[Extract]
Confidential

My Lord I am very secretly informed th:;i.t Spain who, as Your Lordship knows, has long favoured 'the American Rebels underhand is now preparing to assist them more than ever, It is Even not improbable that She will take an open and decided Part in their Favour. She likewise Meditates an attack upon Portgual. All this is done in Concert with this Court who chuses to keep behind the Curtain for the present but has agreed to assist Spain with Eleven Millions of Livres ...

Mr Deane was at Versailles all Monday and Yesterday he has I am told obtained a promise of a french Vessel to carry to America a Number of officers, ammunition, Cloths &c but from what Port that Vessel is to sail, I have not yet been able to learn The Secret assistance the french Ministers give the Rebels is no longer a Mystery it is pretty well known to those who ire at all informed, and is much blamed by sensible Men tho no friends to Great Britain They say that it is weak narrow Policy, and that what is done is either too much or too little. . . .