Philadelphia, February 28th, 1781.
Sir,
I think it necessary for the information of the department of finance to inform you, that Mr Robert Morris having strongly represented to me, that it was of importance to his operations, and to those of General Washington, to have a stock of bills of exchange, which might enable him to wait for the arrival of the funds brought by Colonel Laurens, I have taken upon myself to authorise him to draw bills of exchange, to the amount of 219,018 livres, 4s. 8d. Funds to that exact amount will be raised, and I hope that my Court will approve of the course, which I have taken, in consideration of the importance of the operations now going on.
I have the honor to be, Sir, &c.
LUZERNE.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Translation.
Philadelphia, March 2d, 1781.
Sir,
The undersigned, Minister of France, has the honor of informing Congress, that M. de Tilly has left the Chesapeake Bay with his squadron. He took there ten prizes, among which are two strong privateers, and during his passage from the Chesapeake to Newport in Rhode Island, he met the Romulus, of fortyfour guns, pierced for fifty guns. He took her and carried her into Newport, which he entered on the 24th ultimo, with five hundred English prisoners. The Chevalier de la Luzerne is informed, that the America, an English vessel, whose fate since the hurricane of the 21st of February had been unknown, has sailed into Gardner's Bay.