very
prejudicial to our affairs, because, if from false information we
consider your army as weaker than it really is, it will prevent our
forming plans, which it would be possible to execute; and if, on the
contrary, we are led to believe it stronger than it really is, we run
the risk of forming plans impracticable in their execution. It is from
these considerations, that I beg of you to confide to me such
information on this head as you may think proper, both with respect to
the actual force you have at the different parts of the continent, and
what it will probably be in the course of the campaign. It is equally
interesting to know the force of the enemy, both in regulars and
militia. I beg you to rest assured of the discretion, with which I
shall make use of these communications.

I cannot refuse myself the pleasure of communicating to you the
sentiments, with which our Court and the nation at large are inspired,
from the reports of the French officers, respecting your Excellency,
on their return to Versailles. Their testimony could add nothing to
the universal opinion of the great services you have rendered your
country, but to the esteem and admiration of the French are now added
a sentiment of affection and attachment, which are the just return for
that attention which our military experienced from you, and the
progress they made in their profession by serving under your orders.

I have the honor to be, &c.

LUZERNE.

* * * * *

COUNT DE ROCHAMBEAU TO M. DE LA LUZERNE.

Williamsburgh, April 16th, 1782.

I send you under a flying seal, my dear Chevalier, the letter I have
written to M. de Guerny, commanding the Emerald frigate. You will
observe, that I am yet in a state of ignorance, not having received my
ministerial despatches. It is of the greatest consequence, that this
letter should be forwarded by a safe route, through the hands of
General Washington, that it may be despatched as quick as possible.

Our last news from Edenton is of the 8th of April, by a captain of a
vessel, who left Georgetown the 25th of March. The enemy employ all
the wagons of Charleston in transporting their stores on board the
empty vessels, which came from New York.

I think General Washington would do well to have all the works
levelled, which we made at Rhode Island round Newport