I have not receiv'd a line from you since my arrival at Philadelphia which was on the 24th Octor last, since which the Fortunes of our army have been various, accounts of which have undoubtedly long ago reached you. The Sourse of all the evils that have happen'd us is the short inlistments, it was owing to this cause that the Enemy made such advances in New Jersey. They being well inform'd of the scituation of our army took the advantage when the time of Inlistments expir'd & oblig'd Genl. Washington with a handful of men to retreat over the Delaware they keeping possession of Trenton which is about 30 Miles from Philad. The Enemy also sent a Party of about 1000 Men to Burlington about 17 miles from Philad. & had possess'd themselves of all the Towns & Villages in Jersey from Hackinsack to Burlington committing the most Horrid raviges wherever they passed. All this did not move the People to turn out to stop these destroyers of their Country. In short it was generally thot that they wod get possession of Philad., many in that City being ready to receive & it's probable invited them. In this Scituation it was thot most prudent for Congress to adjourn to this place where I arriv'd the 17th Decr. Since I left Philad. several Regiments from Ticonderoga & from the Eastern side of Hudsons River have join'd Genl. Washington, a considerable number of Melitia & Southern troops have also join'd him & on the night of the 25th he cross'd the Delaware above Trenton & surpris'd a Body of Hessians in that town most of which he Brot off as You'll see by his Letter which I suppose will be in all the Papers before this reaches you. Since this enterprise he has had several skirmishes in which he has been Victorious. By the last accots. he was on his march from Princetown to Brunswick & if he does not suffer the Enemy to out General him I am in no doubt he will utterly destroy Howe's army. This will be, in that case, a glorious begining for the Year 1777. However the Fortune of war is uncertain, Victory may again change sides, be that as it may, I am always prepared for the worst, being ready at the same time to meet the smiles of fortune.

   You have no doubt heard of Genl. Lee's being taken. By the Proceedings of the Enemy with him he is to be try'd as a deserter having in time past held a Commission under the Tyrant of Britain. Congress have directed that six Field officers in our Possession shod be offered in exchange for him, & have inform'd Howe that whatever treatment Lee receives shall be exactly observ'd towards them. If Poor Lee shod be Hang'd, the Law of Retaliation will most assuredly be executed in turn, they are accordingly order'd to be closly confined. Every accot. from abroad are as favourable as we could wish. The British Tyrant is using every art with all the Courts in Europe to gain them to his Interest but his schemes have hitherto been unsuccessful especially with the only two that can be serviceable to us viz France & Spain. Among other things his tools have Confidently asserted at the Court of France that an accommodation was made between him & America which our Commissioners at that Court have possitive orders to contradict. I can't conceive the Reason that I have no Letters. The last I Receiv'd was under the 25th or 27th Novr. Has every body in New Hamr forgot me or what can it mean I am a greater stranger to whats doing there than I am to whats doing in Georgia. I shod impute it to some obstruction in the Post office were it not that the Gentn from Massachusetts have letters every week. I suppose You are now retir'd to winter Quarters; pray let me know how your Plantation goes on; what do you think of a few Hessions next summer as settlers? Those that have been taken are exceedingly Pleas'd with Captivity & I believe wod Gladly settle in the Country. I suppose we have now from 1500 to 2000 of them & hope by the time this reaches you, You'll hear of as many British, in the same scituation. If Mr. Howe meets with the treatment that I expect he will in New Jersey He'll be oblig'd to call his Troops from Rhoad Island. I have wrote a long letter but what it contains I don't know nor have I time to look over it, it being almost one o'clock & the Express who carries it goes off early in the Morn, must therefore wish a good night & Happy New Year. Your very affect Bror,

   W W

   [P.S.] My Best Regards to Your Circle.