The express which carries this letter will bring you one from Colonel Miles, on the same subject. It is necessary, that vessels be procured as speedily us possible, to transport a body of from six to seven thousand men from the head of the Elk to Virginia, with their necessary apparatus. You will, therefore, collect them at the head of the Elk, on the 5th of September, and us soon after as may be, engage them by the day on the cheapest terms you can, to be paid in hard money, and obtain as long a credit as possible. There will be little or no risk of the vessels, and therefore you may insure them to the owners, if that will tend to obtain them either sooner or cheaper. The express has letters to William Smith and Matthew Ridley, of Baltimore, on this subject, and they will give you their advice and assistance, as will some other gentlemen, to whom I have written, should either be necessary. He has also letters to the Governor of Maryland, who will I am confident give every aid, which the Executive authority of the State can afford. You will therefore either apply to the Governor or not, as circumstances shall require.
Any engagements you enter into on this account, shall be fulfilled; but I must again request, that you will be as economical as the nature of the business will permit. I expect and rely on the exertion of your utmost industry and attention and am, Sir, very respectfully, &c.
ROBERT MORRIS.
TO B. FRANKLIN.
Philadelphia, August 28th, 1781.
Sir,
Herewith I send you triplicates of my letters of the 13th and 14th of July last, and duplicates of my letters of the 19th and 21st of July last. I have not yet executed the plan mentioned in mine of the 21st of July, of drawing bills on you, for reasons, which it is not necessary to enumerate at present.
Since my letter to you of the 8th of June last, I have found it necessary to apply to the Minister of his Most Christian Majesty in this place, to direct another sum of five hundred thousand livres to be deposited with Messrs Le Couteulx &. Co., and I am now drawing bills for that sum, wherefore I must pray your Excellency to take measures, that they be put in cash to answer my drafts. Although I have no doubt that this will be done on the Chevalier de la Luzerne's application, yet as his letters may miscarry, or other unavoidable misfortune happen, I take this additional precaution, because it is of the utmost importance to the United States, that these bills be duly honored.
The last advices from Europe inform us of M. Necker's resignation and removal, which occasions much speculation, as to the causes which produced this event. I should be glad to hear from you upon that subject.
We learn from Boston the arrival of the frigate Magicienne, with a large store ship laden with clothing, &c. for the United States; another store ship put back to Corunna, as is said, having been dismasted in a gale of wind. If this be so, it is a loss which will be more easily supplied than that of the Lafayette, which ship we are informed was taken and carried into England.