Doctor Winship went for Boston this morning in a Carriage and was so kind as to take two small Packages which I made up of Articles for Mrs. Adams, Mr. Wibert, Col. Peabody, Yourself and my Daughter.(1) In a Letter-Form he has yr. Loan Office Certificate with the Interest in Bills of Exchange, yr. Rufffles and the Edging, which he is to deliver into yr. Hands or to Mrs. S A Otis. Mrs. Lovell, in opening a small Bag will find a Bundle in brick colored Paper for you. I put up yr. damaged Cambrick and your undamaged silk Handkerchief with yr. injured muslin dos. I could not impose anything more on the Doctors Goodness than what I have done or I would have added something belonging to you with a few Articles for Mr. Cranch. I will omit no good Opportunity of sending the whole.
We have nothing of Decision from the southward that can be depended on; for, tho' Govr. Jefferson writes on the 26th that Cornwallis was retreating as rapidly as he had advanced, yet he mixes some Circumstances that we know are not true. Genl. Green wrote on the 15 that he himself had crossed the Dan without any Loss of Men or Baggage, but that he was not in condition to oppose the Enemy at all the Fords which would that Evening be passable and therefore he should not attempt to do it at any-that the militia were not coming to reinforce him and some were even leaving him-that his own Troops were in fine Spirits though they might be tracked by their bloody Feet. Govr. Jefferson says Cornwallis was retreating towards Hilsborough, and that Genl. Caswell was in his Rear with 4000. I think this probable from knowing Caswell's Influence; but it is a vi[le] toryish Country from Hilsborough to Cape Fear so that the 4000 will not grow. The Enemy are 3,250, but, if actually on the Retreat, the Hessian Brigade will as usual lose mach of its Strength by Desertions.
Mulenberg was within 4 miles of Newport with 4,000 and his advance within 1/4 mile he had two mortars and had picked off several Centinels and taken some Waggons. He thinks he shall be able to give a good account of Arnold. Baron Steuben had left that Quarter, and gone with 500 Continentals and some Rifle Men to strengthen Genl. Green.
Perhaps a more regular acct. will be in the Print Tomorrow.
I am not very well, and have other Letters to scratch.
Doctr. Jones is just in from a Kick up (2) and tells me Col. Bird's Wife of Virginia (Mr. T Willen's Sister) is goaled as a Traiteress in League & Correspondence with Arnold.
Yr. affectly, J L
(1) Concerning Dr. Amos Windship's custody of these packages, Lovell wrote the following letter to Abigail Adams this day.
"Doctr. Winship left this City Today and has been so kind as to take into his Care two small Packages. I could not impose more on his Goodness. I hope they will escape Thieves and all Injury from Wet or Rubbing. I have cautioned and he has promised. You will find at Mrs. Lovell's or Mr. Smith's after the Doctr. reaches Boston, a Package in a very coarse Wrapper. It contains yr. Band Box, your Gauzes, yr. striped Persian and your Gloves, yr. Threads and yr. Tambours Cotton. Mrs. L. will find in a small Bag a few Articles for Mr. Wibert with some for Mr. Gerry. My Daughter's straw Trunks have also a little parcel for Mr. Wibert with something for Col. Peabody. It would have afforded me much Pleasure to have been able to send all the small Articles for my Friend Cranch, Mr. P. B. Adams, Mr. Tuffts & Mr. Wibert. If I do not soon find a Chest Conveyance I shall as the Weather mends the Roads find frequent private Opportunities for small Parcells.
"I am not very well; and it is too late to detail News, and the opportunity of Carriage is not that by which I chuse to say the great Deal I have to say about our Friend in Holland. He is doing well I am persuaded." Adams, Family Correspondence (Butterfield), 4:88.
(2) That is, a noisy get-together or disturbance.