JOHN ADAMS.

_P. S._ Mr William Lee is at Frankfort, where a letter from you may
possibly find him, but his stay there is very uncertain.

* * * * *

FROM THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO WILLIAM BINGHAM, AT
MARTINIQUE.

York, 16th April, 1778.

Sir,

Herewith you have a copy of what I did myself the pleasure of writing
to you, on the 2d of last month; since which time we have received
your favors of January 14th and 26th, February 8th and 21st. Your
draft of L23,554. 9s. 9d. in favor of the Secret (now Commercial)
Committee, has been duly paid. The four first charges in your account
current, like many other sums on similar occasions here, have been
expended to no sort of profit to the Continent; but I hope we have
seen the last of such expenses. Your situation must have been very
disagreeable indeed, in consequence of the failure of remittances from
hence. Large quantities of tobacco have been long stored; but our bays
and coasts are so infested by the enemy's ships of war, that it is
impossible for us to conduct agreeably to our earnest wishes, of
maintaining the best credit in our commercial concerns abroad. It is
probable, that a commercial board, not members of Congress, will be
very soon established; so that the whole time of the conductors may be
spent in exertions for the public benefit, in that branch of
Continental business.

The want of intelligence from our Commissioners at Paris, makes it
improper for us to draw largely on them at present; therefore, you
must content yourself with the economical bounds of the power, which
is given to you by the within resolve of Congress of this day. Be
assured, that all possible attempts will be made for your relief, by
remittances of our produce.

I find it impossible to convey to you anything of a plan of operations
for this campaign. The enemy, having the sea open to them, must have
the lead in military matters; we must oppose, or follow them, just as
they think fit, either to attempt an advance or to retire. It is
hardly probable they will again attack New England without large
reinforcements.

Our correspondent at the Hague is very regular, but his intelligence
is never in season to form the ground of any of our proceedings. We
have packets from him in continuance to the letter Y, December 16th,
though our Commissioners