I deem it my duty to say to you upon the affair of the Chesapeake that I am informed by persons here well acquainted with Admiral Berkely that he is a very wild fellow and very near a madman—I therefore hope that he has acted without instructions and that it would be proper for us untill we hear from England to act with moderation and put ourselves in a posture of defence, prepared for the worst—

A war with England at this moment would be distruction to this country—