which is of the greatest Importance to our Affairs, let us promote this Winter a strict Scrutiny into the Causes of this unfortunate Campaign.  Our Affairs are far from wearing a desperate Aspect.  Our Successes at the Northward must give us Reputation abroad; and Reputation is a Kind of real Strength.  That our Men are brave, Brandy Wine & German-town can witness.  Let us then give them officers worthy of them, and Heaven will prosper our righteous Cause.  There is indeed one thing which to me appears threatning.  It is absolutely necessary that the Commissarial Departmt should be restored to a better State, or the Army will soon suffer.  This my dear Sir requires your speedy Return to Congress.  Did the Army suffer or was it in Danger of suffering before the Alterations in that Department the last Summer, why then should we not put it upon its old Footing & prevail upon the former Commissary, who is the fittest Man I know, to act again in that office.1 I have been favord with a Letter from Dr Lee since his Return to Paris from Berlin.2 The Powers of Europe I perceive, are too timid, or too intent upon enslaving others, to espouse the Cause of Liberty in America.  No Matter, my Friend.  We shall not be obligd to them; and they will hereafter be more sensible of our Importance when they find that we have struggled thro our Difficulties without them.  We shall do greater Honor to our Selves and our Cause; and those Liberties for which we pay so dear a Price will be more justly & more highly valued by our selves and our Posterity.  France, in my Opinion, misses the Sight of her true Interest in delaying to take a decisive Part.  She runs a great Risque; for if Britain should be so politick as to recognize our Independence which she sees us determind at all Hazzards to maintain, and should propose to us a Treaty of Alliance offensive & defensive, would not the flattering Expectations of France be cut off?  I mention this, not because I expect or wish for it.  But should such Recognition & such Proposals be made the next Spring, which may happen, would France have any Reason to fault America for acceeding to it?  We are independent.  The Nations of Europe may acknowledge it when they dare to do it.  We have Fortitude enough to maintain it.  This is our Business.  The Nations may reap honest Advantages from it.  If they have not Wisdom enough to discern in Season, they will regret their own Blindness hereafter.  We will dispose our Favors as we please.

The Letter from Congress to the Assembly of this State, inclosing the Articles of Confederation, came to Hand the Day of its Adjournment, which is to a shorter Day than was intended that the weighty Matters recommended might be considerd with all possible Speed.  The Assembly will meet on the 7th Instant.  It will be difficult for the Members to prevail upon themselves to make a new Law after having been necessitated so late to repeal one framed for the same purpose.  A Comt however I am inclind to think will be appointed to meet those of the other States mentiond in the recommendation.  The Articles of Confederation seem to be well liked.  I suppose you will have the Sense of this Assembly soon.