Presented by Mr Lee alone at Versailles

Messrs :Franklin, Dean, and Lee, Ministers from the Congress of the United States, beg leave to represent to his Excellency the Count de Vergennes, that besides the general alarming Accounts of the Success of the English against their Country, they have just received authentic Intelligence from England, that Eight thousand Men, chiefly Germam under the command of General [John] Burgoyne, are to be sent early in the Spring to America, and to be employed, with some Ships of War in the Invasion of Virginia and Maryland.

That if not by some means diverted from this Design, it will be in their power to destroy a great part of those States, as the Houses and Estates of the principal Inhabitants are situated on the navigable Waters, and so seperated from each other, as to be incapable of being defended from arm'd Vessels conveying Troops, the Place of whose Landing cannot be forseen, and consequently Force cannot be assembled in all Places sufficient to oppose them.

That great danger is also to be apprehended, from the Blacks of those States, who being excited and armed by the English may greatly strengthen the Invaders, at the same time that the fear of their Insurrection, will prevent the white Inhabitants from leaving their places of Residence and assembling in such Numbers for their own Defence against the English, as otherwise they might do.

Thus the greatest Part of the Tobacco of those States is probably collected, as usual in the Warehouses of the Inspectors, which are also situated on navigable Waters and will be liable to be taken and destroyed by the Invaders. That the destruction of these two States probably maymake a great impression on the Minds of the People in the rest, who seeing no prospect of Assistance from any European Power, may become more inclined to listen to Terms of Accomodation.

That the Supplys of Arms and Amunition of War, which they have been made to expect from France having been by various means delay'd and retarded, are not likely to arrive before the Commencement of the next Campaign, and may perhaps be despair'd of, especially if those Supplies are to be carryed first to the French Islands.

That notwithstanding the measures to convince the Court of Britain that France does not countenance the Americans, that Court, according to our Information, believes firmly the contrary; and it is submitted to th e consideration of your Excellency, whether, if the English make a Conquest of the American States, they will niot take the first Opportunity of shewing their Resentment by begining themselves the War that would otherwise be avoided; and perhaps begining it as they did the last, without any previous Declaration.

Upon the whole, we cannot on this Occasion omit expressing our Apprehensions, that if Britain is now suffered to recover the Colonies, and annex again, their great growing Strength and Commerce to her own, She will become in a few Years the most formidable Power by Sea and Land that Europe has yet seen, and assuredly from the natural Pride and Insolence of that People, a, Power to all the other States the most pernicious and intolerable.

We therefore would with all Deference submit it to the Wisdom of his Majesty and his Ministers, whether if the Independance of the United States of America with the consequent Diminution of British Power and the Freedom of Commerce with them be an object of Importance to all Europe and to France in particular, this is not the proper time for effectual Exertions in their favour; and for commencing that War which can scarcely be much longer avoided, and which will be sanctified by this best of Justifications, that a much injured, and innocent People will thereby be protected and delivered from cruel Oppression and secured in the enjoyment of their just Rights; than which nothing can contribute more to the Glory of his Majesty and of this Nation. —