Sir, Phillidilphia May 7th: 1777

By this you are informed of my being at phillidel but did not get hear so Soon as I Expected by reason of the innimy’s march in the Jersies. When I left you at phill’d. I got home in two days & four hour’s One hundred & five miles, but wass too late to Save the mettall & with grate difficulty got Clear My Self having near two miles to go beyond the New bridge after our Army had all left it. I Retreated with my family about Seven miles back to a place Cal’d paramus whair I was Ablig’d to Stay ten days by Reason of My wif ’s Ill State of health Occationd by the fright & Could got in Moving through the rain & one of my Children I Expect’d Eavry hower would be its last but thay Recovred a little. I then bought a waggon and horses for I Could git none to hier to bring me down. Sot out Ritch’d morristown in two days wass advis’d thair by Mr. Livingston not to procead yet as it wass then Expected the plundreres would git hear. After Staying Eight days my wife wass taken down, detain’d on that Account but One fortnight She wass so well as to procead on our Journey. Got to phild. the begining of Janauary, wass much desapointed not finding you hear, but apply’d to Mr. Rittenhous & Bidle they gave me Charge of the furnace & Every assistance I wanted. I Sot to work & Cast 368the first time of tryall two five & half Inch howitz at one time having Eleven hundred wight of Mettal melted, & draw’d it all Clean of, proceasd’d to Cast Six pounders have Cast 6 Runing good & 4 howitz & one twelve pounder. I make use of no other fuel now than the Oak wood you Saw at the furnace, never Excead’d two howers in melting & freaquently but one hower & half. Am now prepairing to Cast two Eight Inch howits. Expect to Compleat them in a few Days. I last weak receiv’d the Copper of Mr. Van Nest from bound brook. Incloas’d is an Accot. I mention’d to you when at phild. that I Should be glad to have Settled your being of the Cannon Commity at that time I thought it best to have the act. first pas’t by you. If you Se aney Error Shall be Extreamly Ablig’d to you to rectify it, and make aney alteration you think proper. I did not wigh the howitz made at new york but have wigh’d one I made hear which is of the Same diameter & 336 lb. thaeirfor have fix’d the wight at 320 lb. but Shall always be Ready to account for thair wight, if found to be less. Wish you would Settle what I am to be allow’d for Coming three times from new york & hackinsack to phild. on the business of Casting by your desier, & finely moving down with my family for that purpose and place the Same to the Incloas’d act. with directions who to apply to for payment. Perhaps a line to Congress may prevent aney difficulty. The Gun mettal mention’d in the act. is what I had left of Casting the Sixpounders at New York, when I found all Metearials my Self, I used it to the howitz. The Brass I bought & paid for my Self for the Use of Congress, & wass lost among that at hackinsack. I was plundred of all my winter Stores provided for the Use of my family also my Tools & patrons that ware all of pewter & lead and of Considerable Vallue to me, my furniture all in the hands of the Tories at hackinsack but hope soon to have it in my power to Recover What is to be found of it. As for my tools & pattrons and Every thing belonging to me that the apearance of mettall wass carri’d to new york and kept a Sharp look out for me as I was Informed by Som tories that had been in and taken their protection have nothing worth your Notice at preasant but wish you to Sign my Account & Incloas it to Mesers. Rittenhous Or Biddle it will Com Saft to hand. Remain Sr., with All Respect your Verry huml. Sert.,

James Byers

I Saw Colnl: Biddle at brunswick that you directed me to for waggons. He tould me to apply to Major Pain at fort Lea but the Next morning we got the News of the Innimys being near hackinsack.