Mons. Guinard.

"The succour coming from France will be so seasonable and important, that if
America is not wanting to herself, she will have it in her power by the
blessing of heaven, to gratify the utmost of her wishes. His most Christian
Majesty's expectations from us must needs be great; and gratitude to so
generous an ally as well as a due attention to our own safety, interest and
honor, lay us under the strongest obligations to be in readiness to
co-operate with the greatest advantage. I have long been fully sensible of
your most cordial and zealous attachment to our great cause; and to your
personal representation to his Majesty, in addition to the benevolence of
his royal heart, I will take the liberty to attribute his design to afford
us such aid and for so long a time as may put it in our power to employ all
our resources against the enemy.

"It fortunately happened that the General Assembly of this state was sitting
when the letter and inclosures from the committee of Congress came to the
President of the Council.--They were immediately laid before the Assembly
and I have the pleasure to assure you that the filling our battalions by an
immediate draft, furnishing the army with provisions, and every other
measure for the fulfilling of the just expectations of your sovereign and
of Congress, on this most important occasion, are the objects of their
closest attention. I had for several months past been flattering myself
with the prospect of aid. It strongly impressed my mind from one
circumstance which took place when you was at Philadelphia the last year.
But far from certainty, I could only express to some confidential friends
here, a distant hope, though as I conceived, not without some good effect:
at least it seemed to enliven our spirits and animate us for so great a
crisis.