When we first heard at Philadelphia of Clintons having saild to Rhode Island, Mr Gerry and myself joynd with Coll Whipple of New Hampshire & Mr Ellery of Rhode Island in a Letter to Genl Washington and proposed to him the sending Gen Gates or Greene with a suitable number of Brigadiers to take the Command in the Eastern Departmt. [In] his answer which we receivd in this place he tells us he has orderd M Genl Spencer & B Genl Arnold to repair thither who he hopes may be sufficient to head the yeomanry of that Country & repel the Enemy in their attempts to gain possession of that part of the Continent. He [adds] that he will if possible, send some other Brigadiers, and says Gen Wooster is also at hand.
I wrote to you after my Arrival at Philade & inclosd a Resolution of Congress relative to the procuring of cloathing in N E for the Army. In another Letter I gave you a hint which I think of great Importance if the Measure proposd [be] practicable. I hope both these Letters were duly receivd by you. You cannot, my dear Sir, do me a greater Kindness than by writing to me. I suffer much thro want of Intelligence from N E; I pray you therefore let your Letters to me be very frequent.
I am very cordially your friend,
By a late Letter from London written by a Gentn upon whose Intelligence I greatly rely a Treaty is on foot with Russia to furnish Britain with 20 or 30,000 troops. Levies are making with all possible Industry in Germany & in Britain & Ireland from where it is expected that 20,000 will be raisd. It [is] indeed to be supposd that, as usual, a greater Appearance will be made on paper than they will realize. But let us consider that they realizd in America the last year 35,000 and do without doubt . . . . . . . they lose because they are able to do it, we may then set down their actual force in America by May or June next at least 55 and probably 60,000.
We have the pleasure of hearing that a valueable Prize is arrivd at [Boston]—among the rest of her Cargo 10,000 Suits of Cloaths! A most fortunate Prize for us, especially as she is said to be the last of 8 Vessels taken bound to Quebec. However while we are pleasing ourselves with the Acquisition we should remember that the Want of those supplys will be a strong Stimulus to Carleton to make an early & bold push over the Champlain in hopes of furnishing himself at Albany; & increases the Necessity of the Eastern States sending their Troops to Tyconderoga immediately to supply the places of those who will return home, when the time of their Inlistments shall expire. I have good Information from England that a certain Captn Furze who [was] in Boston the last year & gaind the Confidence & recd the Civilities of the People; when he returnd gloried in the Deception & carried Intelligence to the British Ministry, particularly of the Fortifications in & about Boston. Some of the People may remember him. How careful ought we to be lest while we mean only innocent Civility, we expose our Councils & Operations to Spies.
I remain very cordially your friend,
TO MRS. ADAMS.
[MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.]
BALTIMORE IN MARYLAND 26 Decr 1776