However, as they have been thought of " weight sufficient to attract the notice of the Congress, " I can only observe that, conscious of the upright- " ness of my intentions and the integrity of my con- " duct, I would most readily comply with your Sum- " mons, but the situation of my health is such as " would render it very unadvisable for me to take a "journey to New York, at this time. I have had the " misfortune, Gentlemen, of being deprived, totally, " of the sight of my left eye; and the other is so '• much affected and inflamed as to make me very " cautious how I expose it, for fear of a total loss of "sight. This being my real situation, I must request "the favour of you to excuse my attendance, to- " morrow ; but you may rest assured, Gentlemen, that " I shall punctually attend, as soon as I can, con- " sistent with my health ; flattering myself, in the "meantime, that, upon further consideration, you " will think that my being a friend to the rights "and interests of my native country is a fact so " strongly implied as to require no evidence on my " part to prove it, until something more substantial " than mere suspicion or vague surmises are proved " to the contrary.

" I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient, humble " servant Frederick Philipse.

"To Leonard Gansevoort, Philip Livingston, "Thomas Tredwell, Lewis Graham, Gotjv- "erneur Morris, Thomas Randall, Es- " quires." '