Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia, to General [Charles] Lee, 1776 May 18.

Informing him that Congress has "complied with your desires as far as they can for the present, and I hope hereafter we may be enabled to do more - I have no doubt but the Convention of Virginia will exert themselves to have the additional Rifle Batallion raised with all possible dispatch;" reporting that "old Wooster has abominably misconducted himself in Canada - Our affairs in that Country begin to wear an unfavorable aspect, however, we expect the arrival of better Officers, and better Troops, will put things there on a more respectable footing - Not to have got Quebec is some inconvenience, but if we can secure the pass at Falls of Richlieu & Trois Riviere we shall do well enough, and for this purpose, as well as securing the affections of the Canadians, every proper step will be taken - The impossibility of crossing the lakes sooner with Troops and good Officers has been the cause of our ill success thus far - The Committee of Congress is arrived at Montreal;" adding, in a postscript, that the Committee "are of opinion that if we could remit them about £20,000 Specie, our affairs in that Country might soon be set right - I wish we had the hard Cash you extracted from the Tory Ship in Virginia, as we are so greatly pressed for this Article that it remains doubtful whether this alone will not comp[el] our Army to evacuate Canada.