[Extract]
Dear Sir

this night will doe me that honour I have at last with some certainty discovered the intended voyage of Nicholson, Weakes, & Johnson, they have all sail'd from Nantes, and mean if Possiable to intercept some of your transports with foreign troops, but in what Place or latitude cannot say, this plan has been laid long while, & the original one was, that Capt Conyngham who brought the Packet into Dunkirk some days since, should have interup'd the transports when they were crossing the channel for England as they had no Convoy for protection of same, but the plan was laid aside, as they could not purchase a Vessell of sufficient force, ー a Mr [William] Hodge has been the acting Person on this occasion, he fitted out Capt Conyngham[s] Vessell, & he tells me he has got another of much larger force, therefore it behoves you to be very Carefull and keep a constant watch on him, I don't immagine she will sail from Dunkirk but 'twill be from some of the Neighbouring Ports ー this Affair has made a great noise here, & I believe you may depend on haveing the same delivered up, ー [William] Carmichael was with Murepas at Varseilles on Sunday last, but from what he tells me, they are much displeased at Capt Conynghams carrying the prizes into Dunkirk, they say if he had brought them into Havre or any other Port, it would not have been taken notice of here, however as matters stand, if Lord Stormont makes a formal demand the same will be return'd, unless they should be so wanton as to burn them which have heard hinted here, but cannot immagine 'twill be done ー

For God sake be carefull of your Packets which pass from Dover to Calais, as their is a Plan laid of intercepting them ー this I have heard hinted, and doubt not but the attempt will be made, therefore the Officers of Packets ought to have strict orders to sink the mail immediately on the approach of any vessell that carries the Appearence of a Rebel privateer. I only mean to give my advice, & with the greatest submission say, it ought to be adopted, but must submit it to your better Judgment . . . the Same Vessell brings an Account of the keel of 74 Gun ship being laid in New England and orders for several more, to be put on the Stocks immedeately . . .