Story, not daring to take two letters with him to England, one for
Arthur Lee, the other for Mrs Hannah Philippa Lee, left them in safe
keeping with me, and he did well. I learn by two letters, which I have
received from Mr A. Lee, of the 20th and 23d of April, that on Mr
Story's landing in England, they took from him a letter, which I had
sent by him for Mr Lee; fortunately it was not signed with any true
name, and could give no information to your adversaries. They have,
therefore, committed this additional violence to no purpose. I have
sent those letters to a friend at Rotterdam, according to the request
of Mr Lee, and that friend informs me under date of May 3d, that he
has forwarded the packet by a captain of a sloop, one of his old
friends, who promised him to deliver them himself to the address which
I put upon them by Mr Lee's directions. The sudden departure of the
vessels will prevent me from informing you whether they have been
safely delivered. I shall do it by some future opportunity. I joined
to the packet a cypher for Mr Lee, like that I sent to you, but
grounded on different words, so that we shall be able to communicate
with each other in perfect safety. I informed him also, that I had the
honor of writing you frequently, so that he can send his letters
through me, if he has no better way.

I know an engineer over thirty years of age, able, experienced, and
very well qualified not only in his branch, but in the whole art of
war; in a word, a fine officer, but very inadequately rewarded. I
shall not be able to speak with him for several weeks, when I will
propose to him the service of the Colonies. But as he is a widower,
without means, and has several children, it will probably be necessary
if he accepts, to make him some advances to enable him to go over. I
will give you an account in due time of the conversation I shall have
with him.

I have endorsed today your bill of exchange of L100 sterling to the
order of M. Rey, bookseller at Amsterdam. Good reasons prevented me
from doing it sooner and at any other place than Amsterdam. May the
conscientious use which I shall make of this fund entirely satisfy
your wishes, and the confidence with which you have honored me. I am
persuaded of the generosity of Congress, and I pray heaven that I may
deserve by my services to be the object of it, when God shall have
blessed their labors for the welfare and prosperity of the Colonies,
either by a firm and sincer