Dear Sir

Yours to the 22d I just this moment receivd. I hope what I have since wrote has sufficiently explained what you wishd to know. However I will repeat to you that in the 1st place without an order from Court the Vessel cannot sail. In the Second place the 19 peices of Cannon, carriages for the Cannon & matches & homes & bullets are chiefly in the Romaine & are stowd in such a manner in the hold, that it would be a work of Time to take these out, & then unload the Andromide,² which has all the Cloathing, fusils two mortars some homes, flints powder, bullets tents & in Short all that I could have taken out of the other ship conveniently stowd away in her. I should have sent this Ship instantly away with Du Coudray if the imbargo had been taken off ー She could sail tomorrow & should if that was the case. I only suspect injunctions will be laid to go to St Domingo But I will promise mountains to the Captn & he may call on me for performance hereafter, for when we are so distressed we must not stick at Trifles. My first letter was under cover to Mon~r Le Grand. For Gods sake Paint the dispatch of the Ships here, at Dunkirk and Marseilles, as the proof necessary to Show us that France wishes to see us Independent. The English Consul at Tangier is arrived here from Gibraltar. He says a ship from S. Carolina with a Mr Dupont, whom he saw, Supercargo is carried into that place That by letters found on Board to a Gentleman in France. He was pressd to hurry ships from Bourdeaux & Nantz away with Cloathing & likewise informd that He might expect many American Ships in those ports, that In consequence of this a light vessel was sent to Falmouth with the Intelligence. These Seas swarm with English Cruisers. I wrote you that one or two vessels had been searched just arrivd here. Yesterday a Captn Came in from Spain who informs, that He was searched by a fifty Gun ship & the Arethusa a frigate & chacd by several others. He likewise Informs that two American vessels were arrived at Barcelona. The Weather has been Hazy, which may facilitate their Escape. I think we have been told that France would not allow English men of War to block up their ports. I have seen letters from Various parts of England which mention that Dr Franklin is come over to make peace thro the Mediation of France, that is a new turn.

Inclosed you have inventories of Vessels. I would have sent you an accot of the trade of this place, but I shall reserve it till you have more leisure. I am happy Dr Franklin does not think my journey to Berlin useless. I shall lay before You the acct of Expences when I return to Paris but I want nothing but mere expences ー Too happy if I can devote any part of other ways an useless life to the Public service. However if we are to be Shuffled with I absolutely will return to America; either to tell lyes & keep up their Spirits or tell the truth & let them guard against the worst. If I do not receive the orders to suffer the Ship to sail by Sunday, I will quit this, for my longer stay will only make a noise without Serving any one good purpose I had like to have forgot that the Man who sold the wine offers to repay the Money, if it is not found to be good. He is imployd by every one here. I beg you to take Care of your self, to be able to assist you, is one motive why I wish to quit this. My Compliments to your Collegues & tell Mr Lee if He wishes his brother to have bark he must go to Versailles to have the Embargo taken off. Upbraid Mr B. M. [Beaumarchais] for this

I am with truth your [&c.]