Dear Sir

Things are in much the Same state as when I arriv'd here, No order to permit the exportation of the Tents, fusils, Cannon, &c.c. I know not on what terms the Ships are freighted but neither have enough at present to fill them, & not more than wou'd fill one, the Seine, as they call her. I wrote you what time it would take to make a different arran.gement. All allow the Romaine safe for the voyage, but She sails & steers badly & there is nothing now in her but the Cannon, some bombs, bullets, & the carriages &c.c. of the Cannon. The other is a fine sailer, & even Monsr [Andrew] Limozin allows her fit for the voyage. I am askd many questions by this Latter, & by Monsr Feray. I appear to them to be dissatisfied with the Ships & to look out for others, so that if Your orders & the Courts arrive the Seine may sail directly for America, as intended by the Romaine, without much suspicion. But what to do with the poor artillery men I know not, who have waited here 3 or 4 months & have constantly worked & assisted in the various changes of loading & unloading, which the Inconsistency of these people directed. It is really a great hardship on these as I took the liberty of mentioning before. They appear discreet Ingenious hardy fellows. Desire Mr Montieux or B. M. [Beaumarchais] to write to the same purpose as Yourself, if you persist in not sending them. I wait with impatience to hear from you. I find the Amphitrite is again put back. The great error seems to be in the number of passengers & in Du Coudrays desire to See Dr Franklin. Each here throws the blame on the other, and they do not fail to calumniate each other like Devils ー I find our good Doctor Dubourghs offers to the Fermier Generauxs are not accepted, but that your bargain is made. There are two or three letters arrivd here to this purpose, which were shown to me in great confidence, and I dare undertake to say there are as many gone to every part of Fran~e & that in Consequence there are fifty schemes on foot to cheat the Fermiers Generaux's in the Ships which are to go out for it. If you ever expect secrecy from a French man, woman, or child, you merit being abusd; the secrets of the women are sometimes indeed worth having, but as from them you run the risque of Infection, So from the Close whisper of the men you are suffocated with Garlic. There are two ships for sale here which could be soon fitted out. I will get an Inventory of them. Let me have your final orders for I am staying here with no pleasure to myself, since I really can, be of little service. I shall get the Invoice of every thing in these Ships, shall examine the fusils &c. I can assure you that all my inquiries have turnd out in favor of the Sufficiency of the Romaine except as to her sailing, which The persons concernd do not pretend to vouch for. The Other can carry all the Cloathing all the Fusils, the mortars, Shells, Tents, &c mounts ten & can mount 16 guns and will be ready to sail the moment the Embargo is taken off; but then 19 peices of Cannon are left behind &c. for the Stowage being made of both the Ships, it will be a work of time with Frenchmen to unload both in order that the Seine carry the Whole ー Such is the Situation Determine. A vessel arriv'd spoke a privateer of ours, off Cape Finisterre with three prizes. I beg my Compliments to Dr Franklin & Mr Lee, & am with truth [&c.]