Gentlemen

I have bin waiting Ever Since I wrote you last for the Inventory of St John & have not Rec'd. It yet therefore Conclude Mr Gourlade has Sent it forward for Parris Captn. [Samuel] Nicholson Arrivd here Yesterday & produc'd your Instruck,tions to him concerning the vissiting & Inspecting the Ships at L'Orient But I think I have Done Everything that Captn. Nicholson Could Do Was he to Go there therefore have Concl'ded That it is Best for Captn. Nicholson to Return Immediately to Parris & there to Assist you in pointing out the Defishencyes of Stores and Materals agreeable to Inventory I think you had best get Captn. Nicholson to Make What Addition he may think Neadfull or Nessesary to the Inventory And Agree With those Gentlemen to furnis All Stores And materals & fitt the Ship out fitt for Sea as it Will Be in thier Power to Do it much Cheaper & Quicker then. We Could possibly Do it our Selves my Reason for Mentioning this Matter is that It May be Conducted With More secrecy Than it Could be Done provided Captn. Nicholson or my Self was to Attend the fiting This Ship as they have Spies In Every port Who would Giv Immediate Information to the Court of Brittain Whome We may Reasonably Suppose Would give orders for Blocking her up & thereby Render her Useless I Beg Leav to Recommend Captn. Nicholson To your Notice as a Gentlemen of Good fammily Who has Bin Regularly Bred to the Sea & think him Well Quallified to Command A Ship of Warr he Was very Acttiv in the Begining of our Unhappy Disputes in his Cuntrys Cause & Continnued So Untill the Nesessity of his business oblig'd him to Go to London Where he has bin Ever Since Idle for Want of Employment this Inconvenency I hope you'l Soon Remedy by Employing him in the Service of the United States of America & there by put it in his Power to Make Good His L9st Time As Captn. Nicholson Will be there to Assist you I hope it Will not be Nessesary for me to Come to Parris I Am Now All Ready fited for Sea & only Wait To be informd by you Whether our prizes Will Be Recd. & protected in french ports or not as I May Take my Measures Accordingly youl pleas Inform of this As Soon As possible As I only Wait your orders & Answer to this & then, procead on A Cruize Immediately I Should be much Obligd for All other Nessesary Informations in your Power I remain With much Respect Gentlemen [&c.]

P.S. If you think it Nessesary I Should Come to Parris I Will Set o[f] Immediately on Reeving your Orders.

L.W.