Gentlemen —

I had the honor of receiving your favors, announcing to me my appointment as one of the Commissioners from the Congress of the united States of America.

I cannot express how greatly I am oblig'd to that most respectable Body, for giving me an opportunity of showing how much I prefer the service of my Country & of her present cause to every other pursuit & situation in life.

I had the happiness of joining Dr Franklin and Mr Dean, the day after the arrival, of the former at this place. We have cmploy'd every moment in preparing the way for fulfilling the purposes of our mission. It is impossible to say yet, in what degree we shall be able to accomplish our instructions & our wishes.

The politicks of this Court are in a kind of trembling hesitation. It is in consequence of this, that the promises which were made to me by the french Agent in London, & which I stated to you by Mr Storey & others, have not been entirely fulfilled. The changing [of] the mode of conveying what they promised, was settled with Mr Dean, whom Monsr Hortalez or Beaumarchais found here upon his return from London, & with whom therefore all the arrangements were afterwards made.

I hope you will have receiv'd some of the Supplies, long before this reaches you. Infinitely short as they are of what was promis'd in quantity, quality & time, I trust they will be of very material service in the operations of the next campaign. It is that, to use the words of our arch-enemy, to which we must look forward; & no exertions in preparing for it, can be too great, because the events of it must be very decisive. I have the honor of being &c.