the road on their way home and Abel James and myself stayed to settle the remains of the business, and to follow them in the morning. In the afternoon there came a man from Philadelphia on his way to C to view lands, but fail'd heart on account of the roughness of the roads. There also came Jn° Dougherty, one of Palmer's Survey, living in Trenton-he was a genteel young man and agreed to accompany us in the morning.

"July 11.-This morning we packed up our materials and started. The waiter who had brought my creature from Stroud's was forbid to put a saddle on her, but nevertheless rode her and hurt her back again, and I was obliged to carry a heavy load. On the way we overtook the hands on the road, just before which we found a large bear they had killed and skined. I tried to carry the skin on my mare, but in vain-Dougherty took it along to Consawleys where we stopped and eat dinner. Abel James stopped at William Smith's and remained all night and I proceeded on to Stroud's in company with Jn° Dougherty. It rained in the Evening and we were very wet.

"July 12.-This morning after breakfast Abel James came and we were employed in settling with the hands all the forenoon. I was sorry to find them so adicted to liquor; some that had conducted soberly while at work when they came here drank so that we could not settle with them.

"July 13.-This forenoon I was employed in settling with Colonel Stroud and taking a list of the articles I had had of him for Sheholy,-and we agreed with Jn° Hilborn to undertake to finish the creek and cut the road when he could be supplied with provisions and utensils from Philadelphia. I paid him £9 & took his receipt to enable him to employ good sober industrious hands (as he is acquainted with the people) and I expect by that means the work may be done much cheaper and better than by employing the common labourers in these parts, who are generally a pack of drunken lazy gluttons.

"It is my best advice to James and Drinker to put all their business of improving Sheholy under the care of John

Hilborn, if he will undertake it, as I apprehend he is the most suitable person they can find, and a man in whom they may place confidence.

"After finishing this business we started about half-after twelve, and my mare not being fit to ride, I rode Abel James's and he drove her in the sulky. Colonel Stroud accompanied us about seven miles. It was a very hilly road to the Wind Gap, yet there were many good farms and fine crops of wheat which they were about beginning to cut. The road through the Gap is much the best pass I have seen across the Blue Mountain. We stopped and fed at Heller's Tavern, from thence through a barren country commanding a fine distant prospect of farms on the surrounding hills. Abel James depended on me for a guide and being a stranger to the road I went to Easton instead of Nazareth, which mistake we did not discover until too late. I intending to pass through the town to the tavern on the Dry Lands we were espyed by Lawyer Sitgreaves, who pressed our stay and accordingly we stopped and put up at the Tavern which is a much better house than I expected to find there. I saw that the town was much improved since I first knew it, which is not many years ago. Lawyer Sitgreaves spent the evening with us and gave an entertaining historical account of the characters of Northampton County administration of Justice, the amount of which may be sumd up in saying as yet they are too much like Bucks was in time of the war.

"July 14.-About sun rise we started through Jn° Penn's Manor of Dry Lands for Bethlehem, where we breakfasted. I took a walk through the town and contrary to their rules went to the Single Sisters' House without first applying to their Church officers. At the door I asked for the Governess of the Nunnery, and said that I wished to buy a silk purse; she came and knowing my face invited me in very sociably. She is a genteel woman of great address and good sense. I purchased several little articles of them.

"We were detained upon business at Bethlehem five hours. They were about half done with their harvest, and

had a large crop of excellent wheat. We crossed the Ferry (Lehigh was the lowest I ever saw it)—and passing through Saucon saw abundance of fine wheat, and from every appearance in all parts of my travels this is the largest and best harvest ever cut in Pennsylvania. We fed our horses and eat dinner at Valentine Opp's and from thence to George Shaw's, where we fed again and reached William Bennet's in the evening, where we staid all night. I went home in the morning, having been absent one month and three days."

LETTERS OF RICHARD HENRY LEE TO WILLIAM WHIPPLE, 1778.

"DEAR SIR.

"PHILADELPHIA, Octr. 31, 1778.

"On principles of old acquaintance and much regard, I should have been well pleased to have had the pleasure of seeing you here before my return to Virginia. It will give me much satisfaction in my retirement to hear from you when your leisure will permit. The long evenings that are coming on will present you with opportunities of informing a friend how things proceed here. Let me know how my friend Mr. Langdon does. As I hope you will be closely employed this winter in forming plans for the increase and regulation of our Navy, it will make me happy to hear that you are proceeding well, and harmoniously in that line. My direction is at Chantilly, to the care of the Post Master at Leeds Town in Westmoreland County Virginia.

"I thank you sincerely for your obliging favor of 8th instant which I received a few days past. Nothing can be more pleasing to me in my retirement than to hear from my friends, and the pleasure will be increased when they inform me that the Vessel of State is well steered and likely to be conveyed safely and happily in port. My clear opinion is, that this good work must be chiefly done by the Eastern Pilots.

They first taught us to dread the rock of despotism, and I rest with confidence on their skill in the future operations. I venerate Liberty Hall, and if I could envy its present inhabitants anything it would be the sensible sociable evenings they pass there. I have not yet been able to quit the entertainment of my prattling fireside; when I have heard every little story and settled all points, I shall pay a visit to Williamsburg where our Assembly is now sitting. Mrs. Lee remembers her friends from the East with great respect, and returns you thanks for the kind interest you are pleased to take in her.

"Before this reaches you, I hope your labors in the Hall will have put the finishing hand to our important business of finance. If our money matters were once in a good way, we should have the consent of our wise and cautious friend Mr. Sherman to the pushing forward with zeal the Navy of the United States-an object in my opinion of great mag

nitude. I may be mistaken but I have thought our sensible friend rather too cautious upon this head. A well managed force at sea would not only make us very respectable, but presently repay its cost with interest. We shall surely err by reasoning from what has happened to what will happen, because we have till now singly opposed our feeble force on the sea to the overgrown power of Great Brittain. But now, our Marine force, under the supporting wing of our great and good Ally will thrive I hope, and grow strong upon the spoils of our common foe. I wish the Marine Committee may stoutly contend against all opposition and vigorously increase the Navy, In favor of this system we may say that the wealth and glory of many States have been obtained by their Fleets, but none have immediately lost their liberty thereby. Let the man be produced who can truly say as much of Standing Armies. I left my worthy Colleague of the Marine Committee well disposed to relieve us this Winter from the depredations of Gutridge's fleet of Pirates, which infest the Coast extremely from New York to Cape Fear. They not only injure our Commerce greatly in these middle States, but they prevent in great measure the water communication between us and our Eastern friends. This fleet consists of one brig of 16 guns, a schooner of the same force, a sloop of 12 guns, and the best of little strength. Whilst your Northern Seas are too tempestuous for cruising, this Southern Coast supplied with such convenient Harbors, may be visited by the Continental Frigates making Chesapeak Bay their place of Rendezvous, to the extirpation of these Sea Banditti that disturb us so much at present. A stroke of this sort would do credit to our Committee, and serve the common cause. If the Frigates came 3 or 4 together, they would be ready for any small British force that might accompany the Gutridges. The fortifications of Portsmouth, Hampton and York, will afford them a sure asylum against any superior force.

"Remember me with affection to the Society at Liberty Hall, to my friends of Connecticut, R. Island, Jersey, Pensylv'a and Delaware. I fancy this is as far as I can safely go, unless I were to admit the good old President.

"I sincerely wish you happy.

"HON. GENERAL WHIPPLE,

"Member of Congress,

"Philadelphia."

"RICHARD HENRY LEE.