I am much obligd to you for your two Letters of the 8th and 14th of this Month,1 which I receivd, together, by the last Post. The Caution given in the first of these Letters was well designd; and had it come to me as early as you had Reason to expect it would, I should have been relievd of a full fortnights Anxiety of Mind. I was indeed greatly “concernd” for the Event of the proposd Conferrence with Lord Howe. It is no Complement when I tell you, that I fully confided in the Understanding and Integrity of the Gentlemen appointed by Congress; but being totally ignorant of the Motives which inducd such a Measure, I was fearful lest we might be br'ot into a Situation of great Delicacy and Embarrassment. I perceive that his Lordship would not converse with you as Members of Congress or a Committee of that Body; from whence I concluded that the Conference did not take its Rise on his part. As I am unacquainted with its Origination and the Powers of the Committee, I must contemplate the whole Affair as a Refinement in Policy beyond my Reach, and content my self with remaining in the Dark, till I shall have the Pleasure of seeing you, when, I trust, the Mystery will be fully explaind to me. Indeed I am not so sollicitous to know the Motives from whence this Conference sprang, or the Manner in which it was brought up, as I am pleasd with its Conclusion. The Sentiments and Language of the Committee, as they are related to me, were becoming the Character they bore. They mannagd with great Dexterity. They maintaind the Dignity of Congress, and in my 43Opinion, the Independence of America stands now on a better footing than it did before. It affords me abundant Satisfaction, that the Minister of the British King, commissiond to require and fondly nourishing the Hopes of receiving the Submission of America, was explicitly and authoritatively assured, that neither the Committee nor that Congress which sent them had Authority to treat in any other Capacity than as Independent States. His Lordship, it seems, “has no Instruction on that Subject”; We must therefore fight it out, and trust in God for Success. I dare assure my self, that the most effectual Care has before this time been taken, for the Continuance and Support of our Armies, not only for the Remainder of the present, but for a future Year. The People will chearfully support their Independence to the utmost. Their Spirits will rise upon their knowing the Result of the late Conference. It has, you may depend upon it, been a Matter of great Expectation. Would it not be attended with a good Effect, if an Account of it was publishd by Authority of Congress? It would, I should think, at least put it out of the Power of disaffected Men (and there are some of this Character even here) to amuse their honest Neighbors with vain hopes of Reconciliation.

I wish that Congress would give the earliest Notice to this State, of what may be further expected to be done here for the Support of the Army. The Season is advancing or rather passing fast. I intended when I sat down to have written you a long Epistle, but I am interrupted: I have a thousand Avocations which require my Attention. Many of them are too trifling to merit your Notice. Adieu, my Friend. I hope to see you soon.

By the Carelessness of an Orderly Sargent to whom it was given, I did not get your Letter, forwarded by Mr. Gerry from Philadelphia, and so have not as yet received any Answer to my last 2 Letters.1 I wish in future, Sir, You would write by the Post, and then I shall not again be disappointed.

I find by a late Resolve of Congress they are determined to 44raise an Army for the War.2 Happy had it been for Us if Congress had not have waited for dear bought Experience to confirm to them the Necessity of this Measure. We should not now look forward to the End of the Year with Anxiety and Concern. To have our Army totally disbanded in the Face of a Numerous Enemy, is a Prospect I cannot contemplate without the most painful Apprehensions. For you may be assured all our Men will go home when the Time of their Enlistment is out. Your Bounty of 20 Dollars may in the Course of the Winter engage them again, but what is to become of our Lines in the mean Time. I have seen enough of Militia to despise them. No Dependance can be had on Militia out of the particular Colony they belong to. For this Reason I am extreme sorry to hear that 5000 Men are coming from the Massachusetts, although commanded by General Lincoln. These Troops I understand are raised only for two Months,3 and therefore at the very Time when they could be of any Service (if Militia could be of Service at any Time) will be discharged. Never before did any Country carry on so expensive a War as America has done this Summer. Calling in a Rabble, called Militia, who would run as soon as they saw an Enemy, and who when collected, at a vast Expence, would not stay half their Time, but desert home by hundreds, or get Certificates from Rascals of Surgeons that should carry them home under Pretence of Sickness, is a Peice of Policy which would have been fallen on only by Americans.

I am much afraid that notwithstanding the high Bounty that has been offered, Congress will find it an extremely difficult Matter to inlist the Army they have voted. The little Care that has been taken of Many of the Sick, the uncommon Hardships which the Men have suffered, being in Want of every Thing but Flour and Beef, joined to the frightful Stories which the Runaway Militia will circulate in the Country, will give such an Idea of a Camp Life, that few will chuse to engage in it. But this Difficulty may be got over, while a greater one remains, and that is the Prevention of Scoundrels getting Commissions. If there should be as many despicable Animals with Command next Year as this, your Army may be numerous but it never will be formidable. One Way of remedying this, would be to increase the Pay of the Officers. Few Men are such Patriots, or so fond of Glory, As to risque their Lives while they are at the same Time beggaring their Families. I most heartily wish there was a little 45more of Roman Fire in New England. And that young Gentlemen in Boston and everywhere else would prefer engaging in the best of all Causes, that of defending their Country, to raising dishonorable Fortunes by privateering. The importance of having good Officers is such that too much Care cannot be taken in the Appointment. And without great Care is taken, we shall continue to be despiz'd and beaten by the Enemy. I wish some Measures might be fallen Upon to introduce young Fellows of Character and Spirit, who are without Families, into the Army. Many of our best Officers at present, have Wives and Children at home, and therefore feel that Attachment for home which makes a Camp Life peculiarly irksome. I have not the most distant View to myself in this Hint, being determined to leave the Army at the End of this Campaign.

The new Articles of War are publishing throughout the Camp, and by General Orders are to govern the Army after next Monday. The Disorders of the Army, composed of Troops from nine different Colonies, keeps me perpetually employ'd. However I would not repine at the constant Business of my Department, could I prevail on Courts Martial to show that Severity in their Punishments which is essentialy necessary for the Good of the Service. There is such a Timidity and Backwardness in Officers to inflict capital Punishments, that it is as difficult to get a Villain hang'd in the Camp, as it used to be in our County of Suffolk. I have argued and beseech'd in Vain, and shall soon leave it to the Rhetorick of a more eloquent Advocate to effect what I have faild in. If we could but make our Punishments severe, and keep the Government firm and steady, the Army would become orderly, and disciplind. Next Campaign will produce, I hope, a thorough Reform in every Department. If we expect to be successful next Year, we must have a very different Army from that of this. I am Dr. Sir with great Esteem very truly Yours