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.

150 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [AET. 49.
claims of the men. The American detachment will
assemble in this neighbourhood to-day; the French
army to-morrow. I have the honor to be, &c.*
TO THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE.
Philadelphia, 2 September, 1781.
MY DEAR MARQUIS,
Nothing could have afforded me more satisfaction
than the information, communicated in your two letters of the 21st and 24th ultimo, of the measures
you had taken, and the arrangements you were making, in consequence of the intelligence I had given
you. Calculating upon the regular force under your
immediate orders, the militia who have already been
called for, and may be expected in the field, the
French army, and the American corps now marching
with Major-General Lincoln from the northward, in
addition to the land forces expected on board'of the
fleet, I flatter myself we shall not experience any
considerable difficulties from the want of men to carry
our most favorite projects into execution. The means
for prosecuting a siege with rapidity, energy, and success, and for supplying the troops while they are
engaged in that service, as they are most precarious,
have been and still continue to be the great objects of
my concern and attention.
* The pressure for money to pay the troops was in part relieved by
a loan of twenty thousand hard dollars from Count de Rochambeau,
which Mr. Morris engaged to replace by the 1st of October. — Diplo-'matic Correspondence, Vol. XI. p. 463. Colonel Laurens arrived in Boston from his mission to France on the 25th of August, bringing with
him in cash two millions and a half of livres, being part of the donation
of six millions, which had recently been given to the United States by
the King of France. This was a seasonable supply, and enabled the
superintendent of finance to fulfil his engagement. See APPENDIX
No. VI.