Letters of Delegates to Congress: Volume 17
Theodorick Bland to Richard Henry Lee
Dr. Sr.
Philadelphia
March 5th 1781
We have been for some days past in the most impatient expectation of hearing that the Virtue and ardor of our Countrymen had put a stop to the Progress of Cornwallis, and a period to his handfull of men with which that adventurous Knight Errand had dared to traverse the Southern States, and (as if bidding defiance to our Patriotism and Courage) has with three thousand troops thrown down the Gauntlet to forty thousand at least, who are nearer to him than he is to any support. Good God! Shall it be said that this man has dared to Venture near three Hundred miles from the Sea Coast and above two Hundred from any of his Posts and shall be permitted again to return! I cannot believe it. It is said we want Arms-Has not every Peasant in Virginia & North Carolina a Gun? with what weapons were the Battles of Bunkers Hill, Bennington and Kings mountain fought. But I will not dwell on a Subject which affords so much Chagrin. I will suppose that the Spirit of America has again roused and that Saratoga is revived at the Saura Town.(1) I have been unwearied in my applications for a Maritime force from Rhode Island and should in my last have informed you that I had at last obtained it through the French Ministery-but was afraid to trust it to paper as it was so profound a secret that no one in Philadelphia except him & myself knew it was saild untill we had reason to expect it had arrived. Altho it had not all the desired effect it has at least been serviceable in transporting about eleven Hundred stand of Arms, some considerable Qy of Cloathing, Medcines & military stores, which were intended for Virginia, but taken, retaken and Carried into Rhode Island-which was done at the request of the delegates.(2) I can also assure you as a truth to be depended on that on their return to Rhode Island the French Squadron has taken the British Ship of War the Romulus-two large Privateers & eight other Vessels, which with five hundred Prisoners are safely arrived in Rhode Island-and before this arrives you will undoubtedly (without a sinister accident) be reinforced by 1000 Chosen Regular troops under the Command of the Marquis de lafayette. A British ship of the line which was missing in the late Storm is returned to Gardners Bay-which puts the two fleets on an equal footing & I suppose in the Judgement of the French Commr. renderd it necessary to recall their Ships from our Bay.
The Confederation was Signed and completely ratified on Thursday last, and was accompanied with every demonstration of Joy by all ranks of People in this Place. I thought I had acknowledged the Rect. of yrs. enclosing Col. Masons Sentiments.(3) I have little doubt of the Grants being accepted by Congress on the terms mentiond in the act of Cession which I see nearly corresponds with those in that Paper. I believe the Covert manoeuvres of the land Jobbing Companies are so well known, and so fully discoverd, that few of their abettors will be hardy enough to oppose it in its fullest latitude. Congress seems at this time more Unanimous, and less torn by factions than (from the best Information I can obtain from the oldest Members) it has ever been since its first meeting. I am clearly of opinion if the Intelligence you give of the hostility of the British against the Danish Ships be true; that the next Spring must unfold the designs of the Armd neutrality [to] their fullest extent and that Britain's Sun of Glory will set in the ocean never to rise again. We have a report-which comes from the Havannah-Martinique, & Hispaniola to Boston in short Passages that D'Estaing has taken six of Admiral Hoods Squadron of the line & three frigates & forty five of his Convoy for the West Indies. This is all the news at pr[esent] Current. You will be pleased to offer my respects to your Brother Arthur, from whom I have in vain expected a letter for some time past. I am happy to hear he is well. We are informd that the assembly has voted three Pounds Virginia Currency per day for the delegates. If so, I can assure you it will bring such as have families, and live in any manner suitable to their station, with the Utmost oeconomy, above one Hundred Pounds per Annum in debt, exclusive of traveling home once a year which is a recess from business. I think not unreasonable. I hope by the next Post to have my acct. of expenditures made out, ready to be laid before the assembly. Adieu & believe me to be Dr. Sr., Yr. most obet. Set.
Theok Bland
RC (ViU: Lee Family Papers).
(1) Sauratown, Upper Sauratown, and Lower Sauratown were Indian trading posts on the Dan River in North Carolina north of Guilford Courthouse.
(2) See Virginia Delegates to Samuel Nightingale, Jr., December 30, 1780.
(3) "Col. Masons Sentiments" have not been identified.
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