We wait with much solicitude for advices from the Southern army our last accts from that quarter were less gloomy than the former, but not less equivocal and distressing-I have heard nothing from General Greene since the 28th of Feby nor of him (with precision) since the 2d Inst-Matters were so critically circumstanced at that time as to add pain to impatience--Equally ignorant and equally anxious am I with respect to the French Fleet under the Command of the Chevalier Des Touches-No accts of them have I received (but vague ones through the Channel of Rivington's paper) since he left Newport-at Yorktown in Virginia there was no intelligence of him on the 15th

It is to be lamented and greatly lamented that the French Commanders at Newport did not adopt the measure of sending the Fleet & a detachment of their land force to Chesapeake bay when I first proposed it to them (in the moment I received the first certain information of the damage done to the British Fleet at Gardner's bay) had the Expedition beer undertaken at that time, nothing could have saved Arnold's corps during the weakened state of the British ships from destruction. Instead of this a small detachment only was sent with the fleet which as I foretold would have returned as they went had it not been for the accidental meeting of the Romulus and the Vessels under her convoy.But as there is no rectifying past errors

and as it our true policy to stand well with friends on whom we so much depend I relate this in confidence.

I have heard nothing from General Thompson since his release from captivity & his joining the army will depend on his promotion & his promotion in Congress, the time of it is uncertain; but that your son may be relieved from his present anxiety-suspense-and all possible censure I will with much pleasure receive him into my family as an extra aid until Thompson arrives--In the meanwhile his rank may be ascertained & his Commission procuredMrs Washington makes a tender of her compliments to Mrs Fitzhugh to which you will please to add those of

Dr Sir Yr most obedt & most
Hble servt

ambeau-to whose determination I have referred the matter; as any co-operation on our part, by moving Troops towards the Sound, would give such indications of the design as would effectually frustrate the success.

Should you not proceed to the Count you may destroy that Letter-if on the contrary, you should go to New Port by keeping an account of the expences they

will be repaid by the Public

In the mean time, I wish you to be as particular as possible, in obtaining from your friend, an accurate account of the Enemy's strength on York, Long, and Staten Islands, specifying the several Corps and their distributions.-This I think from the Enemy's present weak State, may be procured with more facility & accuracy than at any former Period

I am Sir

Your most obedient servant Go WASHINGTON P. S. I wish to know also, the strength of the last Detachment from New York, and of what Troops it was composed,

I need scarcely suggest, if you should go Eastward that it will be expedient to do it in such a manner as not to create suspicion. Indeed you know, secrecy is absolutely necessary in the whole affair

As the Count de Rochambeau does not understand English, it may be well. to communicate your business to the Chevalier De Chattelus in the first instance & thro him to the Count, lest it should get abroad

To Major Tallmadge

Weathersfield

Intelligence has been sent me by a Gentleman living near the enemy's lines, and who has an opportunity of

knowing what passes among them that four parties had been sent out with orders to take or assassinate Your Excellency-Governor Clinton-me and a fourth person, name not known.

I cannot say that I am under apprehension on account of the latter, but I have no doubt they would execute the former could they find an opportunity. I shall take such precautions on the occasion as appear to me necessary, and I have thought it proper to advise your Excellency of what has come to my knowledge that you may do the same.

That they may fail of success if they have any such plan in contemplation, is the earnest wish of

intelligence of which the inclosed is a Copy. How he obtained it from one Harris he will inform your Excellency. Harris whose Character perhaps your Excellency may be acquainted with, is to meet the party under the command of Ensign Smith the 20th of this month -is to convey a packet to Albany and to carry another back to them. He proposed to Fish to seize him at a place to be agreed upon and to take the letters from him. But I think a better way would be to let him carry the letters and answers in the first instance to Genl Schuyler, who might contrive means of opening them without breaking the seals -take Copies of the contents, and then let them go on. By these means we should become Masters of the whole plot-whereas, were we to seize Harris upon his first tour, we should break up the chain of communication, which seems so providentially thrown into our hands. Should your Excellency approve of the measure which I have suggested, you will be pleased to write to Genl Schuyler upon the subject, and desire him, should business call him from Albany, to leave the conduct of the Affair in proper hands in his absence. I have promised Fish that both he and Harris shall be handsomely rewarded if they execute the Business with fidelity.

