Agreable to your Excellency’s Request of the 18th of Nover last,1 which I have lately received, I Inclose the Constitution of this State, together with a News Paper containing the latest political Intelligence.2

Since the Arrival of the Fleet of our allies at Virginia, We have a favorable Prospect of a happy Issue to the French Campaign, & I flatter myself that You will have the Pleasure of hearing of the Capture of Lord Cornwallis & his Army, & of the Removal of the Enemy from every Part of the southern States.3

The Failure of the old continental Currency has nearly prevented a Circulation of the new, & I wish not to see either revive, as Specie is every Day increasing amongst us by publick as well as private Importations; which being greatly promoted by the Scarcity of Medium, must soon produce a competent Supply.4

Our Adventurers in privateering have suffered since last Spring, by repeated losses, notwithstanding which, we are furnished by those that are successful, as well as by Means of our Commerce, with a plentiful Supply of every Article of foreign Produce; insomuch that the best Sugars are now sold at 40/ lawful Specie pr hundred Coffee 8d & Cotton 1/6 pr pound. The best of sterling madeira 50 Dollar pr pipe, which is less than half it’s Cost, Salt 6/ pr bushell, & other Articles in the same Proportion

We have had in this Quarter, & I beleive thro’out America, as plentiful an Harvest as ever was known, which has reduced the prices of provisions here lower than they were last War, & at the same Time increased our Resources so as to enable us to finish the Campaign without being sensible of the Expenses thereof.

In addition to these Advantages the Powers of Congress in Consequence of the Ratification of the Confederacy; & the vigorous Exertion of Government on the several States; have produced the most salutary Effects, & convinced the People that We have not only Resources for continuing the War, but also the Power of drawing them forth in Quantities equal to the most pressing Necessities. Difficulties will nevertheless occur in so arduous an Undertaking as we are engaged in, but those are of a short Duration & serve as a political School for Improvement.

From this State of Facts, it is hardly possible to conceive that our Enemies should buoy themselves up with Hopes of reaping Advantages by prosecuting the War; but they seem to be devoted to Destruction & verify the Maxim “Quem Deus vult perdere, prius dementat.[”]5

Pray give my best Respects to your Lady, Mr Carmichael, & your Family, & be assured that I remain Sir with every Sentiment of respect your Excellency’s very hum Sevt,

I have deferred the inclosing a Duplicate, in Expectation of authentic advice, from the Southard, but none have yet arrived; We have nevertheless every Reason to expect, from Superior Force of our Allies at Sea, the Strength of the allied army in Virginia, & the Advantage gained by ^the former agreeable to^ Rivingston’s Account over Admiral Graves, that Cornwallis with his army will be captured & that Charlestown will be immediately evacuated,6 or share a similar Fate. I remain as before your Excellency’s very hum Sevt