To George Washington from P. Moreau, 19 February 1776
From P. Moreau
Providence 19th Feby 1776
My General
I take the Liberty ⟨to⟩ write to you, to acquaint you that I am Chargd with a Letter for you from Mr de santerre Captain of Grenadiers, now at Cape Francois in the Island of San Domingo, by which you will See his intention Concerning these Colonies1—I have Sent this Letter to Governor Cook, who promisd to Send it to you immediatly, I am much affraid that he has not explaind his Sense in these Letters, I have determind 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 & that you will have the Complaisance to write to him, before receipt of your Letter, he intended writing to France, to have 20,000 ⟨wt⟩ of Powder, eight days before my departure, he had Sent for 10,000 lb., 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 24 years in france, he has acquird the Cross of St Luis—he does not wish to Come to this Country to make a fortune, for he enjoys an ample one in france of 150,000 Livers 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 Sacraficed in your Service. I have the honor to be &a
P: Moreau
Copy, translated from the French, in Stephen Moylan’s writing, DLC:GW; ALS, DLC:GW.
The text of the ALS reads: “Je Pran La liberteé, de Vous, Ecrire, Pour Vous faires seavoir que Je suis Chargé de La part de monsieur de santerre Capne de Grenadié Actuellement au Cap francais ille ste Domingue de vous Remetre, une lettres de sa Part par lequel Vous àprandré ses intantion Conçernant Cette Collonie—Je Remis Cette Lettres Che le Gouverneur Couque qui ma Promis de vous La faires Tenir au Plustots Comme Je Crain que Lon, ne vous, Explique Pas Bien Le sens, de la lettres Je me Suis determiné a vous le marqué, dans La mienne il nest Point fait mantion dans La lettres de m. de Santerre de la quantité de Poudre quil Compte Envoyé icy, Mais; Voicy Ce quil ma dit a se Sujet.
“que si au Cas, Vous, agrée ses offres de service Pour Venir icy, & que Vous Eyé la Complesance de lui Ecrire, des quil aura Reçu Votre lettres il Compte Recrire au france, Pour avoir Vingt millié de Poudre huits Jours avant mon de Part Pour Venire icy il En a fait demandé dix millié qui seront arrivé au Cap dans un mois Et demy dicy.
“Mon General Vous Nauré Pas, lieu d’estre mecomptant de Ce monsieur Comme Etant un sujet Tres utille & Tres Entandu, Sous la Guerre il a servi Vingt Quatre an En france Toujours avec honneur ou il a Gannié La Croi de ste Louis.
“il ne vient Point dans se Pei icy Pour i faires sa fortune Pouisquil Jouit En france de Cent Cinquante mille livres de bien du Cotée de sa merre son intantion est de acquèrir, de l’honeur Voila quil Est son Point de vue Peut Estre se fixera, Tille a passer Le Reste de ses Jours au Rang de Vos Cittoyeins et de sacrifié sa vie Sous Votre service. ⟨J ai⟩ Lhonneur daitre Mon General Votre Tres humble & Tres obeist serviteur
P⟨illegible⟩ Moreau”