a Bord de La fregatte len gageante ce 9 aoust 1778
Monsieur
hier en soir jai recu la lettre que vous m’avois fait lhonheur de mecrirent en conse-quence des ordres que jai de m[r.] le comte d’estaing avec les autres freg[attes] de proteger est favoriser vostre de[scente] mes je dois vous observer qu’il ser[ait] neces-saire de me faire preveni[r un] peu plus davance pour pouvoir prendre des mesurent justes cependant après la lettre que je vient de recevoir de vostre par je vais donner des ordres pour apparallier quoique la maree soit contraire$$jai L’honneur daitre [&c.]
le cher de gras preville
[Translation]
On board the frigate Engageante this 9 August 1778
Sir, Yesterday evening I received the letter that you did me the honor of writing. In conse-quence of orders that I received from M. the Count d’Estaing with the other frigates to protect and favor your landing, I should observe to you that it would be necessary to alert me a little earlier in order to be able to take appropriate measures, however after the letter that I have just received from you, I am going to give orders to weigh anchor, even if the tide is contrary. I have the honor to be [&c.]
The Chevalier de Gras Preville
L, NHHi, Gen. John Sullivan Papers. Addressed: “A Monsieur/Monsieur le general/Sullivan comandant en/chef des forces americaine/dans son corquier general.” Docketed: “Captn. Preville the/9th. Of Augt./78.”