The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

304 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. [1778.
your services, and admires the principles upon which
you act. Your countrymen in our army look up to you
as their patron. The Count and his officers consider
you as a man high in rank, and high in estimation here
and also in France; and I, your friend, have no doubt
but you will use your utmost endeavours to restore
harmony, that the honor, glory, and mutual interest of
the two nations may be promoted and cemented in
the firmest manner."
To Count d'Estaing he wrote in language not less
delicate and conciliatory, nor less fitted to remove unfavorable impressions.
In compliance with the order from the ministry given
early in the season, Sir Henry Clinton detached five
thousand men to the West Indies and three thousand
to Florida; but there was much delay in fitting out
these expeditions, and the troops did not actually sail
till near the end of October. Lord Howe's fleet in the
mean time had been reinforced by a squadron from Europe. As neither the orders nor the plans of the British
general were known, it was conjectured that he might
have in view a stroke upon Count d'Estaing's fleet
in Boston harbour, and perhaps an attack upon that
town. It is probable, also, that General Clinton gave
a currency to rumors of this sort, for the purpose of
diverting the attention of the Americans from his real
objects. A report gained credit, believed to have come
from good authority, that New York was to be evacuated. Washington suspected the true origin of this
rumor, and could not persuade himself that an eastern
expedition was intended; yet the public impression
and the conviction of some of his officers were so
strong, as to its reality, that he took measures to guard
against it.
He established his head-quarters at Fredericksburg,