1. The enclosed resolution, dated 31 Jan. and marked “Secret” reads: “Resolved, That the following answer be given to the Communications of the honorable the Minister plenipotentiary of France.

“That Congress entertain the most grateful sense of the unremitting attention given to the interests of the United States by their illustrious Ally, & consider the communications made to them by his Minister under his Majesty’s special command as equally wise and Interesting.

“That the Confidence which they repose in his Majesty in Consequence of his so generously interesting himself in the Affairs of these United States, and of the Wisdom & magnanimity of his councils, determines them to give him the most perfect information in their power of their resources, their views and their expectations.

“That to this end they state as follows—That the United States have expectations on which they can rely with confidence of bringing into the field next campaign an Army of Twenty five thousand effective men Exclusive of commissioned Officers.

“That this army can be reinforced by Militia so as to be in force sufficient for any Enterprizes against the posts occupied by the Enemy within the United States.

“That supplies of provisions for the army in its greatest number can certainly be obtained within the United States; and the Congress with the co-operation Of the several States can take effectual measures for procuring them in such manner as that no Operation will be impeded.

“That provisions also for such of the forces of his Most Christian Majesty as may be employed in conjunction or co-operation with those of the United States can be procured under the direction of Congress, and such provision shall be laid up in Magazines Agreeably to such instructions As his Majesty[’s] Minister plenipotentiary shall give, And the Magazines shall be put under the direction of the Agent of the Marine of France [Jean Holker].

“That Congress rely on the contributions of the States by taxes, and on Monies to be raised on internal loans for the pay of the army.

“That supplies of cloathing, of tents, of Arms and Warlike stores must be principally Obtained from foreign Nations, and the United States must rely cheifly on the Assistance of their Ally for them; but every other means for procuring them are already taken and will be prosecuted with the greatest deligence.

“That the United States with the Assistance of a Competent Naval force would willingly during the next Campaign Carry on the most vigorous Offensive Operations against the Enemy in all the posts Occupied by them within the United States.

“That without such Naval force little more can be attempted by them than straigtening the quarters of the Enemy and Covering the Interior parts of the Country.

“That their forces must be disposed in such manner as to Oppose the Enemy with greatest effect wheresoever their Most Considerable operations may be directed.

“That at present the southern States seem to be their principal Object and their design to establish themselves in one or more of them: But their superiority at sea over the United States enable them to change their objects and Operations with great facility, while those of the United States Are rendered difficult by the great extent of Country they have to defend.

“That Congress are happy to find that his most Christian Majesty gives no credit to the suggestions of the British cabinet relative to the dispositions of the United States or any of them to enter into treaties of Accommodation with Great Britain, and wish his Majesty and all the powers of Europe to be Assured that such suggestions are insiduous and without foundation. That it will appear by the Constitutions and other public Acts of the several States that the Citizens of the United States possessed of arms, possessed of freedom, possessed of political power to create and direct their magistrates as they think proper are United in their determinations to secure to themselves and their posterity the blessings of liberty by supporting the Independence of their Governments and observing their treaties and public engagements with immovable firmness and fidelity: And the Congress Assure his Majesty that should any individual in America be found base enough to shew the least disposition for persuading the people to the Contrary such individual would instantly lose all power of effecting his purpose by forfeiting the Esteem and Confidence of the people” (DLC:GW; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 16:111–14).

La Luzerne had prompted this resolution with a memorial to Congress dated 25 Jan. that announced French wishes to pursue “the war with vigour” and to devise “a plan of common operations” (JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 16:87–89; see also Steuben to GW, 26–30 Jan. 1780). On 26 Jan., Congress appointed a committee of seven members to receive the memorial and confer with La Luzerne (see JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 16:89–90). After their meetings, the committee reported to Congress a summary of their discussions, including Britain’s reluctance to recognize America’s independence, British efforts to instigate a war between France and other European powers, potential secret treaties between various European powers and Britain, and the French king’s wish for an alliance between the United States and Spain (see JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 16:102–9, 111–16).

