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Agrees with Rochambeau's plan to send an expedition to Chesapeake Bay, and informs him that Lafayette is already at the head of the Bay, waiting for him there. He also gives news of the march of Lord Cornwallis' army to Virginia.

Expresses his regret that the Chesapeake expedition under Destouches has been so unfruitful, and calls for action in the South. He thanks Rochambeau for the settlement of the Price loan in specie, and condemns the conduct of Holker.

Regards Robert Morris' proposal for the furnishing of supplies to the French army. He praises Morris' measures for the establishment of American credit.

Reply to a complaint of Rochambeau that his army was being overloaded with medical corpsmen.

Approval of the measures taken for the defense of Newport. The enclosed postscript states that Rochambeau's dispatches are personally examined by the King, and that the King had found them difficult to read because of Rochambeau's practice of putting short passages in code throughout the letter.

Information to Rochambeau concerning the vessels in which the money promised is being shipped.

Further discussion of transport for the troops in Virginia. He informs Rochambeau that he will keep the fleet only a few days longer in Chesapeake Bay, and will then have to depart.

Concerns the arrangements for the accommodation of the French fleet. The first two lines of the letter are in the handwriting of Lafayette.

Concerns Major André and his execution. The postscript mentions an enclosed letter to Dr. Franklin. The present letter as printed in The Writings of George Washington, ed. by John C. Fitzpatrick, vol. 20, p. 151, does not include the postscript.

Concern about Captain Peter Landais, who had commanded the Pallas during John Paul Jones' battle with the Serapis. He also expresses concern about a report of letters being intercepted by the Tories, and encloses a letter written on the 21st that he feared was among them. (The copy mentioned is not present.)