University of Virginia Library

TO EDMUND PENDLETON.

Dear Sir,—I was in hopes when I wrote my last
that I should be able by this post to congratulate you
on the arrival of the French fleet from the W. Indies
But so far is this from being the case that it comes
from authority which seems to have a just claim to
our faith that Admiral Rodney is actually at the
Hook with 12 sail of the line & 4 frigates. It is still
said however that a french fleet is somewhere on the
coast. The arrival of Rodney is certainly an evidence

that it had quited the Islands and was suspected
to be coming hither. It is also given out at
New York that a reinforcement of 4000 troops will
arrive next month from England. Another part of
our reports is that 5 or 6000 troops will embark at
N. York on the 25th inst. for Virga. or S. Carolina:
but it is not to be supposed that such a measure will
be hazarded in the present ticklish state of things—
22 sail of the Quebec fleet are carried prizes into N.
England.