Page:Memoir, correspondence, and miscellanies, from the papers of Thomas Jefferson - Volume 1.djvu/231

 215

call any other to the office, who was likely to answer our wishes in the exercise of it.

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of the highest respect, your Excellency s

most obedient and

most humble servant,

TH: JEFFERSON.

LETTER L. TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Richmond, March 28, 1781. SIR,

I forward to your Excellency under cover with this, copies of letters received from Major General Greene and Baron Steuben, which will give you the latest account of the situation of things with us and in North Carolina.

I observe a late resolve of Congress, for furnishing a number of arms to the southern states ; and I lately wrote you on the subject of ammunition and cartridge paper. How much of this State, the enemy thus reinforced, may think proper to possess themselves of, must depend on their own moderation and caution, till these supplies arrive. We had hoped to receive by the French squa dron under Monsieur Destouches, eleven hundred stand of arms, which we had at Rhode Island, but were disappointed. The ne cessity of hurrying forward the troops intended for the southern operations, will be doubtless apparent from this letter. I have the honor to be, with the greatest respect, your Excellency s.

most obedient and*

most humble servant,

TH: JEFFERSON.

L E T T E R L I. TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Richmond, March 31, 1761. SIR,

The letters and papers accompanying this, will inform your Excellency of the arrival of a British flag vessel with clothing, re-