Sir. —

I recvd your Favour by Mr Cunningham inclosing the Captains orders. — Mr Peltier & I are now agreed in every thing except one, which is relative to the disposal of the Ship after she arrives at St Domingo, you say that if the Capt can find Convoy he is to go directly thence to America Mr Montieu makes no such Condition on the Contrary gives absolute orders relative to loading the Ship back with Sugar &c; In translating your orders I must do it faithfully & the Capt (if he should find Convoy) cannot obey both. Will you give me liberty to erase that part of the orders, or must I insist on their being observed as they stand

All the Goods we can send are now on board they have only to take their provisions bend their Sails &c &c but I very much fear we shall want hands all the Sailors here being taken for the King

The Batteau ² will wait for nothing but the necessary alterations in her waist & Men in every thing else I could fit her away in a Day. We have had a great deal of trouble with her Crew I have been trying to keep some but they all refuse say they have been deceived so I must tum them off they have recvd 2 months pay I understand As to them or the Captain I know not how to settle for I have not a single paper by which I can be directed know not what is due to them nor what they have received neither have I any Register or other paper to entitle me to the possesion of the Vessell except a Copy of the Captains orders. Mr Cunningham tells me that there was a Register or (l'amiraute) to be sent to me but I have recvd no such paper. —

When I recvd your orders about the Vessell I went to Painbeuf to engage Sailors out of a Ship ³ that came from Boston to be sold on accot of the Massachusetts States & after obtaining the necessary Information I returned Capt Nicholson & Capt Wicks arrived in the meantime and the next morning went down & engaged 7 men who signed a .paper acknowledging themselves to be in the Service of the United States this was done after I had spoken to Capt [Joseph] Chapman the Commander who said he would not hinder the men from engaging but he says he will not pay them 2 months advance on their discharge as the Men think they have a right to demand being customary when discharged in a foreign port. Today he tells me that Mr Gruel Penet & Co is a going to send his men away_ in another Ship which they intend to fitt out for america, & that if they do not he shall carry some of his men back passengers with him Now I have reason to believe that all this is only a pretence to get the men for a private armament of which you without doubt are acquainted if so I shall think be very sorry to see the public Service give away to private Interest.

Without some English Sailors we can do nothing I therefore think that they should be had at any rate. As to Capt Chapman he is not desireous to prevent our having the men but he is very timid about disobeying orders & if we get his men he will want a certificate from You that it is for the public Cause they are wanted ー Will you please grant this? If I should be obliged to make advances to these Sailors I hope you will suppose the necessity of the Case obliges me and I shall consult & act in concert with Capt Wickes & Capt Nicholson

I apprehend the Arms will turn out rather more than less than the list you bought them by. I am &c