According to my Promise, I now sit down to give you a particular and faithful Account of the Armament of His Most Christian Majesty, under the Orders of the Count de Estaing, during his Continuance on the Coasts of the United States of America. You know, Sir, with what Exultation I recieved the News of the Completion of our happy alliance with France regarding it at once as an Illustrious Mark of the Wisdom and Magnanimity of her Monarch, and a precious Pledge of the Safety, the Liberty and Glory of my Country. The immediate Fruit of this Alliance was the powerfull Aid sent us by that great and Amiable Prince, in the Squadron of the Count d’Estaing, consisting of eleven Ships of the Line, Six Frigates, and a Number of Land Forces. We were not more happy in this powerfull Aid, than in the Choice of the Commander, and the distinguised Confidenc placed in him by his Sovereign; a Leader Who with uncommon Ardor and Intrepidity, and great Military Knowlege, unites a Vigilance and Circumspection, a quick Decision, and a perfect Command of himself in the most trying Moments, that mark the great Man, and are of the utmost Importance in such a Command as he was entrusted with. I assure you, my Friend, were you as well acquainted as I am, with the Delicacy and Hazard of many Circumstances in which the Count was called to act, it would increase your high Estimation of his Talents, and you would be Sensible, even more than you now are, how much the common Cause of France and America is indebted to them: The inestimable Fruits of the Alliance might at least have been greatly injured, had the Service, to which he was appointed, been committed to a common hand. Hence arose the Asperity with which the Name of the Count d’Estaing has been treated in some British publications. Such a Protector of the New Alliance could not hope to escape the Virulence of its mortal Enemies: and he who draws upon himself Marks of particular hatred from those who most hate an honorable Cause in which he is engaged may wear them in Triumph as a Sanction to his peculiar Merits in that Cause. But the Merits of the Count are not know, even among ourselves, in their fullest Extent; because many are ignorant, as it is proper they should be, of some Circumstances, in which they appeared to the greatest Advantage. Every Body is indeed sensible that under the Auspices of his Prince he has render’d the most important Service, and given new Life to the great Cause of America; but every one is not a sufficient Judge of those critical Moments, and adverse Accidents, which human Wisdom cannot foresee, nor human Power controul; by which great Talents are often tried, and render’d more illustrious to a discerning Eye.

The Count took his Departure from Toulon on the 13th. of April 1778. In the Mediterranean, he was encountered with such contrary Winds, that it was not in his power to pass the Streights of Gibralter ’till the 17. of May. The Calms and light Winds that afterwards attended him on the Ocean prevented the Arrival of his Fleet at the Mouth of the River Delaware before the 7th. of July. After having Chased on Shore the Mermaid an English Frigate of 32 Guns, the Squadron of France entered that River, which is full of Shoals, without a Pilot the Navigation of which is very difficult, even to the People of this Country. The Admiral siezed the first Moment that offerr’d, to acquaint the Congress and General Washington of his Arrival, and the Orders he had received from the King his Master to act in Concert with the forces of the United States against the power of Britain. Before his Letter could reach that respectable Body, they had sent an Express to him, acquainting him with the Advise they had received from Dr. Franklin, and Mr. John Adams Deputies of the United States in France, that an English Squadron consisting of Eleven Ships of the Line had sailed from England destin’d for these Coasts; and at the same time to lay before him, a List of the British Naval Force, then assembled at New York; which was compos’d of    Ships of 64 Guns: one of 70. six of 50. Two of 44, with a Number of Frigates, and other Armed Vessells. Advices so important and so well authenticated, must have greatly embarrassed and shook an ordinary Commander, and Led him in the room of offensive Plans to consult for his own Safety. The Count paid a serious Attention to them, and acted his Part with Prudence, but with great Firmness.

