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pose. I believe most nations have agreed in considering and punishing the contamination of money as the highest crimes against society are considered and punished. Cannot the Assembly be prevailed on to amend the law on this point, and by means of light horse to secure the arrest, and punishment of these offenders, without giving them the opportunity to escape that now they flatter themselves with. I hope Sir you will pardon my saying so much on this subject, but my anxiety arises from the clear conviction I have that the loss of our liberty seems at present more likely to be derived from the state of our currency than from all other causes. Congress is fully sensible of this, and I do suppose, that in order to detect forgeries and reduce the quantity, it will be requested of all the States to call into the Loan Offices the Continental emissions previous to April last, by compulsory laws. This is a bold stroke in finance, but necessity, and experience in the Eastern States, sanctify the measure. The next cause that threatens our infant republics, is, division among ourselves. Three States yet refuse to Confederate, Maryland, Delaware and Jersey-Indeed N. York can scarcely be said to have confederated since that State has signed with this condition, to be bound in case all the States confederate. Maryland, I fear will never come in whilst our claim remains so unlimited to the westward. They affect to fear our power, and they are certainly envious of the wealth they suppose may flow from this source. It is not improbable that the secret machinations of our enemies are at the bottom of this. Some of the most heated opponents of our claim, say that if we would fix a reasonable limit, and agree that a new State should be established to the Westward of those limits, they would be content to confederate. What do you think Sir of our proposing the Ohio as a boundary to the Westward, and agreeing that the Country beyond should be settled for common good and make a new State on condition that compensation reasonable should be made us for Dunmore's, Colo. Christian's, and our late expeditions. This might perhaps be agreed to and be taken well as coming freely from us. When we consider the difficulty of republican laws and government

piercing so far from the seat of Government, and the benefit in point of economy from having a frontier State to guard us from Indian wars and the expence they create, I cannot help thinking that upon the whole this would be our wisest course. We should then probably unmask those who found their objection to Confederacy upon the extensiveness of our claim, and by having that bond of union fixt foreclose forever the hopes of our enemies. I have a prospect of paying my respects to you and the Assembly between this and Christmass, if the distracted state of my plantation affairs can soon be put in reasonable order. I am, with sincere affection and esteem, dear Sir your most obedient humble servant

RICHARD HENRY LEE.

Belleview, Feb'y 10, 1779.

MY DEAR SIR,—I am here in my way to Congress, and here I have seen the Tyrants speech to his corrupt Parliament last Nov'r. It breathes war altogether, and renders it of the last importance to be prepared with a strong Army to defeat his wicked purposes. Dr. Lee writes me in Nov'r that Gen. Howe is to return to the command here, and he says "Molochs principle prevails with the absolute ruler of these measures, in which if he cannot hope for victory he expects revenge." Mr. Wm. Lee writes from Frankfort, Oct'r 15. "At all events I am determined to attend to the appointment of Virginia-My brother and myself have already done a good deal and I am now endeavoring to borrow money to complete their orders, and you may assure the State that I will do every thing that is possible to comply with all their orders." The Emperor and the King of Prussia have gone into winter quarters without having fought a battle. The former winters in Bohemia the latter in Selesia and Saxony. The effort seems to have been to winter the Prussians in Bohemia but this has been prevented notwithstanding the very great Military Talents of the King of Prussia and his brother. Holland appears much more inclined to our side than that of England

It is probable the latter will fail of getting monied assistance from the Dutch.

Mons'r Penet is now on his way to look at our Cannon works near Richmond. This Gentleman, combined, I understand, with persons of much ability, have imported and propose to import more than 200 Workmen the most able in the art of making small Arms complete, and casting all kinds of Cannon. They propose doing every thing at their own expence, and to supply on contract any number of completely fitted Muskets or Cannon at a fixed price. They want only a fit place to sit down on. Your wisdom and patriotism will discover in a moment how extensively useful it will be to our Country to have these people fixed with us.. A just estimate being put on our works and their Arms, we may thus be repaid in a most useful manner the expence we have already incurred, which will otherways, I fear, be loss altogether. To be independent of external aid, for these primary articles of defence, is surely a most capital object. I really think that it would require at least 100,000 stand of good arms and more than an hundred pieces of Cannon to put our State in a proper posture of defence. If you view this matter in the light that I do, Mr. Penet will, I am sure, meet with all possible encouragement.

