From Petre Sargét
als: American Philosophical Society
<La Rochelle, July 6, 1779, in French: I left New Orleans on
April 20 and arrived here June 19. The Americans had taken
Illinois and Vincennes, but the post of Vincennes was retaken
by the British last November. Col. [George Rogers] Clark has
gone by land and sent troops by water to recapture it; there is
every reason to believe he has been successful. Natchez and
Manchac are well fortified. James Willing, who conquered
them without resistance, should easily have been able to save
them; to recapture Natchez will cost lives. Pollock, the agent,
is not a very honorable man. Col. Clark has bought many
furs, giving letters of exchange on him. Pollock says he will
honor them when Congress places funds at his disposal. I
have much to tell about their agreement. Bills of exchange are
occupying me: more than 50,000 piastres of them have been
protested, doing inexpressible injury to New Orleans. I fear
business losses will keep merchants from aiding Col. Clark. I
will come to Paris as soon as I finish my business here, which
has prevented my coming sooner. My wife is from New York
and I know the continent perfectly. I sailed from there to St.
Domingue and Spain, stopping to recover my business affairs
in New Orleans, where I always conducted myself like a true
American.>
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