Daniel Carroll to Thomas Sim Lee, 18 March 1781

Philadelphia March 20th. [i.e. 18th] 17811

Dear Sir,

I write this from the Presidents, who is this moment Sending of an express, with intelligence from Genl. Washington of the sailing of the French fleet from Newport on the Evening of the 8th Instant, & of the sailing of the British from Gardiners Bay on the morning of the 10th.

Underneath is a list of the two fleets as I have been informd. We are anxiously expecting intelligence from the Southward. I am, Dear Sir, with great respect, Yr. Excellencys Yr. Most Obt. Ser. Daniel Carroll

State of the French Fleet	Guns	British	Guns
Le Duc de Buorgoyne	80	London	90
Le Neptune	74	Royal Oak	74
Le Conquerant	74	Bedford	74 Note A
Le Eveille	64	America	64 - - B
Le Jason	64	Europa	64
Le Ardent	64	Prudent	64
Le Province	64	Adamant	50
Le Fantasque	64 C		480
	548	difference	68 Guns
			548

Frigates	Guns	Frigates
Romulus	44	Guadalupe	28
La Survellante	32	diffrence	112 & 14
La Gentille	32		140—14
L’ Hermione	32
	140
La Guisse Cutter	14

Note A. The Bedford supposd to be refitted.

B. The America had returnd to Gardiners Bay before the British Saild.

C. Did not sail, being an old Hospital Ship.

Notes

Receiver’s copy, Maryland State Papers (Red Books), Maryland Hall of Records Commission, Annapolis.

¹ Carroll undoubtedly misdated this letter which was written at the same time as Samuel Huntington’s March 18 letter to Lee, for which see the following entry. See also Carroll to Lee, March 20, 1781, note 1.

² This note "C" is in the hand of Lee, who received this information in Carroll’s letter of March 20, ibid.