Sir,

I had the honor of writing to Your Excellency by Major Putnam¹ the 8^th Inst.²

Congress while sitting before Noon received intelligence of the following import.

M^r. Blair McLenahan³ said he had seen a Capt. Selby or Selwin off Chincoteague who had fallen in with the French Fleet Eastward of Bermuda⁴—the Admiral had taken him on board & enjoined him to Pilot the fleet to this Coast, the fleet arrived near Chincoteague in the Evening of the 5^th. Inst.—there they found the Ship Lydia of 26 Guns from New York on a Cruise—she was sunk by a french Frigate of 36 Guns⁵—On Monday Capt. Selby was sent on Shore in order to procure Pilots he engaged six to go on board the French fleet upon Wednesday—the Fleet consisted of the Admiral Count d’Estaing of 90 Guns—2 Ships of 80—8 of 74—1 of 64.—4 of 36. & said to have 12000 Men—they had taken a Ship of 18 Guns from Providence⁶ before they had made the Land.

War was to be declared against England by France & Spain on the 19^th. May—they had originally intended for Delaware but hearing that the Enemy was gone to New York they required Pilots to conduct them to Sandy Hook, they had then six Months provision on board.

Your Excellency will perceive by the inclosed Printed Paper⁷ that a Fleet had been prepared at Portsmouth in order to intercept or annoy this Fleet of which ‘tis possible the Count d’Estaing may be ignorant as he sailed from Toulon the 15^th. of April ’tis possible also that a Check may have been put upon that by a Fleet from Brest, be that as it may, Count d’Estaing should be apprized of this important circumstance & also of the strength of the British Marine power in New York, which from the best accounts we have been able to collect is made up of the following Ships—

I shall endeavor to reach Count d’Estaing with the necessary advices on the Coast of New Jersey or off the Capes of Delaware—Your Excellency will, if he shall have proceeded nearer Sandy Hook endeavor to meet him with a Letter where it may reach him, & you will also concert measures for improving the force under Your Excellency’s immediate Command & that under the direction of Major General Gates, in the present critical conjuncture.

Your Excellency will also if you have a more exact Account of the British Fleet at New York make proper corrections upon the list above enumerated. I have the honor to be [&c.]

It is almost unnecessary to
intimate to Your Excellency the
propriety of opening & keeping
up a correspondence with the
Admiral Count d’Estaing—