further inroads from Canada, and
co-operation on the part of the Vermonters. The
tenor of Carleton's letter to General Washington on
this subject, and other circumstances, render this
article at least extremely doubtful.

The British fleet at New York has been busy in
preparing for sea, and will probably soon depart from
that station. The West Indies most naturally occur
as the object of its destination. It is said their preparations
have been much expedited by the most direct
and undisguised supplies from the people of
New Jersey.

Congress have been occupied for several days past
with the case of Lippencot, referred to them by General
Washington. On one side it was urged, that
the disavowal and promises by the British Commander,
the abolition of the obnoxious board of
refugees, and the general change of circumstances,
rendered retaliation unnecessary and inexpedient.
On the other side it was contended, that a departure

from the resolution so solemnly adopted and repeated
by General Washington, with equal solemnity ratified
by Congress, would be an indelible blot on our character;
that after the confessions on the part of the
enemy of the deed complained of, a greater inflexibility
on our part would be looked for; that after such
confessions, too, the enemy would never suffer the
innocent to perish, if we persisted in demanding the
guilty; and finally, that if they should suffer it,
the blood would be on their heads, not on ours. No
definitive resolution has yet passed on the subject.
All the intermediate steps have been very properly
entered on the secret journals.

General Lincoln has just returned from the army.
He has not yet made a report to Congress. He says,
I understand, that his visit has had a very salutary
operation, but that some pay must be found for the
army. Where it is to be found, God knows. The
state of the public finances has already compelled
the Superintendant to give a discharge to the former
contractors, and to accept of a new contract, by which
thirty per cent. is added to the price of a ration in
consideration of credit for three months. He has, on
this occasion, written a pressing exhortation to the
States, which, I suppose, is accessible to you.

Mr. Carroll moved, yesterday, a resolution for accepting
the territorial cession of New York. It
stands the order for to-day. I regret much, on this
occasion, the absence of Mr. Jones.