The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

PARTII.] THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 387
taken to recover the box.* I am happy to find, by a
letter from General Schuyler, that the Indian nations,
which had discovered an unfriendly disposition, seem
to be well affected, and to afford grounds to hope for
a friendly alliance between us. If this can be effected,
or if we can only keep them from falling upon our
frontiers, it would be a fortunate circumstance; as we
may not only then employ nearly the whole of the
Continental force, wherever Sir Henry Clinton's movements require it, but also derive greater aid from the
militia in cases of exigency. Our treaty and alliance
with France, when well understood by them, I am persuaded will have a favorable influence on their conduct.
That the enemy mean to evacuate Philadelphia is
almost reduced to a certainty. It is as much so, as
an event can be, that is contingent. Their baggage
and stores are nearly if not all embarked; and, from
our intelligence, there is reason to conclude, that many
days will not elapse before they abandon it. All accounts concur, that New York will be the place of
their first destination. Whether they will move by sea
or land cannot be ascertained; but the weight of circumstances is in favor of the latter. I have sent a
brigade to Jersey, which, with the militia I expect will
collect under General Dickinson, I hope will give them
some small annoyance; more cannot be done. If the
States had furnished their quota of men, or any thing
like it, and the great departments of quartermaster and
commissary had not been in a state of almost inextricable confusion, a more favorable opportunity could' In the battle of Princeton a small box was taken from the enemy,
which was supposed to contain hard money. It was put into an am.munition cart, and disappeared. Suspicions had recently rested upon a
subordinate officer in the army, who was at this time' in the State of
New York. Governor Clinton's aid in detecting the theft, and recover.
ing the box, had been solicited.