I have the Pleasure of informing you, that the Continental Troops under the Command of Major Genl Lee, have tryumphd over the British Forces in South Carolina, the particulars of which you have in the inclosd Paper. I trust this Blow has given so great a Check to the Power of the Enemy as to prevent their doing us any material Injury in that part of America. We look towards New York, and earnestly Pray that God would order a decisive Event in our Favor there--you must have earlier Intelligence from time to time of the Circumstances of our Affairs in that Department than you can have from this place. Yesterday Circular Letters with inclosd Declarations from Lord Howe to the late Governors of New Jersey & the Colonies Southward as far as Georgia, were laid before Congress. As they were orderd to be publishd, I have the Opportunity of transmitting a printed Copy of them for your Amusement. There were also Letters from London to private Persons probably procured if not dictated by the British Ministry and written with a manifest Intention to form a Party here in favor of his Lordship, to induce People to believe that he is a cordial Friend to America, and that he is empowerd to offer Terms of Accommodation acceptable to the Colonists. But it is now too late for that insidious Court to play such Tricks with any reasonable Hopes of Success. The American States have declard themselves no longer the Subjects of the British King. But if they had remaind such, the Budget is now opened to the World, and the People see with their own Eyes, with how much MAGNANIMITY the Prince offers them Pardon on Condition that they will submit to be his abject Slaves. I was informd in a Letter I recd from London last March, that this very Nobleman declind to accept the Commission until he should be vested with Authority to offer to us honorable Terms-- that he made a Merit of it. And yet he now comes with Terms disgraceful to human Nature. If he is a good kind of Man, as these Letters import, I am mistaken if he is not weak & ductile. He has always voted, as I am told in favor of the Kings Measures in Parliament, and at the same time professd himself a Friend to the Liberties of America! He seems to me, either never to have had any good Principles at all, or not to have had Presence of Mind openly and uniformly to avow them. I have an Anecdote which I will communicate to you at another Time--at present I have not Leisure. Pray let me have a Letter from you soon. You cannot do me a greater Act of Kindness or more substantially serve me than by writing often. I am affectionately, Your Friend, Will you be kind enough to let my Family know that I am in health. I wish you wd present my respectful Compts to my very venerable Friend D C----y.1 I hope the worthy old Gentleman is in Health & Spirits. ________________________________________________________________ 1Cf., page 155. TO BENJAMIN KENT. [MS., Samuel Adams Papers, Lenox Library.] PHILAD July 27 1776