I have looked with anxious impatience my dear count, for those dispatches from your court, the arrival of which to you was to be the moment of our interview at Phila. I have been in such dayly expectation of this event that I have not Ventured more than fifteen miles from this place Lest your summons should arrive here in my absence. the season of operating in this quarter is flying away rapidly and I am more and more embarrassed in determining on the measure which are proper to be pursued. if the aids which designed for us by your Generous nation are sufficiently powerfull and arrive in season to warrant the enterprize of New York, not a moment should be lost in comencing your march this way. on the other hand, if the naval superiority distined by his most Christian Majesty for this coast should be late in coming, or if when it does arrive our force should be judged inadequate to the siege of New york, and our arms are to be edged against charles town as the next object of importance, every step which the french army under your excellency’s command makes this way not only serves to fatigue them but the bagage teams and artillery horses which are provided for the service of the campaign would by such a movement be rendered unfit to perform a march to South carolina hence every other expence incident to this maneuvre would be needlessly increased. in this state of uncertainty, which might also be accompanied by unexpected embarrassments occasioned by the late event in the West indies, I find myself at a Loss to determine upon any thing and could wish our interview to take place even under these circumstances, that We might by a free intercourse of sentiments upon certain hipothesis, mature matters in such a manner as to facilitate any operation to which our force shall be adjudged competent (having regard to the season) when the plan of your court arrives to us: if you approve of such a meeting before you receive your dispatches you have only to inform me of it and I shall attend to your time at Phila. or any other place at the shortest notice. I am at this moment on the point of setting out for allbany on a visit to my posts in the vicinity of that place. My stay will not exceed eight or at most ten days and will be shortened if any dispatches should be received from you in the mean time. With very great Regard & Esteem I have the Honor to be Your Excellency’s Most Obedient and Most humble Servant