[Extract]

Dear Sir: Mr. [Robert] Morris has communicated to us the substance of your letters to him down to the 23d June, when you were near setting out for Paris. We hope your reception there has been equal to your expectations and our wishes; indeed we have no reason to doubt it, considering the countenance we have met with amongst the French Islands and their seaports in Europe. It would be very agreeable and useful to hear from you just now, in order to form certain opinions of the designs of the French court respecting us and our contest, especially as we learn by various ways they are fitting out a considerable squadron at Brest and Toulon. What a noble stroke they might now strike at New York! Twenty sail of the line would take the whole fleet there, consisting of between four and five hundred sail of men of war and transports, store-ships and prizes. Was that piece of business once effected by a French fleet, we would engage to give them a very good account of General Howe's army in a short time; but, alas! we fear the court of France will let slip the glorious opportunity, and go to war by halves, as we have done; we say go to war, because we are of opinion they must take part in the war sooner or later, and the longer they are about it the worse terms they will come in upon...

If France means to befriend us, or wishes us well, they should send us succours in good muskets, blankets, cloths, coatings, and proper stuff for tents, also in ammunition; but not like the Venetians, wait until we are beat, and then send assistance. We are willing to pay for them, and shall be able soon as we can safely export our tobacco and other valuable produce...

Our frigates are fine vessels, but we meet difficulty in procuring guns and anchors. Our people are but young in casting the former, and we want coals to make the latter. However, these difficulties we shall surmount, and are bent on building some line-of-battle ships immediately. The success in privateering and encouragement given by the merchants will inevitably bring seamen amongst us. This, with the measure that will be adopted to encourage the breeding of seamen amongst ourselves, will in a few years make us respectable on the ocean. Surely France cannot be so blind to her own interests as to neglect this glorious opportunity of destroying the power and humbling the pride of her natural and our declared enemy.

We make no doubt but you have been made acquainted with the negotiations of Monsieur Hortalez, and in consequence thereof we conclude you will be at no loss to obtain the supplies of goods wanted for a particular department, notwithstanding we know that the greatest part of those remittances that were intended you have been intercepted by one means or other It is unfortunate and much to be regretted that those remittances have had such ill fate, but we hope you have obtained the goods on credit, and you may depend that remittances will be continued until all your engagements are discharged.

Clothing and tents are so much wanted for our armies that we entreat you to apply immediately to the court of France for a loan of money sufficient to dispatch immediately considerable quantities of stuff fit for tents, and of coarse cloths, coatings, stockings, and such other comfortable necessaries for an army as you can readily judge will be proper. You will get these goods either sent out direct in French vessels or to their islands, where we can send for them; but if you could prevail on the court of France to send out men-of-war with them it would be most acceptable. Whatever engagements you make for the payment of the cost of such clothing and necessaries the Congress will order sufficient remittances to fulfil the same; but in our circumstances it requires time to accomplish them. You'll observe the secret committee have given orders to Mr. Thomas Morris to procure sundry articles and dispatch them immediately; and if you succeed in the negotiations of a loan from the court for this purpose, you may employ him or act in conjunction with him to procure and dispatch those articles by them and such others as you shall judge necessary, and the remittances to be made him will serve to refund the loan. Should the court decline this matter perhaps the Farmers-General may be induced to advance the money or stake their credit for the sake of securing the tobacoo the secret committee will remit to Europe. These things we throw out as hints, and shall only further observe that you can not render your injured country more essential service at this time than by procuring these supplies immediately.

We are told that our vigilant enemies have demanded of the courts of France, Spain, and Portugal to deliver up the American ships in their ports and to forbid their having any future intercourse with them. The court of Portugal has complied so far as to order our ships away on ten days' notice. That France and Spain gave evasive answers. This is private uncertain intelligence; but we think you will do well to intimate to the ministers of those nations that first impressions are lasting; that the time has been when they stood much in need of American supplies; that the time may come again; that, although we are styled rebels by Britain, yet our friendship may hereafter be of the utmost importance to those powers particularly that possess American colonies, and that injuries now done us will not be easily effaced. These hints of argument you'll offer as the suggestion of your own mind, and endeavour to influence them by interest or fear from taking any active part against us. On the contrary, as it is evidently their interest to encourage our commerce, so we hope you'll be able to influence them by one means or other to protect and license itsin the utmost extent.

We shall not take up more of your time at present, But remain, sir [&c.]