P. Moreau to General Washington

v4:1202

Providence, February 19, 1776.

MY GENERAL: I take the liberty to write to you, to acquaint you that I am charged with a letter for you from Mr˙ De Santerre, Captain of Grenadiers, now at Cape François, in the Island of San-Domingo, by which you will see his intention concerning these Colonies. I have sent this letter to Governour Cooke, who promised to send it to you immediately. I am much afraid that he has not explained his sense in these letters. I have determined to remark in mine, that he has made no mention of the quantity of powder which he makes account to send; but here is what he told me on this subject:

If in case you accept of his offer of service to come here, and that you will have the complaisance to write to him, before receipt of your letter, he intended writing to France, to have twenty thousand weight of powder: eight days before my departure, he had sent for ten thousand pounds, which will probably arrive within a month or six weeks from this time.

You cannot, sir, be acquainted with this gentleman, who must be very useful in this country, from his knowledge in war. He has served, with great credit, twenty-four years, in France; he has acquired the Cross of St˙ Louis; he does not wish to come to this country to make a fortune, for he enjoys an ample one in France, of one hundred and fifty thousand livres, close to the water: his intention is to gain honour. This, sir, is his aim, which will probably fix him for the rest of his days in the rank of one of your citizens, if his life is not sacrificed in your service.

I have the honour to be, &c˙,

P˙ Moleau.

To General Washington.