“Perhaps our Congress will be Exalted on a high Gallows.”

While General Howe with a Large Armament is advancing towards New York, our Congress resolved to Declare the United Colonies free and Independent States.

A Declaration for this Purpose, I expect, will this day pass Congress…It is gone so far that we must now be a free independent State, or a Conquered Country.

Our fates are in the hands of An Almighty God, to whom I can with pleasure confide my own

He can save us, or destroy us; his Councils are fixed and cannot be disappointed, and all his designs will be Accomplished.

Nothing short of the Almighty Power of God can Save us – it is not in our Numbers, our Union, or our Valour that I dare trust.

I have the Pleasure to assure you Congress pay particular Attention to the Defence of New Jersey, and hitherto have denied us nothing which we have Asked for that Purpose.

Perhaps our Congress will be Exalted on a high Gallows.

As to my Title, I know not yet whether it will be honourable or dishonourable, the issue of the War must Settle it. Perhaps our Congress will be Exalted on a high Gallows.