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.

156 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS. [AET. 49.
to form a junction with the troops under the command
of the Count de St. Simon, and the Marquis de Lafayette, and to cooiperate in blocking up Cornwallis in
York River, and preventing him from making his retreat by land, or collecting any supplies from the
country. This junction of the van of our troops is
proposed to be made in James River, unless your Excellency and the commanders of the land troops should
judge some other point of debarkation to be more
favorable to our intentions; in which case you will be
pleased to meet the transports while on their way, with
orders to proceed to any other point which may be
fixed on.
The remainder of the troops from hence will be
forwarded with all the expedition our circumstances will
admit. In the mean time, as it will be of the greatest importance to prevent the escape of his Lordship
from his present position, I am persuaded that every
measure, which prudence can dictate, will be adopted
for that purpose, until the arrival of our complete force,
when I hope his Lordship will be compelled to yield his
ground to the superior power of our combined forces.
I have the honor to be, &c.
TO THE MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE.
Head of Elk, 7 September, 1781.
MY DEAR MARQUIS,
I have received with infinite satisfaction the information of the arrival of the Count de Grasse; and have
an additional pleasure in finding, that your ideas on
every occasion have been so consonant to my own, and
that by your military dispositions and prudent measures you have anticipated all my wishes. Every thing