I lose no time in forwarding them by a special messenger to Congress, without any observations, being persuaded that Congress will not fail to give a very early decision respecting his further treatment.
The enclosed newspaper contains all the information I have been able to obtain since the arrival of the packet.
[11] That is, the copy of a letter from Count de Vergennes, and one from Lady Asgill to him. See these letters above, pp. 105, 107.
I have received the letter your Excellency did me the honor to write me on the 10th instant, with the amount of expenses incurred by the expresses, which formed the communication with the Marquis de Vaudreuil. The treasurer of our army will pay to your Quarter Master General the five hundred and thirtyseven dollars he has been so kind as to advance for that purpose. I beg also, that you will please to send me the amount of expenses incurred in procuring the intelligence from New York, and that you will accept my thanks for the trouble you have had in these details.
I will be exceedingly obliged to your Excellency to inform me where the seventyfifth regiment of grenadiers actually is.
The enclosed letter, which I have the honor to transmit to your Excellency, was received this moment by a flag of truce from New York. It was accompanied by one addressed to me from the Count de Vergennes, on the same subject.[12]
The case of Captain Asgill having, before the receipt of these letters, been submitted to Congress, I have immediately transmitted to that body, copies of the Count's letters to me, and have permitted myself to solicit from them, an early decision of his fate, which, judging from my own feelings, I persuade myself cannot be an unfavorable one.
I send your Excellency a transcript of intelligence, which I have this day forwarded to the Marquis de Vaudreuil.
The undersigned, Minister Plenipotentiary of his Most Christian Majesty, has had too frequent opportunities of satisfying himself, that Congress fully perceives how intimately the interests of the two nations are connected, not to be convinced that they will learn with pain, that very considerable quantities of provisions have been sent by the Raritan to New York, and along the river opposite to Staten Island. The undersigned Minister cannot enter into the details of this proceeding, which he knows only by reports, though by reports upon which he has the strongest reasons for believing that he can depend. This trade is, moreover, carried on in the most open manner, and he is convinced, that by inquiries, instituted with promptness and secrecy, he shall be able to obtain proofs of it, and to procure the means of putting a stop to it. Cattle of all kinds have served to furnish with provisions the enemy's fleet, which has just sailed down to the Hook. It is asserted, that the quantities sent from the Jerseys are immense, but the Chevalier de la Luzerne thinks it unnecessary to attempt at present, to determine them exactly, and contents himself with observing, that the nineteen vessels thus supplied, will not, perhaps, depart immediately, and that it will be necessary to shut up the channels by which these provisions have reached them.