[Extract]

I wrote you last post acknowledging the receipt of your letters by Capt Johnston & informing you of my Intentions to proceed to Nantz and there wait the Arival of Capt Johnston ー I am very Sorry to inform you of the Mutiny that has happend amongst my People since my Arrival, they have all refused to go to Sea untill they Received their prize Money; With much threats & a promise that the prize Money should be paid before they left Nantz, have prevailed on them to go to Nantz, but do not expect to get them from there till they are paid, As the time they ship'd for was One Year, which is now expired. I hope you'll be Punktual in giving orders to Mr [Thomas] Morris for paying them as soon as We Arrive in order prevent delays, I think this will be Necessary in order to prevent any dispute between Me and Mr Morris, the People has promised to Continue in the Ship & behave well provided they Receive thier Money & if not, I shall be under the, disagreable Nessesity of Proceeding directly for America with a few [of] the People I Can get to go with me, which will not exceed 30 or 40 Men. I have this day received my certain Orders from Mr Gonet, Commissary of this Port ordering me out this day and not to offer to Cruize or make any Prizes on the French Coast on any pretence whatever. these orders was handed to me to Sign which I refused to do and told the Commissary I would comply with those orders, as far as was Consistant with my orders from the Honble Continental Congress of the United States of America, I told him that I never had Cruized on the Coast of France or Made Prizes on Sd Coast, nor would I do it, I should be glad to Receive your Advice on those different Subjects as soon as possible