Gentn

We have Recd the honor of your first letter of the 23d April By Capt [Gideon] Crawford, who arrived at Nantes In the Ship happy Return,² we have made the Best Returns we Could of his Cargo. However we have not Sold to such advantage as we could have wish'd, but we hope nevertheless you will find your account in it, & that you will be Entirely Satisfied with Merchadize we Send you in Return, which Consist of such Articles as the Capt Demanded of us. you may be Assured they are of the first Quality & the Lowest prices having Obtaind them from the first hands.

Oil The Invoice Annexed will Inform you the Sales of your Fish Oil Whale & Charges Staves, you will Also find a State of the Cargo Remitted him, the price & Commission. Another of your Vessells to our address Capt saml Avery In the Ship Sally³ Laden with Refind Fish Oil, Common Oil & whale Oil & Staves, we hope to dispose of his Cargo Immediately & Dispatch him with the goods, he may Demand we Shall be pleasd to hear of his Safe arrival with you.

We pray the Lord to Bless him & Preserve him from Our Cruel Ennemys, As We understand by your Letter you Intend to Send us Vessells this Winter, herewith you have account of Necessary Cargo, Tobacco, Rice, Indigo, Bees Wax undressd Deer Skins, Fox, Skins, Beaver Skins with all Kinds of Furrs that you may have ー hemp, Salt Beef, Iron In Barrs ー Fish Oil, Sperm Oil, a quantity of Staves for Sugar Hhds the Largest you may have

We have agreed or Contracted with the fermiers General of France for Twenty thousand Tons Tobacco. Consequently have power to Enter it Freely in our port of Nantes. if you Can furnish us the whole quantity, it is the Best Cargo you Can Send us, if not, Bees Wax, Rice Furrs. On Each of these Articles I mention you may Speculate with Safety & be Sure they will Come to good market In France. In few days we shall dispatch 2 Vessells to our address from Virginia, also a Vessell we have Load[e]d for the Congress. I do not purpose to Come to your Colonies before the End of your War, my presence in France is much needed for the Operation of Business for the Continent my Place of Residence is at Nantes, it is the most Advantageous port of any in France for your Ships a River that Extends 150 Leagues into the Kingdom which Facilitates the Circulation of any Merchandize whatsoever, In Consequence Large purchases are made of Every kind of Merchandize. these are the Reasons I would Engage you to give this port the preference for your Ships, & that of Mr James Gruel, Island Feydeaux at Nantes.⁴ It is one of the Best houses of this port, & with whom you may safely Confide your Interests, it is Likewise the Only house that has power to Expedite yr Vessells Thus Gentn you may address them all your Vessels & those of your friends whenever they Come Recommended from you, you may be Assured that all those that Come to our Address, will be dispatch'd Imdtly, & we will Serve them as no other Vessell will be ー We have the Facility to procure you all kind of Goods that you may need Dry Goods or Warlike Stores

I Can give you no Account of the Sentiments of France, Concerning your War, I will acquaint you Only, be assured that you do not want Friends here, & that they will not let you want for any thing. We Will put you in a Condition to Support yourselves against your Ennemys, we are In daily Expectation, & In hopes to Forward good Tidings to the Honorable Congress.

How does Our good Capt Wm Rhodes of Providce give my Compts to him & our dear Professor who speaks French, I pray you Remit this Letter to Mr [Nicholas] Cooke. We have the honor to be most Perfectly [&c.]

Pliarne Penet &Co

P.S We Expect Warlike Stores. & Quantity Cloths, Linens, & Blankets &c In order to Dispatch Vessells as quick as possible that they may Return to you before winter is Over I would recommend you Mr Pliarnes Son, if he Should need any thing, he will draw on me ー I pray you forward all my Letters to their Several addressesー