Dear Sir:—

It is with great concern that I inform you we have not been able to send off the money for our State yet. Doctor Burke and myself have done everything we could to procure it, knowing what pressing demands you have, and the necessity there is for using dispatch; there was very little money in the Treasury when I got here, and one or the other of us has been almost every day at the Treasury Board. I am in hopes we shall be able to dispatch 300,000 dollars in two or three days, you may depend that nothing on our part will be wanting. The money is chiefly raised in this and the Eastern States by way of the Loan Offices. General Howe after having made a variety of manoeuvres and finding that Gen. Washington would not give up his strong post, went over to Staten Island, and soon after sailed with his Troops towards New York. It is supposed that he intends by way of the No. River to form a junction with Burgoyne if possible. General Washington did not incline to risque a battle on equal terms, nor was Gen. Howe willing to attack our army on the hills, or to march far this way, & leave our Troops behind him. It is out of my power to tell you how many soldiers are in either army, ours is said to be increasing. The Brigades sent after the enemy had frequent skirmishes, tho' nothing of great consequence was done.

We have nothing new from Europe lately. Mr. Lee one of the Embassadors is gone to Madrid. I informed you some time ago, how dear salt was in Maryland and this State, owing to a few persons purchasing it up, and that I suspected endeavours would be made by some of them to engage all that useful article with us. In order that your Excellency might if possible put a stop to such a mischievous practice, should it be attempted, I mention it again for fear the letter may have miscarried. I am with the greatest respect