I beg leave to refer to my last under the 18th May by Messenger Sharp.

   The Committee to whom were referred the Letters from President Lowndes & your Self having made their Report Congress there upon formed an Act on the 29th Inst. a Copy of which you will receive within the present Inclosure for your information and government. (1)

   General Clinton makes great shew of an intention to evacuate the City of Philadelphia & for aught I know he may be Sincere, but he has been so very long abou't the business, as to Strengthen the jealousies which I had entertained from his earliest pretence. If there be an absolute necessity for his going to New York, any part of the West Indies, Ireland or England, his dilatoriness is inconsistent with the necessity.

   If he can so far alarm all the Tory Citizens as to get rid of them either by sending them to England & by suffering Thousands to fly to Camp & into different parts of this State he will have fewer mouths to feed, the whole City will become a Garrison governed by articles of War & his general orders-he will be less exposed to danger from Spies, & less harrassed by Complaints & applications from Cits, in plain Coats & broad Hats. If he can by all his parade of departure, prevail upon us to believe him so far as to relax our endeavours to reinforce Valley forge until the reinforcements which he expects shall arrive, his Stratagem will have succeeded. 'Tis certain that within a few days past he has been hard at work on the Redoubts-no manifest proof of a design to quit them. All therefore is conjecture-it is most consistent with Safety to believe he is attempting to deceive & to act accordingly. If he goes, he will at least give us