Wmsburg, May 28, 1778.
My Dear Sir.
Give me leave now to mention another Frenchman, Capt Cotteneau.1 He seems to possess discernment and enterprize. I like much his scheme of attacking our foes in Africa. Tis very plausible and bids fair for success. Remember how Goree was taken,2 I think a 20 gun ship of this state might aid the attempt. Will it not distract their attention profitably?
I long for something of the eclat that would attend success in such an enterprize. However, listen to the Capt yourself and judge. While I am writing this a 50 gun ship is arrived in James, 49 days from Rochford (I know not if she is royal property) and a brigg with a large quantity of goods3 No news as yet come from them. The English are at length departed with all their ships. They went 10 days ago. I had a fine sailing boat to carry the dispatches you told me of; but she would not miss the fine opportunity offered for her departure.4 Another or two will be ready in a week. When shall I receive the letters? Tell me what is to be done with Capt Young if they dont come.5 The intelligence of 100 drafts from the Eastern shore going to the English is false.
Our Assembly are voting 350 horse and 2000 infantry for the grand army. I doubt their being got. No attempt, (I regret it) to restore public credit.
Pray try to get us six or eight heavy canon for a Fort to protect the ships of our allys.6 Such a one is much wanted here. Adieu my dear friend. Yours ever,
P. HENRY
R.H. Lee. Esqr.
Official Letters of the Governors of the State of Virginia, vol. 1, Letters of Patrick Henry, July 1, 1776-June 1, 1779, edited by H. R. McIlwaine (Richmond: Virginia State Library, 1926), 283–84.
1. Capt. Denis-Nicholas Cottineau de Kerloguen of the French armed ship Ferdinand was seeking a commission in the Continental Navy. See President of the Continental Congress Henry Laurens to Gov. Richard Caswell of North Carolina, 23 July, Nc-AR.
2. The Island of Gorée, a French possession off the coast of Africa, was captured in 1758 by a small British expeditionary force consisting of five ships of the line and 700 soldiers commanded by Acting Commo. Augustus Keppel. At war’s end, Gorée was returned to French control. For a discussion of the taking of Gorée, see A. J. Marsh,“The Taking of Goree, 1758,” The Mariner’s Mirror, LI (May,1965), 117– 30.
3. The Fier Roderique, de Montault, master, was the former French Navy ship Hippopotame. The identity of the brig has not been established, but The Virginia Gazette of 29 May reported the arrival in the James River of “A French 50 gunship, and two merchant vessels laden with arms and dry goods” from Rochefort, France.
4. On the departure of the vessel that was to carry the dispatches and more on the contents of those dispatches, see Journal of the Council of the State of Virginia, 19 May, above.
5. Capt. John Young of the Continental Navy brigantine Independence.
6. For more on the planned fort mentioned here, see Journal of the Council of the State of Virginia, 19 May, above.
