Sir,
I have the honor to inform Congress, that the Minister Plenipotentiary of France communicated to me the contents of a letter, received on Saturday from Count de Rochambeau, by which he was apprized, that the Count, in pursuance of his instructions, had ordered the troops under his command to embark, and that they were to proceed with the fleet to the Islands.
The legion, and a detachment of about six hundred men, together with the convalescents are to remain on the continent. The whole may amount to about sixteen hundred men. The Minister further informed me, that in consequence of his representations on the subject, he had received assurances, that such a force should be detached from the West Indies, as would be adequate to the protection of the trade upon this coast during the winter.
The enclosed extract of a letter from Boston, contains an account of the success of the British in relieving Gibraltar. Though it is not official it is to be feared it is too well founded.
I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.
TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.
Philadelphia, December 16th, 1782.
Sir,