[Extract]
Gentn

Herewith you will please to find Triplicate & Copy of my two last Letters to Mr Deane; but as they are adqressed to him in an official Capacity, I have thought proper to place them under your Notice, & Shall in future do myself the honor of directing my Letters in the like manner, as I am informed by my last Dispatches from Congress, that you are jointly appointed Commissioners of the United States of America, at the Court of Versailles.

The Armed Sloop Independence arrived here yesterday in which came Passenger Mr Reed; My Orders from Congress are to facilitate his Passage to you, with the greatest Expedition; Accordingly he embarks this Day in a Vessel bound to Bordeaux; This Gentleman will deliver you the present as also Some Dispatches from Congress, which I was desired to forward to you.

It gives me Pain to acquaint you of the unfortunate Capture of the Ship Seine Capt Morin; She was taken the Evening of her Departure & carried into Dominica, & this Morning I heard of the melancholy News. I am extremely happy that I have taken out of her so considerable & valuable a Part of her Cargo;² What will be the Result of this Affair, I cannot as yet determine. I shall take every Step that Prudence can point out to recover her. If Capt Morin has been Sufficiently cautious in destroying the Letters & Orders which had a Reference to his Voyage to Boston, & has carefully preserved those that respect his Destination for Miquelon, I hope upon a spirited Application from the General, She will be given up. . . .

By the last Letters that I have received from the honble the secret Committee of Congress, they mention that I may expect very large Quantities of Arms, Ammunition, Soldiers Cloathing &c will be Sent out to my Address, In. Order to be forwarded to the Continent, ー & that they shall constantly keep sending out Armed Vessels to receive them ー I seriously recommend to you this Mode of Conveyance, as the most proper to facilitate a Supply of these necessary Articles, & to insure their Safe Arrival ー Very few French Masters of Vessels are acquainted with the Coast of America, & admitting they were, large Ships cannot take the Advantage of running into Small Inlets & Harbors as lesser Vessels may ー Besides all the Continental Vessels sail with skillful Pilots, which greatly lessens the Risk.