No 35
My Lord

I am Sorry to acquaint your Lordship, that I have received Authentic information that the American Vessel, the Reprisal, has taken the Lisbon Packet, and three other English Vessels, (one informer tells me, there are four Vessels besides the Packet) these ships have been sent into Port Louis, I shall not fail to make proper Representations to M de Vergennes, upon this Subject; And shall press as strongly as I can, for the Restitution of these Ships, Nothing certainly can be more Contrary to the friendship France professes for us, than the suffering the Rebels to make this use of Her Ports.

I forgot to mention to Your Lordship in my last Dispatches, that on Tuesday last, I complained to M de Vergennes, of the Reprisal's being suffered to Cruize between Belisle, and Nantes. His Answer was, that it was highly irregular, and directly contrary to the Intention of this Court, et qu on y metteroit bon ordre, and took a Note of what I said to him. It was not till last Night, that I received the abovementioned intelligence, I thought it my duty to give your Lordship the earliest information of it, and have therefore availed myself of this opportunity of a private conveyance

I am with the greatest Truth and Respect My Lord [&c.]