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.

314 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [AET. 50.
as much as possible, the calamities attendant on a state
of war. I have the honor to be, &c.
TO COUNT DE ROCHAMBEAU.
Newburg, 24 June, 1782.
MY DEAR COUNT,
I have looked with anxious impatience for those despatches from your court, the arrival of which to you was
to be the basis of our interview at Philadelphia. I have
been in such daily expectation of this event, that I have
not ventured more than fifteen miles from this place,
lest your summons should arrive here in my absence.
The season for operating in this quarter is flying
away rapidly; and I am more and more embarrassed
in determining on the measures, which are proper to be
pursued. If the aids, which are designed for us by
your generous nation, are sufficiently powerful, and arrive in season to warrant the enterprise against New
York, not a moment should be lost in commencing
your march this way. On the other hand, if the naval
superiority, destined by his Most Christian Majesty for
this coast, should be late in coming, or if, when it does
arrive, our force should be judged inadequate to the
siege of New York, and our arms are to be turned
against Charleston, as the next object of importance,
every step, which the. French army under your Excellency's command might make this way, would not only
serve to fatigue them, but the baggage, teams, and artillery horses, which are provided for the service of the
campaign, would, by such a movement, be rendered
unfit to perform a march to South Carolina, and every
other expense incident to this manceuvre would be
needlessly increased.