is

do for us. A friend with us will make our company four, besides our servants. We shall either go in carriages directly to Albany, or by water if the river open from New York. Hoping soon for the pleasure of seeing you, I now only add that I am, with the sincerest respect and esteem, sir, etc., B. FRANKLIN. flank seven nine-pounders and one six-pounder; but there were no cannoniers in the fort, and only one hundred and two men fit to do duty; they intend to erect another battery on an eminence called Gravel Hill, which will command vessels coming up the river as soon as they double Cape St. Anthony's Nose. A little above this cape a battery is projected to annoy the enemy's vessels, to be called Fort Montgomery; they intend another battery lower down the river and a little below Cape St. Anthony's Nose. In the Highlands are many convenient spots to construct batteries on, but in order to make them answer the intended purpose, weighty metal should be placed on these batteries and skilful gunners should be engaged to serve the artillery. About 9 o'clock at night, the tide making, we weighed anchor, and came to again about 6 o'clock in the morning, the 6th instant. The river is remarkably deep all the way through the Highlands, and the tide rapid. When we came to an anchor off Constitution Fort we found the depth of water about thirty fathoms. These Highlands present a number of romantic views, the steep hills overshadow the water, and in some places the rocks, should they be rolled down, would fall into the river, several feet from the banks on which they stood. This river seems by nature intended to open a communication between Canada and the Province of New York by water, and, by some great convulsion, a passage has been opened by the waters of the Hudson River through the Highlands. These are certainly a spur of the endless mountains.

6th.-Weighed anchor about seven o'clock in the morning; had a fine breeze; the country more cultivated above the Highlands; passed several mills, all of them overshot; saw two frigates on the stocks at Pokeepsay, building for the service of the United Colonies: saw a great many lime kilns in our run this morning on both sides of the river, the banks of which begin to slope more gradually to the water's edge. We wrote to General Heath from off Constitution Fort, and sent the letter to the commanding officer of the fort, with orders to forward it by express immediately to the General at New York. The purport of the letter was to inform the General of the very defenceless condition of the fort, that measures might be immediately taken to put it in a better posture of defence.

P. S.-The bearer, M. La Jeunesse, has been considered by the Congress as a friend to the American cause, and he is recommended to your protection on his return to Canada.

DCXVI

TO LORD STIRLING I

BRUNSWICK, 27 March, 1776.

MY DEAR LORD:-I received your obliging letter some days since at Philadelphia; but our departure from thence being so uncertain, I could not till now acquaint your lordship when we expected to be at New York. We move but slowly, and I think we shall scarce reach Newark before to-morrow, so that we cannot have the pleasure of seeing you before Friday. Being myself, from long absence, as much a stranger in New York as the other gentlemen, we join in requesting you would be so good as to cause lodgings to be provided for us, and a sloop engaged to carry us to Albany. There are five of us, and we propose staying in New York two nights at least. With great and sincere esteem and respect, I have the honor to be, etc., B. FRANKLIN.

' Brigadier-general in the American army, and stationed at New York, where, for a short time, he had the chief command, after the departure of General Lee.

DCXVII

TO JOSIAH QUINCY

SARATOGA, 15 April, 1776.

DEAR SIR:-I am here on my way to Canada, detained by the state of the lakes, in which the unthawed ice obstructs navigation. I begin to apprehend that I have undertaken a fatigue that at my time of life may prove too much for me; so I sit down to write to a few friends by way of farewell.

I congratulate you on the departure of your late troublesome neighbors. I hope your country will now for some time have rest, and that care will be taken so to fortify Boston, as that no force shall be able again to get footing there. Your very kind letter of November 13th, inclosing Lord Chatham's and Lord Camden's speeches, I duly received. I think no one can be more sensible than I am of the favors of corresponding friends, but I find it impossible to answer as I ought. At present I think you will deem me inexcusable, and therefore I will not attempt an apology. But if you should ever happen to be at the same time oppressed with years and business, you may then extenuate a little for your old friend.

The notes of the speeches taken by your son, whose loss I shall ever deplore with you, are exceedingly valuable, as being by much the best account preserved of that day's debate.

You ask: "When is the Continental Congress by

I Notes of speeches made by Lord Chatham, Lord Camden, and others, in the British House of Lords, January 20, 1775. See Life of Josiah Quincy, Junior, pp. 318, 335.

general consent to be formed into a supreme legislature; alliances, defensive and offensive, formed; our ports opened, and a formidable naval force established at the public charge?" I can only answer, at present, that nothing seems wanting but that 'general consent." The novelty of the thing deters some; the doubt of success, others; the vain hope of reconciliation, many. But our enemies take continually every proper measure to remove these obstacles, and their endeavors are attended with success, since every day furnishes us with new causes of increasing enmity, and new reasons for wishing an eternal separation, so that there is a rapid increase of the formerly small party, who were for an independent government.

Your epigram on Lord Chatham's remark has am

ply repaid me for the song. Accept my thanks for it, and for the charming extract of a lady's letter, contained in your favor of January 22d. I thought, when I sat down, to have written by this opportunity to Dr. Cooper, Mr. Bowdoin, and Dr. Winthrop, but I am interrupted. Be so good as to present my affectionate respects to them, and to your family. Adieu, my dear friend, and believe me ever yours most affectionately, B. FRANKLIN.

DCXVIII

TO PHILIP SCHUYLER

New York, 27 May, 1776.

DEAR GENERAL:-We arrived here safe yesterday evening in your post-chaise, driven by Lewis. I was

unwilling to give so much trouble, and would have borrowed your sulky, and driven myself; but good Mrs. Schuyler insisted on a full compliance with your pleasure, as signified in your letter, and I was obliged to submit, which I was afterwards very glad of, part of the road being very stony and much gullied, where I should probably have overset and broken my own bones, all the skill and dexterity of Lewis being no more than sufficient. Through the influence of your kind recommendation to the innkeepers on the road, we found a great readiness to supply us with a change of horses. Accept our thankful acknowledgments; they are all we can at present make.

We congratulate you on the very valuable prize made at Boston. They threaten us with a mighty force from England and Germany. I trust that before the end of the campaign its inefficacy will be apparent to all the world, our enemies become sick of their projects, and the freedom of America be established on the surest foundation-its own ability to defend it. May God bless, and preserve you, for all our own sakes as well as for that of your dear family! Mr. Carroll joins me in every hearty wish for prosperity and felicity to you and yours. With the highest esteem and respect I am, dear sir, etc.,