I have recd your Excellency's favor of the 30th ulto and 8th Inst. Every thing shall be done to keep up the supply of provision to the Northward, but

I have received your favor of the 15th The present State of Col. Proctors Regiment does not admit of your Company being made up to its full complement, but I have by this conveyance, desired General St Clair to let you have as many men as will put you on a level with the others. This is all that can be done I have already desired the Board of War to send six Artificers to Fort Pitt, you may wait upon them yourself with this letter, and ask three or four more if they can be spared.

I would wish the enclosed for Genl Clarke & Col. Brodhead to reach them as speedily as possible, you will be pleased to take charge of them yourself, if you do not meet with a good opportunity previous to the time you intend Setting out.

I am Sir

Your Humble Servant
GO WASHINGTON

of the 4th Regt of Artillery to the Care of the Board of War

Philadelphia

You will be pleased immediately to order out a party of fifteen or twenty picked men and a proper officer to go with Major Logan lately of the York Line, to endeavour to apprehend a gang of notorious Villains in this neighbourhood. Major Logan will guide the party and point out the objects. Let them take three days provisions if possible. The party will march as speedily as possible as one of the Gang is already taken up, and it is feared the others will gain intelligence of it. I have directed the order to you in the first instance as I know General Knox is not at home. I am Sir

'Yr most obdt Servt
GO WASHINGTON

which not a Barrel of salted Provision has arrived.

I have now directed 100 Barrels of flour (out of 131 which is our whole Magazine) to be immediately transported to Albany- This supply shall be followed by another of Meat, if any quantity should come in from the Eastward- In the mean time I have written, some days since, to General Clinton to draw (by Miltary coercion if necessary) whatever supplies have been collected for the Continent; from ail Counties of Massachusetts most contiguous to him; I have also empowered him to procure Fish by exchanging salt for them. Whatever more within the limit of my ability, can be suggested or done for the security of Fort Schuyler, and the protection of the frontier, shall be most seriously attended to, and strenuously attempted by

field where I have had an interview with His Excellency the Count De Rochambeau; in consequence of which, the French army will commence its march, to form a junction with ours on the North River as soon as circumstances will admit

The accomplishment of the object which we have in contemplation, is of the utmost importance to America, and will in all probability be obtained, unless there should be a failure on our part, in the number of men which will be required for the operation, or the enemy should draw a considerable part of their force from the Southward- It is in our power by proper exertions, to prevent the first-and should the latter take place, we shall be amply repaid our expences by liberating the Southern States, where we have found by experience we are only vulnerable.—

Upon the calculation that I have been able to form, in concert with some of the more experienced French and American Officers. The operation in view will require, in addition to the French Army, all the Continental Battalions from New Hamshire to New Jersey inclusive to be compleated to their full establishment. Your Excellency must be sensible that the measures in consequence of the last requisition of Congress have been very far from answering the end; as, notwithstanding the advanced season, few recruits (comparatively speaking) have yet joined your Regiments. It must also be taken into consideration that a number of those men who were returned when the requisition was made, have since been taken off by the various casualties

incident to an army, besides such as have been discharged in consequence of the investigation made into the terms of enlistment by the Committee appointed by Your Excellency for that purposeBy this diminution and the want of success in recruiting: I find from the last return there are 455 men wanting to compleat the two Regiments of your State.

From what has been promised, you will perceive, without my urging further reasons, the necessity I am under of calling upon you, in the most earnest manner, to devise means to send into the field, without delay, the number of men now actually wanting to compleat your Battalions- The term of three years, or for the war would undoubtedly be preferable to any shorter period, but if they cannot be obtained on these conditions, necessity must oblige us to take them for the Campaign only, which might be reckoned to the last o December.

On so great an occasion I should hope that the estimate would be made sufficiently large, and that the exertions in the several Counties would be so very vigorous and energetic as to give us every man we stand in need of by the first of July at furthest Arguments surely cannot be wanting to impress the Legislature with a due sense of the obligation which we are under of furnishing the means now called forThe Enemy counting upon our want of ability, or upon our want of energy, have, by repeated Detachments to the Southward reduced themselves in New York to a situation which invites us to take advantage of it and should the