October 1, 1755 1 Dear Sir,

I recd. yr. Epistle; It was agreable to me to hear from you, but yet unpleasant to hear the Encroachmts. wch. Genrall Hippo 2 makes on your Unfortifyd Territorys. He is a very Tyrannical Potentate & if he should once get Possession of yr. Grand Castle, he would soon reduce you to the most abject Slavery. Therefore it behooves you to raise a Reinforcemt. & go speedily to the Relief of yr. Expos'd Frontiers. If any of my forces are necessary to remove yr. Oppression, I'll send you a Regiment under the Command of Coll. Mirth, being a Detachmt. from the Troops under the Command of Genrall Freindship & then I doubt not but his assistance join'd to yr. own Efforts will teach that Haughty Usurper to confine himself to unfreindly Territorys out of the Reach of Coll. Mirths Bayonets or Sound of his Drums within? the gloomy Bosoms of Old Maids & Hermits.

Dft ; at foot of text: "To Dr. Flynt Fort Edward"; "To Dr. Ed. F: Allegory on the Hip."

1.

RTP mentions writing to Dr. Flint in his diary entry of Oct. 1.

2.

I.e., hypochondria.