Transcription
Coll.[Colonel] Wm. T Miller
Bristol Sept. 3th 1778
Sir,
I received very acceptable favor of the 30 August and observe you say sir with Pleasure you take up your pen to write to a person so respected especially since you have assurance by Ensn. [Ensign] Phillips that I showed myself very friendly to the common cause of the country and that it gave you great uneasiness since you have been in the camp to hear my name called over among the list of tories with an arc of satisfaction by someone whom you take to be my natural enemies who you don’t look upon to be more attached to the cause of liberty than their neighbors until they were gratified with every honour they could wish for and you further say suffer me again to repeat my joy in hearing that you have declared yourself a friend to your country to the satisfaction of a man of so much influence as Major Phillips. O Jnvoi Jnvoi The man who possesses it must have a continual tarter within his one breast a curse to society an enemy to his country and to all man kind , and ghastly despise the men who possess those principles but honor and love the man who is a friend to mankind in general without cenester (sinister) view to themselves. General Green could not be in that black catalogue who solicited me for a Beath to be my adeson and by my resignation and influence he obtained the high office he now sustains Bradford you know was always my private enemy he has of late shown himself more public I have heard of his trying to blast my character as a Torey but I most hardly despise him Colonel Church I think used me ill in the general assembly by corlen (calling) my conduct in (into) question for not sending the soldiers out at the Ledenton Battle when my conduct was justified by every man of sense who new the sunken slanes (slants) of that affair and by a letter from General Ward declaring that the men was (were not) then wanted but as son (soon) actually was he would give twenty notes and ?, by Colonel Church declaring some on friendly (unfriendly) things in the hows (house), I resigned my commission as general and as Colonel of the militia for the County of Bristol, although I was chose (chosen) by a grate (great) majority I did not take the office for the sake of the honor or the profit? Process? But for the sake of my country. But I invoi that curst (cursed) friend to slander. But what seguer? Soldier? Would
2nd side:
our government made had it not been for me who was the sole progeten (progeny) in the scheme in procuering the powder, and what thanks have I had for attaining? 1000 dollars to purchase it at a time when there was not a dollar in the treasury neither could the treasury hyer? (hire) It upon any ? and I advanced It in Johanes? (Johannesburg) By which the gooer me gained 10 p. 6 and the powder purchased for 6 P cheaper than any since and the government would not have had a cornel (kernel?) of powder now if it hadn’t been for me and what thanks do you think I have had for all this, why truly for asking for the same sort of money as I attained. I am branded a torey and refused any other pay but paper. I have been against the pasen? Sum extravagant Aut? And building men of war (at desk for the present) and have shown myself very deserving of compassion the unhappy deference witnesses grate (great) Breton (Britain) and this country upon the first good opening when it could be done in a constitutional way and whoever is not for settling of it, I have declared as enemies to the country. This ill minded people have taken advantage of and represented me as enemy to the common corse (cause) But let them put their hands upon their hearts and say who is enemy to their country, they or me, who would ruin their country by a long and expensive war, and by molten? The government in passion? Extravagant au? And because they may git (get) there one past in the same way and by eoucan? Fluds of paper currency to pay off the soldiers and not take proper methods to eovea? It upon a good footing and to corse it in seasonable to keep crdel? Fil up. I have been told in public company by one of the country of war (or of safety) that I was too rich, that they was (were) determined to put me upon a level with the rest of mankind, this is the principles I fear too many go upon, but I see none that do business for this government. But try to get as much as they can, please to give my compliments to the general Greene Colonel ? Colonel Hitchcock and Ensign Phillips I most sincerely wish you health and the whole continental army safety and a speedy reconciliation of all disputes with the mother country and that we may have no more of Englishman killing Englishman and it is my sincere prayer that we may be once more reunited and going together in the common course for the good of the whole empire and whenever we shall be called upon again to take up the weapons of war it will be against our common and natural enemies Mr. Potter sends his love and joins with me in wishing you health and happiness and that years ahead may be covered in the day of battle is the sincere prayer of him who surrender? himself
Very Humble Servent
S. Potter
