We have the honor to be, with great respect and esteem, Gentlemen, your most obedient and very humble servants, B. HARRISON, R. H. LEE, J. WITHERSPOON, W. HOOPER. _P. S._ The American captures of British vessels at sea have not been less numerous, or less valuable, than before Dr Franklin left us. The value of these captures have been estimated at two millions. FOOTNOTES: [24] For the instructions to the Commissioners, and the plan of a treaty, which they were directed to lay before the French Ministry, see _Secret Journals of Congress_, Vol. II. pp. 7, 27, 38. [25] Mr Deane had found Dr Williamson and Mr Hopkins in Paris, and from circumstances, which he does not mention, he suspected them to be in the interest of England. Nothing ever occurred, however, to prove that this suspicion was well founded. On the contrary, Dr Williamson was afterwards a member of Congress, and equally distinguished for his patriotism and ability. [26] For the resolves alluded to in this letter, and also for general instructions to the commissioners, on various important topics, see the _Secret Journals of Congress, on Foreign Affairs_, for Oct. 22, Dec. 23d and 29th, Vol. II. pp. 34, 35, 37. * * * * * ROBERT MORRIS TO THE COMMISSIONERS. Philadelphia, 21st December, 1776. Gentlemen, I am now the only member of Congress in this city, unless Mr Walton, of Georgia, and Mr Clymer, my colleague, still remain, which I am not sure of. I cannot pretend to give you a regular detail of our manifold misfortunes, because my books and papers are all gone into the country, as is my family. But these unfortunate events commenced with the loss of Fort Washington, by the reduction of which, the enemy made about two thousand seven hundred prisoners, and at this critical time, they, by treachery, bribery, or accident, intercepted some despatches from General Washington to Congress, also some of the General's private letters, particularly one to Mr Rutledge, in which he had fully laid open the unfortunate situation he was then involved in, by the short enlistments of our army; for the times of most of them expired on the 1st of December, and the rest on the 1st of January, when the whole army would leave him, as they had undergone great fatigue during the whole of the campaign; had suffered amazingly by sickness and the approach of winter, added to an appearance of much suffering for want of clothes.