2. The enclosed resolution on Lafayette’s return, dated 16 May, reads: “Resolved, That Congress consider the return of the Marquis de la Fayette to America to resume his command in the Army as a fresh proof of the disinterested Zeal and persevering attachment which have justly recommended him to the public confidence and applause, and that they receive with pleasure a tender of the farther services of so gallant and Meritorious an Officer” (DLC:GW; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 17:432).

On 14 May, GW’s aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton had written New York delegate James Duane that Lafayette “wishes Congress to pass some resolution of thanks and to recommend him to their Minister in France” (NNGL, on deposit at NNPM). On 16 May, Lafayette wrote Huntington imploring him to “present Congress with a New assurance of My profound Respect.” He also expressed a wish “for opportunities of indulging” his “Unbounded Gratitude” and “Patriotic Love” for America (Lafayette Papers description begins Stanley J. Idzerda et al., eds. Lafayette in the Age of the American Revolution: Selected Letters and Papers, 1776–1790. 5 vols. Ithaca, N.Y., 1977-83. description ends , 3:13).

3. Enclosures included two resolutions dated 20 May—one regarding troop quotas, and the other concerning joint operations with the French. The first reads:

“Resolved, That the several States be earnestly requested to forward their Quotas of Troops to join their respective Corps of the Army as soon as possible” (DLC:GW; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 17:442, and Huntington to GW, 10 Feb., and n.1 to that document).

The other reads:

“Resolved, That the Marquis de La Fayette be requested to Make such Communications as he has to offer relative to the Military Operations of the Fleet and army of his Most Christian Majesty in America to the Commander in Cheif of the American Army.

“Resolved, That the Commander in Cheif after having received the Communications of the Marquiss De la Fayette, take such measures for carrying on the Operations of the Ensuing Campaign, as will effectually promote the purposes mentioned in the Answer given to the Communications of the Honorable the Minister plenipotentiary of France on the 31st day of January last.

“Resolved, That the Committee at Head Quarters be requested to Confer with the Honorable the Minister of France on the Means of supplying the forces of his most Christian Majesty in case of their arrival in America and to report thereon to Congress.

“Resolved, That the same Committee collect the Intelligence requested in the communications of the Chevalier de La Luzerne, And that they be for that purpose empowered to establish correspondence with the Governors of any of the United States or such other persons as they may think proper; And that they lay such intelligence before Congress” (DLC:GW; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 17:442–43).

The reference to “the Committee at Head Quarters” is erroneous. As Huntington made clear in his letter to GW of 29 May, the document should have read “the Committee who brought in the report.” This resolution resulted from a committee appointed on 17 May to consider La Luzerne’s letter to Congress of 16 May. For that committee’s consultations with La Luzerne, see JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 17:466–68, and Robert R. Livingston to Philip Schuyler, 26 May, in Smith, Letters of Delegates description begins Paul H. Smith et al., eds. Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774–1789. 26 vols. Washington, D.C., 1976–2000. description ends , 15:197–98; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 16:106–9. Huntington had forgotten to enclose La Luzerne’s letter (see Huntington to GW, 29 May, and the enclosure printed with that document).

4. Huntington is referring to the congressional resolution of 19 May that gave additional powers to the Committee at Headquarters, with GW’s advice, to expedite and expand the procurement of supplies “in case of any extraordinary emergency.” The authorization given the committee lasted only sixty days from the date of the resolution’s passage (DLC:GW; see also JCC description begins Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789. 34 vols. Washington, D.C., 1904–37. description ends , 17:437–41, and Huntington to GW, 29 Feb., n.2).

5. No letters of 15 or 16 May from GW to Huntington have been found. Huntington likely meant two letters from GW dated 13 May (letter 1; letter 2) that were read in Congress on 15 and 16 May.