George Washington Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-24-02-0294

To George Washington from La Luzerne, 4 February 1780

From La Luzerne

Philadelphie le 4. fevrier 1780.

Monsieur

L’année derniere une Compagnie, à la tete de laquelle se trouve M. Duer a proposé au Ministere du Roi de fournir à la Marine françoise des Bois de Construction et des matieres. Ces offres étant de nature à mettre dans nos mains de nouveaux moyens d’accroitre nos Forces Navales ont été bien acceuillies; mais les Circonstances n’ont pas permis d’Exécuter le plan qu’on avoit fourni de Faire descendre ces Bois jusqu’à la Mer par la riviere du Nord. Cette même Compagnie fait aujourd’hui des offres d’une execution plus Facile quant aux transports de ses bois jusqu’à la Mer. Elles consistent a tirer des Forets situées sur les parties supérieures de la Delaware et à les conduire par eau jusqu’à philadelphie, avant le mois d’octobre prochain. Votre Excellence verra par la Copie d’une lettre ci-jointe de M. Duer quelles sont les difficultés qui s’oposent à L’Exécution de son plan, et la maniere dont il pense qu’on pourroit les lever.1 il a désiré que je vous fisse part de ses projets et que je vous Fisse Connoitre L’utilité dont ils peuvent être pour le soutien de la Marine de S.M. Je me suis prété â ses demandes d’autant plus volontier⟨s⟩ que nous ne Saurions en effet trop multiplier les moyens de tenir nos forces navales Sur un pied respectable Quant au desir qu’il a de Faire protéger Ses ouvriers par un détachement de votre armée pendant L’Espace de sept semaines, je n’ai absolument aucune opinion à avoir sur cette Matiere, et vous saurez beaucoup mieux que moi, Monsieur, si L’utilité générale peut se Concilier avec ses demandes.2 Je suis avec un respectueux attachement De Votre Excellence Le très humble et très obeissant serviteur

Le che. de la luzerne

LS, DLC:GW.

1The enclosed copy of a letter from William Duer to La Luzerne, dated at Philadelphia on 24 Jan., reads: “In Consequence of terms communicated to me on the part of the Governement of France, I made a proposal to Monsr Gerard, before his departure from America to supply the marine of his Most Christian Majesty with a certain number of ma[s]ts annually, two Cargoes of which were to have been sent this year at my own risque in order to Enable the Governement of France to determine on the propriety of agreeing to my proposals.

“the Post occupied by the Enemy at peno[b]scot, and the possession of the City of New York having rendered it impraticable for the present to procure a supply From those quarters, I have been induced to Explore the lands on the upper Part of the River Delawar with a vew of ascertaining whither it would not be praticable to obtain there a Sufficient quantity For the Ensuing year.

“on a Report made to me a few days since by an intelligent person whom I have employed on this business, I find that a sufficient Supply may be obtain’d, so as to be Shipt from the port of philadelphia Before the month of October next; but that the state of the Contry, Exposed to the incursions of the indians and the flight of the inhabitants (who have not yet returned to Their habitations) renders it impossible to cut ma[s]ts with security, unless a sufficient Body of troops are Station’d in that quarter to protect the persons Employed in that Business.

“should you, sir, be of opinion that the obtaining the proposed supply of Masts is an objet deserving your attention as Minister of his most Christian Majesty, I submit it to your Judgment, whither it might not be proper to make application for a detachment from the army Consisting of 300. or 400. Men, to proceed to the place where it is proposed to cut the masts, in order to protect the working Parties.

“The place I design to get them from is on Lackewaxing Creek about 50. miles From Easton. Colo. Robt Lettice Hooper at that place will receive Directions From me to supply the Detachment (Should it be granted) with the necessary Guides: any additional Expence which may attend the subsistance of troops in that Quarter I will engage to pay, if judged Reasonable; but I think it necessary to observe that troops stationed in the Quarter I have mentioned will be a great security to the inhabitans of pensylvania, and New Jersey, and Enable numbers who have Fled to return to their habitations, and put in their spring Crops.

“the detachment (if granted) must be on the ground by the seventh day of March next, and Continue till the latter end of april. If from want of obtaining proper Convoy, or other Causes I Should be obstruck’d in the dessign I have formed of Shipping the masts, I Shall procure to Europe, I will Engage to deliver to the agent of the royal Marine of France at this port all the Masts I Shall procure (Exepting Such as Congress may have occasion for) at the Contract prices communicated to me, deducting these from the price of Freight, and Insurance to be Estimated by reputable merchants in philadelphia—and at all events, I will engage to reserve at my own Risque a sufficient nomber of Masts, and Spars for two or three Ships of the Line, to be paid For at the stipulations above mentioned.

“I request the favor of your Determination on this Letter So Soon as possible, as the Success of my operations altogether depends on Dispatch” (DLC:GW).

2GW replied on 15 February.

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