Honble Gentn —

Should have wrote you eir this, I had no subject to write upon, knowing you have enough else to do besides reading a Scrawl, which signified nothing. — Yours of the 19th Inst came safe to hand, have to say I have done tolerable well with the French Sailors, many of them finding I would pay them no money have decamped others (some few) have gone on board, Waiting for the orders from Court. I wait with the greatest patience as I doubt not it will answer a good purpose our detention — I have let my Sailors have a little money, they are wanting some Clothes also, they grumble continually about their prize money as they say they have been in two months, and can't get it settled. — I saw a letter of yours Yesterday to one Mr David here from you, paying him a Compliment respecting his assisting me. Hence it is he speaks English, he has done me some little service tho' none of any consequence. In fact I do not want him as a linguister, as I speak the French well enough to do my own business — I do not think it a house that can be relied on. The house I applied to here is a excellent house, a man that can be relied on on a matter of secrecy, he sent a Vessel from here with your dispatches some time past, and I am well persuaded not a man in the town except myself knows anything of it, even his own mother who is the partner in the house knows nothing, he is likewise a friend to Monsr Chaumont. — I am satisfied it would not have been the Case with the other, as Yesterday after he recd the letter it was ask'd him per Chance when I sailed, he gave them out hints that was not agreeable to me. — I don't mean and would wish that your Honours do not think that I mean to give advice to your Honrs. I should be very sorry after the pains the trouble &c Mr [Veuve] Cornic has taken with me to see a man who has done nothing for me give me my dispatches. The one is steady, the other is flighty — Mr Chaumont is well acquainted with Mr Cornic, and likewise with your honours, he likewise can give you a Character of him.