It is not simply from being a Member of the Committee of Foreign Affairs that I take the Liberty of troubling you; my Curiosity to have Access to all the Sources of Knowledge in publick Affairs, is a further Apology. For this I confess I have a boundless Thirst and Eagerness.

A Vessel, lately arrived to the Eastward, reports to have spoken with the Confederacy on the Coast of France, and I indulge myself with the Confidence that you are safely arrived there, and have also reached the last Stage of your Destination: for your Success at which it must be the Inclination, Interest and Duty of every good American to pray.

The general Complection of Affairs here is favourable: The Subject of Finance constitutes our principal, if not only, Embarrassment. To this, I know your early Attention will be turned, and, it is to be hoped, strenuous Efforts at Home, with the Assistance of our Friends abroad, will in a little Time surmount it.— No military Event of much Notice has taken Place since the unsuccessful Attempt upon Savanna in Georgia by the allied Forces under Count D’Estaing and General Lincoln, in which we were so unfortunate as to lose the gallant Count Pulaski,1 with other brave Officers and a Number of Men. From this however the Enemy have not derived any Advantage besides keeping Possession of the Town and a small Scope around it, for they have not occupied one other Post more interiour in that Country. I believe they suffered severely. By Dispatches, dated 23 December last, from Augusta, the present Capital of Georgia, and received the 3d inst we are informed that the Government of the State, for some Time dormant or rather annihilated, is again organized and in Operation. George Walton, Esqr I think formerly known to you, is Governour; the Legislature and Executive are in plenary Exercise of their several Duties; and Delegates are appointed to Congress, though not yet arrived here. The Sentiments of the People are resolute and decided; measures are taken to recruit their Troops, and the Conclusion of their Letter to Congress is, that “in the Fall and Wreck of the Union only, and total Extirpation of their State, will they fall and perish.”—2 A large Embarkation took Place at New York about Christmas, said to be six or eight Thousand confidently reported and beleived to be destined to the Southward. Sir Henry Clinton and Lord Cornwallis have both sailed, and General Knyphausen commands in New-York.3 This is the Intelligence, but whether Sir Henry is gone with the Troops or to Europe is not ascertained, nor have we heard any Thing of the Fleet since it sailed. Many suppose that the Weather which was uncommonly stormy for some Time after their Departure, must have altered their Course by the West-Indies. To put the Southern Army in Condition to oppose so formidable a Force, the whole NorthCarolina and Virginia Troops have been detached from hence, and Bodies of Militia called in the Southern Country. The Arrival of these Succours as soon as was calculated and as early as they may be wanted is a Matter of some Doubt from the extraordinary and continuing Rigour of the Winter—

It is clear the Enemy mean to bend a pointed Effort against the Southern States, and if possible to pare us down by trying this Extremes; but, I hope, they will find other use for their Time and Hardihood than plundering and desolating the Country, as in multiplied Instances they have heretofore done.— Accounts from the Floridas, which seem to wear every Mark of Credibility, except that they do not come through the official Line of Comunication, say that the Forces of His Catholick Majesty are in Possession of the Town and Garrison of Pensacola, and that operations against St Augustine are well forward. Land-passage being at this Time extremely scarce, difficult and tedious, you will probably have pretty near as early authentick Intelligence in Europe, as we here.4 As to Navigation, the Delaware has been shut up since the 20th December last, and a Passage for loaded Waggons more than a Month. The News if true will draw deep in our Favour.

The Main Army is hutted for the Winter in the Vicinity of Morriston in New Jersy: a strong Garrison under the Orders of General MacDougall is at West point: General Heath comands the Posts at the Highlands; and a small Garrison occupies Rhode Island since it was evacuated by the Enemy. The Papers sent by the Comittee of foreign Affairs will give you the other current News.

Governour Livingston and Family are well by Letters lately from him.— The Vermont Business just come on.—5 My best Compliments to Mrs. Jay and beleive me Your Excellency’s Most obedt Servant