You will receive enclosed copies of our letters of the 21st and 30th of December, and of the resolves of Congress accompanying them. It concerns us not less than we are sure it will you, that you should have heard so seldom from us, but the vigilance of the British cruisers has prevented our most earnest solicitude for this purpose. The manner, in which they now conduct their business, proves the necessity of the request made by Congress for the loan or sale of a few capital ships. The entrance into the Delaware and Chesapeake being narrow, by placing one forty or fifty gun ship for the protection of their frigates, they stop both our commerce and correspondence. Formerly their frigates protected their tenders, but now that we have frigates, their larger ships protect their frigates, and this winter has been so uncommonly favorable, that they have been able to keep the sea, undisturbed by those severe gales of wind so usual off this coast in the winter season; if we had a few line of battle ships to aid our frigates, the commerce of North America, so beneficial to ourselves and so advantageous to France, would be carried on in spite of the opposition of Great Britain. As we have not received any of those military stores and clothing promised by Mr Deane, we have much reason to fear, they have fallen into the enemy's hands, and will render a fresh supply quite necessary. Except Mr Deane's favor of September 17th, which is but just now received, and that of October 1st, we have been as destitute of European, as, we fear, you have been of true American intelligence.