Before he received these Advices, he was informed that the British Forces had Evacuated Philadelphia, and after their Defeat at Monmouth, retired to New York, where their Fleet lay. The Count determined to follow them there, without waiting even for a fresh Supply of Water, much wanted after so long a Voyage; or for those Refreshments that were become necessary to the Health of his Men: Having Anchored in the Evening, after being Eighty seven Days at Sea, He set sail again the next Morning, dispatching at the same time, the best Frigate he had in his Squadron to convey Monsieur Gerrard, the King’s Minister Plenipotentiary, and Mr. Silas Deane to Congress; Who might otherwise have been in Danger, from the British Cruisers, then in the River. A Pilot taken from the Delaware had promised the Admiral that he would convoiy his Squadron into the middle of the harbour of Sandy Hook, Where he might easily obtain a Supply of fresh Water. The Count indulged the pleasing hope of this; tho’ he knew it would bring him before New York, and the whole force of Admiral Howe, already collected there. But the Doubts, the Fears, the Mistakes of the Pilot, before he had reached Sandy Hook, and finally his absolute refusal to perform what he had undertaken, threw the Count into an Embarrassment, more easily conceived than expressed. Not a person had come to him from the Shore: That part of the Jerseys had not then the Reputation of the greatest Zeal for the common Cause: Nothing presented itself to the Squadron of our Allies, unacquainted with our Coasts, but an inaccessible Shore: They were ignorant how far the British Posts which they saw, extended: These Posts were supported by the Fleet ranged within Sandy Hook: The Count too humane, to command what could not be executed, perceived it necessary to reconnoitre the Coast in his own Person. For this purpose he threw himself, into a small Boat, and found the Communication of the River of Shrewsbury, the Navigation of which was so extremely difficult, as to cost him an Officer, many Sailors, and a Number of Boats; and to bring Lieut. Colonel Laurens into the most imminent Danger of being drowned; who was charged with Letters from General Washington: and who proved upon this Occasion that his Patriotism and his Courage could face the Dangers of the Sea with the same Firmness that he had met the Enemies of his Country in the Feild.

The Quantity of Water and other Refreshments that the Fleet of France could obtain in so difficult and hazardous a Situation afforded a very small releif: but while there were any hopes of penetrating to the Ships of the Enemy the General Officers and Captains of the Squadron bravely disregarded the Dangers of their Station; a Station where the English Fleet never dared to remain; where the strong Gales constantly blew upon the Shore, and by burying the Isthmces? of the Hook in the Waves, would almost change it into an Island. Both Officers and Men were supported under all their Wants, and all the fatigues of the Service, by the hopes of delivering America from the Tyranny of the British Flag. The Pilots, which the Care of Col   Laurens and Hamilton had at length procured for the Count, being called together, left no Room for Delusion. These Experienced Men unanimously declared that it was impossible for the Squadron to enter. In Vain did the Admiral offer them an uncommonly large and generous Reward; they gave back the Money after it had been counted out to them, and convinced him that the Condition upon which it was offerred was out of their power.

The Difficult Navigation in the River Shrewsbury greatly endanger’d the Detachment from the Squadron that was on Shore. The Communication between that Detachment and the Fleet was sometimes cutt off for whole Days together. The Biscuit for four Months, which the Ships brought from France was now consumed; their Water was almost spent; they had blocked up New York and the British Squadron there eleven Days; When General Washington Authoris’d by Congress to Concert Military Measures with the Count d’Estaing, between whose Sentiments there was a perfect Agreement, pressed the Count to repair to Newport; the Garrison of which was Augmented at the very Moment, when many Conjectured it would have left the place.

