Gentlemen,

I have received the letter which you did me the honour to address to me the 14th ulto, and I have not failed to acquaint the King with the eagerness which the English Colonies of North America evince to establish free and reciprocal commerce with us.

His Majesty appeared to receive with pleasure the assurances of the favourable disposition of the Colonies in that respect and I have no doubt but that, ever intent upon extending the commerce and increasing the happiness of his people, he would be very glad if such an intercourse could be established. But, Gentlemen, as you are fully informed of the state of affairs, you will perceive, better than I, all the obstacles which would hamper this c9mmerce in the present circumstances. The King, owing to the disposition of his States, having no fleet at sea to make his flag respected, those of our vessels which would attempt to reach your country would be exposed to certain loss; and even if we were willing to avail ourselves of a foreign flag there would be always a danger from the British cruisers.

I know of no port in America where our vessels could discharge; and even St Eustatius, offers no sure refuge, since there are not less than 90 English vessels in those waters which would never allow our merchandise to pass, nor yet that which we would take in return.

It would be, then, in my opinion, much more natural that the Colonies, who have the greatest interest in finding an outlet for their surplus products, and in exchanging them for the manufactures which they lack, knowing, besides, by experience all these dangers and the means of obviating them, should, having first succeeded in bringing their vessels into French ports, attempt to trace out for themselves a route to us; to bring us the products that we need and to take in exchange such of our manufactures as may be suitable to them; or else to find some other European port where this reciprocal trade could be freely conducted.

At present this appears to me the only way to set on foot a commercial intercourse between the two nations; but if you, Gentlemen, can furnish me with further explanations and with the means of overcoming the above difficulties, I shall receive them with pleasure and make such use of them as shall be most agreeable to your employers and to the interests of the King my master.

I have the honour to be with the highest respect [&c.]

Berlin 15th March 1777.