I have the honor to be with great esteem dear Sir your most affectionate and obedient servant

RICHARD HENRY LEE. P. S.-The Deaneans I find are aiming at an occlusion of the .Press, except for the admission of their libels. Monopolised Press and Monopolised Commerce will never do for a free Country.

Phila., Feb'y 28, 1779.

MY DEAR SIR,-I arrived here on the 19th, thro the worst roads that I ever travelled over. I find the business of faction here pretty much at an end by the thorough exposure of its au

thor Mr. Silas Deane, who, if I am rightly informed, regrets extremely his publication of December the 5th. But be this as it may, he has certainly gained nothing by it here in the public opinion. I inform you with pleasure Sir, that the King of France . has formally agreed to rescind the 11th and 12th articles of the treaty of Commerce, so that now, the only unequal parts being removed, it rests upon the liberal ground of fair equality in every part. We are certainly indebted to Dr. Lee's attention for this beneficial alteration, for which the honest voice of posterity will indubitably thank him, when the poison of wicked faction shall cease to operate. The King of the two Sicilys has opened his ports to the Vessels of the United States, which is a good omen of Spanish attachment to our cause. Indeed we have abundant reason to believe that Great Britain will not get assistance from any power in Europe to carry on the war against us, and already our good Ally has made great havoc among the Privateers and with the Trade of our enemies. We hear that 7000 British Seamen are now prisoners in the jails of old france. Notwithstanding these favorable appearances it certainly behooves us to get a strong army in the field, as the enemy have yet here a strength sufficient to do much mischief if they are not properly opposed. From the best accounts that I can collect, it appears that they have not less than 11,000 men at New York and Rhode Island. Yesterday accounts from Jersey told us the enemy had landed at Elizabeth Town and had burned Gov. Livingstone's house, and were advancing into the country. Our army was preparing to resist them, and if they do not quickly return, I hope we shall give a good account of them. The enemy have published some curious letters of Mr. Braxton's which they have intercepted, I am informed they will be republished here, and when they are I will send you the paper.

I am with much esteem dear Sir affectionately yours,

RICHARD HENRY LEE.

P. S.-The enemies attempt upon Gen. Maxwell in the Jersies has turned out to our honor and their disgrace-Instead of

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surprising Gen. Maxwell, they were themselves surprised by his being prepared. The enemy were forced to retire with loss and disgrace, and without burning Gov. Livingstons house.

March 2.

R. H. LEE.

THE NAVY OF VIRGINIA.

CAPTAIN IVY.

MR. EDITOR,-The readers of your " Historical Register" must have felt greatly indebted to your correspondent, Commodore Barron, for his interesting reminiscences of the Navy of Virginia. Though its exploits may not have been performed on the wide ocean, or been so brilliant as to engage much of the attention of the general Historian, yet were they of signal service to our military operations, in our struggle for independence, and well worthy of commemoration. Its deeds were often deeds of daring, though confined within the shores of the Chesapeake, and contributed in various ways to the success of the military movements by land. It was manned by the same stout hearts, inspired with a love of Liberty, which composed and invigorated our armies, and hence could not have failed honorably to acquit itself whenever any requisition was made upon it. Fortunately we are in possession of much of its records, in the Navy Journal, in the First Auditor's office, from which we learn that it was neither idle, nor inefficient; and Mr. Cooper might have honored it with a more extended notice than he has done. I do not propose, however, to supply his deficiency at present, but only to give you a brief notice of one of our revolutionary officers whose memory, I think, deserves a short record in your pages.

Capt. William Ivy was born on the estate which he afterwards inherited from his father, called "Sycamore View," and situated on Tanner's Creek, in the county of Norfolk. This estate, or a

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