L'Orient the 13January 1777
Sir
The excuse for the present letter is to send you the inventory of the frigate, the Comte de Maurepas, which you will find herewith enclosed. I have decided to sell her if I can get 400,000 livres for her My conditions will be ,to turn the vessel over to you ready to receive her cargo or rather to take in ballast and provisions. If you fit her out, I can furnish you a couple of officers who are good sailors and brave men. If your principals, after purchasing her, are willing to entrust her fitting out to me, I shall do everything that one should expect of an honest man, but above all no trickery like that of Havre.2 If we have got to work like that I should prefer not to move in the matter.
I have the honor to be, Sir, with all sincerity [&c.]
Gourlade
The Amphitrite is still at Port Louis; Mr. Roche sends his compliments.
1. Franklin Papers, vol. 47, 71, APS. A copy is in Stevens, ed., Facsimiles, No. 623, but without the reference to Mr. Roche.
2. Outfitting of l'Amphitrite by Beaumarchais.
