Sir

I have now the pleasure of acquainting your Excellency of my Arrival here yesterday on board the Languedoc commanded by his Excellency Count D'Estaing, with a fleet of twelve Sail of the Line and four Frigates. We sailed from Toulon the 10^th of April last, presume therefore that I have no intelligence from Europe so late as what you must be possessed of already. Finding that the Enemy had escaped the Admiral resolved instantly to pursue them to New York and will sail this morning for that Port, but he has no pilot; If therefore pilots can be sent to meet him on his arrival, it will be of the utmost service to the expedition. I shall embark this afternoon in company with his Excellency Mons^r. Gerard for Philadelphia,¹ and hope soon to have the honor of paying my respects to your Excellency and the honorable Congress in person, and to congratulate you on the late glorious events. I have sent Comm^r. Nicholson² express who can inform you of our situation; permit me to recommend him as an active, spirited Officer, to whom the Admiral has been much obliged by his service during our passage. I have the Honor to be &c.

P.S. His Excellency the Admiral desires, that on the arrival of the pilots at the hook where they will find his Fleet, that they would make a Signal with a white Flag, either onboard their Boat, if they have one, or from the Shore, formed in a triangle. Mons^r. Chouen³ who will wait on you with a Letter from the Admiral sets out suddenly and may want money to bear his expences on his further Journey, mons^r. Gerard desires he may be supplied on his Account, with any sum to the Amount of twenty thousand Livres.