Our Army is still encamped on the Heights near the White Plains— We shall move as soon as the Event of the R. Island Expedition is known— The last Accounts from that Quarter are—that General Sullivan had landed his whole Force on the Island, and was making regular Approaches towards the Enemy’s Works—that Lord Howe, with his Fleet, appeared off the Harbour last Monday—that the Count Destaing sailed after him immediately; but His Lordship thought proper to decline an Engagement by running away—and that the Count was pursuing him when the Express left the General—

We expect further Information every Moment— In My Opinion we must be successful.— The Enemy’s Number do not much exceed 5000. We have 15,000 including the French Troops— Theirs are dispirited, and short of Provisions. Ours are eager for Action, & amply provided—1

Should R. Island fall in to our Hands the Plan of Operations that we shall adopt, is extremely obvious. We shall open a Communication with Long-Island, & throw a Body of Troops on it—while the main Body of our Army will move down towards King’s bridge, & make a Shew of forcing the Lines— To complete the whole I think the Count Destaing should take Post at Sandy Hook— In this Situation the Enemy would be soon reduced to the Necessity of surrendering at Discretion, or starving to Death— We cannot possibly learn the Quantity of Provisions they now have with them—but we have every Reason to believe their present Stock will be consumed in the Course of six Weeks— Eight or ten Deserters, upon an Average, come in daily, and they all say that their Allowance of Provisions is much smaller, & worse than it used to be. Indeed such an Aversion have the Troops to the Service, that I am firmly persuaded two thirds of them would join us, in less than a Fortnight, if they were to take the Fields.—

They have expected the Cork Fleet, & Byron’s Squadron so long that they begin to conclude neither will ever arrive— A Paragraph in a late NYork Paper, which I have seen, mentions that Adl. Keppel, with all the Naval Force he could collect, had gone to block up the Harbour of Brest—2 But this I look upon as an Apology to satisfy the Clamors of the virtuous Loyalists— It is generally conjectured that a Dread of an Invasion from France prevents their sending a larger Fleet to America—

Burgoyne has been displaying his Eloquence again in the House of Commons— He abuses the Ministry, and they, in Turn, calumniate him. He has requested an Audience with His Majesty— It was denied him— He demanded a Court Martial to try him— The Ministry refused him one— He then determined to submit his Conduct to Parlimentary Inquiry— In this Point he has not yet succeeded— And what chagrined him more was a Motion one of the Members made to deprive him of his Seat, till Congress had released him from his Parole—3

He is polite & generous when he speaks of the Treatment he, & his Army, met with after the Surrender— He passes the highest Compliments upon Genl. Schuyler, & his Family, for the Civilities he experienced from them— And he concludes with observing that the Ministry have published his Official Letters partially, and betrayed others that were merely confidential— In a Word he has become one of the Minority.—

Gen. Lee’s Trial is finished—and the Proceedings [are] transmitted to Congress— I cannot determine [the] Sentence which is passed upon him— Opinions about it are various— I am inclined to believe he will neither be broke, nor honorably acquitted.4 I heard him read his Defense— It had all that Tartness which he is so remarkable for— His Satyr was pointed particularly at His Excellency’s Family, Gen. Wayne, & a few others.—5

Genls. Schuyler & St. Clair are both in Camp— I am told a Court will soon be appointed to try them—

I Would have written to you often; but I understood you was not at Fish-Kill—and suspected my Letters might miscarry—

How are Mrs. Jay, Your Father, & all the Family? I beg you will give them my most respectful Compts. When did you receive a Letter from NJersey? Does the little Boy still continue healthy? I am, My dear Sir, Your’s sincerely