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.

160 WASHINGTON'S WRITINGS [AT. 49.
place. I am at a loss to express the pleasure, which
I have in congratulating your Excellency on your return to your former station in the bay, and the happy
circumstance of forming a junction with the squadron
of the Count de Barras. I take particular satisfaction
in felicitating your Excellency on the glory of having
driven the British fleet from the coast, and taking
two of their frigates. These happy events, and the
decided superiority of your fleet, give us the happiest
presages of the most complete success in our combined operations in this bay.
It is with much regret, that I find the want of
transports in the bay has retarded the progress of
the troops expected from the northward. If it is
possible for your Excellency to give us any assistance
in this distress, it will be attended with inexpressible
advantage to the prosecution of our measures, and will
be acknowledged with the highest gratitude. Such of
our troops, as could not be embarked at the Head of
Elk, are marching to Baltimore, where they are to be
put on board such transports as may be collected at
that place.
It is very much the wish of the Count de Rochambeau, as well as of myself, to have the honor of an
interview with your Excellency; but our particular
circumstances render us dependent on your goodness
for the means of conveyance. If your Excellency
could despatch some fast-sailing cutter to receive us
on board, and inform us as to the time and place,
we shall be very happy to attend on you, at the earliest moment you shall fix. Count Fersen, an aid to
Count de Rochambeau, is sent on to' hurry down the
troops that are embarking. If your Excellency can
furnish him the means of proceeding up the bay, it will
be very agreeable. I am, &c.