[Extract]

. . . 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 Cruizers 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 40 or 50 Gun Ship for the protection of their frigates they Stop both 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 maugre the opposition of Great Britain. As we have not received any of those military stores and cloathing 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 1st October we have been as destitute of European News as we fear you have been of true American intelligence . . .

The regular troops that are to compose the new army are making up in the different States as fast as possible; but arms, artillery, tent cloth, and cloathing will be greatly wanting. For these our reliance is on the favor of his most Christian Majesty. If you are so fortunate as to obtain them, the propriety of sending them in a strong ship of war must be very evident to you, Gentlemen, when you know our coasts are so covered with Cruizers from 20 to 50 guns, though but few of the latter. We believe, they have not more than two ships of 40 and two or three of fifty guns in their whole fleet on the North American Station; and these are employed, one of them to cover a frigate and two at the capes of each bay, whilst the rest remain at New York.