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I have just time to acquaint you, that within these few days we have had offers from some maritime Powers, secretly conveyed to us, that if we wanted assistance from either of them, in money or men-of-war, we shall be supplied, upon condition that when peace is restored to these unhappy Colonies, we open a trade with them, and exclude our Mother Country from any share of it. Their offers are at present rejected. The Spaniards have now in the West-Indies a fleet of men-of-war of great force, and the Spanish Islands are full of soldiers, waiting in expectation that we shall embrace their offers. But I hope Government will find out some means to bring about a reconciliation;
Extract of a Letter to a Gentleman in London, Dated Salem, July 20, 1775
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for we are so loyal, that nothing but depredation can make us submit to go under the Spanish yoke. All things have remained quiet since the seventeenth of last month, except some small skirmishes. I send this by our post to New-York, so that I hope it will come safe to hand.