[Extract]

. . . these Courts [France and Spain] have particular strong Reasons for keeping out of the War as long as they can, besides this general One, that on both sides the Nation attacking loses the Claim which when attack'd it has for Aid from its Allies. And we have these Advantages in their keeping out of War that they are better able to afford us private Assistance, that by holding themselves in Readiness to invade Britain they keep more of her Force at home, and that they leave to our arm'd Vessels the whole Harvest of Prizes made upon her Commerce, and of Course the whole Encouragement, to encrease our Force in Privateers, which will breed Seamen for our Navy.

Capt. Wickes made a Cruise this Winter, and return'd with 5 Prizes, of the Produce of which we suppose Mr [Thomas] Morris will acquaint you; for they are sold, tho' the bringing them into France has given some Trouble and uneasyness to the Court; and must not be too frequently practised. We have order'd him to make another Cruise before he returns to America, and have given him for a Consort the arm'd Cutter [Dolphin] Capt. Nicholson; they will sail in a few Days.

Mr [William] Hodge writes us that he has provided another Cutter. We intended to have employ'd one of them as a Packet, but several of yours being now here, and having lately made a Contract for sending one every Month, a Copy of which we enclose, ² we shall make use of this new Purchase as a Cruiser.

All Europe is for us. Our Articles of Confederation being by our Means translated & published here, have given an Appearance of Consistence & Firmness to the American States & Government, that begins to make them considerable.

The seperate Constitutions of the several States are also translating & publishing here, which afford abundance of Speculation to the Politicians of Europe. And it is a very general Opinion that if we succeed in establishing our Liberties, we shall as soon as Peace is restored receive an Immense Addition of Numbers and Wealth from Europe, by the Families who will come over to participate in our Privileges and bring their Estates with them. Tyranny is so generally established in the rest of the World, that the Prospect of an Asylum in America for those who love Liberty gives general Joy, and our Cause is Esteem'd the Cause of all Mankind. Slaves naturally become base as well as wretched. We are fighting for the Dignity & Happiness of Human Nature. Glorious it is for the Americans to be call'd by Providence to this Post of Honour. Cursed and Detested will every one be that deserts or betrays it.

We are glad to learn the Intention of Congress to send Ministers to the Empire, Prussia and Tuscany: With Submission We think Holland, Denmark, Sweden & Russia, (if the Expence is no Objection) should not be neglected. It would be of great Service, if among them we could get a free Port or two, for the Sale of Prizes, as well as for Commerce: A Commencement of Intercourse has been made with Prussia, as you will see by the enclosed Copies of Letters between his Minister and us. We suppose as the Congress has appointed one of us to Spain, they will order another of us to some of the other Courts: as we see no utility equal to the charge, & yet some Inconveniency, in a joint Commission here, where One, when freed from Commercial Cares & Action is sufficient for the Business. As soon as the Court of Spain shall be willing to receive a Minister (which from Mr Lee's Information seems not to be at present the Case) Mr Franklin intends to go thither in Obedience to Orders he has received. Mr Lee had express'd his Readiness to go to Prussia or Tuscany before the Intention of Congress to send to those Courts was known. And he waits here awhile by the Advice of his Colleagues expecting that perhaps the next ship may bring his Future Destination.

For the procuring and sending more certain and Speedy Intelligence, We have as before mentioned entered into a Contract here, whereby we are to have a Packet boat dispatched every Month. The first will sail in about a fortnight. As we are yet without an explicit Answer from Court, on several important Points, and we shall have that speedy Opportunity, we do not now enlarge in Answer to the several Letters received by Hammond, Bell, Adams, and Johnson. We only now assure the Congress that we shall be attentive to execute all the Resolutions & Orders they have sent us for our Government, and we have good Hopes of Success, in most of them.

. . . The British Fleet is not yet half mann'd. The Difficulty in that Respect was never before found so great, and is ascribed to several Causes; viz. a Dislike of the War; the Subtraction of American Sailors; the Number our Privateers have taken out of British Ships; and the enormous transport Service. The French are free from this Difficulty, their Seamen being all Registred, and serving in their Turns. Their Fleet is nearly ready and will be much Superior to the English when join'd with that of Spain, which is preparing with all Diligence. The Tone of the Court accordingly rises; and it is said that a few Days since when the British Ambassador intimated to the Minister, that if the Americans were permitted to continue drawing Supplies of Arms &c from this Kingdom, the Peace could not last much Longer; he was firmly answer'd, Nous ne desirons pas la Guerre et nous ne le craignons pas. ー We neither desire War nor fear it. When all are ready for it, a small Matter may suddenly bring it on; and it is the Universal Opinion that the Peace cannolt continue another Year. Every Nation in Europe wishes to see Britain humbled, having all in their Turns been offended by her Insolence, which in Prosperity she is apt to discover on all Occasions: A late Instance manifested it towards Holland; when being elate[d] with the News of some success in America, and fancying all that Business ended, Sir Joseph York[e] delivered a Memorial to the States, expressing his Masters Indignation against them, on Acct of the Commerce their Subjects carried on with the Rebels, and the Governor of Eustatia's returning the Salute of one of the American Ships: ³ remarking that, (if that Commerce was not Stopt, & the Governor punished) the King knew what appertain'd to the Dignity of his Crown, & should take proper Measures to vindicate it. The States were much offended, but answer'd cooly, that they should enquire into the Conduct of their Governour, and in the meantime would prepare to secure themselves against the Vengeance with which Britain seem'd to threaten them. Accordingly they immediately order'd 26 Men of War to be put on the Stocks.