after a passage of 5 Days [from El Ferrol] I dropt Anch'or the 27th in Port Lorient, & being Sufficiently Acquainted with a Few Gentlemen, I made every Necessary Inquiry Respecting my outward bound Cargoe' and Nearly found my self in the Like situation as in Spain, Differing only in Two points ー First a free Exportation of saltpeter to holland in any Bottom, But american ー Second Nants had a peculiar privilege, over every other part of France, to the Coast of Gunia [Guinea] where all kinds of Millitary stores, is Lookt on as a Necessary article in Trade & any Quantity, could be Exported in their own Bottoms ー From the Nature of those advantages I was at a Loss which to Imbrace ー to proceed to Nants and Charter a French Vessal to the Coast of Gunia & their Discharge her ー would Naturly Cause Delays & Accumulate a heavy Expence, on the Concern ー to Load my vessal with saltpeter for Holland, & proceed to Philadelp[hia] would answer every purpose of my Voyage ー But in this Case, its not complying with the Tennor of my orders, and in Case of Accident perhaps it may Involve me, into a Law suit ー The Necessity of my Country is greate ー the movements of Fore[ig]n powers very Cautious. after 2 Days this Reflecting, I concluded on the 29th of Septembr, to purchase the Saltpeter, But to my Surprise, no person would take my Bills ー a Report prevailing that all american Creddit was at an End, in England ー in this Situation I put my Bills of Exchange and Messrs Morris & Wineys Letters of Creddit into the Hands of Berard Brothers² ー to Forward them to London for Acceptance ー which in Common takes 22 Days Before, you have advice of their Fate ー But I had prevailed, on them Gentlemen, to Load the Schooner, & in Case all my Bills came Back protested, the Vessal should be Dispatched with her Cargoe & my self to stay as Hostage untill payment Came from America, or Security obtaind for the amount, from my Connections in England ー my affairs Being thus aranged & while Cleaning and prepairing the vessal to Take her Cargoe on Board ー Capt [Charles] Biddle³ arived in the Brigg Chance with Cash & other Credentials, to Load his Vessal on acct of Congress as he was a Stranger I introduced him To Messrs Berard Brothers, with a Request to give them Gentlemen, every Satisfactory Acct of my self & those I were Concerned with ー that in Case the Bills should come Back protested, they still would be safe in any amount, I may Contract with them ー this Being done and the Gentlemen perfectly satisfy'd, the 15th of October I Began to Load & by the 20th every thing Compleated & nothing to prevent my sailing, but the Fate of the Bills ー as I then was at Leasure Capt Biddle & myself, had several consultations with Messrs Berard Brothers, Respecting the Loading of a French ship, & mutually agreed, in Case I would proceed in her my self, they would advance me £ 1200 Sterling on acct of Thomas Mason & Co by the Thirds ー which is agreable to Capt Biddles Declearation on his arival, her[e] & the Timely prepearations of Mr Winey to have this proportion ready against my arivel ー which was prevented by the Following, Viz On the 28th of October advice Came of the Acceptance of all my Bills Except those I had purchassed of Philip Moor[e] in this City, the Deficiencey, on my part amounting to £ 227.19 Sterling agreable to my account Current ー By the same post a Letter Came from the prime minnister of France To the Commedant of the Port to Seaze my Vessel & Discharge her Cargoe ー Being thus situated, with a mind perplexed, put me under the Following Reflections, First, in the morning Early; the Guards will be put on Board & my vessel & Cargoe takeing from me ー To take the Immediate advantage of the Night & Run her out of the Harbour, Between the Close walls of Port Lewis, the Consiquences may be Fatal, by acting Contrary to their Laws in Case I should be Either stopt by their guns or Guard Boats Second ー in Case not & I proceed myself, I Leave a Joint Capital Behind me of £1156.5.3 Sterling ー which of Course, as every thing on the principals of honour was Layd in as a Joint stock, I am Culpable for One Third ー and in Case of Accident to those I Leave it with perhaps I Lay my self open to a prosicution for the whole amount ー Third in Case I stay Behind to Secure this Sum, I must give the Command of my Vessel to another & in Case of Accident on her passage ー what may be the proceeding of my partners appears Dubious ー from the precautious steps of the French, in our Contest ー I have not had it in my power to Comply with the strict Limmets of my Orders & View it in what Light I will ー in Case of Accident, I have But Little Remedy, should they Incline to prosicute me ー with these Reflections ー I acquainted Capt Biddle & proposed, in Case he would accept of the Command of my vessel & proceed to Philadelphia ー On my part I would Exicute his Business Commission Free ー to which he accepted ー and haveing but a Few hours to Spear ー I wrote that Confused Letter To Thomas Mason & Co which was Deliverd by Capt Biddle with the Original Invoice, To Jacob Winey on his arival ー and now amongst my papers ー the Night being Fare advanced, winds and weather Favourable to my Designs, by Day Light in the morning I had the pleasing satisfaction To Leave my schooner 3 miles without the port, in a Boat provided for that purpose ー