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Honored Sir

You may possibly be surprised at my addressing you from Paris, Cap. Larkin Hammond in the Jenifer Packet with Dispatches from Congress at Baltimore to our Commissioners here arrived at Nantes the 11th Instant, left Baltimore the 14th January and the Capes of Virginia the 4th February bringing accts as late only as the 9th January, the Date of his last Letter in Congress, and Cap. Hammond not speaking a word of french, my friends at Nantes requested me to come with him to Paris for the Security and Dispatch of the .Intelligence, which I, willing to throw in my mite in whatever part of the World I may happen to be ー immediately and cheerfully agreed to. Here I wait only for the Dispatches for Congress, with which, as soon as ready, I shall proceed to Nantes, from whence Cap. Hammond will sail with the first favorable wind

Our affairs at this Court bear a very favorable aspect Cap. Wickes, who brought Doctor Franklin to France, brought in at the same time 2 Prizes, to negociate the sales of which I was appointed and can therefore speak with Certainty. The Intention of Cap. Wicke's cruizing on this Coast & bringing his prizes into French ports was to oblige the French either to assist us openly, or as openly tell us they would not. I therefore the more essentially to effect this purpose ー sold them at the Risque of the Seller obliging him to refund the Purchace money in Case the Government upon a Reclamation by the former owners, should order the prizes so sold to be restored. They have been reclaimed, and have been slighted without any answer. Cap. Wickes went out again & in less than 5 weeks brought in 5 other prizes among which was the Lisbon Packet, which fought him 45 minutes: These are all sold and the packet being immediately the King's Property, is so gross an affront by this Kingdom that England surely cannot Pocket it. She is fitting out a large fleet altho they find it exceedingly difficult to man it, and tis beyond doubt believed that as soon as they can put to sea with a tollerable Fleet that War will be declared on France by England. The French are ready. When I am on this subject it will not be mal apropos to mention a part of a conference which happened four days since between My Lord Stormont the English Ambassador here and the Count de Vignes [Vergennes], Minister of foreign Affairs, in the course of which My Lord remonstrated against a great number of French officers daily going to America, many of which decamped with His Majesty's permission, and concluded by saying such proceedings would most undoubtedly produce War, to which the Count made the following fine Answer so consistent with the fine Politics of this Court. Nous ne desirous pas La Guerre, avec L'Angleterre, et nous ne craignous pas. We desire not War with England, nor do we fear it. This may give you a clear Idea of the Situation of our affairs here. It may be depended on as a fact, as I had it myself from Doct. Franklin when dining with him the other day about a League from Paris.

I hope Cap. Stockes in the Brigantine Sally whom I despatched the 2d January with a most valuable cargo may be safely arrived before this