Strong Signs of an approaching Storm obliged the Count to weigh Anchor, so that he must have left his hazardous Station had not the Expedition againt Newport engaged him to do it. The Fleet experienced all that Anxiety which must be supposed to possess the Bosoms of Men, who find themselves at Sea with a very insufficient Quantity of Water. When it appeared off Point Judith, there was the favorable Moment, to have entered Newport; accordingly the Ships were in Order for this, and expecting the Pilots, when General Sullivan acquanted the Admiral that he was not prepared to Act, and desired the Attack might be Suspended. The Count did not hesitate in Complying with this Request; tho’ he knew, that it is a Capital Advantage in Naval Operations to surprize an Enemy, by the Celerity of their Execution; that a Delay might increase the Obstacles to their Design, and afford the British Commanders an Opportunity of Burning the Men of War, and other Vessells, when it should be Evident they were become useless to themselves. I do not however blame General Sullivan for not having made more early Preparations; He had done all on his part, that Time and Circumstances would permit, and is allowed to be an active, as well as a brave Officer. The Count did every thing that could indicate his extreme desire to accomplish the Views of the American General; He stood upon no Ceremonies: He gave him a faithfull Account of the Embarrassments of the Squadron, from the want of water and Provisions; and acted upon all Occasions with a most engaging Frankness and Condescension.

The Attack being suspended, the Count d’Estaing took Measures to make himself Master of the East and West passages of Conanicut and Rhode Island. The Fantusque and the Sagittaire entred the latter, and obliged the Enemy to burn the Orpheus, the Juno and the Lark of 32 Guns: the Cerberus of 28: the Brigantine, the Pigot, and two Transports; at the same time the Frigates L’Alemine and L’Amiable, having entred the East passage, the    Fisher of 20 Guns, the Spitfire of 10, and the Lamb of 6, were also burnt.

On the 8th. of August, the French Squadron entered Newport, through the Fire of all its Batteries; and made preparations for landing 4000 Men to Act in Conjunction with the Troops of General Sullivan, when the Enemy set fire to the Grand Duke, a Ship of two Tier, and sunk before the Town, the Flora of 32 Guns, with about 15 Transports. The Britons had reason to regret so large a Destruction of their Vessells. On the 9th. General Sullivan acquainted the Count D’Estaing, that the Enemy, astonished by his Entrance into Newport, had abandoned their posts on the North part of Rhode Island, and had given him an Opportunity of easily landing his Army from the Continent in that Quarter; and that without waiting for the Day that had been agreed upon, he had already made his Descent upon the Island, tho’ having at that time but 2000 Men with him, he should want immediate Aid.

The Count tho’ again disappointed, and not in the most favorable Situation for a sudden and unexpected Operation, knowing that even Moments are to be improved in War, took every Measure instantly for the Service of the Common Cause; and ordered the Seamen and Soldiers he had landed on Conanicut to follow him to Rh. Island; In that Moment, and without any previous Intimation, the Fleet of Admiral Howe was discovered approaching the Harbour of Newport. It consisted of 36 Sail, 14 of which were of 2 Teir of Guns and came to Anchor before R. Island. This Arrival answered the Hopes of the Enemy, and frustrated the Enterprize of the Allies against Newport. The Zeal of the Count d’Estaing to accommodate himself to the disadvantageous Circumstances of this Expedition which he could not      rendered him less prepared for such an Event. His Squadron was divided for the Service of different Stations: two Ships of the Line were without; two others in the West Channel: three Frigates; Which were all he then had, and a Brigantine, were, at a Distance in the East Channel. It had not been in his power to fortify the Island of Conanicut without disarming his Ships. This Island was an advantageous Post that the British Admiral might have taken Possession of with his Troops. The Count must then have found himself between two fires from the Land, to one or other of which his Ships would have been greatly exposed at a Time when he might expect to combat a Squadron furnish’d with bomb vessels, fireships, and every thing necessary to render it vastly superiour in strength to his own. In this hazardous situation the Count and his Officers, without complaining of those events which had brought them into it, and which certainly could not be imputed to them, prepar’d with alacrity and ardor to encounter the difficulties with which they were surrounded. Fortunately on the morning of the 10th of August, a fresh wind from the north, which rarely happens at that season, gave them an opportunity to go out, and meet the British squadron. Uncertain as they then were of the exact force of this Squadron, which had been join’d by a ship of 74 Guns from that of Admiral Byron, and which they had reason to apprehend was much superior to their own; Uncertain whether the favourable wind might not change and leave their ships expos’d to the British Batteries which had wounded them in their entrance, They were determin’d to pursue their hopes of coming up with the Enemy: Accordingly they cut their Cables, and pass’d in a single Defile, through a much severer fire, and better served than the former. Admiral Howe cut his own cables also, but it was to flee. Every effort was made by the French Admiral to overtake him; and on the 11th when the Count had approach’d the rear of the British Fleet, and was preparing to attack it, a wind arose that by seperating the two Squadrons, at once deprivd him of a promised victory, and America of the brightest prospect she had beheld during the war.

