[Extract]

I feel I must send to you, Sir, in secret, the observations which Count de Vergennes has just addressed to me by letter, a copy of which is attached in consequence of a note which reached me from Dunkerque regarding trade in the English colonies.² I leave up to you the methods which you will use to best insure that American ships bound for the colonies do not transport war supplies. I only recommend that you exercise the greatest reserve so that no one may become aware of them, or that these precautions come to be known outside.