The Hon^ble Siles Deane Esq^r.
Dear Sir/

I came here two days ago in consequence of a most inconsistent ungenteel Piece of Treatement of my famous factors Mess^rs. Berrard & C^o. Such indeed as no house of reputation coud possibly think of in my situation with them—My acco^ts. was furnished to me at Nantes accompanying his bills for the ball^a. & instructions to stope the La brune¹ in case I refused Acceptance without assigning me a single day to examine my acco^ts.

The mans character who Supperintends the business of this house is much injured if they deserve that confidence of answering their demands, previous to a fair Examination & Setlement, as such I determined to see my accounts here, &the vouchers in support of them.—they were exhibited in Such irregularity & confusion as no person coud admit many of them as proofe, and I therefore desired Copy's of the Several bills which am determined to have fully examined & brought to reference if not satisfyed in every particular charge.—I have retained a ballance of £12000 open in the Account received untill I have the necessary proofe's, and to remove every ground of complaint against me, as to the impropriety of conduct in the refusal thereof have tendered him Security for any such ballance as are found to be due on a fair Setlement.—

This House threatned me not only to stop the Ship, but to represent me to the Minister, unless I submited to their term's, had I acted inconsistent or unjust, such threats might have had some weight, therefore shall convince Berrard & C^o that I am not to be bullyed in to an unfair compliance

I depart for Nantes in a few hour's, and hope to find every thing in that forwardness which will permit the La Brune to proceed to take the goods on board without any detention, consequently expect I shall be in readiness notwithstanding this unexpected trouble & plague given me by those Gentlemen here;—With advanced Wages which you know comes heavy in outfits on our plan as French Property, I find the La Brune, Six months provisions for Eighty Men, Guns &c^a &c^a. &c^a. will cost above £100'000.—Yet far cheaper then any Vessel of hir size fited out hitherto in this Kingdom. Nevertheless—the provisions Watter, Guns &c^a. on board as a Ship of War, will interfeer greatly with the Room alloted for the goods intended to be shipped, in so much, that I am Realy affraid she can't take in that quantity of goods which will entitle the Owners to a freight Adequate to the expences incurred in fitting out the La Brune as a ship of Force in the manner already done—I shoud regrate to be suspected of makeing a charge against the Public in the line of a Freight or any thing else, too favourable for my Self, it being my invariable rule to consult their Interest as much as my own at least, in the business commited to me.—That being the case, and to gaurd against every Reflection which the most invious can possibly Suggest, I have come to the resolution of consulting you on this business as part owner, that we may join to act with every consistencey for the benefite of the American States—If therefore you view the matter in the light I do, woud it not be best to assign this Ship intyrely to the Public at first cost,? and give them every Advantage, the Cargo being their property & of course the Risque of the whole.—By this assignation the States have in readiness a good ship well fitted, intyrely under the immadiate direction of the Commissioners to proceed with Nicholson in Concert.—I shall get Green² to submit to what you and I may approve of, but don't chuse to make the proposal to the Commissioners, untill I am favoured with Your Opinion—Am largely in Advance for the States already my disbursements for the La Brune if assigned to the Public will add to the Charge, and must reimburse your Advances so soon as I receive the first funds.—Our motives for these engagements you know, was Principally to get home some Tobacco and I think my Representation to the Committee³ may engage their attention to employ the Ship even in that Line, 

Private Adventurers be assured cant get money in a Ship fited so expensively as the La Brune, and unless properly Manned, hir force will be of no Service—this youl please Consider of, being inclined to consult Your Interest as well as my own.—The La Brune carrys a compleate Battery of Twenty double Fortifyed Six's on her Gun deck, and as convenient as any Frigate in England—You may from this Suppose hir a cheap Vessel for the Public, or Private Adventurer's who might employ hir in a Proper Line.—If you concurr with me in the Assignation proposed Captain Green must have a Continental Commission. I shall pledge my honour, he will not discredit the truste in the Service of his Country.

Since my arrival here had several litle confabes with M^r: Moylan, who communicated your correspondence with him, to me, & that of his answers—You must permit me to Recommend every precaution in the choice of connections here and if my opinion merit any attention from you, I shoud Rather approve to form no manner of connection with french houses as by no means to be depended on in point of Regulartty, nor even confidence with some.—If the Commissioners have any speculative plans to prosecute, or a desire of collecting from other Nations Articles Suitable for the outfits of any American Ships of War, let them advise me, and I shall get it done for them through my Correspondents with every Security and on the first terms furnishing me with that liberty to take a reimbursement by bills on Paris—I have as good a correspondence over all Europe as any in France, and that you may gaurd against those impositions too much experienced by You. I offer my service to the Commissioner's—This I mention to you, that you may do in-it as you see Proper, shoud circumstances Require a collection of certain Articles for public use.—Brass Gun's in Particulare ought to be provided in Sweden. However, as you must know best what is wanting, not necessary to ennumerate the markets for certain Articles—

When I return to Nantes shall communicate some further occurrances in the meantime hope to hear from You in Course, and with Respect I am [&c.]