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.

PARTII.] THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 155
TO COUNT DE GRASSE.
Head of Elk, 6 September, 1781.
SIR,
I have been honored by your Excellency's favor
of the 2d instant, and do myself the pleasure to' felicitate you on the happy arrival of so formidable a
fleet of his Most Christian Majesty in the Bay of
Chesapeake under your Excellency's command. This
happy event I hope will be improved to the most
salutary purposes for the united interests of both
nations.
Expecting to have the honor of a personal interview
with your Excellency almost as soon as this will reach
your hand, I shall not, in writing, give you the trouble
of a particular detail of my designs. I will only inform you that the van of the two armies, the French
and Americans, consisting of about two thousand men,
(there not being transports for the whole) will embark
in about two days, and will fall down the Chesapeake
mations of the people. On every side were demonstrations of joy.
After the spectacle was over, the officers dined with the Chevalier de la
Luzerne. While they were at table, a messenger arrived with a letter
to the Chevalier containing the news. — Jouveau Voyage, p. 90.
The Abbe Robin landed at Boston in June with the reinforcement
detached from the squadron of M. de Grasse. IHe joined Rochambeau's
army, and marched with it to Virginia. The next year he published in
Paris the result of his observations in America, embracing military operations, the situation and appearance of thy country, and the character,
manners, and habits of the people. His book is entitled.Nouveau Voyage
dans l'./Jmerique Septentrionale, en l'JAnnde 1781. Some of the Abb~'s
sketches are lively and spirited; A good temper is visible in all his
remarks. His prevailing foible may be ascribed to his former secluded
mode of life. The novelty of the scene seemed to fill him with a wonder
similar to that, which we may suppose to have been experienced by
the companions of Colunabus on their first visit to the New World. The
Abbe's astonishment at common things sometimes reaches so high, as
to become a hazardous experiment on the gravity of his readers.