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.

PART II.] THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 41
TO PHILIP SCHUYLER.
New Windsor, 14 May, 1781.
DEAR SIR,
I am glad to find, that you have received the necessary papers, and are entering upon the measures for
intercepting the enemy's communications. I hope you
will be enabled, by the assistance of the person proposed, if he is found sufficiently faithful and intelligent,
to prosecute those measures to good effect; because I
think the intelligence obtained through that channel
of Count d'Estaing, and commanded his vanguard when he forced the
entrance of this harbour." — ewport, JMay 8th.
The following is an extract from the instructions sent by the Minister
of War to Count de Rochambeau, dated Versailles, March 7th.
"1. It is the intention of his Majesty, that you do not abandon Rhode
Island, if the squadron destined to act in concert with you for its defence
cannot retire to Boston without hazard, or before it shall be relieved from
its defensive position at Rhode Island by a superior naval force.' 2. I will inform you, that, in the month of July or August, the superior naval force of which you have just received notice, will withdraw the
squadron of M. de Barras from the harbour of Rhode Island; and you
will carefully reserve to yourself the knowledge of this arrangement,
which may be accelerated.
"3. If, by unforeseen events, or any cause whatever, the army of
Washington should be broken up and dispersed, it is the intention of the
King, that, under these circumstances, you should decline acceding to
any orders or requests of that general to penetrate into the interior of
the continent; as in that case it would be prudent to reserve yourself,
and to retire to the Antilles if possible, or to St. Domingo, according to
the season.
"4. If, on the contrary, the American army remains in its present
state, and yet without being able to undertake any combined operation
with the squadron; and if this latter should attempt any other enterprise,
where the concurrence of a certain number of land forces would be required, the King leaves it in your power to furnish them, provided that
the plan be concerted with the American general.
" 5. Should there be an opportunity for the squadron at Rhode Island
to act independently of the American army, you are aware that the naval
forces of the King should concur in all operations, which are considered
advantageous to the common cause.
" 6. You are also aware, that, as long as the King's troops occupy
VOI,. VIII. 6 D 0