Sir,

I do myself the Honor to address this Letter to your Excellency by Mr. Paul Allen, my Son in Law, who makes a Voyage by my Permission to Guadeloupe, to purchase Powder and other Articles for the use of the Colony. I beg Leave to recommend him to your Notice and entire Confidence, with Respect to the Affairs of America. The Contest between the Colonies and Britain, hath at Length arisen to so great a Heighth, that all Hopes of Accommodation are at an End ー It must be decided by Arms. I Shall not trouble Your Excellency with a Detail of the Injuries, which have compelled us to have Recourse to the Sword. I will only Say that our Resistance is perfectly justified by Charters, and the fundamental Laws and Principles of the British Constitution ー We have Men, Provisions, and everyThing necessary to the War, excepting Powder, and Some other warlike Stores. The Policy and Influence of Britain hath hitherto prevented our obtaining a Supply of those Articles adequate to our Wants. It certainly cannot be inconsistent with the Interest of France to furnish the Colonies for their Money, even Supposing She Should not interfere in the War ー Exclusive of the Trade carried on by these Colonies to other Parts of Europe, our Imports from Britain amounted annually to about three Millions of Pounds Sterling, and our Exports to a still greater Sum ー Britain hath now lost it never to be regained ー We look towards France as the Nation best capable of carrying on this Commerce, which will be So beneficial to her as well as to the Colonies. I Submit these Matters to Your judicious Consideration and remain with the most perfect Esteem and Respect &c  Permit me to continue my Assurances, that I am [&c.]