Mon general
jai eu lhonneur de vous rendre compte hier au soir par un bateau americain dont le capitaine me dit etre depeché par vous pour apprendre de mes nouvelles de la brulure et entiere destruction des trois batimens anglais qui etoient mouillés dans la riviere.1 jespere mon general que ma lettre vous est parvenue. Nous avons retiré de la corvette sept canons de six trois dun petit calibre et trois pierriers et une asses grande quantité de fer; jen ai fait prendre note quoique jespere mon general que vous mAuthoriserés a laisser cette petite gratification a lequipage des deux fregates qui se donnent beaucoup de peine. je comte que demain nous acheverons de declarer tout ce qui poura l'être. Lalcmène2 a fait une chaloupe deau, jen ferai autant demain matin, nous ne pouvons en faire par nous meme qu'une quarantain de bariques par jour, ce qui ma decidé a profiter dun offre que ma fait faire de general cornell3 pour lui demander de nous en procurer ne sachant pour la moment ou vous jugeres apropos de me rappeler je lui ai fait demander en meme tems du bois, lune et lautre frègate en a le plus grand besoin je presume que me. de borda4 se chargera de faire payer les depenses que nous ferois dans le cas de faire
le general cornell ma reponda ce matin, sa lettre ma eté remise par le colonel jossham5 et cest lui qui sest chargé de nous procurer tous nos besoins. Tout la monde paroit tres empressé a nous etre utile et tres aise de nous voir les fregates ne desemptissent pas ; et vous etés bien assuré mon general que me. de Bonneval et mois ne negligeons rien pour entretenir cette bonne volunté
jai lhonneur de vous prevenir que le colonel jossham ma annoncé la viste du general cornell pour dimanche. je vous prie mon general quelques hommes sur lisle, ils en sont revenir a minuit et mont donné pour nouvelle que la petite isle de conneticut doit detre prise par les francais ou par eux ; que tous les batimens qui etoient dans niewport setoient rassemblés sous la ville, et avoient debarqué presque tous leurs effets ; mais ils ne sont pas daccord sur la quantité des batimens de guerre, les uns disent quil y a un vaisseau de 50 canons et quatre fregates et les autres portent le nombre des fregates a sept et meme a dix. jai lhonneur detre [&c.]
A bord de laimable le 31 de jeuillet 1778
[Translation]
My general
I had the honor of reporting to you yesterday evening by an American boat whose captain told me he had been dispatched by you to learn from me news of the burning and entire destruction of the three English ships that were anchored in the river.1 I hope, my general, that my letter reached you. We have retrieved from the corvette seven six-pounder cannons, one of small caliber, and three swivel guns and a rather large quantity of iron; I have had a note made of it, although I hope, my general, that you will authorize me to leave this small gratification to the crew of the two frigates who have taken such pains. I reckon that tomorrow we shall be able to declare every thing that could be from it. The Alcmène2 has taken on a ship's boat of water, I shall take on as much tomorrow morning, we can take on only about forty barrels a day, which made me decide to take advantage of an offer made me by General Cornell3 to ask him to procure some for us, not knowing at the moment whether you will judge it appropriate to recall me I asked him at the same time for some wood, the one and the other frigate have the greatest need of it. I presume that M. de Borda4 will take on himself to have the expenses that we shall incur in the matter.
General Cornell answered me this morning, his letter was sent to me by Colonel Jossham5 and it is he who is charged with procuring for us all our necessities. Everyone appears very intent to be useful to us and to see us very easy that the frigates are not disabled. And you are well assured, my general, that M. de Bonneval and I neglect nothing to maintain this good will.
I have the honor of alerting you that Colonel Jossham has announce to me the visit of General Cornell tomorrow. I beg you, my general, some men on the island, they returned at midnight and gave me for news that the small island of Conanicut should be taken by the French or by them; that all the ships that were in Newport had been assembled under the city, and had unloaded almost all their effects; but they are not agreed on the quantity of the ships of war, some saying that there is a ship of 50 guns and four frigates and the others carrying the number of frigates to seven and even to ten. I have the honor to be [&c.]
St. Cosme
On board the Aimable 31 July 1778