gth evacuated Savannah, and in all probability
Charleston, by this time; since, on the 7th of August they gave notice
in general orders for the tories to prepare themselves for such an
event. Their fleet, consisting of fifteen sail of the line, arrived
yesterday at Sandy Hook. The French fleet, under the Marquis de
Vaudreuil had arrived some time before at Boston, where he
unfortunately lost one of his ships, which struck upon a rock and sunk
in the harbor. Congress, willing to testify their sympathy in this
misfortune, have presented the America, a ship of seventyfour guns, to
his Most Christian Majesty. She is in such a state that she can in a
short time be fitted to join his fleet.

We wait with the utmost impatience some account from Europe of the
state of the negotiations for a general peace.

The caution of the enemy in keeping within their posts, will probably
render this an inactive campaign, though we never had a finer or
better appointed army than at present.

I have the honor to be, &c.

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

* * * * *

ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON TO C. W. F. DUMAS.

Philadelphia, September 12th, 1782.

Sir,

Just after I had closed the letter you will receive with this, I was
honored by your despatches from the 10th of May to the 9th of July
inclusive. You will easily believe, Sir, that I received great
pleasure from the important intelligence they communicate; and the
more so as we had been long in the dark with respect to your
transactions.

I am sorry that the packet which is to carry this, leaves me no time
to enlarge, but this will be the less necessary, as I shall write very
fully to Mr Adams.

With respect to your own affairs, I can only say that you have my
sincerest wishes for your prosperity and promotion. I have already
reported upon the subject, but what the issue will be, I cannot yet
venture to predict. I know Congress to be very sensible of your
assiduity and attachment; and if anything prevents their rewarding
them as they would wish, it will be the present state of their
finances, which requires the most rigid economy.

The change in the British Administration will induce, it is imagined,
a similar change in measures here. We are in hourly expectation of
hearing of the evacuation of Charleston, which had been formally
announced to the inhabitants, who