Richard Henry Lee Letters for the years 1775 thru 1789

Philadelphia, PA - 1 August 1775

We understand here, that batteries may be constructed at the entrance of the Bay of Boston, so as to prevent the egress and regress of any ships what ever.

Philadelphia, PA - 26 September 1775

We have no late accounts from England ; but from what we have had that can be relied on, it seems almost certain, that our enemies there must shortly meet with a total overthrow.

Philadelphia, PA - 22 October 1775

Great bodies, you know, move slow, and it is as sure, that the most palpable and glorious events may be delayed, and the best causes finally lost by slow, timid, and indecisive counsels.

Philadelphia, PA - 6 December 1775

The proclamation, there alluded to, we have seen. It proclaims martial law through Virginia, and orders freedom to all the slaves, calling their masters rebels, &c.

Philadelphia, PA - 13 June 1776

I am informed that a certain Mr. Eustace, now in New York, but some time ago with Lord Dunmore, is acquainted with a practice that prevailed, of taking letters out of the post-office in Virginia, and carrying them to Dunmore for his perusal

Philadelphia, PA - 10 April 1777

My wishes are, Sir, and I think they correspond with the true interests of America, that you should quickly be possessed of a strong army ; that your powers might be such as to gratify your wishes of crushing our enemies

York, NY - 20 October 1777

General Conway has not lately been mentioned in Congress, nor has there been much talk of an Adjutant-General, since it is not certainly known whether Colonel Pickering will accept his new appointment.

York, NY - 20 October 1777

was a good deal surprised to find you had been told that Congress had appointed General Conway a Major-General. No such appointment has been made ; nor do I believe it will

York, NY - 16 May 1778

Give me leave, dear Sir, to congratulate you on the happy event of our treaty with France being so effectually concluded. Congress have ratified it on their part

Philadelphia, PA - 5 October 1778

description

Chantilly, VA - 12 June 1781

Virginia, it is true, has nine times the number of men that now threaten its ruin; but they are dispersed, unarmed, without system, government, and very little probability at present of the Legislature assembling.

Epping Forest, VA - 17 September 1781

I assure you. Sir, the Commissaries' and Quartermasters' departments in the State, so far as I have observed them, have in every thing been the reverse of right

Chantilly, VA - 12 October 1781

By this time, I hope his Lordship begins seriously to repent the Quixote part that he has been acting in America. Surely the rage of despotism must be cooled by the total defeat of those great hopes, which have been entertained of southern conquest

Chantilly, VA - 22 July 1784

The very great respect that I shall ever pay to your recommendations, would have been very sufficient to have procured my exertions in favor of Mr. Paine, independent of his great public merits in our revolution.

New York, NY - 3 May 1785

We are amused here with an account, that does not indeed come officially to us, hut however in such a way as to merit attention.

New York, NY - 15 July 1787

I have the honor to inclose to you an ordinance, that we have just passed in Congress, for establishing a temporary Government beyond the Ohio, as a measure preparatory to the sale of the lands.

New York, NY - 11 October 1787

We have the pleasure to see the first act of Congress for selling federal lands, north-west of the Ohio, becoming productive very fast, a large sum of public securities being already paid in upon the first sales

New York, NY - 6 April 1789

On this day we went to business ; and, to my very great satisfaction, I heard a unanimous vote of the electing States in favor of calling you to the honorable office of President of the United States.