I am favored with your Excellency’s Letter of the 22d of January, I have attended to your reasoning on the general plan of operations and with all respect to your superior judgment, I cannot help dissenting from you in opinion. It has ever been my opinion that the best mode of defending the center of the United states is to support the extremes. This opinion might be supported from a number of forcible reasons. But besides the reasons which might be brought in support of the measure from the advantages we desire from this plan of operations in preference to any other, we ought to pay some regard to the rights of individuals and the claims of particular states who have embarked in the dispute from full assurances of protection and Support.

I am sorry you put the Legion in motion, if it is not to come directly forward, as it will claim the Enemy’s attention at new york and induce them to detach in consequence thereof.

I see by the British papers and the King’s speech and parliamentary debates that we are still to expect a continuation of the war in america and that the Southern States are to form the Theater.

Since I wrote you before, a detachment of horse and foot of the Enemy from charlestown have been out in St Thomas’s and routed General Marion’s command. They killed, wounded, and took about 20 of our people but retired into Town before your Light troops could reach them, the distance being upwards of 50 miles. on this side they venture not to Shew their heads. general Wayne has burnt the Enemys forage at Savannah close under their noses. I have the honor &ca

I have Received the letter under date of the tenth ultimo, Which your Excellency has done me the honour to write me.

I am Exceeding sorry that my opinion does not coincide with yours respecting the general plan of operations, but I would fain persuade myself that it comes from our not understanding one another right—your opinion is that the best mode of defending the Center of the united States is to suport the extremes [you] would be the same if these extremes covered the center, but as Virginia on the sea side whereby our common Enemy may come into it, Is as much exposed as the other southern States, I do not believe that (Considering the pure intentions of the King my master, which are to give an equal protection and assistance to the thirteen United States of America, whom he is allyed wth) Virginia should be laid open, for the purpose of reinforcing the Southern Army in Carolina, unless there be an absolute Necessity for it—the Resolutions of the English government are not as yet known, but at all Events they will be for carrying on the War either offensively or defensively. if offensively I look upon it very suitable to see upon what part the storm will fall before the french corps be directed toward that place, if the War is carryed on defensively we must wait until we hear from our fleet to know what part either to the North or to the south our offensive Operations will be directed—your Excelly cannot but allow that I would make a very imprudent step to send the french corps in the inland parts of South Carolina if the naval Army comes in this part to carry me to the Northward, I have Sir! the greatest respect for your Opinion, I would feel the greatst pleasure in adhereing to it, it is as well as mine submitted to Genl Washington’s judgement, I have sent him a Copy of your Excellencys letter Dated Decemr 29th and of my answer to it, by the different letters I have received from him since he persists in approving that the legion of Lauzun should not at this moment proceed further than Charlotte Court House—all the news from the English papers even those of new-York seem to give to understand that the Enemy proposes evacuating Charlestown, but I am not give any Credit to that as by your Letter of the 10th of March you do not mention it.

I desire very much, Sir, that the orders of our Common Général, and the Circumstances of this service for the Common Cause Should put it in my power to be more particularly acquainted with your Excellency. I have the honor &c.