Benjamin Lincoln to George Washington Regarding His Observations

Mr. Russell, Mr. Lowell & my Self the Settlement of
them will be easy for the lands are so indicated by rivers
and bay that we about lie Twenty miles on navigable
waters and there are not one hundred acres in the fifty
thousand which will be five miles from such waters.
Our people who have been bred near the Sea are fond of
settling as near to it as possible. It is a country which
abounds with fish of almost every kind and the
waters are covered with fowls. The land, will be friendly
to the growth of Wheat, Rye, barley, oats hemp & flax, but
not much so to Indian corn. Indeed I am so pleased with
the country that I frequently wish my self there where
I might be free from the present noise and tumult, but I
cannot leave this part of the State at present, for not-
withstanding the resolutions I had formed ever to decline
entering again into public life I was persuaded by my
friends to take the command of the first division of militia
in this State. I am now busily employed in organizing
it &c. This business which would at all times be a duty
is especially so now, when the State is convulsed and the
bands of government, in some parts of it, are cast off.

I cannot be surprised therefore to hear
your Excellency inquire "are your people getting mad?
"are we to have the goodly fabric that eight years were
"spent in raising pulled over our heads? What is the cause
"of all these commotions? When and how will they end?"
Although I cannot pretend to give you a full and compleat