To George Washington from Henry Laurens, 9 October 1778
From Henry Laurens
[Philadelphia] 9th Octr [1778]
Sir
I had the honor of writing to Your Excellency the 2nd Instant by Ross, since which Your Excellency’s several favors of the 29th Ulto & 3d Inst. with the several papers refer’d to have been duly presented to Congress—the former is committed to the Board of War—I have communicated the Extract from Count d’Estaings’ letter to Monsr Girard—Congress have no objection to granting leave of absence to the Marquis of Vienne.1
I have at present only to transmit an Act of Congress of the 2nd Instant for continuing the present Embargo for preventing engrossing provisions, and for other purposes therein mentioned, which Act will accompany this.2 I have the honor to be &c.
LB, DNA:PCC, item 13. The heading of this letter on the manuscript includes the notation: “by Dodd.” For William Dodd’s delay in leaving Philadelphia until 12 Oct. on account of bad weather, see Laurens to GW, 13 October.
1. Congress read GW’s letter to Laurens of 29 Sept. on 5 Oct. and his second letter to Laurens of 3 Oct. on 7 Oct. ( , 12:980, 987). The extract that Laurens communicated to French minister Conrad Alexandre Gérard was from d’Estaing’s letter to GW of 17 Sept. (see GW to Laurens, 29 Sept.). Congress formally approved Vienne’s furlough on 27 Oct. (see , 12:1066).
2. The enclosed copy of Congress’s act of 2 Oct. regarding the extension of the embargo on provisions has not been identified, but see , 12:974–79.