I have neither seen nor heard of any Resolution of Congress approving or disproving of the Laboratory being fixed at Springfield.1 If the Congress approves thereof it will be necessary for them to say so there being now an Order for it's being fixed at Brookfield and the Council of the Massachusets State commissioned to provide the materials for the erection of the necessary Buildings at that place. Please to enquire into the matter and write General Knox upon the Subject, it will forward the business if the Council has the same powers with respect to providing materials only at Springfield instead of Brookfield.

Since my return to Camp, I am more at a loss to guess the Enemies intentions than ever. They are fortifying Brunswic—two Spies who left that place a few Days since say the greater part of the Troops are gone to Staten Island—drafts have been made from the several Corps. There is a General Order of General Howes commanding all the Officers that are absent from Posts to join the 10th. of this Instant. It is generally suggested some expedition is on foot, if 'tis up the North River General Howe is the greatest blunderer of the Age to put us on our Guard by such an ill tim'd Expedition as they made the other Day.2 If his Expedition is to the Southward his delay has lost him the happy moment. A Fortnights delay longer will put it out of his power to do any great things. If the States furnish their Men and we have a good Train of Artillery provided seasonably and General Howe dont shut himself up in some inaccessible Post ten to one that ruin awaits him before Fall. But if every State is at liberty to furnish only a part of their Men and those at their pleasure we shall have another crippled Campaign indicisive and perhaps disgraceful.

General Schuyler is going to Congress armed with the imperial Cohorts of N. York to support the Assertion that the Northern Operations depend entirely upon his being continued in the command.3 A dispassionate inquiry perhaps may convince you of his usefulness if not it will afford you an Opportunity to convince the State of N. York that the Salvation of America don't Depend on the political sentiments of Albany County. General Schuyler thinks with me that it will be exceeding difficult if not to say impossible for the Enemy to penetrate the Country by the 142way of Ticonderoga. He also thinks if the Enemy push up the North River it will afford us the fairest opportunity to ruin them we can wish notwithstanding it may prove distressing to that State.

I am more and more alarmed every day of my life at the local preperations making in the several States for their own defence in such a situation as we are in surrounded with immaginary and real grievances claims made by one State and refused by another.4 Men at the head of affairs full of caprice and humours poisoned with little prejudices and conceited of their own importance can easily throw the whole Empire into a convulsion unless there is some seasonable check provided to silence those little differences in their infancy. Human nature is capable of those ebullitions of folly and prudence dictates the necessity of proceiding against them. It is my opinion there ought not to be any standing Troops but what are on the Continental establishment.5 Believe me to be with sentiments of regard Your most obedt: And very hble Servt:

This Evening I was favoured with yours of 24 March,1 by Major Ward. I thank you, sir for your kind Attention to me, and for affording me an opportunity, of renewing a Correspondence which has been interrupted on my Part, by an incessant Application to Business, and by some little Diffidence in the Post, depend upon it, by no Diminution of Friendship or affection.

Our Country sir, is in an high Fever, but it has a Strong Constitution, and good Physicians I hope. The Symptoms are not desperate. The Worst that I see is, a Thinness of the Lifeblood, I mean the Revenue. But Air, and Regimen, and Exercise, and a little Medicine will restore it—especially as it has Youth of its Side. We have better Prospects of Trade, a Vessell arrived Yesterday from Sweeden with Powder, Flynts, Lead, sulphur &c. &c. &c. and I think shall be able to negotiate Loans. Britain cannot procure any great Reinforcements without involving herself in a French and Spanish War. And her Credit in Holland is very low.2

The News from France you will learn from Coll Warren to whom I wrote it in Confidence, but he will show it to you.3 The Army fills up gradually but rather Slowly. There are Troops upon their March from N. Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, towards Head Quarters. The Troops from N. England I hope will soon follow. But my Opinion is that the Enemy is more afraid of Us, than We are of them, even now. Their Ruin is inevitable, if our States exert themselves. If they stay at Brunswick they are undone—if they take the Field and march to Philadelphia, there they will meet their Fate. Besides that by taking the Field so early, they will lay a Foundation for a sickly Army, thro the whole Campaign. If our General Court had laid their Levies on the Towns last December as I most earnestly instructed them to do, in my Opinion, Howes destruction would have been effected before now.

I am surprized to hear you call for Lottery Ticketts. Dr. Jack-144son, one of the Managers, went from this Place, a long Time ago,4 with a Load of them to Boston.

We have been engaged many Days in preparing a Plan for the sick, and I think the best possible Provision will be made. No Expence will be Spared, and the best Physicians and surgeons will be employed.

We have now Arms and military stores in Abundance. We have Quarter Master and Commissarys stores in Plenty. Blanketts and Cloaths are most wanted, but We have a considerable Quantity of them, and expect more. We have Tents of the best Quality for thirty thousand Men.5 With submission to Providence We shall make it do. And So farewell tyrannical Grandam.6 I am sir &c.