In this storm, which lasted three days, the Admiral’s ship the Languedoc totally dismasted, and her rudder broken, found herself alone upon the sea and reduced almost to an immoveable Mass. The Marseilles of 74 Guns suffer’d at the same time greatly, tho’ not equally with the Languedoc: The Caesar, of the same force was also seperated from the fleet, and had a severe and bloody engagement with a British Man of War, The fruits of which she was prevented from reaping by the approach of several ships of the enemy. Such events in Naval affairs, human prudence indeed cannot prevent, But the firmness of the Count d’Estaing knew how to support and repair. Having collected the greater Part of his squadron, the necessity of immediately making for some port where he might obtain adequate supplies, and his shatterd ships be repaired in the best and most expeditious manner, appear’d indispensable. This could not be expected at Newport; Boston was upon all accounts the most convenient place for such a purpose; and to that harbour the wishes of the whole fleet in their present exigencies were directed. But the Count d’Estaing had given his word to return to Rhode-Island; and was desirous to explain to our Forces there the situation of the fleet, and the measures it unavoidably obliged him to take: He hoped at the same time that his appearance again before Newport, tho’ he could remain there but a very short time, might disconcert the Enemy, and facilitate either an immediate attack upon the place, if that was practicable, or an early retreat of our forces. In vain was it suggested to the Count, that such a step could be of no important service to the American Army, and would only encrease the difficulty of repairing to Boston: In vain was he reminded that part, at least, and probably the whole of Byron’s Fleet had arrived on these Coasts. He fulfill’d his word, and in doing so, he performed the last Service it was in his power to render to the army of the united States employ’d against Newport. Had he remained there, from the vast superiority of the united British Squadron, the raising the siege of that place might have been accompanied with the loss of his whole fleet. Upon his arrival at Boston, such was his condescencion, such his Zeal for the common cause, that he offer’d to go with his handful of Troops to Rhode Island, and serve in person under General Sullivan.

The uncommon Prudence of the Count d’Estaing while he remain’d upon these coasts, amidst all his well known courage and martial Fire happily served to establish and cultivate the new alliance at a very critical time: It employed his Ships in the best manner, and for the most essential services that circumstances would allow: It brought them all collected to these shores, after a long and difficult Voyage, while those of Admiral Byron were scatter’d, and arriv’d one after another. It conducted them in safety through many dangers upon a coast, new to the Count and his Officers, and on which the Britons lost the St Alban, and other ships of importance: It finally eluded Admiral Byron, who with a superior force watched the departure of the French Fleet to the West Indies, and without being able to give it the least disturbance, lost the Shrewsbury on the shore of Cape Cod. Thus did the Vigilance and Firmness of the Count d’Estaing, after he had done so much for the common cause in this quarter, preserve his Squadron for the most important services in another: upon these I do not mean to enter, confining myself to those perform’d here in 1778. The very sound of his coming to our Aid occasion’d the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British Army: His Presence suspended the operation of a vast British force in these States by sea and land; It animated our own Efforts; It protected our Coasts and Navigation, obliging the Enemy to keep their men of war and Cruizers collected, and facilitated our necessary supplies from abroad; By drawing the powerful Squadron of Admiral Biron to these seas, it gave security to the Islands of France in the west Indies, an equilibrium to her naval power in the channel, and a decided superiority in the Mediterranean. These Services of the Count d’Estaing, however his subsequent ones may be thought to surpass them in Brilliancy, can never be forgotten in France or America; The Annals of both Nations will do justice to them, and consecrate to fame the distinguished character and actions of this great Commander.

I have the Honour to be &c.