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in by an assignment of them, as if they were ready money. Your letter to Colonel Finnic will go to Williamsburg immediately. Those to Congress, with a copy of the papers enclosed to me, went yesterday by express. I will take order as to the bacon you mention. I fear there is little of it, and that not capable of being long kept. You are surely not uninformed, that Congress required the greater part of this article to be sent northward, which has been done. I hope, by this time, you receive supplies of beeves from our commissary, Mr. Eaton, who was sent three weeks or a month ago, to exhaust of that article the counties be low, and in the neighborhood of Portsmouth ; and from thence, was to proceed to other counties, in order, as they stood exposed to an enemy.
The arrival of the French West India fleet (which, though not authentically communicated, seems supported by so many concur ring accounts from individuals, as to leave scarcely room for doubt,) will, I hope, prevent the enemy from carrying into effect, the embark ation they had certainly intended from New York, though they are strengthened by the arrival of Admiral Rodney, at that place, with twelve sail of the line and four frigates, as announced by General Washington to Congress, on the 19th ultimo. The ac counts of the additional French fleet, are varied, from sixteen to nineteen ships of the line, besides frigates. The number of the latter has never been mentioned. The extracts of letters, which you will see in our paper of this day, are from General Washing ton, President Huntington and our Delegates in Congress to me. That from Bladensburg, is from a particular acquaintance of mine, whose credit cannot be doubted. The distress we are experien cing from want of leather to make shoes, is great. I am sure you have thought of preventing it in future, by the appointment of a commissary of hides, or some other good regulation for saving and tanning the hides, which the consumption of your army will afford.
I have the honor to be, with all possible esteem and respect, Sir, your most obedient, and
most humble servant,
TH: JEFFERSON.
