ve the honor to be, with the profoundest respect, &c.

JOHN LAURENS.

* * * * *

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

L'Orient, March 11th, 1781.

Sir,

I have the honor of informing Congress, that I arrived at this place
on the afternoon of the 9th instant; and should have proceeded,
without an instant's repose, to Passy, had not the commandant of the
town assured me, that the Marquis de Castries would arrive here that
evening on his way to Brest, where he was going to accelerate by his
presence the execution of his naval disposition. The prospect of an
immediate conference with the Minister on the objects of my mission,
which relate to his department, the danger of missing him by our
travelling different routes, and the repeated assurances of his
expected arrival, have detained me till this morning; but as the delay
has been much greater than I apprehended, and the Minister's approach
is not announced, I have determined to pursue my journey.

The accounts, which the commandant has communicated to me of the naval
preparations at Brest, are, that twentyfive sail of the line are ready
for sea, with ninety transports, on board of which are six thousand
troops; that the ships of war are destined part for the West Indies,
and part with the troops for North America.

The rupture between England and the United Provinces has hitherto
proved very prejudicial to the latter, as they were exceedingly
vulnerable by having so great a number of merchant ships at sea. On
our voyage we captured a British privateer in company with a Venetian
ship, of which she had made a prize, contrary to the laws of nations.
This appeared to me a happy opportunity for manifesting the
determination of Congress to maintain the rights of neutral powers, as
far as depends on them. After a short consultation, Captain Barry and
his officers very readily acceded to the liberation of the Venetian,
and the complete restoration of the cargo and property, which were
very valuable. The captain was accordingly left to pursue his voyage,
and the privateer was brought into port. Mr Palfrey, our consul, is
not yet arrived at this port; it is generally feared that this ship
foundered in a storm, which separated her and the Franklin in the
commencement of their voyage, as she has not been heard of since.

I have th