Chapter M: De Marbois to the President of Congress

Translation.

Philadelphia, July 9th, 1781.

Sir,

The undersigned, _Charge d'Affaires_ of France, has the honor of informing Congress, that the Count de Barras, commander of his Majesty's squadron stationed on the coasts of the Thirteen States, labors at this moment under an urgent necessity of completing his crews. The diseases, which have prevailed on board of this squadron, the battle in which it has been engaged, a long absence from the ports of the kingdom, and the manoeuvres employed by many individuals to excite the French sailors to desertion, are causes, which have diminished in a considerable degree the number of those, who were employed on board of this squadron. The undersigned is instructed to communicate these circumstances to Congress. The French commander thinks, that if he may be authorised by the Legislatures of the New England States to impress French sailors, and to remove them from the different vessels, in which they may be found, he will very soon be enabled to remedy the diminution of numbers, which he has experienced.

MARBOIS.

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