I take the liberty to recommand to your excellency’s care the inclosd letters. they are of the utmost importance for the public & the Marquis in particular; I beg your excellency would be pleas’d to forward them to chevalier de la Luzerne, by a very safe opportunity: if there was at head quarter’s any of the marquis servants, I think it would be safer & quicker, to sent him to philadelphia, if there is not one, I would be much oblig’d to your excellency, for sending those dispatches by an other express to chevalier de la Luzerne who will forward them to the Marquis.

I have the honour of sending to your excellency, portsmouth map, which you desir’d, I want to make an apologie for the delay. I am with great respect your excellency’s the most obedient humble Servant.