Head Quarters Haverstraw [N.Y.] 18th July 1778
Sir
I did myself the Honor to transmit you, a few days ago, the accounts which I had then received of the arrival of a French Fleet upon the Coast.1 I soon after had the pleasure of receiving a Letter from the Admiral Count D'Estaing, dated off Sandy Hook where he now lies with twelve sail of the Line and four Frigates.2 The British Fleet are within the Hook.
I am so fully convinced of the advantages that will result from having all our Frigates, Privateers, and armed Vessels of every kind cruising off the East end of Long Island, that I have taken the liberty of mentioning it again to you, and have wrote to the same effect to the States of Rhode Island and Massachusetts.3 The British Fleet awed by the French, will be obliged to keep together, which will afford the noblest opportunity to our Cruisers to pick up whatever is inward bound__ I have the Honor to be [&c.]
G Washington
P.S. you will oblige me by forwarding the Letters to General Sullivan, Govr- Greene, and the President of Massachusetts by a fresh Express
LB, Ct, Jonathan Trumbull Papers, vol. 27, Letter Book 2, p. 25.
1. See Washington to Trumbull, 14 July, above.
2. See comte d'Estaing to Washington, 13 July, above.
3. Washington sent letters, very similar to what he had written Trumbull on 14 July, to Gov. William Greene of Rhode Island and Jeremiah Dummer Powell, President of the Massachusetts Council. R-Ar, Letters to the Governor; M-Ar, Revolution Letters, 1778. In the letter to Powell, Washington asked Powell to "communicate this to the State of New-Hampshire."
