Willing & Morris of Philada having writ to Mr Deane a Scheme for an Extensive & very proffita:ble Commerce, to be carried on between the Subjects of France, & those of G B. now in Rebellion — Mr Deane did actually engage Mr Tho. Walpole — Mess Bourdieu & Co Mr G Apth[ro]p — & others in London — Mess Delap of Bourdeaux — Mess —— (the Comp to which the Brig. Dickinson was Consd) — at Nantz — Mess Du Cha[u]mont — Mr Grant, of Paris Mess. Honicci, Fiszoux & Co Mess. Crommelin at Amsterdam — a House of Antwerp & many others being sharers of a Capital of £ 400 M to be employed as French property, on French Ships. — The Articles besides others — are Cloathing of all denominations — Sail Cloath — Cordage — Oznabrigs & russia Linnen — shoes — Hose — Blanketts — Drugs &c &c. Great Quantitys are shipped by various means to Dunkirk & Ostend — & thence in Coasters to Havre, Nantz & Bourdeaux &c. where they are reshipped in Armed ships provided with American passes besides the Necessary papers as French ships sailing on french Acco. -by which means they assure themselves of safe Conduct to the very Harbours of No America, & they are not to enter them, but as they are found without Brittish ships of force to prevent them. One Condition which is to bind the Adventurers is that they are not to ship any Military stores. The Treaties have been Consulted — the last restraing-act referred to, & Notice taken of its not having been Notified to £ranee, or Spain — & hence Conclusions drawn in favor of this New Mode of Carrying on Commerce with Colonys in rebellion against its parent State.

The french Ambassador was Confidentially asked His opinion of the probability of His Courts declaring War against G B — & He gave the most positive Assurances that if the safety of the property above stated depended upon the declaration of a War by France, that His Court would take great pains to avoid it —