[Extract]

Our Worthy Friend Doctor Franklin being indefatigueable in the Service of his Country and few Men so qualify'd to be usefull to the Community of which he is a Member, You will not be surprized that the Unanimous Voice of the Congress of Delegates from the United States of America has called upon him to Visit the Court of France in the Character of one of their Commissioners for Negotiating a Treaty of Alliance &c with that Nation. He is the bearer of this letter and on his arrival will forward it To him we refer you for information as to the Political State of this Country our design in addressing you at this time being only to Continue that Correspondance which he has opened & conducted hitherto with you in our behalf We request to hear from you frequently, [illegible] make use of the Cypher, The Doctor has communicated the knowledge of it to one of our Members. Your letters Via St Eustatia directed to the Committee of Secret Correspondance, then put under a Cover to Mr Robert Morris Merchant in Philadelphia & that letter under Cover to Mr Cornelius Stevenson or Mr Henricus Godet, Merchts at St Eustatia or under Cover to Mr Isaac Governeur Macht at Curracoa, will Certainly come safe & if you can send with them regular supplys of the English and other News papers you will add to the obligation the expence of procuring them shall be reimbursed together with any other charges and a reasonable allowance for your time & trouble in this agency