(Copy) In Congress/Payment being provided The next thing to be considered is how to convey the Vessels safe to America as there is no doubt but Brittish Cruizers will Seize all American Ships that is employed, if they fall in with them, neither will they spare Foreign Ships if they are met with on the American Coast, should Quebec Grace the American Laurels & by that means all Canada will fall into our hands, it might be well then to have a plentifull supply of Indian Goods brought out [in] a French Ship early next Spring to the Island of Saint Peter or Miquelon, from whence they are ready to run up the River Saint Lawrence as soon as the Naviga[tion] opens, the goods to be Shipped by French Merchants as their own property and consigned by Bill of loading and invoice to a person appearing as their Factor but in reality ours. ー Another parcel of Goods might be Shipped from France this Winter in French bottoms to Cape St Nichola in Hispaniola consigned to an Agent stationed there who can readily provide American Ships to Run them to any part of the Continent, that might be ordered, should it be judged expedient to send any Indian Goods into the River Missisipy, whither French or Americans might be employed to carry them, as the Navigation of that River remains free to both and from New Orleans the goods might be brought in the River as far as Fort Pitt in Batteaus.
[Endorsed by James Brattle] Had not time to Copy all the whole but this is the particulars
Bernard Romans is appointed Engineer of the Fortress in the High lands, he had 50 Pounds a Year from the Crown as Botanist for One of the Florida's.
It is imagined that goods might be had from France nearly as cheap as we have been supplied from England, many Articles indeed are known to be much Cheaper; if orders were sent to France or an Agent employed to go there to Ship a few Thousand pounds worth of Goods from there in a number of Vessels and could not get insurances made thereon in France, the Merchants and Manufacturers would soon taste the Sweets of such a intercourse with us and perhaps it would soon become a National Commerce. I apprehend there would be little difficulty therein and imagine that Vessels loaded from here with our produce for Foreign Markets by order of Congress might be Insured in France as well as Vessels bound from thence to America, if so and only one half of them, or one third should Arrive safe, the Trade would be benificial or at least answer very Valuable purposes.
Resolved that in case any difficulty shall arise or be apprehended in forming the New Army destined for the defence of the Lines at [or] near Cambridge, General Washington be intituled to request the respective assembly & conventions of the Four New England provinces to contribute their utmost aid to compell the Levies which shall be desired.
N.B. This from Governor Tryon who had it from undoubted Authority.
[Enclosed in Captain Parker's letter of December 18, 1775, to Vice Admiral Graves]
