his secret but powerful supporters; I do not pretend to affirm it.  These men most certainly, should preserve their minds free from prejudice in disputes of this kind.  They should stand totally unconnected with any party, as they would avoid doing injury to the joint cause of France and America, and lessening that strong attachment and mutual confidence between the two nations, which every true friend and subject of both wishes may long subsist.

Your letter to the editor of the Leyden Gazette, written upon your
seeing Mr.....’s first publication, fell into my hands a fortnight ago. 
I published it with a few loose observations in one of our newspapers. 
I have since had the pleasure of being informed, that you have sent to
congress a reply to Deane’s accusations, which has given great
satisfaction to impartial men.  I foresaw soon after his arrival, that
your lot would be to suffer persecution for a while.  This is frequently
the portion of good men, but they are never substantially injured by
it.  Our friend and your late colleague, in his letter to me, has
mentioned you in the most honourable as well as the most friendly
terms.  I should have written to him by this opportunity, but I am led
by yours to believe that my letter would not reach him.  But if he
should be in France when you receive this letter, pray mention my
friendly regards to him, and let him know that his lady and family are
in health.

The young gentleman who carries this letter is Mr. William Knox, brother to the general, and has the character of an honest friend to the liberties of his country; your kind notice of him as such will oblige me.

I have many things to say to you; but the short notice I have had of the sailing of this packet, leaves me no time to add more than to assure you that I am, with perfect sentiments of friendship, yours, &c.

1 President of the Council of New Hampshire.

TO SOLOMON LOVELL.1

[Ms., Massachusetts Archives.]

August 6th 1779

Sir/

The Council not having receivd any Intelligence of the State of the Army under your Command since your Departure from Boston, are apprehensive that it must have been unluckily intercepted.  They have therefore orderd the Dispatch of an Express to you for the Purpose of being informd from you with the utmost precision of your Scituation & Circumstances, the Information to be forwarded to this Board without Delay.

There is no News of the Movements of the Enemy that may be depended upon.  You are fully sensible of the Necessity of compleating the Design of this Expedition with all that Speed as well as prudence & Discretion which characterizes you as an officer vested with so important a Command.

1 Brigadier General of the Suffolk County militia.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF MASSACHUSETTS.