May 25, 1776

Oliver Wolcott, in Philadelphia to represent Connecticut in the Continental Congress, wrote to his wife, Laura Wolcott, "G. Britain mean or rather the King of it [means] to exert his utmost force agt. this Country and has infamously hired Mercenaries to Subdue us but I trust God he will be defeated."

Paul Herbert Smith, ed., Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774-1789: Vol. 4: May 16-August 14, 1776 (Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1979), page 72