May it please your Excellency

pursuant to the encouragement given me by your Excellency at the first, & subsequent interviews I had the honor of having with your Excellency I had engaged a Number of Brass Cannon thro. the agency of Mr Beaumarchais, & had the same transported to different ports in the Kingdom of France, & Vessels engaged for the transporting the same to the place of their destination, having thus farr succeeded I dispatch'd Letters to my Constituents informing them of my proceeding and that they inigbt rely on the supplies l had thus engaged. These Stores I am now informed are detained by Order from Court on which I have to entreat your Excellency that in Case they will be permitted to be shipped at all, they may not be stopp'd any longer, as the Vessels expence is very great & the disappointment should they not arrive in Season absolutely irreparable. I have the misfortune of being confined to my Chamber by a slight Fever or I should in person have sollicited your Favors in this. Affair. This is a brief & just stating of the Facts as farr as I have been concerned. if these Articles may be permitted to be shipped, your Excellency may depend that your directions as to the port from whence, & the manner in Which they shall be sent shall be inost exactly attended to.² I have the honor to be with the most profound respect Your Excellency's [&c.]