University of Virginia Library

TO EDMUND PENDLETON.

Dear Sir,—I was yesterday favored with yours of
the 10th instant. The various reports arrived of late
from the Chesapeake prepared us for a confirmation
from our correspondents of a fortunate rencontre
between the 2 fleets. A continuation of these reports
although unsupported by any authentic evidence

still keeps up the public anxiety. We have
not heard a word of de Barras. The arrival of Digby
is far from being certain, and the circulating reports
have reduced his force to six ships of the line. The
preparations at New York for some movement are
pretty well attested. The conjectures of many are
directing it against this City, as the most practicable
& important object within the reach of Clinton.
The successful blow struck by the parricide Arnold
against the Town of New London is described, as
far as the particulars are known here in the enclosed
Gazette. There have been several arrivals of late
from Europe with very little intelligence of any kind
& with none from official sources. It all relates to
the junction of the French & Spanish fleets, for the
purpose of renewing the investiture of Gibraltar, and
enterprising something against Minorca. Thus the
selfish projects of Spain not only withholds from us
the co-operation of their armaments, but divert in
part that of our allies, & yet we are to reward her
with a cession of what constitutes the value of the
finest part of America.

Genl. Washington & the Count de Rochambeau,
with the forces under them have I presume by this
time got within Virginia. This revolution in our
military plan cannot fail to produce great advantages
to the Southern department and particularly to Virginia,
even if the immediate object of it should be
unexpectedly frustrated. The presence of the Commander
in chief with the proportion of our forces
which will always attend him, will better protect the

country against the depredations of the Enemy
although he should be followed by troops from N. Y.
which wd. otherwise remain there, than it has hitherto
been, will leave the militia more at leisure to pursue
their occupations at the same time that the demands
of the armies will afford a sure market for the surplus
provisions of the country, will diffuse among them a
share of the gold & silver of our ally & I may now
say of our own of wch. their Northern Brethren have
hitherto had a monopoly which will be peculiarly
grateful to them after having been so long gorged
with depreciating paper; and as we may suppose
that the ships of our ally allotted for our service will
so long as his troops remain in the U. States be kept
in the Chesapeake, it will revive the trade thro' that
channel, reduce the price of imported necessaries &
raise the staple of the Country once more to its
proper value.