University of Virginia Library

TO EDMUND PENDLETON.

Dear Sir,—Your favor of the 19th. instant came
to hand yesterday. On the same evening arrived
our illustrious General returning to his position on
the North river. We shall probably however have
his company here for some days at least, where he
will be able to give Congress very seasonable aid in
settling the military establishment for the next year,
about which there is some diversity of opinion
Whatever the total requisition of men may be on the
States, I cannot but wish that Virginia may take
effectual measures for bringing into the field her
proportion of them. One reason for this wish is
the calumnies which her enemies ground on her
present deficiency, but the principal one is the influence

that such an exertion may have in preventing insults
& aggressions from whatever quarter they may be
meditated, by shewing that we are able to defy them.

The Delegates have lately transmitted to the Govr.
for the Assembly all the proceedings which have
taken place on the Subject of the territorial cessions.
The tenor of them & the reception given them by
the assembly will I doubt not be communicated to
you by some of your correspondents in it.

There is pretty good reason to believe that a
descent on Minorca has actually taken place. It is
a little problematical with me whether successes
against G. B. in any other quarter except America
tend much to hasten a peace. If they increase her
general distress they at the same time increase those
demands against her which are likely to impede negotiations,
& her hopes from the sympathy of other
powers. They are favorable to us however in making
it more the interest of all the belligerent powers to reject
the uti possidetis as the basis of a pacification.

The report of Rodney's capture never deserved
the attention it seems which was given to it.