[dateline] Weymouth Augt. 5. 1778
The News of your Arrival at Paris gave us great Joy. Before your Letters reached America,
the first Intelligence of your Arrival was obtain'd from an English Paper taken in
a Prize. Previous to this in a New York Paper was inserted the Capture of the Boston
by a 60 Gun Ship but no mention being made of her Contents more especially of a very
valuable Article too important to have been passed over in Silence We made ourselves pretty easy being
assured that they would have publickly gloried in the Acquisition of it.
Our Season was very fine untill the 24th. June having been favoured with moderate
Heat and frequent Showers which gave us large Crops of English Hay and Pasturage.
The Eclipse of that Day brought on a Change of Air to extreme Heat which encreased
for 12 or 15 Days to a Degree greater than ever was known amongst us so early in the
Year, it then became more cool for a few Days, afterwards the Heat returnd and continued
to this Time, very little Rain having fallen untill Three or Four Days past,
[so] that we have sufferd much in our Gardens and the Indian Corn will by the Drought
be lessend greatly. Our English Grain much blasted—a very good Crop of Flax. A very
plentiful Rain this Day and for 4 Days past in different Places will I trust give
a new Appearance to the Earth. On the 28th. June the Heat was violent at the Southward,
on which Day a Battle was fought at Monmouth in the Jerseys between Clintons Army
passing from Philadelphia (which they deserted the 18th. preceding) and our Army,
after a long Struggle the Enemy gave way. Night coming on prevented in all Probability
their entire Destruction. They left 245 of their best Troops dead on the Field of
Battle, some they had buried. Near 50 too badly wounded to be removed were left in
an House, how many wounded they carried
{ 69 } of is uncertain.—The Second in Command is under Arrest, chargeable with some malconduct
on that Day. Had he never been in the Enemy's Hands perhaps he never would have been
suspected. He is now under Tryall the Result of which will be made publick. I must
therefore suspend my Judgment untill that Time, but am pretty well satisfied that
neither the Scholar nor the General will save him if he should be found Culpable in
a high Degree.—In this Battle we lost 50 killed, upwards of an 100 wounded—a more
full Accountt youll receive from other Hands. I saw a Letter from the Adjutant Generall
in which He speaks in the highest Terms of the Bravery of our Troops—it is agreed
that they never fought better. Genll. Knox acquired immortal Honour.—The french Fleet
arrived in the Delaware about the 8th. July—had they reached it about 3 Weeks sooner
they would have securd the Enemys Shipping, both Fleet and Army must have fallen into
our Hands. Some Intelligence they got of the near Approach of Mons. De Estang thought
fit to sail and march off in Season.—This Fleet has taken many valuable Prizes from
the Enemy among which is a Vessel loaded with military Stores having among other Things
Six large Mortars with Shells suitable for them. These came very seasonably for the
purpose of driving out of their Holes those Pests of Mankind that have so long plagued
America for which Preparations are now making and if the French Fleet in Conjunction
with that of the united States should prove superior to the British I flatter myself
that it will be shortly effected.
I have only time to add that your Family is well and other Connections.—Remember me
to your Son, and accept of my best Wishes for your Health, Usefulness and Happiness.
[salute] I am yours,
[signed] C.T.
<Your Bro[the]r this day sets off at the Head of a C[ompan]y on the [ . . . ]1 Expedition to R[hode] Island.>2
The Commissioners who arrived here in June wrote to Congress (being denied by Genl.
Washington a Pass to York Town, untill the Pleasure of Congress should be known).
Their Letter and the answer of Congress, You must have received before this Time.
Least you should not have received them, it may not be amiss to say, that they acquainted
Congress with their Power, the End of their Coming and proposed some Matters as the
Basis for Settlement and desird an Interview.—The Answer from Congress was short.
That whenever the King of Gt. Bn. discoverd a sincere Disposition for Peace they were
ready to attend. The Evidence Congress expected was an explicit
{ 70 } Declaration of our Independance or the Removal of their Fleets and Armies. (I give
You the Sense tho not the identical Words.) About the Middle of July Congress received
a Second Letter, and as it did not contain an explicit Declaration of Independance
and the Troops still continuing in New York and Rhode Island with their Fleets, Congress
resolved not to return any Answer to said Letter. Govr. Johnston has wrote great Numbers
of private Letters—many to Members of Congress, many to others. By order of Congress
all Letters from the Commissioners and People in Great Britain to Members of Congress
are to be laid before that Body, examined and made publick, some of which we have
had in our Papers.—Gen. Read has had the offer of 10,000 Guineas to interest himself
in the Affair of Reconciliation—Govr. Johnston the Agent, and a Lady of
[first?] Character in Philadelphia connected with the British Gentry the Medium. Reed rejected,
by answering that he
[was not]3 worth purchasing, but supposing he was, The King of Gt. Britain was not rich enough
to do it.
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